"President, could Sir Eligos's Knight piece possibly be…?"
When Kiba's entire demeanor shifted, the Gremory servants reacted as well. Akeno's smile faded. She leaned toward Rias and whispered softly.
"Yeah. It should be a Sacred Gear that's the opposite attribute but the same type as Kiba's Sword Birth—Blade Blacksmith."
Rias hadn't expected Leo's first deployed servant to have a Sacred Gear that was the exact opposite of her own Knight's. Her face was filled with surprise.
No wonder even her brother praised Eligos's potential. A servant with such a rare and powerful Sacred Gear—if trained properly—would at the very least become a High-Class Devil.
Her own servants were unquestionably strong as well. But the fact remained: Leo had only been a High-Class Devil for a few months and had already recruited four servants—one a Longinus holder, one a Blade Blacksmith holder. Getting recruits like these so easily… his luck was ridiculous.
Unfortunately, her Knight had run straight into a Holy Sword user. That part was definitely not lucky.
Seeing Kiba's dark, stormy expression, Rias called out.
"Kiba, calm down. You know it isn't a real Holy Sword."
Rias's reminder made Yuuto take a deep breath.
"I understand, President." He lowered his voice, then turned back toward Yuuki Asuna. "Sorry. That was out of line. Shall we begin?"
Kiba seemed calm again, but the gentle smile he usually wore was nowhere to be found.
"I'm ready whenever you are."
Asuna wasn't sure what was wrong with Kiba, but she answered politely.
"Be careful, Asuna."
Leo watched quietly for a moment before speaking.
Of course he knew exactly what was going on with Kiba. Still, he only offered that one warning.
"I know."
Asuna nodded firmly.
She didn't have the sharp Magic Detection that Leo or Yukino possessed, but after training under Musashi, she had grown more perceptive.
To her, Kiba looked slim and delicate, like a refined young man. But from his posture, his breathing, and the way he held his sword, she knew—without doubt—he was a skilled swordsman.
He wasn't at Musashi's level, who looked full of openings while actually revealing none, but Asuna could still tell his swordsmanship was beyond her own.
Fortunately, she had her own advantages.
A low hum rose as Asuna lifted her sword. The thin Holy Sword in her hand burst with divine energy, and every devil present instinctively tensed at the sight.
More than the pure light devils feared, the holy nature of the weapon was far stronger and far more terrifying. Except for Mahiru, who held a Holy Relic, even Leo felt chilled by the holiness radiating from it. His instincts screamed not to get close.
Kiba's instincts were the same—yet he crushed that response immediately with another emotion.
The hatred and resentment he had buried since childhood.
He refused to retreat before a Holy Sword.
Kiba raised his own weapon—a Demon Sword, not a thin blade like Asuna's, but a Western-style sword forged through Sword Birth.
"Here I come, Yuuki-san."
The instant he spoke, he vanished.
No—he didn't vanish. He turned into an afterimage, sprinting toward her with explosive speed.
"…!"
Asuna's expression tightened. Her body moved slightly slower than her thoughts, but she still managed to leap forward and raise her Holy Sword.
Clang!
Kiba reappeared behind her, his Demon Sword slashing down like a streak of black light. It crashed against her blade, sparks bursting through the air along with a faint shockwave.
The blow sent Asuna flying. She flipped forward, her heels tapping the ground several times before she regained her balance.
"Too fast…"
Her face grew serious. Her guard rose to its peak.
A Knight's trait was speed. Asuna was fast—the fastest among all Eligos servants. Even Leo had to unfurl his devil wings and fly to surpass her speed. At equal rank, Asuna would never be slower than Leo.
But Kiba was faster than her. He had clearly spent years developing his Knight piece, pushing its trait far beyond the basic level.
"Here I come again."
Kiba gave her a moment to breathe—then rushed forward once more. His figure seemed to blur as he moved, both hands gripping his sword as several arcs of sword-light swept toward her.
Asuna exhaled sharply, then relaxed completely. Instead of retreating, she stepped in, her Holy Sword slicing out several arcs of light to meet his.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Holy Sword and Demon Sword collided again and again, sparks scattering. Divine energy clashed violently with demonic power.
The two exchanged strikes nonstop, moving in tight footwork patterns. One sword shone like dazzling light; the other flashed with black brilliance. Blow after blow—neither gaining the upper hand.
Clang!
Their blades locked one more time before the two separated—Asuna leaping back, Kiba advancing.
"…Impressive."
Kiba was the one who stepped forward. He looked toward Asuna, who had widened the gap between them, and spoke in genuine surprise.
"Your movements follow the sword, adapting to the flow. Even against a stronger opponent, you stay calm, use your stance, and turn disadvantage into advantage—that's Niten Ichi-ryu, isn't it?"
He had recognized her school.
"Yes, my swordsmanship style is Niten Ichi-ryu."
Asuna seemed a little surprised he could tell, but she still answered honestly.
"Then your teacher… Miyamoto Musashi, right?"
Kiba obviously knew some inside information, and his gaze drifted toward Sona in the distance.
"She taught me."
Asuna answered honestly, and Kiba's expression softened considerably.
"So you're a student of Musashi-san. No wonder your swordsmanship is so refined."
Kiba's praise was sincere.
He didn't know Asuna very well, but he did know her master had only recently become a High-Class Devil. Asuna had also become a servant recently—yet she displayed such polished swordsmanship. Her talent was extraordinary.
"Same to you." Asuna didn't get careless. In fact, she steadied herself even further. "Your swordsmanship blends many styles. Could it be Tennen Rishin-ryu?"
"Correct." Kiba looked slightly surprised she could recognize it. "I studied several smaller schools, but my real master is Okita Souji of Tennen Rishin-ryu."
Okita—genius swordsman of the late Edo period, captain of the First Division of the Shinsengumi. Alongside Nagakura Shinpachi and Saito Hajime, he was counted among the Shinsengumi's strongest. Unlike Miyamoto Musashi, she wasn't from centuries ago—but from roughly a hundred years prior.
Tennen Rishin-ryu was founded in 1789 by Kondo Kuranosuke, who built upon the teachings of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu. It combined swordsmanship, staff techniques, grappling arts, even breathing and ki methods. The style spread through the Tama region—areas like Hino, Chofu, and Machida. Shinsengumi leaders such as Kondo Isami, Okita, and Hijikata Toshizo were all disciples of the style.
After death, Okita—like Miyamoto Musashi—had been reincarnated as a devil. Despite being a figure of history, he was still active today. He served as a Knight under the current Maou Sirzechs.
Asuna had studied swordsmanship texts under Musashi's guidance, including information about various sword traditions. Musashi had also spoken of Okita—the fellow Knight of a Maou—praising his exceptional sword talent. Naturally, Asuna had looked into Tennen Rishin-ryu.
She never expected to encounter it here.
"Niten Ichi-ryu versus Tennen Rishin-ryu?"
"Now this is getting interesting…"
Spectators quickly grasped what was happening, their faces filling with anticipation.
Kiba felt it too. His dark mood lightened, swallowed by the thrill of facing a worthy swordsman.
"Yuuki-san, shall we continue?"
Kiba shifted into an offensive stance, eyes blazing.
"Yeah. Let's."
Asuna didn't shrink back from the pressure. She calmed her breathing, centered her heart, and took her stance. Demonic power surged around both of them, stirring the air.
A heartbeat later, the two vanished simultaneously, rushing straight toward each other—
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200 p.s for extra chapter
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