Chapter 249 - Returning it to you
Unlike those swordsmen who practiced a single style from childhood, Roy's talent came from System replication.
After fighting countless monsters in the dungeon and achieving Level 6, his swordsmanship had reached peak.
Therefore, he did not stick to any specific school.
Just like the Ayatsuji Itto-ryu learned from Kaito, it was merely borrowed by Roy, becoming nourishment for his growth.
The swordsmanship Roy used today was technically similar to Kuraudo's style.
But unlike Kuraudo's messy brawling, Roy's formless style was brilliant enough to compare with any advanced school.
Based on Roy's understanding, even if his current pattern was seen through by Ikki, he could simply switch to a different style instantly.
Roy's style was all-encompassing. He could try and accept everything. Switching styles was as easy as breathing.
Hearing Roy's words about habit, Ikki's expression changed suddenly. The pressure he had alleviated by analyzing Roy returned with a vengeance.
He could feel that the sword intent had fundamentally changed.
The strength of the slash, the angle, the speed, everything was different.
Most swordsmen, even masters, carry strong personal traces in their movements regardless of the technique used.
However, Roy's sudden shift made Ikki feel like he was facing a completely different person. If not for the fact that Roy was still standing in front of him, Ikki would have sworn his opponent had been swapped.
The only constant was the powerful suppression brought by this new style.
Ikki had thought that by seeing through Roy, he could counter suppress him. But in the blink of an eye, Roy had switched styles and the suppression didn't decrease, it intensified.
"It's the first time I've met someone who makes me feel so helpless in swordsmanship!"
Ikki realized his Blade Steal was useless against Roy. Unless he wanted to imitate the style Roy was using right now. But who knew if Roy would just switch again?
According to Ikki's judgment, the probability was extremely high.
"You are also the only one I have met who can compete with me in swordsmanship!" Roy smiled faintly, making no secret of his admiration.
It wasn't empty praise. Roy could assert that in terms of pure technique, Ikki Kurogane was among the best in the world.
Ikki laughed a little bitterly. It was getting harder to resist Roy's blade. If Roy's previous style was a violent storm, this new one was a silent drizzle...penetrating, pervasive and impossible to block completely.
The blade constantly disrupted Ikki's rhythm, leading him step by step into Roy's trap.
'I can't use Roy's sword skills anymore!'
Ikki realized his mistake. He had tried to use Blade Steal to suppress Roy, but Roy was the master of that style. Using it against him was futile.
It can only be this way!
Ikki's heart skipped a beat. When their blades crossed again, just as Roy was about to counter the vibration of the clash, Ikki made his move.
"ITTOU SHURA!"
Ikki glared angrily, his aura exploding outward. The power flowing from Intetsu suddenly increased dozens of times!
BOOM!
The sudden surge caught Roy by surprise, pushing him back six or seven meters for the first time.
"Roy, your strength is truly monstrous. Even with Ittou Shura, I could only push you back this far."
Mana permeated from Ikki's entire body, surging like a broken dam.
He was shocked. Although he had guessed Roy was holding back, he hadn't expected Ittou Shura to have such a minimal effect.
Against an ordinary opponent, that burst would have sent them flying out of the arena.
"Ittou Shura?"
Roy finally saw Ikki's strongest trump card. It was the technique he had been waiting for.
"Incredible. The magic power you are showing now doesn't look like Rank F at all," Roy praised.
"My total mana hasn't increased. I'm just burning everything I have in a single burst," Ikki explained, his voice strained. "Just for this one minute!"
"In this minute, with my weakest power, I will break your strongest!"
Ikki's eyes burned with determination. Amidst the high pitched announcement, he rushed toward Roy.
"Fourth Secret Sword: Shinkirou!"
In the state of Ittou Shura, Ikki's movement speed exceeded the limits of human dynamic vision. He moved like a flash of light.
In an instant, he appeared in front of Roy, swinging Intetsu.
Facing this blow, Roy stepped forward and swung Ascalon to intercept. But the moment the blades should have connected, Ascalon passed right through.
"An afterimage?"
Roy wasn't surprised. He had seen through the mystery of Shinkirou immediately. Unlike the previous Secret Swords, this wasn't an offensive or defensive move. It was a footwork technique designed to create visual hallucinations by oscillating speed.
"Seventh Secret Sword: Raikou!"
Almost at the same moment Roy slashed the afterimage, Ikki's real blade struck from the left.
Ikki excelled at creating tactical opportunities to compensate for his lack of magic. Using Shinkirou as bait to lure Roy into committing to an attack, then following up with Raikou at close range.
Under Ittou Shura, the speed of Raikou was terrifying. At this range, it was unavoidable.
"Hit!"
Ikki thought he had landed a clean blow on Roy for the first time.
"How?!"
However, what surprised Ikki was that Raikou didn't strike flesh. It passed through Roy's body as if hitting smoke. The image of Roy distorted and vanished.
"This is...!"
Ikki's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Returning it to you. Fourth Secret Sword: Shinkirou!"
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