The hall was silent!
It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone stared at the corpse, their pupils contracting as if they had seen a ghost.
Kazumitsu was no weakling.
He was a very impressive figure among the younger generation of the Tendo Family.
But now,
He had been killed with a single slash by Kisara!
'Since when did this disowned daughter of the family have such strength?'
After a long while, Tendo Higaki said coldly, "Kisara, don't forget, you are also a member of the Tendo Family. How dare you kill your own brother so ruthlessly?"
"It seems you didn't heed my warning."
Kisara's eyes turned cold. She swung her sword in a backhand slash.
Crack!
The earth split apart.
A slash shot towards Tendo Higaki.
Squelch!
Tendo Higaki's body, along with his chair, was cleaved in two.
Blood gushed out, covering the floor.
"Th-this..."
At this moment, everyone's expressions changed completely.
Killing Kazumitsu might have involved an element of surprise.
But this slash is very terrifying.
They felt it looked like Tendo-style swordsmanship, but also different.
It's more terrifying, and also more fierce!
"I didn't expect your swordsmanship to have reached this level."
Kikunojo looked deeply at Kisara, then turned to Ayato.
"But since she calls you 'Master', I suppose this increase in power is related to you?"
As soon as he said this, the others were in an uproar.
'Could such a thing really be done?'
Kisara had long been a master of the Tendo-style iaido, known as a 'sword demon'.
What method could enhance such a person's power?
"Mm, you're very smart."
Ayato smiled. "Although your mind is too dirty, you are perceptive enough to capture key information and make reasonable inferences."
"If that's the case, isn't there a possibility of cooperation between us?"
Kikunojo's expression was calm, as if he didn't care about the two corpses on the floor.
He spoke slowly, "If you have such technology and means, then from now on, Cursed Children will no longer be needed."
"Then, I would even step down and give you my position. That would be fine."
His words were full of sincerity.
Anyone would believe his sincerity.
Even the other Tendo Family's members felt the same.
They opened their mouths, wanting to speak but hesitating.
If that happened, where would the Tendo Family stand?
"I must say, you certainly seem sincere."
Ayato spoke. "But unfortunately, our positions are naturally opposed."
"Whether logically or emotionally, I cannot let you live."
"Is there really no room for negotiation?"
Kikunojo's expression darkened.
"Kisara, handle it."
"Yes, Master!"
Kisara said excitedly. "Thank you so much."
As her voice fell, Kisara stamped her foot. Amidst the rumbling ground, she charged towards Gentaka.
"You..."
Gentaka's face changed drastically. Before he could react, he saw a dazzling blade light bloom before him.
Squelch... Thump!
Blood sprayed. A terrified head fell, rolling in a pool of blood.
Swish!
Kisara quickly turned. Another brilliant blade light tore the air. The sound of shattering bones echoed.
Thump! Thump!
Tendo Hiroshi was cleaved in two. His two halves fell limply.
Having done all this, Kisara's expression was cold. She sheathed her sword at an unbelievable speed, then drew it again.
Swish... Squelch!
A fierce slash spread out, decapitating all the remaining people.
All this happened in the span of a breath.
Except for Kikunojo...
The others no longer breathed.
"You really went this far?"
Kikunojo stood up from his seat and took a long sword from under the table.
He looked at the corpses on the ground, a hint of sadness in his eyes.
"The day you schemed to kill my parents, you should have seen this coming."
Kisara's long hair danced. Her body slightly bent, she sheathed her sword again, assuming a drawing stance.
"Your parents betrayed the family. They got what they deserved."
Kikunojo's gaze sharpened, his eyes regaining their indifference.
The next moment,
The sword in his hand was half-drawn.
This was unmistakably the starting stance of the Tendo-style iaido.
In an instant,
The feeling Kikunojo gave off completely changed.
Just now, he was an elderly man over seventy, seemingly on his last legs.
But now, he seemed like a killing demon who had walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
"At this level, for this world, it's strong."
Feeling the change in Kikunojo's aura, Ayato spoke. "But unfortunately, you chose the wrong opponent."
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The moment his voice fell, Kikunojo and Kisara moved simultaneously.
Their figures were like shooting stars, crossing paths like flashes of light.
In an instant,
Kikunojo and Kisara stood back-to-back, three meters apart.
Both, without exception, maintained the sword-drawing posture from just now.
"Whatever the reason, you caused my parents' deaths. That is fact."
Kisara stood up. The last segment of her blade returned to its scabbard.
Behind her, Kikunojo's head fell to the ground.
"Sob... sob..."
Kisara didn't turn around, but her body trembled slightly as she wept quietly.
"If you want to cry, cry out loud."
Ayato spoke. "It's just me here."
Hearing this, as if a long-suppressed emotion was finally released, Kisara burst into loud sobs.
This girl, known as the 'sword demon', was now just a child who had lost her parents at a young age.
After a long while, Kisara wiped her tears and said softly, "I'm sorry, Master. Losing composure like this before you."
"It's fine. I like this side of you."
Ayato said sincerely.
He knew,
With her heart unlocked, this was the real Kisara.
"Thank you, Master."
A smile appeared on Kisara's face.
Slight, but brighter than ever before.