Taking a deep breath of the cold air, Shinomiya Saki stomped her left foot onto the icy ground, sending a surge of spiritual power into it. In an instant, massive ice mirrors rose up all around. Snowflakes swirled in the air, shrouding James's vision as Saki's figure disappeared into the frost.
James glanced around at the towering ice mirrors now surrounding him. With a swift slash, he struck one diagonally, shattering it — but it regenerated almost instantly. Dozens of reflective surfaces cast his image in every direction, making it difficult to discern the real enemy's position.
Using ice mirrors to confuse my vision? Clever.
James had no intention of using the Transparent World just yet. Calm and composed, he strolled leisurely through the mirrored labyrinth, carefully observing his surroundings.
Suddenly—a stream of light approached at high speed!
Twisting his left foot, he dodged to the side just in time.
Crack!
The glowing streak struck an ice mirror and exploded into powder—revealing itself to be an ice arrow.
So that's the purpose of the longbow. Without a spiritual energy signature, these arrows are nearly undetectable. Coupled with the mirrors to distort direction… it's a brilliant tactic.
James dodged a second arrow, tilting his upper body at just the right angle.
In the audience, tension grew thick. This wasn't a direct confrontation—this was a siege crafted with tactical precision.
"Teacher Ayano… is this what you were planning?"
Shinomiya Hiroshi, Saki's father and head of the Shinomiya family, sat in the clan's reserved viewing area beside Shinomiya Ayano.
"Yes," she nodded. "Only with this kind of strategy can we stand a chance. The gap between them is still substantial."
"Haha," Hiroshi chuckled faintly, "I think it's good to let Saki decide for herself."
Back in the teacher's section, Instructor Yuanshan was visibly nervous, eyes glued to the platform.
James, she's trying to force your hand—don't fall for it! If you keep letting her drag this out, she'll exhaust herself. You'll win anyway!
Indeed, in terms of total spiritual power and physical endurance, Shinomiya Saki was clearly at a disadvantage. Her wide-area attacks were impressive but unsustainable. It was only a matter of time before her energy ran dry.
On the other hand, James's spiritual energy was vast—almost unfathomable. From beginning to end, his aura had barely fluctuated.
This is her bet. She's counting on James refusing to win with brute force.
Ayano had taught her well: if you're outmatched, you must take risks. Real battles are rarely fair. You won't always face someone weaker. Sometimes, you have to gamble everything to stand a chance.
Apparently, her gamble had worked.
James was preparing to use Hedao.
Not because he wanted to end the match in one move—but because he was curious. He wanted to see just how far she would take her plan.
Tightening his grip, James's right hand pulsed with power. The blade began to glow red. The rising temperature caused the ice underfoot to melt rapidly.
He burned two holes beneath his feet. Steam hissed as water evaporated into mist—but the intense heat dried it instantly.
"He Dao!"
A cry erupted from the stands.
Shinomiya Ayano's eyes lit up with anticipation.
It worked!
The teachers watching knew instantly—this was a trap. Instructor Yuanshan began sweating.
The crowd, however, had no idea. Seeing James prepare Hedao sent waves of excitement through the audience. Tens of thousands of people shouted his name in unison, energized as if injected with adrenaline.
As the mist parted, James saw her—Shinomiya Saki, standing behind the melted ice, her pale blue eyes calm and unwavering.
He took a step forward—and struck down.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!
The platform erupted. Ice exploded into shards, scattering into the air like glittering shrapnel. Even the protective barrier rippled under the pressure.
Everything in the sword's path disintegrated into dust.
On the stage, a massive chasm cracked open across the ground, cleaving through where Shinomiya Saki had stood.
Victory? The crowd erupted in cheers.
But then—her body began to shimmer and fade. It wasn't her—it was an ice statue.
The illusion shattered into fragments.
Far across the arena, another chunk of ice reshaped itself into human form—it was the real Shinomiya Saki!
A hush fell over the crowd. First, there were gasps, then whispers, then a wave of stunned discussions.
She tricked him!
James's sword dissolved into ash mid-air, crumbling from the hilt outward. He was now weaponless.
An ice clone? Very well thought out. Without using Transparent World, it's nearly impossible to identify the real one.
In the audience, Ayano allowed herself a rare smile. Her strategy had paid off.
Even Shinomiya Hiroshi raised an eyebrow in admiration.
Referee Shinji Nitta pushed up his glasses.
"This… is getting interesting."
Koji Karita, seated next to his father Naoto, furrowed his brows. Something about the flow felt off.
Shido and Hikaru clenched the railings tightly, their palms slick with sweat.
Mochizuki's friends covered their mouths, overwhelmed by the sudden twist.
Are we… actually going to lose?
Only Mochizuki kept her faith. Her fists were clenched tightly, her eyes never wavering.
James gently dropped the sword hilt—but didn't panic.
Instead, he looked up calmly, studying the girl before him.
She's the type of person who surprises you every time.
White hair, blue eyes, porcelain skin, a slender figure, and a delicate, serene face. She didn't seem cold—in fact, she looked gentle.
"Sorry… I used a few tricks."
Saki's voice was soft, almost apologetic.
Even her voice is pleasant. No wonder she's been top of the popularity list for years.
"No need to apologize," James replied with a smile. "I'd be disappointed if you tried to fight me head-on."
"You're not giving up?"
"Why would I?"
"Because… you no longer have a sword. And you're a swordsman."
James smiled and slowly shook his head.
After a brief pause, Saki made her move.
Putting aside her longbow, she raised both arms and summoned eight massive ice dragons. A thunderous roar followed as the colossal serpents charged toward James, their massive forms cutting through the air like falling mountains.
The audience gasped. Shinji Nitta prepared to intervene. Some spectators shut their eyes—no one wanted to witness something tragic.
Crash! SNAP! BOOM!
Suddenly—
A slender hand, glowing faintly, cut through the air like a blade.
With a single graceful motion, James struck.
The eight massive ice dragons shattered instantly—reduced to shards! Ice exploded outward, raining across the arena.
Shinomiya Saki's lips parted slightly in disbelief. And she wasn't alone. Over 10,000 spectators sat frozen in shock. Their minds couldn't keep up with what they'd just witnessed.
James stood there calmly.
"Shinomiya-san," he said gently, "the first thing I want to teach you—never judge the world by common sense."
Stunned silence.
"Even if I don't have a sword in my hand… I have one in my heart. And so, everything around me can be a sword."
Those simple words seemed to awaken everyone.
As early as his time in the Demon Slayer world, James had considered the possibility of not having a suitable blade after returning to the main world. After years of training, he developed a method that allowed him to use his body and surroundings as extensions of his swordsmanship.
Though it was roughly 30% weaker than with a real sword, it was still formidable enough to defeat most opponents.
After all, the chance of being unarmed was rare—but never impossible.
The audience burst into a frenzy. Some people jumped to their feet, others stumbled over themselves in excitement. A wild wave of applause filled the air.
Mochizuki exhaled deeply in relief.
Shido and Hikaru embraced, overwhelmed with joy.
James tilted his head.
"So… shall we go another round?" he asked casually, clearly curious if Saki had any more surprises.
Shinomiya Saki looked around, sighed lightly, and checked her spiritual energy reserves.
Finally, she shook her head.
"…I abstain."
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
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