This is the first chapter of the prize, the rest will follow in a few minutes.
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There was a huge gap between Kiyokawa Izumi's basic stats and Gyokko's; the probability of him winning could be said to be minuscule.
The strength he displayed by going all out was no longer at the level of a weak Hashira—had he encountered any other Lower Rank, he definitely wouldn't have been the one to lose!
But unfortunately, he encountered Gyokko.
Whether it was Gyokko or Gyuutarou, Kiyokawa Izumi was no match for them.
Simply because he was flesh and blood, and his basic stats were far inferior.
He thought he would be able to awaken the Demon Slayer Mark because, at the final moment, his heart was truly beating very fast, and his body was heating up slightly.
As long as he could awaken the Demon Slayer Mark and gain a significant boost in physical attributes, he would definitely not lose.
But that was only what he thought.
Perhaps he lacked talent, or perhaps he lacked a firm will or determination; he had overestimated himself and failed to awaken the Demon Slayer Mark at the brink of life and death.
At this moment, he was lying on the ground in a very pathetic state, his sore and numb arms unable to exert any strength, and even breathing had become difficult.
He had taken the tail Gyokko swung fiercely with his bare body.
He didn't know how many ribs were broken or if any were displaced.
"What kind of artwork should I turn you into? And how should I highlight those special eyes of yours?
How about I replace your head with a fish head, then take out your eyes completely and replace them with fish eyes... what do you think?"
Gyokko said with an excited expression; compared to other villagers or ordinary Team Members, it cared more about what kind of artwork it could carve out of Kiyokawa Izumi.
Art was its pursuit; everything else was unimportant.
"Is even a Hashira no match for it? Is this the power possessed by the Upper Ranks?"
"Don't daze off! Do what we can do!"
"Seita, take the Hashira and leave first. We'll buy you some time!"
The Team Members who had entered the mountains with Kiyokawa Izumi did not run away.
Because they were useless, they had been ordered to leave by Kiyokawa Izumi.
But they hadn't gone far and had been watching from the edge of the battlefield.
When they saw that even a Hashira was no match for Upper Rank Five, their hearts were filled with extraordinary despair.
But at this moment, there was also something they could do.
A young Team Member came to Kiyokawa Izumi's side and hurriedly checked his injuries.
Aside from some abrasions, there were no obvious external wounds.
As for internal injuries, they were truly difficult to check.
After all, the Team Members were not professional doctors; they could only make judgments based on their eyes and experience.
Meanwhile, the remaining three higher-Rank Team Members drew their nichirin blades and stood in front—though they said they were buying time, they knew very well in their hearts that they probably couldn't hold out.
They might be insta-killed by Upper Rank Five.
They might not even last a minute.
Tonight was exceptionally long; every second was such an ordeal.
"Who allowed you to touch my things?"
Gyokko felt an indescribable sense of rage, as if its inspiration had been interrupted.
It was currently conceptualizing how to create.
Yet it was interrupted by these wretched bastards; they simply deserved to die!
Even if it tore them into pieces and tortured them severely, it would be hard to vent the anger in its heart.
Its speed was extremely fast, its fist falling almost instantly; the Team Members blocking the way didn't have time to react at all.
Only when truly facing Gyokko did they understand the horror of this being.
"A blade is not used like that."
Kiyokawa Izumi's faint voice came from behind.
The sharp nichirin blade slashed out instantly, and the arm that was about to fall was sliced in half in a split second.
Gyokko's pupils shrank suddenly; having pulled away with high-speed leaps, it looked at Kiyokawa Izumi with some confusion and shock, seemingly wondering why he could still stand up.
The Team Member named Seita only realized afterward that the nichirin blade at his waist was gone.
Kiyokawa Izumi, who had struck second but arrived first, calmly wiped away the blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth; at this moment, he seemed to understand why Senior Brother Giyuu would say such things when fighting against Upper Three.
Fighting an opponent whose strength far exceeds one's own can lead to significant improvement.
The experience accumulated from fighting other Hashira was completely absorbed under the pressure of death, and his own Swordsmanship Rank rose to the next level accordingly.
[Swordsmanship Lv4 → Lv5]
Just an increase in Swordsmanship Rank; did his strength not have a qualitative change?
And that was indeed the case.
Not to mention just Rank 5, even if it rose another Rank, in Kiyokawa Izumi's current state, it would be difficult to defeat Gyokko.
But he did not give up.
Waiting for death was not in his character; despair and begging for mercy were also too ugly.
As long as he could still breathe, as long as his heart wasn't pierced and his head wasn't blown apart, it was just a few broken ribs.
While breath remained, even if he had to borrow someone else's nichirin blade, he had to slash a few more times before dying!
And just then, the voice of the retarded System rang out once again.
[Congratulations on completing another perfect counterattack. In terms of Swordsmanship skill alone, you have already surpassed many Ninjas.]
[This will become a milestone on your path to counterattack.]
[Rewards are as follows: Choose any one Ninjutsu or Taijutsu.]
[Recommended: Eight Gates, Flying Thunder God Technique]
'Are you joking? Without Chakra, how am I supposed to use these Ninjutsu you're giving me?'
'Instead of giving me this trash, why don't you help me recover my state!!'