I am a female swordsman.

Sephiroth's first thought was of the woman above the chessboard, calmly and confidently surveying all the pieces. Before leaving, he requested to see her, but the extremely strict and cruel Chairman of Shinra refused to see him, simply telling him to focus on his work.

However, Mado Yomi, this gentle and dignified woman, unusually gave up her rest time to accompany him.

"Since drinking alcohol is forbidden for a kid like you, let's substitute with a soft drink... Hahaha, how old am I? Definitely much older than you, little brat... Sometimes, I almost forget what I really want to do with my life... Anyway, I hope you live like a human being, not some other nonsense, hahaha!"

Mado Yomi, who was with him, seemed very happy...

Yes, that unconscious upturn of the corners of his mouth was definitely happiness. With that blessing, like an older sister's, for her younger brother, Sephiroth embarked on the path of war.

To better utilize the products of the [Psionic Organs] project team on the battlefield!

"For humanity!"

The shouts before the expedition were particularly inspiring. Bathed in the light of sunrise, Sephiroth embarked on a path he had never imagined.

What we will face when we return is also unknown.

………………

There's a law in this world that says it's illegal to lay a hand on a minor, and that you'll be arrested and imprisoned. Actually, Sakura Yomi has always been curious about what exactly defines a minor.

It could mean someone who appears mature but is actually psychologically underdeveloped, or someone whose physical age is excellent but whose mental age is already beyond maturity. Last night, Sakura Yomi, who was teetering on the edge of illegality, almost committed a crime against Sephiroth, and was subsequently invited for questioning by the police.

Encouraging minors to drink alcohol?

But that guy can't really be considered human, so it's not a criminal act, right...?

Because he was a monster from birth!

Born from Shinra's largest energy furnace, the monster, the "King of Angels," exuded divinity. Even in its embryonic stage, it had already perfectly fused with Genova cells. It can be said that from the moment it was deliberately brought into the world, it was an ignorant and clueless monster.

The one who created all of this was the highest and ultimate will of Shinra, [Shinra Chairman] Yomi!

This is awkward...

Sakura Yomi is still kind-hearted. Having witnessed evil that almost crossed the line of humanity, she has an obsession with kindness within reasonable limits that is different from that of ordinary people.

She intends to completely seize everything from the Underworld, including the interpersonal relationships and karmic consequences that come with the fusion. Having a high regard for Sephiroth, she has no desire to take on this mess. If she had to find a solution, she'd much rather swiftly separate good from evil with a single sword strike!

Buzzing!!

A fleeting glint of sword light flashed in the room, reflecting in Sakura Yomi's crimson eyes like a pool of exceptionally still autumn water. This lightsaber, formed from pure internal energy, was named "Divine Light," and possessed various effects depending on the wielder's visualization. While it was said that any weapon could be formed from this light, Sakura Yomi preferred to condense it into the shape of a sword.

Its speed surpasses all that can kill, and its sharpness can even destroy the deepest abyss!

This is the combat technique of Sakura Yomi in her previous life as a "Wandering Samurai," the title she received after pushing the "Two Elements Technique" to its limit. It means that the speed and elegance of her swordsmanship are so great that they can decide life and death in an instant; even the otherworldly demons revered by adventurers like the Abyss Party can be slain in a single strike!

Using the Yin-Yang Technique with one hand, the familiar feeling of flesh and blood merging together brought a slight brightness to Sakura Yomi's face.

We are getting even closer to our former peak!

This body's inherent qualities are so exceptional that they inspire envy; its energy transfer efficiency is virtually unimpeded. It's as if it was born and raised immersed in energy transfer, or, to put it more extremely, was born from energy transfer itself!

Of course, that's impossible.

Sakura Yomi knew all too well the terrifying power of transferred energy—its violent and all-destroying nature. The tragedy at the Bilmark Empire's testing grounds, the truth deeply concealed by the Empire's lies, perfectly illustrated the immense power and uncontrollability of transferred energy.

If someone really does grow up by transferring energy from a small bubble.

Sakura Yomi ate her own beloved sword!

With masterful control of her inexhaustible inner energy, Ying Huangquan effortlessly switched between katana, greatsword, longsword, short sword, and blunt weapon. Countless illusory images of weapons flickered around her left hand, each with its own unique additional effects: bleeding, vibration, electric shock, meridian sealing, dazzling light, wind-slashing, tearing, lightning strikes, and more.

In her next match, her opponent will also be a swordsman.

Sakura Yomi held swordsmen in high esteem. To defeat them with a dignified and elegant sword strike, without carelessness, was the best tribute one could receive!

Vermilion Bird Sword Sect

The swordsmanship school from Southeast Asia has a very strange and unorthodox swordsmanship, belonging to the unorthodox and unorthodox path. But Sakura Yomi doesn't care whether this sword is righteous, evil, or demonic. As long as you can survive, that's a good path. If you can't even survive, then talking about those nonsense things is the real pedantry.

"Ms. Mado, your match is about to begin."

Clang!

The faint sound of a sharp blade being drawn pierced through the door of the lounge and reached the staff. Behind that door seemed to be a mountain of sharp swords. After a long while, Sakura Yomi's response finally came through.

"I see."

Chapter Ninety-Seven Vermilion Bird

"Mado Yomi?"

The man carrying a silver longsword had narrow eyes and a sharp demeanor. Wu Mingyan, the current successor of the Vermilion Bird Sword Sect, was renowned throughout the country for his skill with a left-handed sword.

"Yes, Lord Wu."

The man standing beside Wu Mingyan nodded in greeting. The information he gave her contained details about the habits and competition records of Mado Yomi, the successor of the [Scattered Cherry Blossom Sword Style], as well as the sword techniques of his school. Wu Mingyan looked at the man's effeminate face with a hint of disgust and casually placed the information aside.

"Please tell Lord Haojie that I will teach her a lesson."

"But Lord Wu..." Seeing the documents he brought being treated so casually, the man didn't feel like he was about to teach a lesson to some ungrateful fool who refused Lord Haojie's invitation. Thinking of this, the man's face darkened considerably.

"The men of the Wu family will take what they want with their own hands."

Martial artists have their own dignity. Some may put on a show for money, and some may do despicable things for profit, but there will always be those who adhere to what others consider foolish principles. These people are often seen as unreasonable, crazy, stupid, and stubborn.

Clearly, the successors of the Vermilion Bird Sword Sect possess a degree of self-respect.

Accompanied by an undeniable, soft voice, Wu Mingyan's narrow eyes flashed with a chilling glint. This caused the man, who was about to say something, to freeze instantly. He felt immense pressure on his shoulders, his legs trembling so badly he almost lost his balance. Only after Wu Mingyan withdrew her gaze did the man slowly recover.

With a cold snort, Wu Mingyan began carefully wiping her beloved sword with a silk handkerchief in preparation for the match. He wasn't going to see her out!

After the gloomy man walked out of the room, he realized that his back had been completely soaked in just a few seconds. The terrifying pressure of facing a sword master made it impossible for him to breathe!

"What an old-fashioned fellow!"

Muttering a curse under his breath about this ungrateful little Vermilion Bird from Southeast Asia, the man tugged at his clothes as if trying to forget the pressure. He figured it was easy to cause trouble for Wu Mingyan's fickle sword style if they didn't engage in direct confrontation, but rather through underhanded tactics. A sinister glint in his eyes, the man was already secretly plotting when he could use his influence to cause trouble for the Vermilion Bird Sword Sect.

A man with his head down and a slightly distorted expression was walking down the street when he suddenly smelled a faint floral fragrance.

"Make way, you small fry."

As the sound came, the man was struck and sent flying backward like a curled-up lobster!

The brutal blow to the abdomen sent waves of pain coursing through the man's body! His previously contorted, smug face instantly contorted, tears and snot streaming down his face. He gasped for breath, convulsing slightly on the ground. This method of beating—the most painful yet least damaging to the human body—requires exceptionally skillful torture techniques. Coincidentally, Sakura Yomi, who had personally experienced the beatings in prison, had also mastered this technique!

"Tsk tsk, how disgusting... I feel like my hands are getting dirty. Is there any paper?"

Looking coldly at the man who supposedly frequented her establishment, Sakura Yomi's crimson eyes flashed with intense killing intent. She was never known for her good temper; it was perfectly normal for her to take someone's life at the slightest provocation.

But times have changed now.

She doesn't need to kill someone like she used to, with one sword chopping everything down. Shinra's immense power is more than enough to cause a person's social death and then their physical annihilation.

Right now, all we're concerned about is interest.

………………

"Next up is the first match of the third round of the World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament! The two opponents are Mado Yomi of the Scattered Cherry Blossom Sword Style and Wu Mingyan of the Wu family of the Vermilion Bird Sword School! Both are martial artists skilled in swordsmanship. Mado Yomi has been extremely impressive in the first two rounds, emerging as a dark horse! What's most exciting is that she hasn't shown any of her signature sword techniques yet! Is it because her opponent is too weak or she is too strong? Hopefully, the third round will reveal the answer!"

"As for the dark horse's opponent, Wu Mingyan of the Vermilion Bird Sword Sect also advanced by defeating opponents with her unpredictable and ruthless swordsmanship! Her left-handed swordsmanship can force her opponents into difficult situations. As we all know, the angle of the left-handed sword is different from that of the right-handed sword. Martial artists who are used to dealing with right-handed swordsmen often make misjudgments when facing left-handed swordsmen. And this is a confrontation between two swordsmen, which is sure to be very exciting!"

"Now!"

"The match begins!!!"

Amidst cheers that erupted like a torrent, the two swordsmen slowly stepped onto the stage that had been prepared for them. They gazed at each other silently, observing each other's every move, trusting the judgment based on their own senses.

Gradually, the atmosphere in the stadium quieted down.

No one took the lead in quieting down; instead, the faint, sharp clanging sound that permeated between the two slowly spread outwards, and even the most obtuse person could feel the stinging sensation on their skin! The swordsmen on the stage simply stood there, and the audience couldn't help but quiet down, handing the stage over to them.

"Mado Yomi".

Raising her hand in a gesture of respect, Sakura Yomi's composed and calm demeanor was remarkably serene.

"Wu Mingyan".

Returning the greeting, the effeminate swordsman with narrow, squinting eyes casually placed his left hand on the hilt of his sword. He noticed that Mado Yomi hadn't entered the arena with her sword, and he was slightly curious.

"Miss Mado's presence tells me that you are one of us. Why don't you carry your beloved sword with you more often?"

"Any flying flower or plucked leaf can be a sword, so why be bound to just one thing?"

With composure and confidence, she stated her reasons. Suddenly, a pink, cherry blossom-like phantom appeared on Ying Huangquan's raised left hand, gradually coalescing into a dreamlike, ethereal sword that existed between illusion and reality. This gesture, coupled with her words, immediately stunned Wu Mingyan.

Clearly, Mado Yomi's understanding of swordsmanship surpasses his.

But this did not deter him; on the contrary, his desire to challenge stronger opponents surged even more!

"Been taught a lesson."

Holding the sword in his left hand, his previously squinted eyes suddenly widened! A scorching heat suddenly swept across the arena from all directions! The swordsman, propelled by the wind, vanished in an instant! Feather-like patterns rippled through the air, and the next moment, the gleaming silver blade trembled rapidly, aiming straight for Sakura Yomi's throat!

Chapter Ninety-Eight Shattered

The gleaming blade was almost touching his throat the instant the heat wave hit his cheek!

This sudden sword strike was enough to throw most people into a panic.

However, Sakura Yomi is far from being among the majority. Having experienced countless chases and perilous situations in her past life, she has faced encounters a thousand times more dangerous than this! Even with broken limbs, as long as she can still move, she can still bite her way out of dire straits with her teeth!

clang!!

Long, slender, pale fingers were held in front of his throat, a faint halo of cherry-colored metallic light swirling around the fingertips. It was this very light that forcefully blocked the onslaught of the sharp blade!

woohoo...

A strong gust of wind suddenly blew aside Sakura Yomi's bangs, her smooth, long black hair flying backward along the airflow that carried a hint of the blazing sun. A satisfied smile curved her crimson lips, and with a sudden burst of strength, Sakura Yomi pushed Wu Mingyan's thrusting sword back several inches!

The two were locked in a stalemate for a moment, and then the longsword bent into a bow shape in an instant!

Even so, the exceptionally resilient longsword did not show any signs of being overwhelmed by the weight. A hint of surprise flashed deep in Wu Mingyan's eyes. He had thought that the cherry blossom-colored light would condense into a sword to fight, but he hadn't expected that Mado Yomi's method of control and maneuvering was even more effortless.

It doesn't adhere to the shape of the sword at all, but rather, like tassels, it gently touches the blade.

"open!"

With a deep, low shout, the originally curved sword seemed to be filled with accumulated energy and violently snapped out of its original position! The force applied from both ends converged and exploded outwards, successfully forcing Sakura Izumi to lean back slightly to avoid the piercing blade!

It's not over yet.

Even from outside her field of vision, Sakura Yomi could imagine the moves that would follow this one.