Kaelven burst forward.
The instant his foot touched the ground, the earth beneath him cracked apart from the force. Yamamoto's eyes narrowed. He immediately abandoned every trace of restraint.
The old swordsman raised the Mythical Sword with both hands and drew in all of his strength.
"This time…"
His aura surged.
"…I will take you seriously."
Kaelven didn't answer. Something about him had completely changed. There was no hesitation. No fear or unnecessary movement.
Every step, swing and decision…Was made for one purpose….To kill. Yamamoto stepped forward.
"Mythical Sword—"
He raised his blade high. Then slashed downward.
Kaelven shifted to the right with the smallest movement possible. Instead of retreating, he stepped directly inside Yamamoto's guard. His sword flashed toward the old man's throat.
Yamamoto's pupils shrank.
"Tch!"
He barely twisted his neck away. The blade missed the artery by centimeters. A thin cut appeared across his neck.
Blood slowly trickled down. Yamamoto touched it with two fingers before looking at the blood.
"Tch…It's like he's a whole different person."
Kaelven was already moving. He didn't allow Yamamoto even a second to think. He dashed forward again.
Yamamoto exhaled.
"Sword of Oblivion."
His Mythical Sword blurred. Dozens…Hundreds…Sword slashes erupted toward Kaelven, carving through mountains, forests and the air itself.
Kaelven sprinted directly into the storm. Left. Right. Forward. A slight lean, A single step.
Every slash missed him by fractions of an inch. His movements were clean.
Efficient and Calculated. The moment he entered striking distance—
"Singularity Slash."
Kaelven vanished. He appeared directly before Yamamoto.
His sword swept upward. CLANG!! Yamamoto barely managed to block.
Even so BOOM!! The force blasted him through multiple mountains before finally stopping. Dust covered the battlefield.
Without hesitation…Kaelven threw his sword. The blade spun through the air like a spear aimed straight at Yamamoto's head.
Yamamoto barely tilted his head. The sword flew past his ear.
He frowned.
"Unforgivable…to be done in by a youngster!"
He disappeared. In the next instant he appeared directly before Kaelven.
SHINK! The Mythical Sword pierced straight through Kaelven's stomach.
Blood poured from the wound.
Yamamoto laughed.
"You made a huge mistake by abandoning your sword."
Blood dripped from Kaelven's lips.
Yet…He smiled. He reached out…And grabbed Yamamoto's sword arm. His grip tightened. Yamamoto's expression changed.
Kaelven looked directly into his eyes.
"Got you."
CRACK!!
Kaelven's fist slammed into Yamamoto's face.
The old swordsman's head snapped sideways.
Still holding Yamamoto's wrist…Kaelven refused to let go. Yamamoto answered with a left punch.
BANG! It smashed into Kaelven's face. Kaelven answered immediately. His own fist crashed into Yamamoto's jaw. Another punch. Another and another.
Each impact echoed across the valley.
Finally Kaelven twisted with every ounce of strength remaining.
CRACK!! Yamamoto's sword hand broke.
The old swordsman's grip loosened. Kaelven punched him once more. Yamamoto staggered backward without wasting the opening Kaelven gripped the Mythical Sword lodged inside his own stomach. Blood streamed down the blade.
He gritted his teeth then…pulled it free. Blood erupted from the wound.
Ignoring the pain…He lunged. SHINK!! The Mythical Sword pierced straight through Yamamoto's heart.
The old swordsman's eyes widened.
"…!"
He immediately responded.
"Mythical Light."
Blinding light exploded from the blade.
Kaelven shut his eyes.
He couldn't rely on sight anymore. Instead he activated his Superior Perception. Every movement, vibration and breath…He felt them. Yamamoto tried pulling the sword free.
Kaelven moved before he finished. He appeared beside him. Then…BANG!!
His foot slammed into the hilt of the sword. The blade drove even deeper into Yamamoto's chest. The old swordsman was launched backward.
His body crashed into a massive tree. The sword remained embedded… Pinning him there. Blood flowed from Yamamoto's mouth.
He looked at Kaelven. For the first time…He smiled peacefully.
"…Well done…"
His head slowly lowered. The light left his eyes.
Yamamoto…Had died. Silence filled the forest. Kaelven stood motionless. His breathing became uneven.
"…Finally…finished."
His legs trembled.He turned toward Kimotsu.
Slowly…One step after another…He tried reaching the unconscious swordsman beneath the tree but his body had reached its limit.
Only a few steps away his vision blurred. His knees buckled. Kaelven collapsed onto the ground unconscious.
As he fell…The glowing number on the back of his right hand shifted. 4,000,000,000 DC became 900,000,000,000 DC.
Far away…Faith suddenly stopped. Her expression changed. She placed a hand over her chest.
"Their life force…it's fading fast."
She closed her eyes.
"Life's Eye."
A lone bird flew high above the forest near the mountain range.
Its emerald eyes shimmered.
Faith's vision merged with its own.
Through the bird's eyes…She saw them. Kimotsu lay unconscious beneath a tree, his broken sword beside him. Kaelven lay only a short distance away, motionless, covered in blood. Faith's expression became serious.
"Idun's Blessing."
Soft green light bloomed around both warriors.
Warm life energy flowed through their bodies. Their broken bones mended. Deep wounds closed. Their bleeding stopped.
Color slowly returned to their faces. The injuries they had sustained were healed but after forcing themselves beyond every limit… Their bodies still required rest. Faith vanished.
The next moment, she stepped out from behind the very tree Kimotsu rested beneath. She looked at both unconscious swordsmen.
"You two…fought well."
Carefully lifting Kimotsu onto one shoulder and Kaelven onto the other with the aid of her circuit, she carried them away from the ruined battlefield.
To somewhere safe. Somewhere she could watch over them until they awakened.