Expecting safety in a life and death battle was a luxury.
Gunnar understood that very clearly.
It was the consequence of every decision he had ever made.
Since the moment he stepped onto the path of the sword, he had always risked everything in duels whose outcomes could never be predicted. There had never been any guarantee of victory. No certainty of survival. There had only been belief in his own ability.
The Aura Master realm he had achieved.
The years of relentless training.
The countless insights gained from real combat experience.
None of those things had ever betrayed him before.
But now.
It was as if that entire foundation collapsed effortlessly in front of the man wearing the black cloak.
Can talent really differ this much between people?
Then what about all my hard work until now?
The questions surfaced before he could stop them.
He understood that humans were born with different levels of talent. That was an undeniable reality. But a gap this large still felt impossible for his rational mind to accept.
The heavens were truly unfair.
Pain from the wound in his abdomen and the ache in his chest pulsed together.
Aura continued flowing constantly through his body, accelerating the regeneration process. It was nowhere near as fast as a mage's healing spell, but it was far better than doing nothing.
At the very least, he could still fight.
Gunnar could not suppress the emotional turbulence rising inside him as he stared at the man.
"May I ask you one thing?"
Sasuke gave a small nod.
"I can't detect your aura at all. Don't tell me your realm is at the Aura Grandmaster level?"
Sasuke did not answer immediately.
The Sharingan in his eye had been observing the steady aura flow gathering around the man's abdominal wound.
Regeneration?
So that's how it works.
That energy did not merely strengthen body cells to extreme limits. It also assisted wound healing without special techniques or additional magic.
Similar to how Kurama's chakra worked for Naruto.
But far slower.
He then gave a short reply.
"No."
Grandmaster.
That was the realm after Master.
Sasuke already understood the general power hierarchy of aura practitioners on this continent from information Elisvaria had given earlier. An Aura Master roughly corresponded to an average Kage level in the Naruto world. He had never fought a Grandmaster directly, so accurately measuring his own position within this world's system remained difficult.
The man before him was at least stronger than the Master level practitioner he had fought days ago in the snow forest.
This man's advantage lay in his swordsmanship.
Especially because he was a dual blade user who prioritized balance and flow rather than relying purely on raw power.
Gunnar's eyebrows rose at the answer.
"Not a Grandmaster? Are you trying to fool me by hiding your true level while fighting me?"
"It isn't important to know someone's level, is it?"
"You arrogant bastard. Just because you're strong doesn't mean you can look down on others. Aren't you ashamed, playing with someone weaker than you? Velmora really are disgusting."
A faint smile appeared on Sasuke's face after hearing the rant.
He did not respond.
He almost laughed.
A man speaking about shame.
Despite attempting to attack a woman from behind earlier.
Ironic.
Humans were always like that.
They judged others without ever truly understanding their own sins.
Hypocrisy was perhaps humanity's greatest talent besides betrayal.
In his previous life as Eric, he could not deny that he had once been trapped in that same cycle. People judged him without knowing the truth. Then when reality surfaced, they simply walked away, leaving him alone on the opposite side.
Forget it.
I never cared how others saw me.
Not in my previous world.
Not in this one.
The Sharingan captured the aura currents moving intensely in the air around the man. Sasuke had already predicted the next action even before his opponent moved.
Gunnar did not want to waste time on what felt like meaningless conversation with the black cloaked man he considered arrogant and condescending.
He immediately pushed his aura control to its highest level.
Then dozens of aura swords formed in the air.
The sharp, condensed energy vibrated violently, creating pressure throughout the surrounding area. The air grew heavy, and the snow on the ground trembled faintly from the resonance of released power.
Gunnar's gaze locked onto Sasuke.
He had made a decision.
These aura swords were not meant to defeat the man directly.
They were a distraction.
A setup for his ultimate technique.
I won't surrender even if he's a Grandmaster.
I'm risking everything here.
This mission is meaningless.
From the beginning I was never truly interested in it, except to raise my reputation so I could face worthy opponents in the future.
Gunnar drew a deep breath.
His consciousness merged with every aura sword floating around him. Moments later, his senses felt connected to each blade of energy.
He always experienced an extraordinary sensation when using aura swords.
His sword intent fused with that sharp energy.
He blinked once, then opened his eyes again.
Every aura sword surrounding him vibrated more intensely, ready to slice through anything in its path.
"Face this."
Wrssshhh!
Dozens of aura swords shot forward simultaneously, creating streaks of light along their paths.
The sword intent contained within each blade was more than enough to slice through aura practitioners below his level with ease.
Sasuke moved immediately.
Just like before.
Chakra flowed into the katana's blade, reinforcing both its structure and sharpness.
At that exact moment.
Slash!
One aura sword shot forward at extreme speed, aiming directly for his skull.
Krring!
Another followed instantly with equal velocity.
Chaechaechaechaeng!
The katana blocked and countered in a single fluid sequence that appeared almost seamless to the naked eye.
Aside from that, Sasuke merely rotated his waist and arm, then took a single step backward.
The movement looked narrow.
Simple.
But for the man in the black cloak, there were almost no limitations within that space.
His step back was not because he was pressured.
It was simply an adjustment toward the most comfortable and efficient position for him.
Krring! Krring!
In the instant after the exchange, several aura swords were deflected away by several meters.
Taking advantage of that brief momentum, Sasuke leapt into the air and spun his body.
Slash! Chaechae!
Several counter slashes struck additional aura swords, sending them flying away as well.
Just as I thought.
This man's sword technique really is extraordinary.
Not only that.
It feels like every trajectory of my aura swords is already predicted before it even happens.
Is that even possible?
The speed of these energy blades is extremely high.
Even I cannot handle dozens of them simultaneously like this.
Gunnar swallowed the bitter realization that his attack would most likely fail again.
But he did not give up.
From the beginning, he had already accounted for that possibility.
Several aura swords attacked more fiercely.
The ones that had been knocked away by Sasuke's strikes had completely lost their control connection.
But that was actually beneficial.
Because his concentration could now focus entirely on the remaining swords still under his command.
And that was exactly what he needed.
Time.
Just a little more time.
Wssshhh!
The remaining aura swords shot forward, targeting openings on the black cloaked man who was still airborne. The attacks aimed at his back and sides, exploiting angles that were difficult for normal defenses to cover.
Since the opponent was too strong, the aura swords deliberately targeted blind spots.
Gunnar did not care about honor in a situation like this.
He only needed to exploit even the smallest opportunity.
But something happened at that moment.
As if gravity briefly reversed, the black cloaked man twisted his body midair with a motion that defied physical logic.
"Blizzard Storm Sword Technique."
"Hah?"
The man tightened his grip on the katana and swung.
Wssshhh!
Chaechaechaechaeng!
The sword trajectory, which should have placed enormous strain on human muscles and joints, instead flowed perfectly in midair. Tyrannical chakra energy that both strengthened and sharpened the katana smashed into and cut through every approaching aura sword.
Every movement felt unnatural.
Difficult to follow.
Impossible for others to replicate.
This was not merely speed.
It existed on an entirely different level of bodily control.
"Hahaha. You really are a bastard child. Far more talented than that woman."
Gunnar had no intention of retreating.
Instead, he strengthened his connection with the remaining aura swords. Energy flow became denser and more explosive within each sharp blade.
Then he released the best sword technique he could currently use.
Not his ultimate move.
But the second strongest sword ability he possessed.
"Extreme Four Direction Sword Technique."
"Come!!!"
Gunnar poured all his control into the remaining aura swords, merging his fighting will and sword intent into a single formation that attacked from multiple directions surrounding the man.
The trajectoriesjectories came from the front, sides, rear, and even diagonal angles that were difficult to predict.
He was certain this technique would at least force the man backward.
Just a little more.
Until his aura flow reached its peak for his ultimate ability.
Wssshhh!
The aura swords launched together, executed with precise coordination.
But.
The black cloaked man, now standing on the snow surface, showed a faint smile instead.
Chaechaechaechaeng!
The sharp energy contained in each strike of the technique he used was so powerful that every collision caused the aura swords to vibrate violently.
Krring!
Sssrrt!
The strange and difficult to comprehend sword trajectories shattered the formation of the Extreme Four Directions Technique one after another. The shockwaves swept the surrounding snow into the air, creating bursts of white that scattered in every direction.
Each time the katana swung, spirals of air formed.
They were so powerful that they resembled miniature tornadoes born from compressed energy pressure.
The remaining aura swords attacked with increasing ferocity.
The energy within them, combined with the deeply embedded sword intent, tore through the air several times as they passed.
Chaechaeng! Krring!
Collisions continued without pause.
Energy sparks scattered everywhere, aura pressure crashing against each other repeatedly. The shockwaves were strong enough to make ears ring, while the surrounding air trembled like the surface of water struck by a massive stone.
For Sasuke, the sword technique he had just used felt incredibly compatible with his body.
Every trajectory was unpredictable. The direction of slashes and thrusts changed within fractions of a second, forcing the muscles and joints of his arm to operate at their limits. That strain only accelerated his body's adaptation.
His abdominal and waist muscles tightened with every swing, creating increasingly solid coordination from his core all the way to the tip of the katana.
These movements were impossible for a normal human body.
But for him, they provided extremely precise control.
This truly is an extraordinary sword technique.
Its combination with the Sharingan was an undeniable perfect match. Even Sasuke himself had to acknowledge the superiority of that synergy within his mind.
With his ability to read an opponent's movements, the extreme trajectory shifts of the Blizzard Storm Sword Technique became even more lethal.
Krring!
Gunnar stared intently at the remaining aura swords still floating around him.
Only three remained.
For him, that was enough.
His ultimate technique was now fully prepared.
This attack would be the final diversion before everything ended.
Chwaechwek!
The three aura swords launched again, this time releasing sword energy with output far denser and more powerful than before. The energy blades vibrated violently, emitting sharp pressure that pierced the skin even before reaching their target.
It was as if each sword was ready to explode the moment it made contact with an opponent.
Wsssshhhh!
Chaechaechaechaeng!
The collision between the chakra reinforced katana and the condensed energy blades created flashes of light that burst outward in all directions. Pressure waves swept across the snow surface, scattering it like white mist.
But the assault from the three aura swords did not last long.
Sasuke executed another movement from the Blizzard Storm Sword Technique with deadly precision.
Wssshhh!
His blade cut from a completely unexpected angle, striking the tip of the first aura sword and sending it flying far away, instantly severing its control connection.
Without the slightest pause, a spinning slash followed. The motion forced his waist muscles to tighten powerfully as energy flowed fully into the blade.
The strike hit the second aura sword just before it could pierce his back.
Srrkhh!
Instead of being deflected, the aura sword shattered into fragments like a mirage breaking apart in midair.
The final slash came even faster.
So fast it was nearly invisible to ordinary eyes.
The last aura sword was thrown sideways for dozens of meters, stabbing into the snow surface it crossed.
Ssrshh!
A heavy rush of air suddenly sounded in Sasuke's ears.
His combat instincts reacted immediately.
He turned, his eyelids narrowing sharply.
Clones? Eight?
Gunnar gripped both swords tightly.
The muscles in his legs tightened until veins bulged visibly, and his aura erupted explosively. That brief explosion created a crater beneath his feet from the sudden pressure surge.
Fine snow particles lifted into the air around him, forming a chilling scene.
At the single point where he stood, a faint dark shadow appeared on the snow surface.
Then the shadow split.
One became two.
Two became four.
Until finally eight Gunnars stood side by side, visible to the naked eye.
Massive and sharp energy pressed against the surrounding air.
"Come on! Bastard child of Velmora, show me everything you've got!"
"Hahaha! Don't hold back, or you'll die here!"
Hearing the provocation, Sasuke did not respond at all. His gaze remained calm, his focus sharpening instead.
Fssshhh!
Gunnar moved.
Starting from one shadow, followed instantly by all the others, they shot toward Sasuke like lightning from multiple attack angles.
Phantom Shadow Sword Formation Technique.
This was the strongest technique he had created after gaining insight from countless battles.
The advantage of this technique lay in its extreme speed, capable of creating replicas of himself.
These shadows were not mere illusions.
They were solid physical forms produced by the highest acceleration of his body.
At that speed, an opponent's visual perception would process them as separate individuals.
His current limit was eight shadows.
Beyond that, the energy strain would destroy his leg muscles within seconds.
Sasuke's eyes gleamed as he observed the dual sword user's technique.
"I see."
His voice sounded calm amid the roaring cold wind.
"You are the strongest man I've faced in this world. Your technique is good, and your resolve is impressive. If we were not enemies, you might have been useful as my subordinate. And since that woman asked me not to kill you..."
Sasuke slowly raised his gaze.
Looking directly at the eight Gunnars charging simultaneously.
"It's time to end this."
Mangekyo Sharingan. Genjutsu.