Just as Ryoji was about to cross the threshold into Akatsuki Academy, a sudden, overwhelming pressure descended upon him. It seemed to freeze time and space itself, violently compressing his internal organs and causing his body to tremble uncontrollably.
Arisuin Nagi, whose martial arts skills were average at best, remained oblivious to this terrifying aura.
Within the eerily silent academy, an incomparably terrifying aura lingered.
And it was a swordsman's aura.
Far surpassing any swordsman Ryoji had ever encountered, this aura was utterly unmatched.
The only person whose martial aura could rival this would be the Queen of the Land of Shadows.
His heart was pounding violently.
"Is this fear?"
He couldn't tell, and he had no time to dwell on it now. He raised his head, his terrifying gaze fixed on the roof of the school building. A pure white female figure stood there, seemingly fused with the world itself. She had no visible aura, and no one would have noticed her presence.
Ryoji spotted her instantly.
However, Arisuin Nagi had initially ignored her until he noticed Ryoji's strange reaction. Following his line of sight, he finally saw the Valkyrie-like woman.
Shortly afterwards, Arisuin Nagi's face turned deathly pale.
It was as if all the color had drained from his complexion; visible terror flickered in his eyes, likely triggered by some unspeakable thought.
"Impossible... How could she be here? What's she doing here?!"
Arisuin Nagi was shaken to his core by terror, forcing out a scream of disbelief.
Having been branded a traitor, he hadn't naturally been informed of her presence here.
Valkyrie took a step forward.
She stepped off the roof of the teaching building, her figure drifting down like a willow catkin. When her feet touched the ground, there was no sound; even when she moved, there were no footsteps.
"Brilliant tactics," She murmured.
Her captivating eyes disregarded Arisuin Nagi, focusing entirely on Ryoji's body.
"To devise such a countermeasure despite Shinomiya's ability suppression... even I must commend you for your ingenuity."
A hint of admiration flickered in her gaze as she praised his strategy in her light, ethereal voice.
She had overheard their conversation at the school gate.
"If I weren't here, you could have completely devastated this place. Not even the One-Armed Sword Saint could have stopped you. It's just unfortunate your luck ran out."
'It's just unfortunate you ran into me here,' her words implied.
"We have to escape, Ryoji!" As her figure gradually approached, Arisuin Nagi's complexion suddenly shifted.
Without hesitation, he summoned his dagger-shaped spiritual item, the Dark Shadow Walker, and plunged it into the ground.
"If you want to escape, escape alone." But just then, a trembling voice reached his ears, causing him to stare in disbelief.
"What is he saying?"
If they submerged themselves in the shadow space now, even that woman wouldn't be able to pursue them. They had a perfect chance to escape!
But then Ryoji's expression flashed before his eyes.
"Is he... smiling?"
Indeed he was.
Ryoji's entire body was trembling, his limbs, organs, and every cell screaming at him to flee from the terrifying sword aura.
"Otherwise, you'll die!"
Yet, uniquely, his heart surged with an unprecedented excitement!
That's right.
He was indeed trembling.
But that trembling wasn't from fear; it was from excitement!
"You're not going to run?"
Valkyrie had closed the distance between them; they were now only twenty meters apart.
"Given your level, you should understand the difference in our strength. Why aren't you running?"
Like a mouse cornered by a cat, Arisuin Nagi backed away several steps in terror. In stark contrast, Ryoji's gaze burned with an intensity unlike anything he had ever experienced before!
"Why would I run?" he countered.
"Your talent is remarkable. It would be a waste if you were to die here." She didn't hide her thoughts, stating them plainly. "If you leave now, I won't pursue you."
"Is that so?" Ryoji nodded knowingly. "You're truly a good person!"
"..."
Valkyrie's eyes flickered slightly.
No one had called her a good person since she'd stained her hands with blood over a decade ago.
"Your unwillingness to rob a junior of their potential and life proves you're a good person."
Ryoji closed his eyes.
At that very moment, he slowly raised the Spiritual Item (Device) in his hand.
Then he opened his eyes.
As if he was brewing something within himself, his gaze became unwavering and burned with pure, unyielding fighting intent, devoid of even a hint of hesitation.
"But the world's strongest swordsman is right before me! What reason do I have to run?!"
His fighting intent was fixed on his target: On the Valkyrie-like swordsman standing opposite him.
The world's strongest swordsman!
This title defined her very being! She was the undisputed number one in the world!
At the same time, she was the very person Ryoji had vowed to surpass at all costs.
Now that she was standing before him, how could he possibly retreat or flee?
If he ran now, how could he ever hope to surpass her?
The strength he had pursued his entire life was right before his eyes. If he fled now, all his ideals would amount to nothing.
Of course, all of this was just empty rhetoric. Ultimately, there was only one reason:
He wanted to fight this woman!
No matter what, he had to fight her!
Nothing could dissuade him today. He yearned desperately to cross blades with her!
Arisuin Nagi was left speechless.
'That's true.'
After all, weren't swordsmen creatures like this?
Whether they were Ryoji, Ikki, or any of the countless other swordsmen around the world, they all aspired to reach the highest peak.
Now that the peak was right before him, how could he resist the urge to conquer it?
"...My apologies for my rudeness." Valkyrie paused briefly.
Shortly afterwards, a second look of admiration surfaced in her eyes.
"You are indeed an exceptional swordsman. I shouldn't have doubted your fighting spirit."
As she spoke, she raised the sword in her right hand.
At the same time, the composure in her eyes vanished, replaced by a sharp, piercing gaze.
Suddenly, an immense pressure descended upon Ryoji's body.
It was the oppressive aura of the world's strongest swordsman, the crystallized essence of her sword aura. With merely a shift in her mindset, she naturally exuded an imposing manner that would leave ordinary people paralyzed.
'Therefore, I will now use this sword to clash with you!'
Her demeanor changed.
Fighting intent blazed in her eyes, a mark of respect for her opponent.
"You couldn't ask for anything better!"
Ryoji countered the sword aura of the world's strongest swordsman with his own imposing manner, gripping the Spiritual Item Device tightly with both hands. His eyes burned with a mixture of excitement and solemn resolve.
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395