A pillar of radiant light still surrounded Yamamoto.
Slowly…His newly transformed sword descended from the heavens.
The blade floated vertically. Its tip pointed toward the earth and It's hilt faced the sky. Yamamoto calmly reached out with his right hand.
His fingers wrapped around the hilt. The instant he held it the surrounding air became heavier. He lightly swung the blade to his side. Nothing seemed to happen. Then…BOOOOOM!!
The ground fractured into countless pieces. Massive slabs of earth rose into the air before crashing back down. Even the distant mountains trembled.
Yamamoto slowly raised the sword. Its tip pointed directly at Kaelven and Kimotsu.
"Come…Your deaths will be mythical."
Kaelven stared at the sword. This is an enemy we have no chance against…
From the start…We are already fighting with our lives on the line. His grip tightened around his sword.
Then…He smiled.
"A wall we cannot yet break… But somehow…I still want to fight this man."
Kaelven glanced toward Kimotsu.
"Ready for another round, bro?"
Kimotsu smiled.
"I'm always ready."
Yamamoto chuckled.
"Let's go again, youngins."
The two exploded forward. Kaelven took the lead. Kimotsu followed a step behind.
The distance vanished instantly, Kaelven swung horizontally. Yamamoto calmly intercepted it.
CLANG!
"Strength won't be enough."
Kaelven smiled.
"We already know that."
He immediately ducked beneath Yamamoto's blade.
At that exact moment Kimotsu threw his sword. The spinning blade tore through the air.
Its tip stopped only inches from Yamamoto's forehead. Yamamoto calmly tilted his head to the right. The sword narrowly missed without hesitation he drove his knee upward.
BOOM! It slammed directly into Kaelven's stomach. Kaelven coughed blood. Kimotsu's voice echoed.
"Sword God Series…Wind Step."
His body dissolved into the wind. A gust swept around Yamamoto.
Kimotsu instantly appeared behind him. His hand caught the hilt of his returning sword. Without stopping he thrust toward Yamamoto's back.
At the exact same moment Kaelven recovered. He appeared behind Yamamoto's opposite side his sword was already descending. Yamamoto smiled.
"You took the bait."
Both warriors' eyes widened.
"Mythical Light."
His sword erupted with blinding brilliance. An overwhelming flash consumed the battlefield.
Kaelven and Kimotsu instinctively shut their eyes but it was too late. Yamamoto moved.
His blade slashed across Kimotsu's chest. Blood sprayed through the air. Without pausing he reversed the grip. The sword drove straight through Kaelven's stomach.
Both men were launched away. Kaelven skipped across the ground. He bounced several times before rolling to a stop.
He coughed blood.
Kimotsu crashed through several trees. Wood exploded around him. He finally landed flat on his back. Blood slowly flowed from the wound across his chest.
Yamamoto rested the mythical sword upon his shoulder.
"A swordsman should be tactical and witty."
Kaelven forced himself onto one elbow.
"…Kimotsu?"
Silence answered him.Several seconds later…A weak cough echoed from the forest.
"…Yeah…"
Kimotsu's breathing was ragged. Kaelven let out a relieved breath.
"Can you hold him off…for a few minutes?"
Kimotsu slowly pushed himself upright. Every movement hurt. He picked up his sword. Then walked out from the broken forest. Yamamoto smiled.
"Good. You have the qualities of a true swordsman."
Kimotsu looked toward Kaelven.
"How long?"
Kaelven closed one eye while calculating.
"Twenty minutes…Thirty at best."
Kimotsu nodded. He raised his sword.
"Got it."
Kaelven slowly lay flat upon his back. He folded his legs. Closed his eyes. Darkness surrounded him.
A memory surfaced. John stood over him during training.
"If you meet an enemy stronger than you…You don't try to overpower the individual. You have to outsmart them. That's the only way you'll win."
John folded his arms.
"And if that's not working…Then force your body to adapt."
He looked directly into Kaelven's eyes.
"You are from Zerathis. A place where killing is everything.By killing…You evolve. Since your arrival on Planet Kael'Ar…Your killing nature was suppressed. But…If you choose to express that part of yourself…It will cause you to fight better and adapt."
The memory faded and Kaelven slowly opened his eyes he remained seated completely still.
Meanwhile…Kimotsu and Yamamoto clashed continuously. Their swords collided over and over.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Every collision sent destructive shockwaves across the battlefield.
Trees collapsed, mountains cracked and the earth split apart.
Yamamoto suddenly swung vertically Kimotsu barely raised his sword. The blades collided. For one brief instant everything froze.
Then…CRACK!!
Kimotsu's sword shattered. The broken blade remained in his hand.
Yamamoto immediately followed. His kick slammed into Kimotsu's side. Kimotsu rolled helplessly across the ground. Blood continued pouring from his wounds.
His vision slowly blurred. Darkness crept into the edges of his sight. He still gripped the broken sword.
"No…I can't fall here..I have to hold out…until Kaelven is ready."
His consciousness faded. Yamamoto slowly walked toward him. He lifted the mythical sword.
"You did good, youngster. You're just not strong enough yet."
He brought the blade down suddenly Kimotsu vanished.
A deep slash suddenly appeared across his chest.
Blood spilled onto the ground. Yamamoto stared at his own wound. For the first time…Shock appeared on his face.
He slowly turned. Kimotsu stood behind him. Still holding the broken sword. Yamamoto's expression became serious.
"…God's Will?"
Narrator: God's Will is the ability to conjure the will of the concept of your Circuit.
In Kimotsu's case…He had manifested the will of the Sword God Futsunushi himself.
Yamamoto lowered his stance.
"I still have my orders…to kill you."
He vanished.
Appearing before Kimotsu. Kimotsu swung. Yamamoto barely leaned away a shallow cut appeared across his face. The slash continued beyond him. The ground split apart for miles. Yamamoto smiled.
"…That was close."
He instantly appeared before Kimotsu again. His mythical sword unleashed a barrage of slashes. Kimotsu calmly blocked every strike using only the broken blade.
Sparks rained endlessly through the sky. Kimotsu disappeared he reappeared behind Yamamoto. His broken sword descended.
Yamamoto blocked. The impact shook the battlefield. Kimotsu immediately kicked Yamamoto away before Yamamoto could recover Kimotsu chased after him.
His foot slammed into Yamamoto's chest. Yamamoto crashed toward the ground.
Kimotsu leapt after him preparing the finishing strike. Yamamoto rolled aside. He landed on his feet.
"Strike of the Mythical Warrior."
His sword descended vertically. Kimotsu crossed the broken blade before him. The impact launched him across the battlefield.
He flew into a distant mountain. The entire mountain shook from the collision.
Dust swallowed everything. Yamamoto slowly flew toward the mountain.
His mythical sword remained ready. Within the shattered mountain…Kimotsu finally lost consciousness.
The aura surrounding him faded. God's Will disappeared. Yamamoto raised his sword prepared to end the battle. Then he stopped…a monstrous killing intent erupted behind him.
For the first time in countless years…Yamamoto felt…Dread. He immediately turned.
Kaelven already stood before him. His sword was descending.
His eyes…Were hollow. Yamamoto barely managed to block.
BOOOOOOM!! The impact blasted him into the ground.
A massive crater erupted beneath him. Kaelven didn't pursue instead…He calmly walked toward the mountain.
He gently lifted Kimotsu onto his shoulder then placed him beneath a nearby tree. He looked at his unconscious companion.
"Thanks for holding out, bro…Now let me handle it."
He slowly turned with his sword in hand.
Walking toward Yamamoto. Yamamoto climbed out of the crater. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Then smiled.
"You guys really know how to surprise people. I must say…This era is full of talents."
Kaelven quietly drew his sword he didn't say a single word.