Chapter 156: Progress Bar Unlocked
The Ice Blade Yoru was slowly raised.
A horizontal waist-level slash!
With just a single strike, it intercepted all of Atomic Samurai's countless slashes!
One blade transformed into ten thousand edges!
The Atomic Slash, dense and straight, capable of cutting an opponent into countless fragments, was broken through by Aokiji's single strike!
Numerous clear cut marks were left in the air!
Cracks that looked like flat surfaces transformed into three-dimensional ones, dividing the entire space into small pockets!
"Kamikaze's Atomic Slash was actually blocked by a single strike?!"
Tenkei's expression was one of extreme shock.
As a fellow member of the Sword Saint Association, how could he not know how fierce Kamikaze's Atomic Slash was?
And that had seemed like just a casual swing of the blade.
A counterattack that couldn't even be called a Move was broken so easily?!
"It's more than that."
The blind Nichirin, on the contrary, had a more thorough understanding of the entire battle situation.
His aged voice said solemnly:
"Observe Kamikaze carefully."
The others, including the Disciples, finally noticed.
On Atomic Samurai's body, the clothing over his vital points had all been sliced with fine cuts!
Yet, the skin underneath was unharmed.
"This kind of control... Kamikaze's defeat was already pronounced from the very first Move."
Nichirin's tone was complex.
To be able to perfectly neutralize Kamikaze's attack and execute such a precise counterattack—if this hadn't been a spar, that one Move would have decided life and death.
It had been so long since he'd paid attention to outside news.
To think such a terrifying young man had emerged.
Moreover, when Kamikaze introduced him earlier, he didn't seem to mention that he knew the Way of the Sword, did he?
In other words...
Aside from those abilities that sounded beyond the human scope, Aokiji also possessed swordsmanship that shocked even Great Swordmasters like them?
It was hard to imagine... "He's truly a monster." Cold sweat broke out across Atomic Samurai's forehead.
Does he have more time in a day than a normal person?!
Otherwise, how could he have honed his swordsmanship to this level while also Training so many inconceivable abilities?!
As a fellow swordsman...
Within that strike, he clearly sensed a will honed to pure perfection.
Because of this, Atomic Samurai found it unbelievable!
Could such a pure Sword Intent really be honed by someone who possessed numerous Psychic Powers?
Does he intend to abandon all his other abilities?!
"Are we not continuing?" Aokiji asked, holding up his blade.
"...How could that be possible?" Atomic Samurai bent his knees and arched his body, holding his blade at his waist.
"I've only just gotten into the zone!!"
The blade light flashed in a straight line!
—Atomic Ichimonji Slash!!!
Slashes were densely lined up along a horizontal path!
Maximizing penetration and cutting power!!
Like a sliver of light dividing night and dawn, it slashed straight ahead!
Aokiji raised the Ice Blade Yoru with one hand.
He swung it down vertically with a sudden force!
An aurora-like, brilliant green slash pierced through the earth!
The massive, radiant slash instantly met the blade Atomic Samurai had swung!
Light erupted, swallowing the entire field!
"Is this even swordsmanship anymore?!!"
Okamaitachi shouted in shock, covering his eyes.
He had thought that the invisible swinging speed Aokiji showed when defeating them was already exaggerated enough.
He hadn't expected there to be something even more terrifying!
Is Master okay?
"Is this magic!!"
Yuta was stimulated to physiological tears by the blooming intense light, but her heart was excited and inspired.
It's way cooler than Dad's swordsmanship! I want to learn it so much!!
The intense light and the sword momentum that could cut through everything gradually faded.
A crack that vertically pierced through the entire hilltop appeared before everyone's eyes.
Even the pavilion where the Sword Saint Association held their discussions was cut in two, with the clear slit extending straight through!
And what about Atomic Samurai, who was in the path of the sword light?
Rustle— Rustle——
Scraps of fabric and a few strands of severed hair drifted down slowly.
From Atomic Samurai's right shoulder, a cut mark carved straight down through both front and back, revealing the muscles beneath.
There wasn't a single trace of blood!
"How... was this done...?"
Atomic Samurai's movements were stiff as he stared at Aokiji, asking word by word.
"You cut me, yet you made me completely unaware of it?"
Atomic Samurai had a reason for this conjecture.
Cutting an object without harming it in the slightest, so that the object itself doesn't even realize it has been cut—this was precisely Nichirin's secret technique.
The several Swordmasters of the Sword Saint Association all shared this suspicion.
"What are you talking about?"
Aokiji swung his blade into the empty air, performing a sword flower.
"To cut when you want to cut, and not to cut when you don't. To be able to cut through steel with the same strike, yet not cut through thin paper—that is what it means to be a swordsman."
Is this really a swordsman and not a magician?!
The younger generation all voiced their bewildered complaints internally.
What was even more frightening was the reaction of the older generation.
They actually all showed expressions of 'I see, that makes sense then'?
"To cut when you want to cut, and not to cut when you don't..." Nichirin repeated softly, "It's a Realm even more profound than my 'passing the blade without being noticed'!"
A Realm of Swordsmanship? It should be a Realm of Zen, Shidou thought, unable to help himself as he looked at the Buddhist beads on his wrist.
Yuta curled up in excitement, her hands pressed against her chest.
Ooh!! I want to learn!!!
Suiko's eyes were filled with intense interest.
This is too interesting—one unexpected surprise after another!
Aokiji is just too interesting!
"Whew————"
Atomic Samurai exhaled a long breath of turbid air.
It had been a long time—no, he had never felt such terrifying pressure!
And yet, it had only been two strikes... Atomic Samurai silently spat out the toothpick he was holding in his mouth.
He reached out and tore off the right side of his sliced samurai robe, tucking it under his arm so it wouldn't interfere with his next Moves, revealing his well-developed, lean arm and chest.
His movements were slow and solemn.
They carried a resolve that could not be ignored.
[Progress bar unlocking conditions have been met]
The System popped up a text notification at the side of Aokiji's vision.
He's already made up his mind before the spar is even over?
Aokiji's fingers gripping the blade arched slightly.
Next up is the pursuit of the ultimate purity of the Way of the Sword.
What else could make one's swordsmanship progress more than mutually honing it with a Great Swordmaster?
"My Way of the Sword indeed still has flaws."
Atomic Samurai once again stood sideways with his blade raised.
"Fortunately, I met you. From now on, my Way of the Sword has a clear goal."
"To surpass you and complete myself."
"There is no sword in this world that can suppress me forever!"
Swish————!!!
He charged forward like a fierce slash himself!
"What a coincidence, I also want to use you all to complete myself."
Aokiji raised his blade in an upward stroke!
Clang————!!!
Numerous cut marks appeared on the surrounding air and ground!
"Let me carefully feel your Way of the Sword."
"Likewise! You'd better not hold anything back!"
Sword light erupted!
An exchange so blurred that not even an afterimage could be left behind!
Even the aftershocks were massive, unstoppable slashes!
Iaian was originally still immersed in the shocking scene of this pure exchange of swordsmanship.
But a flying slash that grazed past him and streaked toward the sky...
...instantly made him feel as if death were right at his doorstep, making his hair stand on end!
"Everyone! Fall back quickly and leave more space for Master and Mr. Aokiji!"