Naoki's voice echoed into the ruins of Katori Shrine.
And soon after, three figures emerged one after another from the rubble.
"Quite surprising."
With a voice familiar to Naoki but eyes blood-red, Amakusa Shirō appeared before him. "I didn't expect you to storm our base directly, foreigner."
"Since it's a golden opportunity to take you all out, there's no reason not to seize it, right?"
Naoki chuckled, and at the same moment, a Holy Sword materialized in his hand.
"Unfortunately, one or two of you are missing. Otherwise, this Heroic Spirit Swordsman farce you've created could end completely tonight."
Seven Heroic Spirit Swordsmen.
One was killed by Musashi, one was subdued by Naoki and restored to normal. Of the five remaining, only two were here, with the other three gathered at Tsuchiura Castle.
"But it makes no difference. Finishing you all here and then rushing to Tsuchiura Castle is the same. It won't take much time."
"Aya-ya-ya-ya~~~~"
Hearing Naoki's words, which didn't take the three of them seriously, a burly man with black-and-white hair behind Amakusa let out an unpleasant laugh.
"Such confidence, foreigner. Do you think you alone can wipe us all out here?"
"Well then—"
Naoki pointed his index finger at the three. "Why don't all three of you come at me together?"
Arrogant, insolent, haughty… Such thoughts flashed through the minds of everyone present. They all knew Naoki had killed Tomoe Gozen in a single strike a week ago. The same went for the instant killing of Yagyū Munenori's double earlier that day.
Naoki was overwhelmingly strong—the four present knew this. But even knowing that, until they actually fought, they didn't believe they were no match for him. After all, defeating the strong with the weak was something they had more or less done before.
Thus, at this moment, hearing Naoki's words…
"Then let me test you first."
Kālasūtra Hell—Minamoto no Raikō—stepped out from behind Amakusa, wielding Dōjigiri Yasutsuna. The moment she passed him, her entire body turned into a bolt of lightning, vanishing from Naoki's sight!
Then—
*CLANG!*
Parrying a slash from behind with his Holy Sword, Naoki glanced coldly at Raikō, who had appeared behind him with godlike speed. His arm suddenly exerted force. He reversed the situation, pushing her back with a swing of his sword!
*WHOOSH!*
Light particles gathered in the Holy Sword. Aiming at Raikō as she was flung back, Naoki slashed with his blade!
*BOOMMMMM!*
The earth was torn apart by the light slash! The Breath of the Star erupted, obliterating everything in its path! Raikō, directly in its way, was swallowed by the light in an instant!
The light extended until it stopped at a cliff at the edge of the horizon, leaving a massive hole in the mountain.
"One."
Naoki gave a small laugh. "Well, that's that, but she's probably not dead. I don't think a single strike can kill the strongest mystery-slaying warrior of the Heian period. She'll likely recover in a minute or two."
Just like the slash he made with his hand earlier, the light Naoki unleashed now had no special effects—it was pure Mana Burst. Though it targeted the Spirit Core, he could sense Raikō's Spirit Core wasn't destroyed, and the karma within her remained intact.
(I should've just used my hand… But the size probably wouldn't fit.) Naoki thought.
Seeing Raikō struck down by Naoki and the massive wound he carved, the indifference and calm on Amakusa and Dōman's faces finally faded.
But before either could move, Naoki's figure vanished from his spot.
The next second, both felt a piercing sensation in their chests!
*THUD!* *THUD!*
With two loud impacts, Amakusa and Dōman were sent flying back! At their original position, Naoki, maintaining his striking stance, raised his Holy Sword. A storm of light gathered on the blade…
Targeting Amakusa and Dōman, who were flung into the air, Naoki slashed with full force!
*BOOMMMMM!*
The light slash erupted again! Like lava bursting from a volcano, the light shot into the sky! The peak of Katori Shrine, already split in two, was obliterated without a single piece remaining!
*SWISH!*
A strange sound suddenly rang out. At the exact moment they were about to be swallowed by the light, Amakusa and Dōman's figures vanished into thin air.
(Magecraft? Using both natural arms to connect to an unknown Magecraft Foundation, employing Magecraft that allowed him and Ashiya Dōman to escape?)
Naoki, familiar with Amakusa's abilities, narrowed his eyes slightly.
The Magecraft Amakusa used wasn't spatial transfer—or rather, not pure spatial transfer. It was within the realm of the Second Magic. In truth, it was likely a highly limited, short-range rapid movement.
Similar to footwork moving through dragon veins.
(Then, their next position is—)
Sensing everything around him, Naoki aimed his sword at an empty spot and swung another light slash. The next second, Amakusa and Dōman appeared right there!
"Wh—"
"Quasi-Clairvoyance—a skill built on experience and fairy perception. I can do something like this too," Naoki laughed.
This time, Amakusa and Dōman couldn't dodge. Though Dōman had erected a defensive Onmyōdō barrier at the first moment, under the golden light, the Onmyōdō was utterly useless. Both were swallowed by the light simultaneously!
—This was overwhelming power.
The elegant swordsman watching from the sidelines felt a tinge of resignation in his heart.
Naoki hadn't shown him any technique worthy of being called a masterpiece. He only displayed a power no human could ever hope to match in a lifetime, crushing everything before him with the purest force.
"Your Excellency's fighting style is truly unrefined."
"Is it? Personally, I think this is better. Just finish it with one simple slash," Naoki said, resting his Holy Sword on his shoulder. "That makes three done—wait, it seems not."
"AAAAAAAARR—!!"
From the direction where Amakusa and Dōman were swallowed by the light, a roar like that of a ferocious beast echoed through the night!
Then, under the glow of the Blood Moon! A massive black hand suddenly emerged from the ground, as if something sealed beneath had broken free. The giant hand gripped the earth, slowly pulling its massive body from below!
"Evil Spirit, huh."
What appeared before Naoki, under the Blood Moon, was a colossal, pitch-black evil spirit entity.
Truly…
*ZZZZTTT!*
The Holy Sword slashed. Before the giant Evil Spirit could move, Naoki had already swung his blade. A light slash burst forth with force! One strike cleaved the massive Evil Spirit in two down the middle!
Naoki lowered his blade.
"Boring."
"Made that big, and you just stand there as a still target for me?"