I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"Do not waver... Maintain a high degree of unity between will and emotion... A fighting spirit more unshakable than a rock... A steadfast goal to never give up until something is severed..."

As if chewing on each word, Qing Deng softly repeated Kiryu's teachings in a volume only he could hear.

A moment later, he let out a "whoosh..." as he channeled the myriad emotions in his heart into sound.

Then—he stopped forcing himself to maintain his current state of mind.

"Stop thinking with words..." he told himself.

Let your thoughts flow freely in your mind.

Let your thoughts soar above the night sky of Edo!

At this moment, Aoto seemed to understand Kiryu's teachings a little better.

He felt... that he was entering a very strange state.

I'll bet everything...

The dark clouds that had been hanging over Qing Deng's mind had dissipated, and his vision suddenly became wide and bright.

All the sounds gradually faded away, leaving only a buzzing noise in my ears.

I'll bet everything on it.

Following hearing, even sight and touch are beginning to drift away from Qingdeng.

At this moment, Qingdeng could no longer see the enemy in front of him, nor could he see himself... or rather, he could no longer feel his own existence.

He felt like an insignificant speck of dust, drifting aimlessly.

I'll bet everything!

The sound disappeared.

The night breeze around me also disappeared.

Qingdeng felt as if he were standing in a quiet space where there was not a breath of wind... or even air.

His body and his spirit were completely reduced to nothingness.

In his world... only the knife at his waist remained!

……

From Rakshasa's perspective, the changes happening to Qingdeng were truly astonishing.

Qingdeng's eyes looked as if they had been cleansed, becoming clear and transparent.

Although there was still a glint in his eyes, no emotion could be detected.

Instantly, Rakshasa's expression revealed an uncontrollable astonishment.

Until just now, the man in front of me had been exuding an aura of unease, and even the sword in its sheath was filled with intense restlessness.

But at this moment, all traces of unease and anxiety have completely disappeared!

At this moment, Qingdeng is just like a piece of steel that has been tempered and refined, yet has returned to its original simplicity.

Its surface is warm and supple, but its interior exudes unparalleled hardness and strength, containing a solemn killing intent!

Rakshasa felt a chill run down his spine... but he didn't dislike the feeling.

A knowing smile appeared on his face.

"Don't tarnish this tranquility," Rakshasa silently added in her heart.

He subconsciously slowed his breathing, raised his left thumb close to the hilt, and used it to push the blade of the Changyang Zhengzong sword out of its sheath by more than an inch.

The two stared at each other... No, Qingdeng's gaze had long since become so calm that even using the word "stare" to describe it seemed too intense and inappropriate.

"..."

"..."

Silence enveloped the space.

It was so quiet that time seemed to have frozen.

Then—the Rakshasa moved!

Clang, clang, clang, clang—!

The Rakshasa freed the sharp blade at her waist.

According to legend, the evil spirits called "Rakshasa" possess supernatural powers, can fly swiftly through the air or move rapidly on the ground, and are ferocious and terrifying ghosts.

At this moment, in this instant! This man, truly like His incarnation, unleashed an invincible blade!

A deafening roar erupted from Changyang Zhengzong, and a massive flash of light ripped through Qingdeng's vision!

Almost at the same instant that Rakshasa made her move... Qing Deng also unleashed his own attack!

In that instant when their lives suddenly shrank and then suddenly expanded, Qing Deng unleashed his sword-drawing technique—Flowing Light!

In an instant, Qingdeng's will was transmitted to the tip of the blade.

As if drawing in the surrounding darkness, the blade suddenly sprang from its sheath, emitting a chilling and dazzling purple light.

The tip of the blade emitted a crisp chime as the blade vibrated.

With a flash of white light, Qing Deng's eyes shone with a magnificent and dazzling brilliance, like the dawn breaking through the night!

Deep within my mind, that cold voice proclaimed:

[Ding! Eternal Talent - Boundless Hachiman, activated!]

A whole new world unfolds before Qingdeng's blade!

A dazzling white rainbow filled Rakshasa's vision and filled this space!

Wherever the white rainbow passes, even the deepest abyss and the most hellish places are but a stone's throw away!

The sword light cleaved through the atmosphere, deeply penetrating the Rakshasa's blade and body, then soared straight into the clouds, reaching a place even the moon could not reach!

……

Rakshasa stared nonchalantly at Qingdeng, who was still in the stance of drawing his sword.

Clang.

The front half of Changyang Zhengzong's blade fell to the ground, the break so clean it was unbelievable.

He smiled.

A strange smile that beautifully blends astonishment, regret, and resentment.

"Niou... did... well done...!"

Before he could finish speaking, his smile instantly twisted into a grimace.

Pain flashed across his cheeks as the other half of the broken knife fell from his hand.

He instinctively raised his left hand and pressed it against his right shoulder.

A sound like something bursting open echoed in the air.

A small gash appeared on Rakshasa's right shoulder, and then the crack grew longer and longer, running diagonally across his entire upper body and becoming deeper and deeper, with clearly visible lines of blood slowly emerging.

"Lord Orochi... I'm sorry... I can no longer... fight alongside you... I must... take my leave..."

The ever-deepening line of blood eventually covered the scar that Takayuki Tachibana had left on his right collarbone—

Pfft!

Blood spurted into the sky like a fountain.

Rakshasa's upper body, like his sword, slid down along the incredibly smooth cut and fell onto the tatami mat.

Blood gushed out continuously from the severed lower half of his body, which was firmly embedded in the ground.

[Ding! Talent detected]

[Successfully copied talent: "Invincibility +7"]

[Talent Introduction: High blood vitality and strong hematopoietic function; activates red blood cell metabolism, increases hemoglobin oxygen saturation, and enhances the body's utilization of oxygen and ATP; activates the body's immune system and enhances phagocytic ability; blood loss of 50% of total blood volume will cause physical discomfort, and blood loss of 70% of total blood volume will lead to severe shock or death.]

"Huff...huff...huff...huff...uh...!"

Qing Deng let out a muffled cry of pain and fell to the ground on the spot, knife and all.

His senses of sight, hearing, and touch returned to his body one by one.

"Is this... the Hachiman of No Return...?"

Although he had just entered a state of "no seeing, no hearing, no thinking," he still vaguely sensed the system voice.

He had absolutely no recollection of how he had swung the knife.

He only vaguely remembered seeing Rakshasa draw his sword, so he followed suit and made a move... That's all he remembered.

Ever since copying this talent from Kiryu, he has never activated it, to the point that Aoto had almost forgotten its existence.

However, because it was Qingdeng's first eternal talent, and because its power was so overwhelming and impressive, Qingdeng always remembered its effects clearly.

When the mind and spirit are in perfect harmony, free from confusion, one can unleash an ultimate attack, as if possessed by the divine spirit Hachiman. With a clear mind, there is no doubt in the sword!

Qingdeng glanced sideways at Changyang Zhengzong and Luosha, who were now split in two.

Such power... truly as if Hachiman Daimyojin had possessed him!

Snap, snap, snap, snap...

At that moment, Qingdeng heard unhurried footsteps beside him.

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw an elderly man wearing glasses walking leisurely toward him.

"Kiryu-sama... why are you always like those fire-tack thieves and the 'three-times' magistrates, arriving late after the battle is over?"

"I'm sorry, there are still quite a few enemy forces remaining in the Shimizu residence. It will take some time to mow them down."

As Kiryu spoke, he shook the knife in his hand, wiping away the bloodstains on the blade—the blade he was holding was a very ordinary, mass-produced one, probably picked up from near some Yakuza corpse.

"...Tachibana-kun, you did a great job."

Kiryu glanced at Aoto, who was still lying on the ground, then at the body of Rakshasa not far away, and smiled slightly.

"You have indeed reached the level of 'being able to cut things that ordinary people cannot cut'."