"Since you're his master, I'll kill you first, then take my time dealing with this dog!"
"Ouka Zan!"
Genjuro's figure vanished instantly. The next second, countless strikes as brilliant and deadly as cherry blossom petals came from all directions, enveloping Cloud!
"Flashy nonsense."
Cloud shook his head. Facing this impenetrable net of blades, he simply raised his right hand. Between his fingers, a golden flame roared to life!
Unlike Iori Yagami's cold Azure Flame, this was domineering, majestic—burning hot as the sun itself—the Kusanagi Flame!
"Style 100: Oniyaki!"
Cloud's figure rocketed upward, transforming into a spiraling pillar of fire!
Those brilliant "cherry blossom" blade energies dissolved instantly upon contact with this overwhelming flame, burned away like snow meeting the blazing sun!
The flames dispersed, and Cloud landed back in place, completely unharmed.
"What?!" For the first time, shock appeared on Genjuro's face.
His Ouka Zan had been countered so easily?
"Your sword has killing intent to spare, but lacks power." Cloud commented flatly. "It's like a sharp dagger—it can easily break skin, but it can't shatter bone."
"What do you know?!" Cloud's assessment infuriated Genjuro. He let out a beast-like roar, channeling all his strength into the Baiiou Doku.
"Then I'll show you my strongest technique!"
"Gokou Zan!"
His entire body became a streak of lightning, advancing in a bizarre "Z" pattern at high speed. The light of his blade split into five, slashing at Cloud's vital points from five devious angles simultaneously!
This was his signature killing technique—countless strong warriors had met their end to this very move!
"Perfect."
Battle spirit ignited in Cloud's eyes.
He didn't use any technique. Instead, he concentrated the power of the Kusanagi Flame into his right fist.
"I'll use your own proudest strength to crush you."
He faced those five deadly blade lights head-on, neither dodging nor evading, and simply threw a straight punch!
"Final Battle Art: Mu Shiki!"
Though this was the bare-handed version of "Mu Shiki," the absolute power that condensed the essence of the "Three Divine Arts" remained world-destroying!
Golden flames gathered on Cloud's fist, forming what looked like a miniature sun capable of swallowing all light!
BOOM—!!!
Fist met five blade lights in direct collision!
There was no standoff as one might expect, no evenly matched struggle.
The result was a one-sided crushing!
Genjuro's five blade lights—capable of cutting through steel—shattered inch by inch the instant they touched the "Mu Shiki" punch!
The domineering flame-charged fist, having destroyed the blade lights, continued undiminished and slammed squarely into Genjuro's chest!
Pfft!
Genjuro flew backward as if struck by lightning, like a kite with its string cut. His cursed blade "Baiiou Doku" slipped from his grasp, tracing an arc through the air before embedding itself in the distant snow.
He crashed heavily to the ground, plowing a long furrow through the snow. The clothes on his chest had burned away completely, revealing a blackened fist print. Wisps of golden flame still sizzled on that mark, continuously searing his body.
The entire scene fell deathly silent.
Every swordsman who'd just joined the alliance stared dumbfounded at this sight.
If Cloud's previous blade-catching and healing of Ukyo still carried elements of "performance" and "mystery"...
Then this was pure, unreasonable, head-on power domination!
That "genius swordsman" Genjuro Kibagami, famed for his madness and strength—couldn't even take a single punch against Cloud's killing technique?
What kind of monster was this Alliance Leader?!
"Cough... hack..." Genjuro struggled up from the snow. He looked at the fist print on his chest, then at the distant man who stood completely unharmed. A smile uglier than crying twisted his face.
"Com... completely... outclassed..."
For the first time since he'd started his career, he felt such thorough defeat and helplessness in a direct confrontation—his specialty.
"Now, can we have a proper conversation?" Cloud walked over and looked down at him.
Genjuro said nothing, only regarding him with a complicated gaze.
That gaze held frustration, shock—but above all, the reverence one feels upon encountering not just a rival... but a "god."
"Genjuro!" Haohmaru finally jogged over. Seeing Genjuro's sorry state, he showed no sympathy whatsoever. Instead, he burst into gleeful laughter. "Hahaha! So you can end up like this! Serves you right for being so arrogant all the time! How's it feel? Now you know the sky's higher than you thought?"
"Shut up, Haohmaru!" Genjuro growled, but the motion aggravated his wounds and sent him into a violent coughing fit.
"Alright, enough of that." Cloud patted Haohmaru's shoulder, then addressed Genjuro. "Genjuro Kibagami, I'm giving you two choices."
"First: leave now. But if you ever come to cause trouble for Haohmaru again, I'll beat you every time I see you. Until you can't take care of yourself anymore."
"Second," Cloud's lips curved into a devilish smile, "join my team, come with me to subjugate Amakusa. I can make you stronger—strong enough that one day, you might actually be able to cut down Haohmaru. Of course, the premise is you'd have to beat me first."
This offer was filled with lethal temptation.
For an obsessive like Genjuro, whose life's purpose was "killing Haohmaru," nothing could attract him more than "getting stronger."
Genjuro remained silent for a long time. He glanced at the gloating Haohmaru, then at the unfathomable Cloud.
Finally, he made his choice.
He picked up his sword, walked over to Cloud, and though his posture remained defiant, his tone carried a hint of yielding.
"...When can I fight you again?"
He didn't directly say he was joining, but this question made his position clear.
"Anytime." Cloud smiled. "As long as you can afford the sparring fee."
And just like that, the Alliance gained another powerful "berserker."
...
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