[Challenge Start]
Following the system prompt, the invisible wall that had been separating the two finally vanished.
To be safe, Bai Luo immediately used [Shadow Track], concealing his form.
"Hmm?"
Mikoshi Douin, holding the AmenomaKageuchi, initially thought this was a stealth technique similar to that of a ninja.
But when he used his own methods to detect Bai Luo's presence, he found no trace of the opponent.
It was as if he had truly disappeared. Not just the sound of footsteps and breathing...
Even things that couldn't easily be erased, like heartbeats and scent, had vanished.
"Impressive technique."
While training in the mountain forests, Mikoshi Douin had encountered similar beings, but those were merely minor tricks used by small youkai to mask their presence.
This person's stealth technique was even more powerful than the sorcery of some youkai.
However... he had a way to deal with it.
Holding the AmenomaKageuchi at his side, Mikoshi Doukei assumed an Iaijutsu stance.
After charging his energy, he unleashed a circular blade wave that covered the entire small courtyard.
The wooden fences were sliced clean off by the wave of blade light.
It had to be said, Mikoshi Douin's move was indeed effective against many stealth units. Unfortunately, Bai Luo's [Shadow Track] was different from other stealth techniques.
As long as he didn't attack actively, he wouldn't reveal his form even if hit.
"Hmm?"
Looking at the still-empty courtyard, Mikoshi Douin frowned slightly.
If it were anyone else, they might have started shouting curses.
But Mikoshi Douin didn't do that.
A battle of life and death meant revealing all of one's trump cards.
No matter how despicable the method, as long as it secured victory, it was the best move.
In fact, he somewhat appreciated Bai Luo's technique.
Pity... they were ultimately people from different eras. Even if they met here due to certain reasons, it was merely a chance encounter.
Getting too involved would only leave behind regrets, which was one of the reasons he didn't plan on conversing with Bai Luo.
After that single slash, Mikoshi Douin stood with his sword, not rushing to attack again.
Apart from the broken wooden fences, there was still no trace of Bai Luo's aura in the courtyard.
But he knew Bai Luo would eventually strike. After all... there was a time limit.
Just as he predicted, after gauging Mikoshi Douin's basic patterns, Bai Luo tightened his grip on the dagger.
*Hiss...*
The sound of sliding steel wire rang out. Mikoshi Douin's ears twitched, identifying the sound of something cutting through the air behind him.
This faint sound didn't escape Mikoshi Douin's hearing. He turned and slashed, knocking down a dagger.
Meanwhile, Bai Luo quietly appeared in the spot directly in front of where Mikoshi Douin had just been facing.
Sneak attacks—everyone loves doing them from behind.
Bai Luo was no exception; he loved stabbing people in the kidneys the most.
But when fighting certain people, Bai Luo knew one thing very well.
He couldn't play by the usual rules, because when these people fought him, they tended to focus their attention behind them, drastically reducing his success rate for kidney stabs.
If there's no opportunity, create one. So, Bai Luo used a feint.
First, use steel wire to create a distraction, making the opponent think he's attacking from behind.
When the opponent turns to block the dagger, he quietly stabs them in the kidney.
This move worked like a charm every time; he didn't know how many kidneys he had stabbed with it.
But today, it seemed he had hit a snag.
Although the dagger thrusted forward, there was no sensation of penetrating flesh.
It turned out that after knocking down the dagger, Mikoshi Douin realized it was a trap. His blade didn't stop; instead, he held it horizontally behind his back, perfectly blocking Bai Luo's attack.
Having finally lured Bai Luo out, how could Mikoshi Douin let this opportunity slip?
Before Bai Luo could re-enter stealth, he abruptly turned around, unleashing a flurry of strikes with the AmenomaKageuchi.
Diagonal slash, upward strike, downward chop, horizontal sweep...
Mikoshi Douin's swordsmanship was just like his personality: straightforward, open, and upright.
Every time he raised his sword, Bai Luo immediately knew where the next strike would land.
But knowing it was one thing; blocking or dodging it was another.
Clang—
"Hei" (The Black Reaper) was an assassin class; its frontal combat capability was the weakest among all of Bai Luo's classes.
So, when facing a wide-open, powerful fighting style like Mikoshi Douin's, he found himself lacking in strength.
When his dagger clashed with the opponent's katana, he nearly lost his grip and had the weapon knocked flying.
Fortunately, he seized the opportunity to catch the katana blade in the specially made groove of his dagger.
Otherwise, Mikoshi Doukei's combo would have been "GG" for Bai Luo.
With his right-hand dagger locking the katana tight, Bai Luo drew the dagger in his left hand, attached to a steel wire, and threw it at the point-blank Mikoshi Douin.
"Hah!"
Mikoshi Doukei's muscles suddenly bulged, and he actually forced down Bai Luo, who was blocking his sword single-handedly.
Consequently, when the dagger Bai Luo threw hit the lowered blade, its trajectory changed. It barely grazed the clothes at Mikoshi Douin's waist and embedded itself in the ground behind him.
Ignoring the torn clothes at his waist, Mikoshi Douin applied even more force. The blade of the katana drew closer and closer to Bai Luo's shoulder; he intended to cleave Bai Luo in two right then and there.
Bai Luo didn't panic. His left hand, hidden behind his back, lightly flicked the mechanism.
Hiss—
The sound of sliding steel wire rang out. Pulled by the wire, the dagger originally stuck in the ground popped up, spinning as it plunged into Mikoshi Douin's back.
Zzzzt!
This casual strike actually triggered a critical hit. Under the effect of the electric current, all of Mikoshi Douin's strength was sapped by the passive effect.
The paralysis from the electricity only lasted 0.5 seconds, but for Bai Luo, 0.5 seconds was enough to do many things.
Bai Luo easily parried the weakened AmenomaKageuchi, rolled to the side, and exited Mikoshi Douin's attack range.
But just as he stood up, he felt the opponent lock onto him.
"Not good!"
Seeing the opponent slowly raise the katana, Bai Luo understood: he was about to use his Ultimate.
"Secret Sword: Tengu Sweeper!"
In an instant, several rays of sword light bloomed, slashing toward Bai Luo from different trajectories.
[Tengu Sweeper], also known as TenguSho (Tengu Victory).
It was the secret technique created by Mikoshi Douin after dueling a Tengu maiden for thirteen years.
That day, on the verge of becoming a sword master, he finally caught the Tengu maiden who had been visible but unreachable for years.
With this move, he cut off a black feather from her wing.
Tengu win by speed; that strike even surpassed the speed of a Tengu.
In her words, this was "a wondrous sword technique that can surpass even a Tengu."
Can't dodge it!
Looking at the sword lights, Bai Luo knew very well.
This move faintly resembled the [GodspeedIaijutsu] discipline. If it became a System-recognized skill, it would definitely be another skill similar to Kuzu-ryūsen (Nine-Headed Dragon Flash).
He hadn't expected... that this straightforward swordsman possessed such a secret technique.
However, his opponent happened to be Bai Luo, a man known for coming with his own bugs.
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