Chapter 262: Nine Stars Alignment!
"You said… swordsmanship?!"
"What kind of joke is that? Why would I go learn something like that…"
While listening to his words, Kuroudo did his best to adjust his somewhat rapid breathing.
"Sigh."
Luke sighed slightly.
"You possess reflexes that are different from ordinary people, right?"
Luke used an affirmative sentence for these words.
Leaving aside the fact that he originally knew this matter, just from the technique of four flashes in one slash that the other party had displayed during their exchange just now, Luke could tell.
An amateur who didn't even know how to hold a sword properly could display such a high-level technique that even Stella couldn't achieve. There must be a secret hidden within.
The fastest neural reflex speed of an ordinary person was around 0.3 seconds. Even a strong person who had gone through training could only shorten it to 0.1 seconds at the lowest.
This was the limit of normal humans.
People like Ikki and Stella were currently only around 0.13 seconds as well.
But Kurashiki Kuroudo's neural reflex speed had reached an astonishing 0.05 seconds.
This was already an "abnormality" that surpassed the limits of humans.
This meant that in the time an ordinary person made one movement, Kuroudo could make two or even three movements.
The four flashes in one slash he displayed was precisely a sword technique developed based on this ability, "Marginal Counter."
"Possessing this kind of talent but not practicing martial arts, you really are wasting your potential."
Kurashiki Kuroudo's ability could be considered extremely excellent.
Because neural reflex speed is the fundamental speed governing all actions.
No matter how one trained the body, how one polished moves, or how one constructed tactics, if one was already slow at the very first step, then inherently, one was at a disadvantage.
"I heard that you had a duel with Kaito-san under the fair condition of not using magic power or Device, and defeated him in battle."
"To be honest, judging from the feeling I got when exchanging blows with you just now, even if Kaito-san's strength had declined because of illness, I still don't think you could defeat a swordsmanship master."
"What you relied on was this innate talent, right?"
Unfortunately, this ability did not work on Luke.
Kuroudo's "Marginal Counter" was actually very simple to break.
The only difference was whether one could do it or not.
Whether it was predicting the opponent's attack pattern ahead of time, or making it so that even if the opponent was one step faster, they still could not catch up to your speed, methods like these could easily break Kuroudo's ability.
However, Luke chose an even more direct method.
That was: my neural reflex speed only needed to be even faster than yours.
With the support of Falna, Luke's body, under the effect of divine blood, had long since surpassed ordinary humans.
What Kuroudo could do, Luke could do as well, and even faster than him.
That was why Kuroudo's attacks were so easily blocked by him.
"You're the first person to see through my 'Marginal Counter' in our first exchange. As expected of someone who could obtain the title of 'Sword Emperor.'"
"But you're getting ahead of yourself!"
"Asking me to learn swordsmanship? Saying I'm wasting my talent? Ha! You can talk big after you defeat me!"
"I haven't lost yet, Hebigami!"
Whoosh—!
The Device "Orochimaru," which had turned into a long whip, suddenly split into four in midair just like its previous odachi form.
The whip-blades drew four strange curves and attacked Luke at the same time!
Clang, clang, clang, clang—!
The sound of weapons clashing rang out again, and everything seemed to return to how it was before.
Kuroudo attacked while Luke defended, and the intense battle unfolded once again.
However, this time, it ended even faster than before.
Bang—!
The whip-blade was bounced away by the Sword Sheath of Tranquility and smashed heavily into the ground.
"Haa, haa, ha…"
Kuroudo, who had stopped his offense, kept panting.
His shoulders and chest rising and falling violently all showed his current state.
"Do you still not understand?"
They were both exchanging blows, and they were both moving at speeds far beyond ordinary people, but Luke's state was completely opposite to Kuroudo's.
His calm and composed appearance seemed to be telling the other party, "I've only just started warming up."
"You, who don't understand swordsmanship at all, have a large number of useless movements in the process of swinging your sword."
"Your posture is wrong, your force exertion is wrong, your angle is wrong. All of these are wasting your stamina."
"I don't even need to do anything. I only need to keep up with your speed, and naturally, you yourself will walk toward defeat."
Saying this, Luke placed the Sword Sheath of Tranquility back at his waist.
He had only just finished eating with Stella earlier. It was common sense that one should not do strenuous exercise after a meal.
Even though his current body could already ignore such common sense, he would still try his best to act according to what Fan Xinglu had once required.
If necessary, he naturally did not mind breaking the rule, but when it was unnecessary, Luke was still very strict with himself.
After successfully completing his post-meal exercise and warm-up through the other party's attacks, Luke no longer intended to waste time.
The instant he returned the Sword Sheath of Tranquility along with Ser-Veresta to his waist and took his stance, Kuroudo suddenly felt a shudder rise from the bottom of his heart.
Just the passing of this aura made him feel as though he had been cut by a blade.
His whole body trembled unconsciously. For a time, Kuroudo felt as if he was directly facing death.
"Ha…"
"Hahaha!"
"As expected! As expected, swordsmen are good!"
"This tension in a standoff is on a completely different level from those idiots."
"It's been a full two years since my battle with the 'Last Samurai'!"
"This thrill of facing a true powerhouse, it's truly been a long time!"
Luke looked at Kuroudo, whose fighting spirit suddenly rose, and smiled with some satisfaction.
"No matter what, your will is still worthy of praise."
"You asked me just now why I suggested you learn swordsmanship, right? Since that's the case, I'll give you a reason."
"I hope that the next time we meet, you can give me a surprise."
After saying this, Luke stepped hard on the ground, and his entire body rapidly closed in on Kuroudo.
"What a terrifying monster."
Kuroudo looked at Luke, who had approached him in an instant, without the slightest retreat!
The Device "Orochimaru," which had changed back into an odachi, swung toward his opponent with an unstoppable momentum.
This strike was Kurashiki Kuroudo's full power!
The limit of his "Marginal Counter" was far more than just 0.05 seconds. He could still go faster!
Four flashes in one slash? No! That was still not enough!
"Yamata no Orochi!!!"
Exhausting all his strength! Eight blade lights slashed out at the same time in a single instant!
The eight-headed great serpent-like white bone bared its fangs and attacked Luke!
However, in the next instant.
Everyone present saw those dazzling stars!
Ser-Veresta, which was suddenly unsheathed, bloomed with light for the first time in this world.
A single sword light instantly exploded, turning into nine bright stars that shone in the air!
Star Swordsmanship · Nine Stars Alignment!
The starlight mercilessly swallowed the great serpent.
This sword technique, improved based on Kuzuryūsen, instantly broke through Kuroudo's Yamata no Orochi.
In the final moments before Kuroudo lost consciousness.
Only one thought remained in his mind.
"So this is swordsmanship…"