I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

While wielding his sword to fend off the attacks of the Yakuza around him, Makimura pretended to reminisce.

“I remember it was something like… ‘I have to follow my ‘way,’ ‘I want to climb to a place higher than the moon.’”

"'Tao'...? 'A place higher than the moon'...?"

Kiryu repeated these two sets of words softly, as if chewing on each word and phrase.

After a moment, as if he had realized something, he slowly turned his head, raised his gaze, and stared in the direction Qingdeng had left.

The eyes behind the glasses revealed an elusive emotion.

"...I'm sorry, Makimura, I'll leave this place to you for now. I'll be right back."

"Huh? What do you mean... Ah? Hey!"

A scene strikingly similar to the one just now unfolded.

Before Makimura could even finish speaking, Kiryu had already vanished...

……

……

To speed up, Qingdeng leaped onto the nearby roof and moved forward along the eaves.

The porcelain tiles made a "crackling" sound as he stepped on them.

Fortunately, Qing Deng had trained in movement techniques at the Moon Palace Shrine and also had the "Cat Turn +1" buff; otherwise, an ordinary person would have definitely fallen down if they walked on such a path.

"Tachibana-kun!"

Suddenly, Qingdeng heard a strange noise coming from below—it was another familiar, aged male voice.

He opened his eyes wide in surprise and looked in the direction of the sound.

"Mr. Kiryu?"

If there were a third person here, he would surely have seen this strange scene—Aoto running on the roof, while Kiryu was running on the ground below the roof, both of them maintaining the same speed and moving forward in parallel.

"Mr. Kiryu, I knew you'd be here!"

Qing Deng smiled slightly, then adopted a calm tone tinged with regret.

"Mr. Kiryu, I'm sorry! I'm busy right now. Let's enjoy the joy of our reunion properly after everything has settled down!"

Kiryu, with a faint smile on his face, not only effortlessly kept up with Aoto's pace but also had the energy to speak loudly:

"Tachibana-kun! I've already heard about you from Makimura!"

As he spoke, he looked directly into Qingdeng's eyes.

It looked like they were searching for something.

It's like they're confirming something.

Then, he curled up the corners of his mouth, revealing a rather charming expression that seemed to convey both happiness and satisfaction.

"Tachibana-kun!"

Kiryu suppressed his smile, took a deep breath, and then suddenly drew the demon sword, Vairocana, from his left waist, scabbard and all.

"Catch!"

call!

Kiryu forcefully flung Vairocana.

The knife traced a beautiful parabola high before falling straight down towards Qing Deng's head.

Upon seeing this, Qing Deng was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously reached out his right hand and caught the knife steadily.

"Mr. Kiryu, what's this?"

"Take it! From tonight onwards, it's yours!"

Kiryu laughed.

"Oranges turn green and the sun shines bright! That's it, charge forward!"

"Break through the clouds and mist, shake off the gale, and rush toward the 'path' you desire!"

"Charge! Charge!"

"Let's soar into the sky in one breath! Let's reach a place higher than the moon!"

Qingdeng blinked in surprise.

He didn't understand why Kiryu would suddenly give him the sword, nor did he understand why the usually calm Kiryu would be so excited.

But... he felt a smile creeping onto his lips!

At this moment, he felt his emotions soaring to unprecedented heights! He felt like he was about to float away!

Soaring to the heavens... Yes, soaring to the heavens!

What I did tonight was nothing less than a "heroic act" that I did despite knowing it was impossible.

To challenge the heavens... this is no ordinary act.

But it is my "way"!

Yes.

I should do so!

"Why not?"

Qingdeng laughed loudly.

"I am... Niou!"

Having said that, he gripped the Vairocana in his hand, turned his gaze away from Kiryu, and quickened his pace.

His form transformed into the wind!

The sound of footsteps turned into thunder!

Kiryu stopped and silently watched the towering figure grow smaller and smaller until it disappeared into the moonlight.

“…Go, Niou.”

The old man said softly.

Go and create your own legend.

……

……

The top of the water tower—

Rakshasa faced the western crescent moon, kneeling upright with his eyes closed. To his right lay his sword—the Great Treasure Sword, Changyang Zhengzong.

That expression, that look... he seems to be waiting for something.

Suddenly, his ears twitched slightly.

Countless strange noises entered his ears one after another.

The floorboards creaked underfoot... the scorching breath... the growing murderous intent!

Boom!

Suddenly, several sharp blades flashed across the tatami mat behind Rakshasa.

With a loud "boom," a one-foot square gap was slashed into the tatami mat behind the Rakshasa, the floor collapsed, and dust billowed up.

A tall figure covered in blood leaped up from downstairs, passed through the gap, crashed through the dust, and landed steadily.

Whether she heard strange noises or the tatami behind her was being chopped, Rasetsu remained unmoved, not even lifting an eyelid.

Only when he heard the sound of the ground hitting the ground did he finally react.

“…Ju Qingdeng, I take back my previous belittling of you.”

Luosha grabbed the Changyang Zhengzong beside her, stood up slowly, turned her head, and met Qingdeng's eyes.

"You are really... amazing!"

The Rakshasa, her white teeth gleaming from her smile, displayed an unpretentious joy.

"Rakshasa, didn't I tell you?"

Qing Deng casually tossed aside the broken sword in his hand, which had been destroyed by Shimizu Eiichi, and said calmly.

"I will shatter all darkness... with my sword!"

Rakshasa laughed even more heartily.

"Excellent! That's the aura! That's the aura a true powerhouse should possess!"

"To be honest, I was really disappointed when you ran away from the factory. If you really just tucked your tail between your legs and ran away like that, I would think that's all you've accomplished in your life."

“I’m so glad…the men I had my eye on didn’t disappoint me.”

"I'm so glad... tonight will be a very pleasant night!"

Having said that, Rakshasa suddenly raised his left hand, grabbed the fabric on his right abdomen, and then tore his upper body clothes to shreds.

As the clothes covering her upper body tore apart, the tattoos on Rakshasa's back were revealed.

A black-bodied, crimson-haired, green-eyed Rakshasa demon wields a sharp blade, its terrifying, malevolent gaze fixed upon it! Always ready to slaughter living beings and devour human flesh!

"From now on, I will go all out and hold nothing back! Please be prepared!"

Rakshasa drew Changyang Zhengzong and held the knife in front of her.

"I'm always ready to teach you!"

As Qingdeng spoke, he transferred the Vairocana from his right palm to his left, and then slowly pulled it out inch by inch.

A bewitching purple light instantly filled Qing Deng's eyes.

The smooth, flowing blade exudes a chilling aura, and the moonlight enhancing its sharp edge.

The moment it was drawn from its sheath, Vairocana emitted a resounding clang.

It was as if they were cheering for a long-awaited unsheathing of their swords.