It was night.
Yoizumi once again ascended the long staircase, reaching the top.
Sanemi Shinazugawa and the others had been waiting for a long time.
Sanemi Shinazugawa stood with one hand on his hip, his green nichirin blade resting on his shoulder. The moment he saw Yoizumi, he impatiently spoke in a sharp voice.
"You're finally here!"
"I was careless yesterday. Let's do it again!"
"This time, I'll definitely win!"
Before Yoizumi could reply, Tokito Muichiro pushed Sanemi Shinazugawa aside, glanced indifferently at the fuming Sanemi Shinazugawa, then smiled and greeted Yoizumi.
"Don't mind him."
"Yesterday, Yoizumi-nii promised to train with me first."
"Yoizumi-nii hasn't forgotten, has he?"
Yoizumi nodded. In truth, he was still somewhat concerned about his blade turning red yesterday. By sparring with Muichiro, who also had a Mark, he might find the answer.
"Tokito, you!" Sanemi Shinazugawa, pulled aside by Iguro Obanai, waved his nichirin blade at Muichiro incessantly, grinding his teeth as he shouted.
Muichiro ignored him, his face serious, his mint-green eyes intently watching Yoizumi's every move. He tightly gripped his nichirin blade, which was the same color as his eyes, its sharp edge pointing directly at Yoizumi.
His opponent was Yoizumi-nii; he had to go all out.
Otherwise, he had no chance of winning.
Drawing his nichirin blade from his waist, its frosty white blade shimmered in the moonlight, appearing even whiter and more translucent. Yoizumi stood, holding his blade with one hand, waiting for Muichiro to speak.
"Then..."
"Three."
"Two."
"One!"
Yoizumi and Muichiro simultaneously used their fastest sword forms.
Mist Breathing Fourth Form: Shifting Flow Slash!
Breath of Snow First Form: Falling Snow!
The mist of Mist Breathing and the white fog of Breath of Snow merged, seemingly harmless but secretly harboring killing intent.
Their nichirin blades clashed, both sides showcasing their strength without reservation.
Dodging a downward slash aimed at his waist, Yoizumi retreated a step, creating better space for his next sword form.
His sword speed was astonishingly fast; Muichiro could barely make out Yoizumi.
So fast! And it's hard to breathe!
The cold air felt as if it would freeze his lungs, and every breath was accompanied by pain.
But I won't give up so easily!
Snow Breathing Third Form: Thousand Feathered Crane Snow!
Caught off guard, he was grazed by seemingly harmless white feathers. First came a sharp sting, then the numbness of a frozen wound. Muichiro quickly distanced himself, activating his breathing technique. Although his breath was cold, for some reason, his heart felt intensely warm.
The Mark appeared.
He saw the cloud-like patterns gradually emerge on Muichiro's face.
Snow Breathing Fourth Form: Wind-Ravaged Blizzard!
Yoizumi flipped his nichirin blade, switching sword forms. The powerful slash, clearly audible as it cut through the air, stirred up howling gales. The swirling snow in the eye of the storm surged, sweeping up the white feathers from the Third Form and sending them all towards Muichiro. The range was so vast that Muichiro couldn't escape.
His gaze was deep. Even though the biting wind, laced with fine snow, stung his cheeks, he exhaled heavily. The warm breath instantly turned into white mist.
Mist Breathing Third Form: Scattering Mist Spray!
A strength that seemed impossible for his slender arms surged forth. He spun and slashed at high speed, dispelling the icy tornado in a few breaths. The scattered white feathers left streaks of blood on his face, coating them with a thin layer of ice.
But Muichiro smiled.
"Now, it's my turn to counterattack!"
"Get ready, Yoizumi-nii!"
Tokito Muichiro's figure began to blur, enveloped by moon-obscuring clouds and mist that made it hard to see his surroundings. The scattered mist concealed his form.
He disappeared?
Gripping his nichirin blade with both hands, Yoizumi's blue eyes searched for Muichiro's figure in the mist. A powerful intuition told him there was danger from behind. Without hesitation, Yoizumi immediately turned and slashed.
Muichiro's attack sliced through Yoizumi's sleeve and clashed against his blade, a crisp "Clang!" echoing all around.
A chance!
Muichiro thought, his speed increasing.
He once again concealed himself in the mist, moving at high speed. In the swirling fog, Yoizumi could only see his afterimages.
I need to disperse this mist first!
Snow Breathing Fourth Form: Wind-Ravaged Blizzard!
The tyrannical ice wind scattered the mist, stirring up sand and dust imbued with endless cold.
The moment Yoizumi raised his left hand, Muichiro realized which move Yoizumi was about to use.
If he got hit by that, it wouldn't be a joke; that disgusting Upper Rank Five was defeated by this move!
As Blood Demon Art: Air Raid was unleashed, snowflakes and ice crystals poured from the frosty white blade, rapidly spreading. The entire area was covered in ice and snow.
On the back of Yoizumi's right hand, translucent, pale blue snowflake ice crystals appeared.
A bone-chilling cold permeated the minds of everyone present.
You've got to be kidding me?!
Sanemi Shinazugawa gritted his teeth, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Yoizumi, who stood firm in the center of the ice and snow.
Even Iguro Obanai's eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape beneath the bandages wrapped around it.
Just a sword form, and it can create such a scene?
It's truly... incredible.
Facing the biting snow head-on, Muichiro's jaw shivered from the cold. The constant numbness spreading through his hands forced him to grip his blade tighter, using all his strength to hold his nichirin blade and prevent it from slipping from his numb fingers.
Snow Breathing Fifth Form: Ice Hail Shower
Water vapor in the air, condensed by Blood Demon Art: Air Raid, was frozen into ice. The nichirin blade shattered it into tiny ice needles, and the fractured ice formed an icy mist. Both attacked Muichiro without reservation.
Here it comes!
Move!
Muichiro!
The nichirin blade he gripped tightly actually showed a faint tendency to turn red!
Mist Breathing Fifth Form: Sea of Cloud Mist!
He continuously unleashed small, rapid slashes, shattering the incoming ice needles. Each swing of his blade generated mist, and Muichiro was completely enveloped in swirling clouds.
It's not over yet!
Breathing in the icy mist in the air, his body gradually stiffened. Muichiro refused to give up; he wanted to break through!
He wanted to surpass his limits!
He wanted to become stronger!
To repay the Master's expectations!
Mist Breathing Third Form: Scattering Mist Spray!
Dispelling the incoming icy mist, Muichiro ignored the pain of his blood cells gradually freezing. He mustered all his strength and charged at Yoizumi.
Mist Breathing First Form: Hanging Skyscape Far Mist!
He can still move.
Truly amazing.
Muichiro.
Facing such a powerful thrust, Yoizumi also chose to counter with the most impactful First Form: Falling Snow.
Dazzling sword light and scattering sparks filled the air as both sides powerfully countered each other.
Iguro Obanai, who was watching from the side, suddenly spoke.
"Hey, Sanemi Shinazugawa."
"What do you want!" Sanemi Shinazugawa's tone wasn't good; his gaze was fixed on the two, unmoving.
"Did you notice their blades have changed color?"
"Color?"
Sanemi Shinazugawa tried hard to discern it. Indeed!
Their blades... had turned red!
What's going on?!
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