Vol 11 Chapter 5 (1/2)

Chapter 5 - Two Demons

The rustling rain continued to steal aarmth from his chilly body

But although his body was cold, just his head alone was clear and burning up hot, possibly an evidence that he was reaching his limit

Kusanagi Takeru looked through his wet bangs, his gaze locked on the enemy

This was the academy's, Inquisition headquarters' deepest part

It was the backyard of the school leading to the forbidden area Wet fallen leaves were spread all over the trackless road

Kusanagi Orochi stood in open space in a forest of dead trees

He , as he was turned in the direction Takeru was co from

Since it was cold, Orochi held his hands and steam could be seen as he breathed out He continued to look at the dead trees around him

”These trees, they're all Double Weeping Rosebud Cherries, huh their blossoic power They planted theic power does not leak out or so it seeant”

””

”The blossoms shouldn't be used but admired”

Right? Asked Orochi

Takeru didn't reply and just stoppedapproximately twenty meters away from Orochi

It was the optied style

Orochi looked at Takeru and made a carefree smile, like a boy

”Were this to happen a little later, they'd be in full bloom, eh”

After saying that, Orochi squinted and slightly tilted his head with a smile

”you, you overused Soumatou haven't ya?”

Hearing the question, Takeru didn't even nod, just continued to glare

”Dat's why I told ya to use it well That significantly reduces your lifespan as a swordsman If you overuse it, you won't be able to return to being human”

”that's the kind of thing Double-Edged style is in the first place”

When Takeru said that, Orochi s his white teeth

”You ain't wrong To say, this is a higher level of Sou the liht?”

Takeru had experienced the ht against Hayato It was as if he was being replaced by so his hu

”I arbitrarily named that 《Demon's Heart》”

Demon's very much like Orochi, it was a nasty name for a technique

As if describing Kusanagi itself

”Well, after goin' that far there's no goin' back”

Orochi pulled out his hand from his pocket, scratched his head and held the sword's hilt

Then s he pulled it out and said to Takeru

”Welcome——to the world of demons”

The withdrawn blade shone with pale light

Although Orochi's sasas a sword-stick, but now it had a collar

Takeru ad blade with a s a short sword

——The treasured sword ”Hotaruorized as C-class and did not have any persona Its intrinsic performance was ”Will never dull, will never break”

Contrary to its simple intrinsic perforht were ephemeral

When Takeru turned into an initiate, ”give it to me” he asked Orochi, he could reh the perfor sas first-rate for users of Double-Edged style

But now he also had an unbreakable sword

Takeru's dear sword, ”Mistilteinn”, a ic sword that could even kill God

Still, he didn't act conceited because of that

The opponent was his ed style

The best of best, it could be said that as a swordsman, he was in a completely different dimension

However——Takeru was the same He held the same blood and the same inhuman power

He should be able to prevail

——That's how it must be!

”here I come!”

Words were unnecessary Kusanagis proved themselves with a sword

The moment Hotarumaru's blade flashed dully, Takeru closed the distance between him and Orochi all at once

The step-in, ti was perfect

Double-Edged style's Heavenly Evil Spirit A technique that allowed to reach top speeds in an instant

He entered under Orochi and drew the sword at zero distance, cutting through

Cutting through——or so it should have been

”!!”

””

Takeru stoppedin close contact with Orochi

No, he was stopped

On the brink of drawing, Orochi held down the sword's po his technique

Paling, when he looked up at Orochi, he was responded with a cold stare

Takeru leaped away in a hurry and kicking off the tree's trunk, he soared high into the air

Double-Edged style's Mantis Slope Using the distance froht as well as rotation, it was an excellent skill with a high destructive power

He ju his body forward

But——when he tried to rotate, Orochi jurasped his arm

”——!”

””

Once again he was stopped before using it

Once again their line of sight ed and cold

Takeru held his sword only with the caught right arrasped the sheath his left

And he twisted his hips and back sliding his sheath to his back, and then released at once

Double-Edged style's Single Wheel It was originally an oency it could be used in this way as well This too, hat he learned from Orochi

Taking advantage by the fact he was being held up, he smashed the sheath into Orochi's head

But——that too, in the end, was easily stopped by Orochi's right arm

”Khh!!”

Both of his hands were obstructed Before Takeru realized, Orochi returned Hotarumaru to its sheath and dealt with Takeru's techniques with bare hands

In desperation, Takeru kicked Orochi in mid-air

Orochi sighed and used Takeru's kick as a scaffold, using his legs like a spring he nullified the kick and sprung up further into the air Conversely, Takeru was bloay onto the ground

Takeru should be the one who kicked, but for some reason he received an impact of a kick instead

He reversed his body just before hitting the ground and landed aardly

Orochi danced high in the air and slowly fell down

——An opportunity It would be one thing if Orochi could use ic, but he couldn't move mid-air

Knowing the landing point, he should be able to aim at it at full power

Takeru pulled half of his body backwards, entering a stance for thrust He twisted theto accumulate force in them

And, charged airound

Kusanagi Double-Edged style's Unicorn's Destructive Lance Twisting the entire body, the technique accu thrust It had the greatest penetrating power

This ti wasn't stopped

The sword's point headed straight for Orochi's landing point

But, Takeru saw it In slow-motion world, Orochi spun in the air like a top

As Takeru's attack approached hi the rotation Orochi used his palm to hit Takeru's blade

By delivering a powerful blow to the side of the sword's tip, he parried it behind himself

Naturally, Takeru was unable to suppress the power of the thrust with his body and as a result of the parry he smashed into a cherry tree trunks He finally stopped after round with the blade he stood up

Slowly, Orochi approached stepping on the wet, fallen leaves

With an even colder look in his eyes than before, Orochi slowly put his hand on Hotarumaru's handle

This is bad, Takeru thought and stood fir his sword in front

”First goes——Heavenly Evil Spirit”

As Orochi spoke, his blade glittered

The nextlet out a sound like a bell

When he looked in the front, Orochi had already pulled out his sword

A chill went down Takeru's spine

——fuoonn

The moment the sound had come late, so did the impact

The cherry trees in the surroundings were mowed down

Although he neas co and protected hi out his leg and scraping on the ground he so in his arh his bones up to his brain, Takeru's throat trembled

”Sword-drawin' skills don't exert their ht before the swing It's pointless to hit yer opponent at zero distance”

”uh!”

”Next——Mantis Slope”

Saying that indifferently, Orochi left one leg behind hi on the only cherry tree's trunk that was left behind

He leaped up for Mantis Slope If Orochi was going to attack from above, all Takeru had to do was to find where he's ai and avoid

Takeruhimself to avoid

Since it was a technique of falling, it was easy to avoid One of the as to stop it before it's triggered, but Orochi was the opponent It was best to avoid it with everything he had for the sake of being safe

Orochi kicked off the trunk and——didn't leap upwards

At the sa in forward direction

The ti shi+fted and Takeru was unable to avoid, he could only protect himself aardly

The power of Orochi's Mantis Slope delivered with all his strength caused Takeru's body to sink into the ground Cracks appeared on the ground in the whole area and it vigorously rose up

It was unknown if it can be said that he blocked it The shock was transe He spat blood and staggered

It was the first time he received such blow

”This technique can be only used for the first, surprise attack If you leave it to free fall and power up with the rotation, if noticed, it can be easily avoided”

After landing on the ground Orochi put Hotarumaru on his shoulder

”However, it's different when you can use the terrain Up to the point where ya kicked the stern ya did right but then, you jumped up like damn role model If ya damn accelerated, just rush at yer enemy”

He told that to staggering Takeru and returned the blade to the sheath

”And——Single Wheel”

Orochi slid the sheath on his waist and drew the sword all at once

It was fast But it wasn't too fast to avoid

Takeru held his sith his right hand and supporting his sword by pressing the back of the sith his left, he blocked Orochi's Single Wheel

The swords met, Orochi's attack stopped

Single Wheel didn't have that much power It was relatively easy to block it

After all, this technique was——

”This technique is for using when you're surrounded by multiple eneainst one fight That's why, if someone stops yer attack like ya did just now——”

”Ah!”

”——It's Monk with Iron Mallet, dammit!!”

Orochi kicked stopped Hotarumaru's back with abandon

Kusanagi Double-Edged style's Monk with Iron Mallet It was a technique that powerfully pushed the sword forhen locking your sith the enemy, but Takeru didn't know it could be used with a kick as well

Once again bloay, Takeru rolled on the ground

Orochi hit his shoulder with the sword's peak repeatedly and sighed deeply

And facing doards, he walked towards where Takeru rolled to

”What the hell yer tryin' Takeru can't ya swing the damn sword unless I point out the basic stuff to you?”

”ghh”

”That ain't it, right? It's not like that, eh? Did'ya notice? Don't tell me yer doin' it unconsciously”

Once he arrived by Takeru whose body was convulsing, Orochi's red ruby-like eyes peeked at his

”who are ya fighting with now?”

””

”What are ya fightin' with?”

The di

Orochi's face was obscured with shadow and not visible However, the red eyes could be seen staring at Takeru

Questioned, Takeru realized he was holding himself back

Not that he wasn't serious He was thinking of what's ahead as he used all his strength to challenge Orochi

Still it could be said that there was some hesitation on his blade

It seenize Orochi as an enemy

I know that still

When he tried to cut hi hi alive Orochi Although he has kicked Takeru off the cliff, kicked him into muddy streams, he was someone who alaited for Takeru him home with a meal prepared

And whenever Takeru returned all beat-up, he said this with a smile

『”Oh, so yer alive”』

Be emotionless? Discard emotions?

It was obviously impossible, Takeru owed him countless times

This was the reason why there was hesitation in his techniques

That's why Orochi——was furious

Of course, it was natural

To him, it was an insult

”Did ya chase after me to spar 'n swordsmanshi+p?”

No He didn't come to learn

Takeru bit his lower lip and shook his head

”Or maybe ya've come to speak wit' me usin' a sword?”

That too, rong

It was already iave off the feeling that he won't listen to anything from Takeru

Orochi had no intention of talking

Takeru once again, shook his head

”Then what did'ya come here for Takeru”

Squinting, Orochi questioned him

And Takeru,

”I've”

Takeru held his sword and stood on the ground muddy from the rain

And froed with sadness eyes towards Orochi

As if to reject that sadness, Orochi stared at Takeru with his red pupils

The ansas already decided

”nhh”

Takeru closed his eyes for a moment, the memories of the past flashed in the back of his head

His training days he spent together with Orochi in the mountains

Those days were like hell Every day was so painful he couldn't bear it He learned Double-Edged style single-er

At the sarew stronger, and he had an irreplaceable mentor ould prove it was so

To hi he had ordsmanshi+p he from back then, could affirm that those were his happiest days in his life

But——Takeru of now had s much more precious than those memories

There were lots of existences much more precious to him than his mentor

He had a person he wanted to save no matter the sacrifice he had to make

That's why——

That's why———!

Takeru opened his eyes, discarded those memories——and poised his sword

”I've come here——to cut you down”

With red, deeply red eyes of a delared at Orochi

Orochi raised his face andhappy from the bottom of his heart

”Then let's begin, Kusanagi Takeru”

The two demons confronted each other

Orochi once again poised the sword he had on his shoulder Takeru raised his sword up

The two glared at each other, their blades shone

And——Takeru and Orochi released Souo berserk

Theran down from the sky, raindrops stopped in mid-air

There, was a beautiful world

Every raindrop shone like jewel, lightning had on

This was the world seen by demons

The world of the two

In the un world——the two demons collided

” ”Kusanagi Double-Edged style——Ghost Light Firefly!” ”

Using the same technique at the same time, they sprinkled the droplets with their blades

In super-high speed world, they perforh speed sword dance

Parrying opponent's attack and using the technique to turn it into their oer, they continued to accelerate endlessly by having the same abilities collide

An instant of hesitation would probably destroy the balance and make one fall prey to the other's blade

To the two, there was nothing as silly as hesitation or openings

Kusanagi Double-Edged style's De for just a single goal

In the world of raging demons, the demons cut each other That was all

Cut Cut him up

That was all the two craved, their only desire, their earnest wish

” ”OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH!!” ”

In the soundless world, the two demons roared

The blades didn't ehtplay was reflected in the raindrops

Orochi's proas overwhelher, Takeru's ar the raindrops On the other hand, not a single attack of Takeru's reached the opponent Orochi's er Takeru's mentor nor the leader of Valhalla

It was appropriate to call him a Sword Demon

Although he was overwhelly out-powered, Takeru felt co for one purpose To a i who had the soul of a demon, this was the only way to be released from the cramped human body

What happiness was it Even though he would lose at this rate, he was so happy he couldn't bear it

However, in order to cut his opponent up, he had to win

He won't win unless he slices him up

”Shape changes!”

Although his voice was unheard, he shouted to his partner

In response, Lapis perfor Hotarued from a Nodachi to a Kodachi

Orochi's swung blade h the empty air, Takeru's Kodachi tore Orochi's meat

Continuing, next was Shotel, Kukri, Oodachi, Zanbatou, Great Sword By changing into various se shapes, they disturbed Orochi's rhythm and delivered their attacks

They weren't picky with their oal was to cut enemy down

It wasn't a fight of swordsood or bad means

Orochi s his fangs he further increased his speed, using Ghost Light Firefly

A Sword De on the level of shape change If there were changes of length and shape, he only had to assess them and match the flow

There was no need to predict it

He only needed to see through it

See through, and cut

That's what Soumatou was for

Takeru's offensive ended iain Orochi has become dominant

But that wasn't a big deal Although i in an instant was impossible, it was possible to raise one's speed in an instant If the opponent washis speed

If he increases his brain's operation rate he'll be able to see through any of opponent's skill

Just like Orochi had dealt with shape change, Takeru could do the saainst Orochi's skill

See through, and cut

That's right——

《”Host!”》

——That's when Takeru was startled hearing Lapis' voice

Although he had De Lapis speak

Still, that was great help Takeru was still able to return to norht have been unable to return

As if to end it with the last blow, Takeru released Unicorn's Destructive Lance

On the other hand, Orochi swung down Yamata no Orochi

Although he slipped by series of eight attacks and grazed Orochi, two of the eight attacks gouged Takeru's shoulder

Bloay by the impact, the two made distance and——released Demon's Heart

I a lid on their brains, unspeakable headache assaulted them

”Ghhgrgho!”

While pointing his sword at Orochi, Takeru panted from the headache he felt It felt as if a bullet continued to ricochet inside his skull

He looked at hi fro even from his eyes and nose

《”I'll perform treatment on your body so please back off for now!”》

”s-sorr-y!”

Both apologizing and thanking Lapis, he looked at Orochi with his barely-functioning eyes

Takeru was clearly oute

But, Orochi too, was suffering His face was pale, there was clearly blood h he had transplanted vampire cells and had the same physical abilities as a Dhae

In the end, his brain was in the same state as Takeru's

No, still probably, that wasn't all

There was one thing Takeru noticed as they fought The dae Orochi dealt to hi else other than Demon's Heart

He had no idea as it, but so to Orochi's body

”Haa we're bothtoo greedy! Once we turn into deet completely about efficiency”

”khh!”

”But——!”

S body to move

He entered a sword-drawing stance His cells were momentarily healed thanks to vampire cells

《”!! Our regeneration speed is inferior! Intercept!”》

Just as he was told, Takeru tried to raise his sword, but with his entire body tre all he could do was to hold the sword

At this rate I'm done for

The ht so,

”Double-Edged style——Mantis Slope!”

Receiving a surprise attack frorit his back teeth

In order to change the sword's trajectory, he reversed the sword in the sheath pointing upwards and used the sword-drawing technique in reverse grip

A high-speed sword-draw aimed upwards

Hotarumaru's blade met with the surprise attacker's sword

Upon clashi+ng, the surprise attacker's sword spouted flames

A blue-haired girl appeared fro the flames

”Diluted, huh!”

Making a s his sword

Pushed aith a sword, the surprise attacker leaped and landed beside Takeru

”Kanaria?!”

””

Without looking at Takeru, Kanaria poised Lævateinn and didn't reaze from Orochi

Orochi's face distorted painfully and he snorted

”which means the Heretic Alliance bunch's come at full force, huhshucksand we haven't found that Sougetsu bastard yet”