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If you want to deal with reflection, then you absolutely must not think about resisting it.
This was the truth Ryoji had realized.
Because as long as Reflector covered its body with a reflective layer, it could reflect power in any form, gravity included. Any physical technique was absolutely impossible to break through it.
Even if you could rebound the reflected force back at the opponent, that force would still be reflected again by the reflective layer, eventually turning into "I reflect the force you reflected back after I reflected it." In that kind of situation, manual labor would definitely lose to machinery.
So Ryoji understood.
He simply couldn't resist.
As the saying goes, surviving is success.
As long as you're still alive, it doesn't count as failure.
Thus, on the foundation of the Tai Chi Sword, he created the move Harmonizing Light with Dust. With a realm that blended hardness and softness, he completely dispersed all the force that landed on his body!
At this moment, under the crushing pressure of Monstrous Strength several times greater than his own, perhaps even more than ten times, he only took two steps back, guiding all of Kurogane Ikki's power into the ground through his legs.
Not a single injury on his body!
The reason he had been sent flying earlier was that "Ittou Shura" had activated too suddenly, knocking him into the air. His footing had been disrupted, so he could only disperse the force by crashing into the ground.
But now, with both feet firmly planted, he only needed to retreat two steps.
"Haaaah!!"
Kurogane Ikki clenched his teeth tightly.
He still refused to give up. It was as if he wanted to unleash every ounce of strength in his body, veins bulging on his forehead, muscles twisted together, his entire expression becoming fierce and savage.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Terrifying power, accompanied by roaring shockwaves, surged toward Ryoji again and again.
"What a powerful offensive! Contestant Kurogane Ikki's attacks are coming in wave after wave, his figure can no longer be seen with the naked eye! Thankfully, the studio has a high-magnification camera. Right now, we can only see Contestant Nangou struggling to defend!"
The large screen floating in midair displayed the battle slowed down by ten times, yet it was still shockingly fast. The moment your vision blurred, the scene was already over, forcing you into the next frame.
"So… amazing…"
"That guy Kurogane… when he goes all out, he's actually this strong?"
Gasps erupted from the audience stands.
In past battles, whenever Kurogane Ikki used "Ittou Shura", he would always defeat his opponent quickly. So to the spectators who only watched for fun, it was hard to truly understand just how terrifying he became in this state.
But now, as Kurogane Ikki continuously launched violent, fierce attacks at Ryoji in his "Ittou Shura" state, that overwhelming strength finally burned itself into everyone's eyes!
"Although Contestant Kurogane's offensive is fierce, Contestant Nangou is as steady as bedrock, blocking every single strike… There's only half a minute left until Contestant Kurogane reaches his limit!"
"If this continues… cough cough… honestly speaking, Contestant Kurogane might… lose…"
Under the intense visual shock of the two clashing, the atmosphere of the entire arena was stirred to its peak.
Toudou Touka and Totokubara Kanata, Stella and Kurogane Shizuku, even Kirihara Shizuya, who held strong resentment toward Kurogane Ikki, and the general public who had misunderstood him…
At this moment, all of them were staring tensely at the battlefield.
In the arena,
Ryoji wasn't anxious at all. From beginning to end, his heart remained calm as still water.
Like a reef standing firm in chaotic currents, under Kurogane Ikki's ferocious assault, he was constantly being pushed back, yet his stance never wavered from start to finish.
Cracks like spiderwebs spread across the ground.
Again and again, Ryoji used the technique of Harmonizing Light with Dust to disperse the force within those attacks.
In just a little over ten seconds, he had already endured dozens of Kurogane Ikki's all-out attacks, Lightning Ray, Shinkirou (Mirage Wolf), Rhino Strike, Dokuga no Tachi (Poisonous Moth Long Sword)… one secret sword after another was unleashed without the slightest restraint.
Yet not a single one could defeat Ryoji.
He truly was like a reef in the sea, no matter how violently he was battered, he stood firm and unshaken.
"Hah!!"
In yet another unwilling charge, Kurogane Ikki unleashed the most brilliant Lightning Ray he had ever performed so far!
This strike was faster than ever before, an embodiment of every evolution he had gained throughout today's battle, refined into one ultimate flash!
"Hah!"
Ryoji let out a low grunt.
Under the violent clash of blades, his entire body was knocked backward more than ten meters, his feet grinding hard against the ground as they slid.
Kurogane Ikki was just about to press his advantage,
But suddenly, a tremendous force erupted from Ryoji's body, sending him flying away before he could react.
"A counterattack! Contestant Nangou has launched his first counterattack! How did he do that?!"
"No idea…"
"Yuri-chan…"
It wasn't her fault.
After all, even world-class experts could no longer understand the sword techniques these two were displaying.
"This is… my 'Circle'?"
Kurogane Ikki stared in shock.
Earlier, when he had been dealing with Ryoji's Ten'i Muhou, he had used this technique to disperse the force. But in truth, it wasn't simply a force-dissipating move, this technique was originally meant as an offensive move that rebounded the opponent's power.
However, to reflect the enemy's attack, he normally had to spin around once in place to make it work.
If he remembered correctly, this should have been the first time he had used this move in front of Ryoji.
But,
"I saw you use it so many times earlier, so I memorized it in secret."
Ryoji waved his slightly trembling wrist. No matter what, the continuous impacts couldn't be dispersed perfectly.
"I thought it paired pretty well with my Harmonizing Light with Dust, so I studied it a bit… and used it."
In other words,
In just a few minutes, in the middle of an intense high-speed battle, he had copied Kurogane Ikki's sword skill.
And not only that,
Ryoji clearly hadn't spun around at all. He had casually reversed his blade and reflected the force right back.
Meaning he had improved it.
In truth, the move "Circle" itself already carried traces of Tai Chi. Kurogane Ikki had created it by borrowing from that philosophy, which was exactly why Ryoji felt it fit so well with his Harmonizing Light with Dust.
And because they originated from the same source, he was able to refine it easily, since Tai Chi was naturally skilled at borrowing strength to strike back.
But now…
"I've already lost."
Kurogane Ikki's heart sank completely.
No matter how he attacked from here on, Ryoji would block it perfectly… and could even reflect it back at him.
The physical advantage granted by "Ittou Shura" seemed like it didn't even exist in front of him.
There was only one reason.
, Ryoji's realm of swordsmanship had surpassed his by an overwhelming margin.
The sword technique he took such pride in became worthless before Ryoji. With a single glance, Ryoji could learn it and even improve it. None of the Seven Secret Swords worked; he was utterly incapable of breaking through Harmonizing Light with Dust.
His mimic sword skills and Perfect Vision were completely sealed.
"Victory and defeat have already been decided."
Saikyou Nene sat at the highest seat and delivered her judgment in a firm, certain tone.
"The gap between these two has widened enormously. Little Brother Kurogane hasn't even managed to force out Little Junior Brother's special ability."
Shinguuji Kurono silently nodded.
Nangou Torajirou also gave a slight nod.
"Hahahaha! Serves you right! Now my promotion is guaranteed!"
Mamoru Akaza finally threw away his cane and burst into wild laughter.
"Kurogane Ikki, hurry up and get off the stage already! It's impossible for you to defeat Lord Ryoji! If you've got any sense, surrender already! Hahahaha!"
(End of Chapter)