A muscular girl is presented to the passionate world of crossover anime.

"Ah—no!" Seeing her beloved being at a disadvantage, even on the verge of defeat, Yumi couldn't help but cry out. Shishio had no sense of pain and could not cry out in pain, and his speed of movement did not decrease, but he was still made of flesh and blood, and excessive bleeding would still threaten his life.

Compared to Yumi, Fang Zhi was more stubborn. Even as his sweat turned from hot to cold, he kept muttering, "Shishio-sama won't lose, Shishio-sama won't lose, he... he must have a hidden trump card!"

Is there a hidden killer move? Maybe there really is.

This was actually something that Kanon was vaguely worried about.

Fighting is like playing cards. You know what you have and you can sense that your hand is great, but you can't figure out what your opponent has or whether it's a strange hand that could turn things around. So the safe approach is to wait for your opponent to play a pair of threes first, then you play a pair of fives to counter, and if your opponent plays a pair of sevens, you play a pair of tenes... Both sides go back and forth, probing each other's cards for a few rounds before deciding whether to go all in.

Kanon, currently using the body of Takakaze, cannot maintain "Valkyrie Mode" for extended periods. Therefore, she has been observing Shishio's moves, hoping to see through his trump cards before devising a decisive strategy. For instance, Shishio has a particularly powerful move that Kanon is powerless to handle even in "Valkyrie Mode." In that case, she could rely on "Unpredictable Transformation" to escape, outlasting him with sheer physical strength... However, since Yumi has revealed Shishio's limit, Kanon can no longer observe discreetly and has no choice but to grit her teeth and enter the final battle mode, gambling that "Valkyrie Mode" can overwhelm any of Shishio's unrevealed ultimate attacks.

The situation looks great right now! In just half a minute, Kanon, like a Valkyrie descending to earth, has already made Shishio unsteady on his feet and on the verge of falling.

But Shishio's eyes remained sharp, and within them lay an inexhaustible fighting spirit, waiting for the opportunity to counterattack.

Finally, a powerful punch landed on Shishio. The punch was so strong that a large chunk of flesh flew off Shishio's shoulder, just like his cheek, causing damage to his muscles, bones, and blood. But Shishio remained calm under pressure, seizing the opportunity to grab Kanon by the collar.

"Huff, huff..." Even someone as strong as Zhizhi Xiong was panting a little, but his expression was full of pride and excitement: "Got you."

When the opponent is too fast and unpredictable, the counterattack from behind becomes crucial. Shishio's grab in adversity is beautiful. What will he do next?

Then of course we'll unleash our ultimate attack!

"Secret Sword - Crimson Lotus Wrist"

"boom!"

This is a special technique developed by Shishio based on the characteristics of "Infinite Blade". He secretly hides gunpowder in the bandages on his hands beforehand, and after grabbing the enemy, he uses the easy-to-use characteristics of "Infinite Blade" to trigger an explosion, giving the enemy a brutal head-on blow.

"Great! We got it!" Yumi and Fang Zhi cheered, while the four people on Kenshin's side tensed up: "Miss Xia!"

Smoke billowed everywhere, the black powder was emitting heavy smoke, but its power was undeniable. Shishio landed a successful blow, still holding Hanon in his grasp. He could sense that Hanon wasn't free; if that was the case, could he launch another attack soon…?

As the smoke dissipated, Hanon's figure emerged, and to everyone's surprise, Hanon was actually unharmed!

"That's it?" Her heart was still pounding, even faster than before. Kanon raised an eyebrow at Shishio. "Well then, it's my turn."

With both fists thrown out, they struck Zhizhixiong. The two forces converged and collided within his body, forming a tornado... and a desolate wind began to blow.

Author's Note: Tomorrow I'll wrap up this story and then move on to the final plot... Of course, the final plot isn't short either.

I'm still a bit sleepy, so please point out any typos or errors and I'll correct them.

Section 908, Chapter 899: Fire Produces Spirit Gods

When Kanon exerted all her strength, "Valkyrie Mode" pushed her body's functions to the limit, achieving a level of muscle control unimaginable to normal humans, ultimately forming "Lihentian," a technique that can be considered the ultimate defensive technique. For the human body, this move may have reached the limit in terms of defense.

So Kanon endured the gunpowder explosion of the "Red Lotus Arm" without injury, and even countered Shishio with "Blowaway". The enormous force collided and exploded inside Shishio's body, blowing him away. He started vomiting blood in mid-air, leaving a trail of blood raining down on him.

The outcome is decided.

Hanon deactivated "Valkyrie Mode" and stood proudly. Based on her extensive fighting experience, she judged that she no longer needed to maintain this energy-consuming state.

And indeed, Shishio remained conscious, but could no longer stand. He tried to struggle to his feet, but failed—his nerves were damaged by the fire, but he wasn't made of steel. After such a severe blow, his body's functions would eventually stop. It felt like his leg had gone numb from being pressed down; he couldn't feel the pain, but he also couldn't control his body.

"Well done!" Although Sanosuke Sagara had a bad temper, he was still a passionate and chivalrous man. He and Kanon were also like bickering lovers. Seeing her win in one blow, he couldn't help but clap and cheer: "This brat is really capable. She actually won decisively!"

An excited Sanosuke couldn't help but recall his encounter with Kanon in Shimosuwa. The girl had displayed a genius for mastering "Double Force" simply through observation, and now he witnessed even more and stronger performances from Kanon: "The world is vast and full of wonders; such geniuses do exist! It seems we shouldn't be like frogs in a well; we should go out and see the world!"

The others were not as naive as Sanosuke, neither Hisumura nor Shishio.

Saito Hajime stood beside Shinomori Aoshi, his expression slightly relieved but still serious. He muttered softly, "A huge heartbeat, bulging veins, swollen muscles, darkening skin... what is this?"

Cang Zi replied, "According to the records of the Oniwabanshu, this might be a special physique known as the 'Mad Meridian,' an abnormally growing nerve that unleashes extraordinary physical abilities when emotionally agitated. This phenomenon is rare among ordinary people, belonging to geniuses one in ten thousand, but some families do inherit this trait, such as the legendary 'Wu Clan,' but I have never seen it with my own eyes..."

“The Wu clan, huh?” Seeing Shishio fall, Saito Hajime began to worry about the future again: “A young girl, so young, yet she is strong to this level, and she acts mysteriously. Her background before New Moon Village is also unclear… Perhaps we should be wary of her.”

Sigh, this lone wolf who adheres to the belief of "rule by law" is really deep in thought.

But Saito's worries were just happy troubles. The formidable enemy before him had already fallen, and any real threat from "Hawk Kaze" was a matter for later.

Compared to him, Yumi and Fang Zhi on Shishio's side are the ones who are truly worried, no, it's more like they're going crazy than worried.

"Ugh..." In the midst of his struggle, Zhizhixiong suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, which was still steaming hot and almost boiling. Sure enough, his body could not dissipate heat, and his body temperature rose higher and higher as he fought. At this point, he was close to becoming a human volcano.

He also appeared to be in increasing pain.

"No!" Yumi cried out, lunging forward, "That's the limit! Stop!"

She stood between Kanon and Shishio, pleading with Kanon, "Lord Shishio is unwell, please don't let him suffer anymore... Please... Waaah... Huh?"

Yumi, who was crying, let out a surprised sound as she saw Kanon back away without hesitation.

"Tch, I've seen this kind of scene a million times." Kanon rolled her eyes smoothly and shouted at Yumi—and Shishio behind her, "If I hadn't backed down, you were planning to stab her through the body with your sword and launch a surprise attack on me, weren't you?"

Only then did everyone notice that Shishio's breathing had stabilized, and his hand had tightened its grip on the "Infinite Blade," even moving forward a few inches to press against Yumi's back. If Hanon hadn't stepped back, Shishio would probably have really "skewered" her and Yumi together.

"Bastard!" The first to shout was Kenshin Himura: "Shishio, you'd actually betray the woman who loves you for the sake of victory?!"

"You're admitting betrayal?" Unexpectedly, Shishio showed no remorse, instead retorting to Hishimura, "The battle continues. Getting injured due to carelessness only means you're not strong enough. This little girl is much more mature and vigilant than you, what a pity. As for Yumi..."

Zhizhi Xiong reached out and put his arm around the woman in front of him: "Don't judge others by your standards. She knows me better than anyone else, and I know her better than anyone else."

Indeed, Yumi's face was streaked with tears, but she showed no resentment towards Shishio for sacrificing himself. Instead, she gazed at him with deep affection: "It's such a pity that I couldn't help Lord Shishio turn the tide. I still couldn't be of any help in the battle..."

“No, Yumi, you’ve done me a huge favor.” Shishio kissed Yumi, then stood up. “You bought me time to recover. Now I can fight again, and I’m stronger than before.”

The damage to his physical functions caused by the "blowout" has basically stabilized, and the pain is negligible. Shishio is still able to fight again, and this time he has gained a deeper understanding of Kanon's abilities.

Taking playing cards as an example, after Hanon played his royal flush, he didn't manage to complete his hand with a straight flush. Although Shishio was at a disadvantage, he still had a chance to turn the tide and win.

"Phew, this is quite a heavyweight battle for a showdown." Hanon's stamina was also mostly depleted, but she could still barely activate "Valkyrie Mode." As a seasoned veteran, her fighting spirit was not low. She immediately rallied her energy and prepared for battle again: "Come on!"

"Kill—" Shishio and Kanon charged at each other at the same time.

The "Infinite Blade" was easily blocked by "Lihentian". Even Miyamoto Musashi could not break this move with just a single sword. Shishio's swordsmanship was even inferior.

Since Shishio couldn't break through Kanon's defense, Kanon had to unleash her own attack—using both hands at once, still with "Blowaway"!

Moreover, this time it's not a combined "blowout" with both hands, but a "blowout" with double force in one punch x2, making it much more powerful. If it hits, unless the opponent is Yujiro Hanma, no one else Kanon has ever seen could withstand such an attack.

The two clashed in an instant. Kanon first defended and then attacked, aiming to ensure that Shishio lost the initiative and increase the success rate of her own attack. Now that Shishio's sword had been deflected, Kanon's fatal blow...

"Wow!"

Hanon braked suddenly. What stood before her was no longer Shishio, but a raging fire tornado. This time, Shishio hadn't just created fire on his sword; he had practically created a living fire dragon! The attack range had expanded several times over!

"Ultimate Secret Sword: Fire Spirit God!"

Author's Note: There will be two more chapters in a bit. I promise, I promise, I'll definitely write them today...

Section 909, Chapter 900: Sacrificing Oneself to Create Momentum

"Fire-generated spirit" sounds impressive, but the actual principle is not that profound. It is simply that Shishio Shin rubs the "Infinite Blade" from the scabbard all the way down to the blade, burning all the oil on the blade and forming a fire tornado, which greatly expands the attack range.

But the reverse is also true: the principle of "fire produces spirits" is not profound, but its actual effect is outstanding.

Kanon activated "Valkyrie Mode" for the second time, but her physical strength had already decreased significantly. Suddenly encountering this attack, she would have been engulfed by the flames if not for her quick reflexes. As she stopped to dodge, Shishio's real katana followed closely behind, and the "fire dragon" naturally chased after Kanon, determined to devour her.

At this moment, Shishio Makoto, one of the top masters of the late Edo period, had achieved perfect harmony of mind, will, and spirit, his fighting spirit and martial arts simultaneously reaching their peak, entering his strongest state! Kanon, on the other hand, awkwardly discovered that he had no effective countermeasure…

Try to escape quickly with "Unpredictable Transformation," but Shishio's attacks are much faster than before, and the range of the fire on his sword is extremely wide. Every time Kanon adjusts her steps, Shishio's attack arrives, and Kanon can't find a suitable time to exert her strength. She can only barely dodge the flames.

So, what about using "Lihentian" to withstand it head-on? That wouldn't work either. While this move represents the pinnacle of human defensive techniques, the human body isn't metal; its limits are there. Hanon was able to withstand the explosion of "Crimson Lotus Arm" because the high temperature of the gunpowder explosion was fleeting and its attack range was small; tensing a muscle could greatly reduce the damage. But the high-temperature flames that Shishio is currently wielding have a much wider range. If she were to force her way close to him through the flames, by the time she hit Shishio, the little girl Takakaze's eyes and skin would likely suffer irreversible damage—Hanon didn't want her ancestor to be burned to death or crippled.

It's so painful! She can't hide far, and she can't resist. For a moment, Kanon was in a terrible state, and could only dodge and weave through the gaps in Shishio's "Fire Spirit God" to try to escape.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it!" Hana thought anxiously, "My strength is clearly superior to his, so how come I'm being suppressed by him!"

One chases, the other dodges... This situation is somewhat similar to the battle of exchanging blows in the night of Shibuya before Kanon and Miyamoto Musashi officially clashed, except now it is Kanon who is being forced to the limit.

Amidst the cheers of Yumi and Fangzhi, and the worries of Himura, Saito, Aoshi, and Sanosuke, Kanon struggled for over a minute, even while in "Valkyrie Mode." For Kasumi Takaka's body, this was her limit.

Exhaustion kept creeping into her mind, and her consciousness began to blur, but as a rather excellent "master of combat," Hanon's calmness and quick thinking in battle were admired by even Kuroki Gensai and Guo Haihuang. It was another talent of hers besides muscle control, inconspicuous but very important.

In a daze, Huayin seemed to understand something: "Because of Yang Miaozhen's story, I specifically sought out Qi Jiguang's 'New Book of Military Tactics' to read. It included Yu Dayou's 'Sword Classic,' a top master of the same era as Qi Jiguang. Qi Jiguang praised Yu Dayou's swordsmanship, saying, 'The wonder lies in the fact that after gaining the upper hand, there is only one grab and one thrust, and the subsequent momentum is like a round stone rolling down a ten-thousand-foot mountain, without stopping...' Isn't this exactly the situation that Zhizhixiong and I are in now?"

In a moment of sudden inspiration, Hanon began to understand the meaning behind Yang Miaozhen's advice at the end of her last time travel—to "sacrifice herself to create momentum" in order to defeat Musashi…

But we still have to fight Shishio right in front of us!

The Sword Classic says that Yu Dayou's swordsmanship is not complicated, but his simple movements have an immense pressure and his attacks are continuous. Once you lose the upper hand against him, there is no way to recover. Even if there is a chance to turn the tide, against a martial arts master, "once you are defeated, you can never recover."

Fortunately, Shishio is not Yu Dayou, and Kanon is no ordinary person either. There is a certain gap in their strength, so Kanon is not without a chance to turn the tide.

"This guy is just troublesome because of the flames. If there were no fire... fire, fire, fire... the fire is fueled by the wind, I've got it!"

Shishio's "Fire-Born Spirit" is most troublesome not because of the sword but because of the fire. However, fire is an external thing, and it has greater uncertainty than muscles and swords.

For example, if Kanon could create a certain vacuum environment, she could probably disperse the flames, or at least create an opening suitable for a counterattack...

Kanon has that kind of skill!

"Come on!" Hanon clenched her fists, her muscles working intricately to compress a ball of air into her hands. Then, seizing the opportune moment, she burst forth with a sudden burst—"Break!"

It is “Void Path”, it is “Strange Dragon”, it is “Muscle Control”, it is “Valkyrie Mode”, the great vacuum state, the great oxygen has done its job. At this moment, Liu Longguang, Nikaido Ren and Hanon’s souls are possessed. She really created a vacuum in the flames of Shishio’s “Fire-Born Spirit God”!

With the center gate wide open, it was the best opportunity. Even Shishio's sword was slightly off-center, allowing Kanon to attack!

But the opening was fleeting, and then Kanon saw an even bigger fire.

Another pillar of fire shot into the sky.

This time... it wasn't Shishio's sword that was burning, but Shishio himself.

The "Fire Spirit God" was a formidable force, and everyone was focused on Hanon, who was desperately trying to dodge, but they overlooked Shishio's pain. He had been severely injured by "Blowaway" and had already suffered many blows before that, so he was already at his limit. While chasing after Hanon with his sword, he was also vomiting blood, and his whole body was even emitting blood-red steam.

Finally, the limit was broken. After Shishio's combat power reached its peak, he paid the price with his life.

The heat within his body was too great, evaporating his blood, burning through his internal organs, and igniting his own fat. This arrogant and ruthless tyrant of the late Edo period perished in the flames of his own making—just like the great fire he had encountered ten years earlier.

"Hehehe, hahahahahaha—hahaha—" Zhizhixiong felt no pain, and after realizing what had happened, he began to laugh wildly.