"Hey! Siegfried! How did you defend against that!?"
Exasperated at not having his question answered, Jin repeated it with greater force. Siegfried does not look his way, maintaining focus on Kagutsuchi and answers shortly from that position.
"Be careful of where you look. That unbelievable speed is due to a "Divine Blessing"."
""Divine Blessing"...? What in the world is that?"
Unfamiliar with the term, the list of questions grows.
"It's a type of innate ability that a person is either born with or awaken later in life. I've seen many of these abilities in my own life, and so many of them are rather troublesome to deal with in their own way. With this one... My guess is that he can instantly travel to a point in a person's field of view that he himself is observing."
Revealing the nature of one of Kagutsuchi's skills, he crinkles his brow and tightens his grip. From that reaction, Siegfried reached the conclusion that he was correct.
"To cripple that ability, -Jin! You switch to purely defense. And in the meanwhile, me and Daiji will beat him black and blue. But we won't kill him just yet if we can actually avoid it, though I'm unsure. I still have a heap of questions I want him to answer."
"Such things does not matter at all before superior swordsmanship."
The standoff grows long and both Kagutsuchi and Daiji are impatient by Siegfried's explanations. The three of the main combatants grip their weapons and kick up powerful gusts of winds as they lunge at each other. In their wake, Jin has to cover his eyes to defend.
It takes a moment for him to regain his senses and the state of urgency. With a short stammer, he manages to speak the words "[Block off]!". Conveying his intentions to the debris through his powerful command and motion. Understanding what to do, all of the scattered pieces come together to complete the puzzle. Erecting many shoddy walls around Siegfried, Kagutsuchi and Daiji. Serving as cover for his allies to hide behind.
Because Siegfried could sense Magical Energy, the walls posed no obstacle. Not that he really needed to as Kagutsuchi's aura of oppressiveness could mark his location to even complete novices in magic, or any other form of offensive art for that matter.
Creating a strong gust in its wake, Kagutsuchi unleashed a strike filled with a majority of his remaining strength. Sweat seeping out of his nearly airtight grip. However, after the attack that had split heaven and earth, it was clear that his power had depleted due to that and the numerous grave and lesser wounds that cover his body from head to toe.
He was basically a walking corpse only held together by Ki and sheer willpower. And closing off the wounds was not cheap whatsoever. If this was any normal, heck even a Saint-level individual, they would die in the matter a few minutes. But luckily for Kagutsuchi, thanks to a long life filled with many feasts of all kinds of beasts, his capacity of Ki was way higher than people like Siegfried, who by no means have a meager supply. It was only that, Kagutsuchi's capacity just as large as a dragon, which requires vast amounts to keep themselves alive and breathe fire among other things.
However, that supply too had been chipped away by wounds, the maintenance of his thick defense, the Divine Blessing of "Float Foot" and most prominently of all, that one immature slash more powerful than anything Siegfried had ever seen. Due to these factors, Kagutsuchi could indeed be called a walking corpse. A clear visual confirmation of this was that his aura, while still retaining its intensity upon a first impression, the size had shrunk back into his own vessel of a body.
Even if he massacred Siegfried, his companions and everyone in the adjacent battlefield, he would die. His own idiotic decision that only managed to sever one measly arm had welcomed Death's sharp scythe.
Without a word this time, Siegfried points the so called wand at the glaive, unleashing a spear of lighting-like white. Traversing the air in the shape of a drawn out spiral. Much Magical Energy was clearly put into it, for when it collided with the blade of the glaive, it forced the weapon and Kagutsuchi to bounce backwards along with the shockwave the impact created.
When Kagutsuchi looked back down after regaining his footing, Siegfried had vanished, and instead he saw the many newly erected walls around him. Though, they lacked proper foundations. A single light jab from him would easily tear them down.
His vertical slit eyes move rapidly around, searching his surroundings for Siegfried and Daiji. For a moment, he senses the presence of hostility behind him and reacts at once. Smashing his tail in that direction and following up with the glaive in a circular motion.
"-ah!"
Siegfried quickly jumps back to avoid the deadly combo.
"-kuh!"
As the glaive dances through the air, it abruptly stops as Kagutsuchi lets out a paining groan. His body slightly staggers. He holds one arm to his chest, forced to move around the blade poking out, and another to the wound he received from the now retired Yuu.
Utilizing this perfect moment, Siegfried silently lets another spear of light fly at the vulnerable Kagutsuchi. But thrown off due to his earlier dodge, the magic grazes Kagutsuchi's upper shoulder. Breaking the armored scales around the impact zone away into countless fragments. Leaving only a squishy dark-red crater. A sore spot of gouged flesh.
Kagutsuchi's eyes widened in surprise at how easily his scales had been destroyed, but swiftly regained his desperate composure. Discarding question, he only thinks about killing every last one of them right here and now. No regard for his own well-being.
A faint whistling pierces his ear and he turns to block Daiji. Which was for the first time against the one-armed man's heightened state surprisingly actually successful. As their weapons crashed into each other with great force, the loud metallic clang impales the listeners ears. Forcing them to wince in reaction.
The two engaged in mortal combat quickly recuperated and sent a new strike flying at the other. And again. And again. Each time sending a piercing screech echoing far and wide. The winds the weapons conjured threatening to blow away the covers Jin had painstakingly set up, quivering in fear. Siegfried popped in from time to time to send a white spear at the preoccupied Kagutsuchi. Unfortunately, the hit ratio kept shrinking for each attempt.
Daiji's eyes are filled with raw determination hacking away at his opponent. Ignoring the disturbing sounds around them. They carefully and harshly judge Kagutsuchi's movements and actions, looking for a perfect opportunity to strike at the green scales. Quietly eying the blade deeply embedded in them.
His hand silently paints with the blade. It's soquiet, he thinks to himself. It feels as if everything is moving in slow motion. The pain and fatigue is non-existent. Enabling him to observe every detail around him. The flimsy walls, Siegfried aiding him from close by, Kagutsuchi, himself and all of their sweat and blood flying through the air. Their fighting spirits- their Ki clashing both inside and outside of their weary bodies.
Is this the peak that I've been striving for? This... "Silence", this Tranquility?
He silently and vaguely wonders as he is focused on continuing the relentless barrage. Neither he nor Kagutsuchi missing a single chance to attack, block and counter.
Which of the two opposing forces will remain victorious? Kagutsuchi's violent desperation or Daiji's calm tranquility?
...
While Kagutsuchi and Daiji were going at it full force, Jin himself was engaged in a battle just as intense. Using his National Treasure, an artifact stemming form this land's rich history. A peak that the most skilled craftsmen in Azuma aimed for. Utilizing its ability in such quick succession was no easy feat. Weaving the war fan through the air in a fierce dance that sent the sweat flying off his body, he endured. All of his muscles screaming in pain and with an internal temperature that was rising.
His voice had become hoarser from shouting all the endless commands. Doing his very best to create new covers and maintain them. That way paralyzing Kagutsuchi's Divine Blessing, Float Foot, his ability to instantaneously travel to somewhere in a person field of view that he is observing.
To be able to effectively use this Divine Blessing, there had to be at least two opponents and required the one that he could see had the other in their line of sight. With these conditions fulfilled, he could appear right behind them and sever their life with one swing. But thanks to Jin's covers, Siegfried was hidden somewhere in the thicket of walls. Completely invisible to Kagutsuchi. Rendering his extremely useful blessing useless in this particular situation.
The torrent of blades intermingling continued on as the stalemate slowly drew Kagutsuchi towards exhaustion. Daiji too, most likely, though he was not aware of it himself. Both let their weapons dance in magnificent arcs. Conjuring the same winds and loud clanging as before.
Daiji could clearly see that the impatience in Kagutsuchi was reaching its peak as neither of them had wounded the other in many tens of exchanges. With his right arm remaining the only one, he skillfully maneuvered it to block every swing and attack from Kagutsuchi from all possible directions. Occasionally dodging and still maintaining his pressure on the dragon-kin.
Spotting an opening in one of the dodges, Kagutsuchi swings his glaive in a horizontal line from right to left.
Out from the labyrinth of walls, Siegfried dashed in between the two of them, holding up a mirror as if it was a shield. Kagutsuchi's eyes were naturally drawn to the silver rim of the glimmering mirror. Unable to look away from it, he still continued the swing of the glaive uninterrupted, even if his attention had been captured.
As the glaive picked up momentum, it sliced through the air to his right. Completely contrary to where he had intended to move. He quickly regained his composure and moved once more, aiming for Siegfried again. But this time too, he ended up facing the opposite direction from what he had intended.
He gazed at the wrong direction. Bewildered at why his body had disobeyed.He attacks again only to reach the same result. No matter what he intended, his body had other plans. He notices movement coming from above. Reacting to the incoming danger, he looks up, only to have his vision forced downwards by his own muscles.
He is too slow to react. A bright glimmer shines for a moment. And in the next, Kagutsuchi's upper left arm has been severed with one clean cut from Daiji's treasured blade. The blood spray is immense. Flowing freely through the air and soaking the ground in red liquid.
Kagutsuchi is unable to even kneel in pain due to the strange phenomena affecting his body. He can only flail around aimlessly and helplessly. Even when he notices the second strike approaching rapidly at his neck, he cannot respond properly.
He feels the thin, sharp blade glide through his scales and flesh as if cutting butter with a hot knife. Seamlessly it traces a straight line from one end to another. No pain is present where he has been cut and no blood has spilt out. That is the height of how perfect Daiji's sword slash was. Something achieved at the peak of swordsmanship.
Paralyzed with anticipation, Kagutsuchi stands there motionless. Waiting for the pain to come to life and for more blood to fly. Siegfried is on his left. Still shielding himself with the mirror and Daiji is kneeling in the aftermath of his peerless attack.
Each passing second feels like countless minutes. All three stand completely still. Waiting for the wounds to appear on Kagutsuchi's body. He notices that Siegfried's attention is diverted by Daiji. Allowed to remain in control of his own sight, Kagutsuchi slowly moves it towards Daiji as well. Careful not to move his head, lest it should fall off this very moment.
He gazes at Daiji together with Siegfried in the slow eternity. Unsure of what is going to happen, the next instant makes everything clear. As the blood of a newly cut wound seeps out, Daiji is breathing hard while being unable to put pressure on his own red neck.
"Kh!"
Siegfried lets out a muffled cry at the new turn of events.
Instead of Kagutsuchi being gravely wounded some more, Daiji has received a cut no one created on the exact same area that Kagutsuchi himself had been cut. While both Daiji and Siegfried are unable to move for their own reasons, Kagutsuchi's eyes slowly relaxes. Peering at the wounded Daiji, his mind comes to one certain understanding.
"… Heh… Hehe… Hehahaha! So that's what this is, huh!? Playing dice with your own life on the line."
A dry laughter fills the castle ruins as Kagutsuchi can do nothing else but laugh at the situation. Laughing both at his own newfound fortune, and out of respect for his opponent's bravery. Steadying his breathing and forcing the neck-wound shut, Daiji lets out an exasperated voice, slightly hoarse from all the fighting.
"~Sigh~ I do not enjoy leaving things to fate. But against someone like you, it is unfortunately a necessity."
"You can say that again."
As he speaks those final words, Kagutsuchi slices the silver mirror in two, the glass shattering into a million pieces. His body free from whatever magic had manipulated him, Kagutsuchi let no moment go to waste as he again gained the upper hand thanks to this surprising twist.
…
The heat of the battlefield scorched their bodies. Bathing in it, Haruto stood opposite of the "Bowman".
Around them and behind them, the scattered warriors had picked themselves up and had formed a large circle around the two's duel while fighting against their own opponents. Now that the rain of arrows had been stopped, the Azuma warriors had found a new wind watching Haruto go toe to toe with the bowman. Inspiring a newfound resolve, allowing them to push their bodies further, even if just very slightly.
The pain that had been growing inside of Haruto's body had vanished together with the fatigue. In his current state of body and mind, everything felt so quiet and peaceful, and so incredibly light. The sword in his hand felt as if it wasn't even there. As if it was an illusion or delusion.
Right now, no feeling inhabited him other than his goal of cutting down the bowman, the ring-bearer in front of him. Every other thought unrelated to that goal had evaporated into smoke and dissipated the moment he had strengthened his resolve and attained this state of swordsmanship.
Moving a few quick steps, Haruto closes in on the bowman who had been forced to discard his bow, now that he had only one good arm remaining. The bowman moved back just in time to only be grazed by the sharp tip of Haruto's sword.
A thin line of blood trails down the bowman's torso and down to his feet. His face didn't so much as tinge. The expression held only thirst for battle, thrusting his claws at Haruto the first chance he got. Marking multiple red line across his cheek.
Using the disabled arm as a makeshift shield, the bowman sacrificed it to Haruto's next slash. A sharp metallic screech rang out and the severed arm went flying as it splattered even more blood around them.
The bowman swiftly tip-toed behind Haruto and delivered another slash to his body. Deeper than the previous. However, in his current tranquil state, he didn't so much as flinch. The pain not registering with his mind. Instead he followed up with more sword strikes, sometimes missing and other times not.
The bowman swung his lump of a left arm, spraying blood in Haruto's eye in an effort to blind him, but the tactic only hit his bandaged eye. His hawklike vision remaining intact. He pierced his sword through the air, cutting into the bowman's ribcage, chipping the bones. the bowman quickly retreated back at the gift of new wounds.
The bowman's breathing was getting heavier, his body rapidly approaching its limits. Even for a dragon-kin this was too taxing. He was surprised at how he was even able to keep himself standing. Maybe it was because of the feeling of bloodlust that emanated from deep within his body, his soul.
Death was already standing beside him. It wouldn't even be a shock if he were to die the very next second. It was natural after all. He had picked a fight and was losing that fight. For the defeated, death would be a natural reaction, especially here in Azuma, where a warriors honor and spirit was valued far more than on the Central Continent.
In his mind, the bowman had already made his peace with whatever outcome that would befall him. The feeling of bloodlust faded a little. He glanced at Haruto who stood a couple of meters away, glaring intently and with blade pointed for his heart. The bowman stood there slightly hunched over and mumbled to himself:
"Fighting nothing but beasts like a beast has made my abilities deteriorate…"
His reptilian eyes were calm and collected. The look in those eyes betraying the rest of his appearance.
"It seems that our two hundred years was far too short to begin dreaming of home again. To think we were worthy of it."
He closed his soft eyes. Deep in thought. About what, Haruto could not tell. The bowman's behavior was far too strange for Haruto to possibly understand. The one single thing that did slip through the cage that a person is, the one feeling that managed to get conveyed to Haruto was a lust for a peaceful rest.
His grip on the katana loosened and he raised himself upright. The bowman did not move. He just stood completely still, letting the blood run out. Blade at his side, Haruto took slow steps towards the dragon-kin. The crunching of his sandals felt deafening. Blotting out all others on this battlefield. Until finally, he reached the bowman's feet.
The bowman did not move. Instead, understanding that Haruto was willing to grant his wish he asked:
"What is your name, young one?"
Hesitating for a moment, Haruto answered.
"Iiyama Haruto."
"Thank you, Haruto… The struggle of our peoples was more than likely meaningless. But we needed something, you know? A dream, a wish. Something to keep us going through the worst of times."
Haruto's watchful eye quivered slightly. Feeling unsure, he readied his blade. He is shocked by the lack of resistance from the sturdy and scaly body as the glimmering sword thrusts right through the bowman.
Before the end the dragon-kin let out a quiet grunt and a soft whisper.
"Thank you. I'm happy I could at least die a man…"
With a thud, the body slumps to the ground. A smile carved upon the scaly face. Both terrifying and incredibly...
Haruto didn't know. He didn't know anything at all. And before he could even give it any serious thought, a wave of horrific pain assaulted him and the world became red.
"AARGH!!"
He was forced to let go of his blade and the pressure pushed him down to his knees. He felt as if he was literally on fire. The pain in his old wounds resurfaced tenfold and his arms, his arms felt like countless broken pieces of bone and melted flesh.
Now lying helplessly on the ground, his body convulsed many times. He didn't manage to focus on anything but the searing pain.
As he was forced by his own body into hibernation he witnessed the sight of many people either collapsing to the ground or standing totally disoriented and confused. The last coherent thought Haruto formed before venturing into dreamland was a feeling of content. Having fulfilled the task he had entrusted himself and that his uncle had high hopes for.