Blades collided with a shockwave that hurled samurai aside like ragdolls.
The air thickened, burning with heat, sweat, and tension. Sparks flew as steel scraped steel.
Ashura didn't flinch.
"Is that all you've got?" he growled, blood dripping from his lips, unwavering.
Kaoru's grin widened, energy swirling around him like a crimson storm.
The battle had only just begun.
He sidestepped, landing gracefully on the scorched earth.
"I'm going to end this now," he muttered, his eyes glinting with malice.
"Blood Oath Strike!"
Swish!
Ashura swung his sword, aiming straight for Kaoru's throat.
Kaoru thought grimly to himself: My stamina is drained… I can't last more than three minutes at this pace.
Lightning-fast, he moved again.
"Eternal Blade Dance!"
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Kaoru appeared in an instant before Ashura, who collapsed to his knees, coughing blood. His body was riddled with cuts.
How many? Too many… Ashura's mind raced. Blood pooled around him.
"You lost, Ashura," Kaoru said coldly.
"Slaves can't win against the owner, no matter how much they rebel."
Then Kaoru's eyes caught a new figure in front of him — Rin Takeda, sword in hand.
"I'm old now… but I have no other choice," Rin said, stance steady, aura unyielding.
Kaoru laughed like a maniac, crimson energy crackling around him.
"I was waiting for you, old man… now die!"
The storm outside echoed the chaos inside, lightning flashing across the battlefield as the ultimate clash between legacy and tyranny loomed.