"Cunning boy, what kind of 'Demon Art' is this?!"
Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni squinted at the figure behind him,
Just now, the youth he had cleaved in two had inexplicably appeared behind him, aiming an identical downward slash at his back!
It turned out, unexpectedly,
Roy's identical vertical slash missed Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni just like his did!
"Buzz~" A scarlet gleam emerged from the boy's eyes, three jet-black tomoe slowly rotating within, reflecting in Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni's eyes, creating an intangible sense of oppressive otherworldliness!
The Sharingan activated, the illusion shattered... Roy clashed blades with Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, having anticipated that the 'feigned death' illusion he created wouldn't fool such a strong opponent, just like Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu failed to hypnotize him, broken easily by his spiritual pressure...
Roy blinked and said, "From the start, I told you, it's all... just Kyoka Suigetsu..."
As he spoke, he dropped his shoulder, reversed his grip for an upward slash, accompanied by Nen bursting forth, turning crimson, and all converting into the 'True Meaning of Blazing Heat',
The young man said calmly, "Ken, Zanka no Tachi!"
Again, a slash slicing through the night sky, condensing into a black as ink fine line that diagonally slashed towards Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni... "Whoosh~" A temperature nearly fifty thousand degrees had already surpassed his former self, crossing the sun's surface, entering the photosphere,
heading straight for Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni's face,
The elderly man's meticulously braided white beard hung in front, visible to the naked eye, he paused, and then re-focused, staring deeply at Roy, from deep within his seasoned eyes, a sudden explosion of unprecedented scorching divine light!
'Ken... Zanka no Tachi...' Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni savored Roy's upward slash, at the instant of the slash, about to strike his chest in 0.0001 seconds,
The old man's phantom-like blade intercepted Roy's again, just in time,
Then his right arm's veins bulged, carrying unmatched spiritual pressure fiercely pressing down on Roy, he coldly snorted and said, "Kid, you must know... He who imitates me will live, he who resembles me will die!"
"A swordsman must... forge his own path, that is the true way!"
"Ding~" A crisp sound echoed again as they clashed,
The immense force transmitted through the blade, like the surging tide of great rivers, suddenly crashing forward!
Roy felt a numbing in his forearm, the web between thumb and index finger split, barely managing to grip the 'Eclipse', his body followed... like a cannonball newly fired from the barrel, not even holding for a breath's time, immediately,
struck by Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni's inhuman power, rapid descent towards the ground!
Visible to the naked eye,
The youth wrapped in flames all around, like a meteor, trailing a long tail flame, piercing the night sky, crashing to the ground....
"Boom!"
A sound,
plummeting below the horizon,
causing the earth to seemingly shudder slightly,
frightening many into mistaking it for an earthquake, fleeing in panic!
"Namo Amitabha, neither seen... nor understood..."
A recitation of Buddha's name began, Gyomei Himejima sat down, Nichirin Sword bounced, then was heavily pressed down again by the monk, obediently quieted... This strongest Hashira, after Tsugikuni Yoriichi and Kokushibo left the Demon Slayer Corps,
today opened his Acupoints, enhanced by Nen, his strength surpassed past limits,
His gaze wandered between sky and earth, revolving, vaguely obscured, unable to distinguish, who was who....
"Did Lord Eiichiro Oda fall?"
Nervous, uneasy, anxious... spreading to every corner of the world,
Ubuyashiki Kagaya embraced Ubuyashiki Tengen, accompanied by Kazuki Zai, Kanae, and Kanao, anxiously watching the sky, then at the earth, waiting for the nearest Kyojuro Rengoku to receive the Kasugai Crow's message, rushing over, urgently inquired.
Kyojuro Rengoku with a white haori draped, silent, truthfully said: "Reporting to Lord, this battle is beyond my comprehension, I cannot discern who specifically fell."
The youngest Kazuki Zai, usually most idolizing Roy, practicing swordsmanship day and night, dreaming of one day receiving Roy's personal guidance, upon hearing, impatiently said: "Kyojuro-sama, can't you see?"
"Too fast, too bright, also too sharp," Kyojuro Rengoku slowly shook his head, said ponderingly, then deep breath: "The only certainty is, whether Lord Eiichiro Oda or his opponent, they've already transcended ordinary swordsmen's realm!"
The more he researched 'Nen', the more he understands the terror of divine power, realizes, there are always greater people beyond...!
Not just him, Kyojuro Rengoku thinks so,
Tokitou Muichirou, Shinazugawa Sanemi, Izuki Kobane, Tengen Uzui... Those who Roy helped open their Acupoints, personally made converts of are of similar thought—
ashamed of their previous narrow perspective, yet intensely curious about that 'sky' beyond the sky!
"Lord Eiichiro Oda won't fall!"
"I believe in him,"
"He could even slay Kibutsuji Muzan!"
"There's no swordsman greater than him!"
Kazuki Zai raised his fist, cheering not just for himself but also for Roy... Kyojuro Rengoku watched, speech halted, wanted to tell the youth... Kibutsuji Muzan doesn't even qualify to polish shoes for those two above!
But the discerning Ubuyashiki Kagaya noticed and shook his head to stop him!
The man, freed of curses, lived happily with his family, no longer seeking anything, wearing an endless gratitude for Roy with gentle voice laughed: "No need to struggle over who fell, who didn't..."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya opened his light-colored eyes deeply looking at the sky, the figure standing under the moon, said: "Look carefully, the other has not pursued, nor does he intend to land a final blow, showing no hostility, they are not enemies, perhaps....."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya squinted: "I suspect Lord Eiichiro Oda knows the other, maybe... he is one of the deities of the Divine Church."
"Just as expected of Lord!" Kyojuro Rengoku froze, suddenly enlightened, his eyes lit up noticeably!
An envoy from the Divine Church? So the Divine Church is even more powerful and mysterious than imagined!
"Glory to the sun!" Suddenly, a saying echoed within the Ubuyashiki Clan's site, followed by... more devout prayers and... blessings!
"Hiss—"
Pain... like heart-wrenching anguish seemingly becoming tangible at this moment......
On the ground,
In some secluded dark forest,
Has been abruptly struck into a deep, unfathomable man-shaped crater!
Through the moonlight, faintly visible,
A hand suddenly clawed the dirt and surfaced,
followed by... exposed visage, gray with dirt lying at the bottom, corners of the mouth twitching unceasingly Roy!
[Hint: "Swordsmanship" +100]
[Current "Swordsmanship": Level 4 (91240/100,000)]
[Note: Approx. 9000 points until level 5]
9000 points... equivalent to—90 swords!
'This was merely two swords,'
"I already broke eight ribs,"
"Millennia-old strongest Soul Reaper, as the name implies!"
The panel hint echoed......
Roy, enduring immense pain, awkwardly claw then climbed out from the pit, his form leaped up, landing atop ground, deeply inhaling, the crushed chest, Nen coalescing between breaths, quickly recovering as before,
accompanied by injured internal organs restored to original function,
At this moment, based on the upgraded 'Blood Rebirth' post-Muzan's gain, played a significant role!
"Buzz~" A misty green aura enveloped the youth from inside out, searching for every injury on him for on-the-spot healing.
Above the sky,
Under the bright moon,
Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni under the moonlight, gazing down, elegantly raised an eyebrow, astounded he said:
"Closure?"