Volume 4 Chapter 14, Part 2 Demon World Outer Realm： Mount Ontake Annihilation V： Tamba Swordsman One, Part On, Part One Duel
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”────!”
The hard sound of steel clashing echoed.
Indeed, even against the katana wielded with the brute strength of ayakashi, Itsuki’s tanto did not break.
Technique is something passed down and refined over time; even if there were great talents in the past that could not be surpassed, the accumulated creativity and knowledge would surely raise the average.
The blade forged in ancient times with hammer and mystical fire can naturally withstand the blade made with modern hammers and forges.
”Ku…!”
”Ha!”
The moment the consciousness of Ishimori focused on the clash, Itsuki swung her right blade.
That strike aimed at the neck was narrowly avoided as the Tsuchigumo bent its body back.
As the katana and tanto separated, Itsuki quickly switched to a reverse grip and swung down.
”Kah!”
Ishimori, twisting her body with sheer force and rolling to the left, used the momentum to swing her katana in a horizontal slash.
”Iyaaa──!”
”Huh!”
If she had been too aggressive, that strike would hasn’t cleaved her in 2; Itsuki, having perfectly dodged it, paused for a moment before attempting a thrust, but she stopped at the flying snow-laden clump and leaped back.
”──Ha, ha”
”Huuuu────”
The two, once again keeping their distance, glared at each other, catching their breath.
Their expressions were contrasting.
While Itsuki wore a cool smile, Ishimori’s face twisted in annoyance.
It was natural for ayakashi to be stronger in power, while humans excelled in technique──this relationship was likely as both had expected.
However, the difference was not what they thought.
──The gap in strength was smaller than expected, while the gap in technique was much larger.
Moreover, while there were techniques to bridge the gap in strength, the reverse was not true.
Strength does not possess such a nature.
Ishimori shouldered her katana once more.
With her tanto held at mid-level, Itsuki pointed the tip at the Tsuchigumo and declared.
”Shall we fight? This is just the beginning.”
”Okay.”
A beam of sunlight peeked through the gaps in the clouds, shining brighter than the snow as the blades glinted.
Between the sounds of slicing wind and breaths, steel occasionally clashed.
The ayakashi kicked up the snow, and a person ran as if gliding over the snowy surface.
Blood splattered, adding a red hue to the ground stained with brown and white.
”kiiii――ah――!”
”hah.”
Itsuki’s short sword cut the wrist of the stone guardian, who swung down high, and the follow-up strike slashed her throat.
But it was shallow.
”Tch…!”
However, that only slightly delayed the outcome; victory and defeat were already being decided.
If this was practice, she would have called it a day, but Itsuki showed no signs of letting her guard down.
The smile vanished, and instead, her expression grew more serious.
Then, Itsuki lowered the sword she had been holding.
In that moment, while the stone guardian pondered the meaning of this, the exorcist moved like a slip.
”Ruuuuuaaaah────!”
”Ugh!”
Itsuki, who had been choosing to defend until now, took the initiative here.
With both hands still lowered, she charged straight ahead, her face set in determination.
The stone guardian raised her sword.
With the blade held high, at a height that could catch the face, she prepared to thrust directly at Itsuki’s throat.
”Kiiiiiyaaah!”
Itsuki’s own speed turned into divine speed, and she dodged it by a hair’s breadth, diving into the stone guardian’s embrace.
She stepped into the void, stopping just at the limit where she could swing her sword.
With the strength of the ayakashi, any counterattack could be fatal at this distance.
But the stone guardian hesitated on how to respond.
”Haaah!”
”Gahhh──!?”
That hesitation decided everything.
Silver light flashed twice.
The left short sword that was swung down slashed the stone guardian’s right arm, which held the sword, while the raised blade cut off her left arm from under the armpit.
”You, damn it!!”
The stone guardian’s mouth split open to an impossible width, and 3 pairs of spider legs burst from her back, their claws lunging at Itsuki.
Her right arm, still holding the sword, hung limply.
”I thought you would come at me like that.”
Saying this, Itsuki crouched down, dodging the spider legs, and swept her leg in a kick that glided across the snowy surface.
”Ugh, but──”
As the stone guardian lost her balance and fell forward, the blade pierced her forehead as if drawn in.
”A beast can be sensed by its scent. You were surely stronger without a weapon.”
As she circled to the right, Itsuki lightly pushed the frozen body of the stone guardian.
Moments later, the head of the tsukumogami, wearing a look of regret, fell onto the snow.
She let out a deep, long breath and lightly wiped her torn cheek.
In the end, the light and dark was clearly divided, but the fatigue from the serious battle was truly extraordinary; her body felt intensely hot and heavy.
Even so, there was no time to rest slowly.
”I hope Naoshi and the others can handle it.”
For a brief moment, she closed her eyes in mourning, and Itsuki sheathed her sword and dashed off.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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