NOVEL NEXT Chapter 703
703——————==
Dark Heaven Village
Swish.
The Sword Demon let out a contemplative sound upon seeing Musashi’s stance.
‘Kamewari (???)’
While the Sword Demon originally knew little about Dongyoung Swordsmanship, he had acquired considerable knowledge through Baek Woong’s memories absorbed by the obsidian. The Sword Demon now possessed recollections of Baek Woong training the Soul Removal Technique alongside dozens of Sword Heroes, as well as interactions with great swordsmen like Kamizumi Nobutsuna and Tsukahara Bokuden. According to those memories, Musashi’s initial stance was Kamewari.
This was a vigorous sword posture that felt like shattering a jar in one go, serving as evidence of the Itto-ryu forged by Ono Tadaaki since the time of Ito Itsusai. Kamizumi Nobutsuna also had vast experiences and was well-versed in the sword forms of Itto-ryu, and that knowledge had passed to the Sword Demon through Baek Woong.
The Sword Demon briefly considered whether Musashi was the successor of Itto-ryu, but it didn’t seem to be the case. Rather, it was unusual that Musashi held this stance so firmly. The Sword Demon spoke to Musashi.
“I hear you are a wandering hero, yet it seems you’ve learned from a prestigious school.”
“It was just a fleeting connection.”
“You’ve certainly reached a level where basic techniques should be redundant. Why show me this stance?”
At the Sword Demon’s question, Musashi’s eyes sparkled.
“If I can receive the Absolute Slash that flows from this sword form, I can definitively assess your skills.”
“…”
“Alright, here we go!”
Swish.
As Musashi swung his long sword, a moment of stillness enveloped the air, as if time had stopped.
This was a moment only true masters experienced – the Sword Demon had often found himself in this space but never in a life-or-death situation against Musashi. In this suspended continuum of black and white, the Sword Demon closely observed Musashi’s posture.
It was a Reverse Sword Technique. Though it was an unconventional stance, at that moment the Sword Demon grasped his opponent’s intention. He immediately shifted into the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword Technique, utilizing the Left Vanishing Soul to block the initial strike while pivoting his body partly to the side.
Clang!
A fierce flash burst forth as their weapons clashed, but it didn’t hinder the two swordsmen. Both had already mastered their inner sight and auditory perception, relying less on physical sight to gauge their opponent’s position. When the flash faded, Musashi’s short sword had pierced toward the Sword Demon’s heart, and the Sword Demon had somehow defended with his own sword’s surface.
The Sword Demon’s blade moved sluggishly, unleashing the Shadowless Sword Technique, while Musashi quickly withdrew from the Kamewari stance.
At a glance, it seemed they had merely struck the air, but that wasn’t the case. Musashi spoke in wonder.
“Did you read all of my techniques in that moment?”
The Sword Demon replied dryly.
“The Itto-ryu’s Reverse Sword Technique allows for fluid transitions, yet if your feet remain in a reverse stance, you can only aim for a counterattack. You aimed to confuse me with the strong sword posture, planning to slice me within a second with your counterattacks, didn’t you?”
“Precisely.”
Musashi smiled with a twisted grin.
“Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong! You are worth the effort!”
Shooosh.
A brilliant flash erupted from Musashi’s waist. In reality, it was an extreme Fast Sword that rent through space, aiming to cut through the very space where the Sword Demon stood. The Sword Demon recognized that Musashi was attacking solely with strength, not technique, and slightly retreated, executing his ultimate technique.
Ultimate Technique.
Soul-Seizing Cloud Light.
A cloud-like Phantom Soul Sword surged and clashed with Musashi’s swift space-killing sword intent. Musashi’s dazzling blade, which had been tearing apart space, could no longer advance as it became entwined with the clouds, and the Sword Demon followed up the Soul-Seizing Sword with the Shadowless Sword, slicing at Musashi’s position.
Wham!
The sword intent stretched to the horizon, cleaving a mountain in half behind it. The Phantom Soul Sword also possessed terrifying power, yet Musashi skillfully evaded the Sword Demon’s Absolute Slash, quickly regaining his stance. His long sword and short sword twirled in mid-air, landing deftly back in his grip, and Musashi’s gaze flared.
“Hah!”
With a screech, a ray-like sword intent pierced through the clouds. The Sword Demon narrowly avoided the attack, but several cuts marked his upper body. To counterattack, he closed the distance to Musashi and struck mid-combo, but just then, amidst the fleeting instant, Musashi activated his ultimate technique, his eyes intense.
Blade-Less Technique.
Swish.
In an instant, Musashi’s hand had grasped the Sword Demon’s blade and blocked it, forcing the Sword Demon to hurriedly use the Soul-Seizing Sword to strike at his hand. However, unlike Baek Woong’s blade, Musashi’s Blade-less Technique appeared flawless, casually dodging even the Sword Demon’s ultimate techniques while refusing to release the blade. Soon thereafter, Musashi swung his short sword, aiming to behead the Sword Demon, who felt the blade grazing his forehead.
Ultimately, the Sword Demon had to use his divine sword techniques to consume energy and escape the Blade-less Technique while feeling a chill run down his spine.
‘What a monstrous guy…!!’
The Blade-less Technique was undoubtedly the secret technique of Kamizumi Nobutsuna of Dongyoung, elevated to the pinnacle of martial arts through the collaborative techniques of Central Plains martial artists. It was unthinkable for Musashi to be the disciple of Kamizumi Nobutsuna.
He must have merely caught a glimpse and memorized it.
In the blink of an eye, Musashi’s eyes gleamed.
[Catch this.]
Ultimate Technique.
Buddha Slash!
Musashi appeared resolute on settling the score here.
As a translucent heart blade formed before the Sword Demon, and the edge of that mental blade aimed at him, the Sword Demon sensed only one option.
‘Deflect the blow.’
Though the Sword Demon had never seen this technique before, having reached the absolute realm allowed him to instinctively realize the weight of that blade’s power. There was no way to evade it once unleashed. This was because the speed of the heart reaching him could not be matched by the human body. It was a technique not permitted in conventional martial arts theory – an extreme move unique to the absolute realm. Moreover, that blade could not possibly not cleave him.
To handle it, he would have to create a mind blade just like Musashi and let the blades collide. It was only right to counter the heart blade with a heart blade.
However.
The Sword Demon hesitated, questioning whether he could even create a mind blade. In the fleeting moment of opportunity, that hesitation was unbecoming of a swordsman, yet an inexplicable fuzziness swirled in his mind. That hesitation was not mere doubt; it was close to a yearning for a challenge.
To step forward?
Or refrain?
‘Here I go.’
The Sword Demon resolved to dive into the adventure. Therefore, he faced Musashi’s Buddha Slash without creating a mind blade; instead, he concentrated his intent and forged a new sword form. Musashi’s distaste was palpable as he reacted to this response. His expression seemed to say:
“Someone like you can’t possibly make the right choice!”
“Are you mocking this duel?”
Naturally, Musashi expected the Sword Demon to create a mind blade to counter him. The Sword Demon, as a master of the absolute realm, couldn’t possibly fail to do so, intending to calmly match the flow and secure victory. Yet unexpectedly, he had created a mere sword form against Musashi’s extreme swordplay.
Musashi’s irritation transformed into punishment. The moment the intent of the heart blade desired it, it zipped straight to the Sword Demon’s head, and moments later, the Sword Demon would be cleaved from crown to toe.
Thud!
“…!!”
However, the anticipated event didn’t unfold. The five sword forms unleashed by the Sword Demon unexpectedly rebuffed Musashi’s Buddha Slash! Musashi, caught off guard by this unforeseen turn, faltered, leaving an opening for the Sword Demon to extend a finger and point at him.
“Gap!”
Thud.
“Grrk…”
Musashi groaned as he clutched his shoulder that had been struck by the Sword Demon’s Hand’s Control Sword Technique. He had managed to avoid critical areas like the heart or head, but the divine sword technique was still formidable. Yet before the pain could register, Musashi, in disbelief, asked.
“What was… that sword form?”
The Sword Demon replied.
“It’s a Japanese sword.”
“A Japanese sword…?”
“No matter how extraordinary your Itto-ryu is, its essence lays in Dongyoung swordsmanship. Also, long ago, the Ming Kingdom, which had been invaded by Japanese pirates, researched Dongyoung swordsmanship to create Japanese sword techniques targeting its weaknesses. Furthermore, our Shadowless Sect absorbed these Japanese sword forms into the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword Technique, allowing me to anticipate your attack trajectory.”
“…That’s not the trivial matter I’m referring to!!”
Musashi shouted angrily.
“My heart blade is the Heart Sword. Only a Heart Sword can counter a Heart Sword! How could you possibly block my Buddha Slash with a bound basic technique?!”
Musashi brushed aside the matter of the Japanese sword and Itto-ryu’s synergy. For transcendent masters like them, those were trivialities that bore no significant impact on the outcome. What truly puzzled him was the absurd situation of a mere basic technique resisting his Heart Sword.
The Sword Demon replied.
“Is that truly a heart sword?”
“What do you mean?”
“Your Buddha Slash may be a heart blade, but I never thought of it as a true Heart Sword. You thought you were free from constraints, yet you remained ensnared by the limitations of basic techniques. Thus, I too chose not to engage with complexity but faced you with what’s standard.”
“…!!”
Musashi gritted his teeth. He could not accept the Sword Demon’s words.
“Don’t make me laugh.”
Having entered the absolute realm, he had cultivated his intent-based techniques to the point of slicing dimensions. He was filled with confidence that he could cleave anything. To say he wasn’t in the Heart Sword realm was ludicrous.
The Sword Demon’s gaze was profoundly calm.
“You may find it hard to believe, but as far as I know, only one true martial artist in this world can cast a true Heart Sword.”
“What?! Who is it?”
“Only the swordsman who illuminates the Sacred Heaven with the light of the Six Intent is the true Sword Saint! Compared to his sword, your technique still falls short.”
Indeed.
The Sword Demon had felt that hesitation moments ago because he recalled seeing the supreme technique of the Swordsman Yeodong-bin, who had transcended into the divine realm, and realized Musashi’s swordsmanship was merely a superficial illusion of a Heart Sword.
“Ridiculous…!!”
Swish, swish, swish.
Musashi unleashed a terrifying wave of killing intent. Simultaneously, the dual swords in his hands emitted dark gleams. He appeared like the harbinger of death, engulfed in rage and bloodlust. Without realizing it, even magical energy seemed to surge from him, but the Sword Demon had no time to ponder the reasons.
A moment later, Musashi’s swords descended upon the Sword Demon.
Crash!!
The power seemed to have multiplied several times over, but the Sword Demon realized he had become much more advantageous.
‘His focus solely on the sword’s might has disrupted the flow of his sword family.’
Musashi’s strength originally resided in his unfathomable calm and precision, utilizing lethal sword intent at the appropriate moments. However, with Musashi losing his center and failing to distribute his techniques properly, his entirety was less than half of his original strength. Furthermore, the injury from the Sword Demon exploiting his opening had dealt a critical blow.
Crash!
As they clashed with their strong swords, the Sword Demon adeptly operated both the Shadowless Sword and the Soul-removing Sword, their opposing natures manifesting, materializing only when they attacked and reducing Musashi’s defenses to tatters.
At first glance, it seemed ineffective, but the Sword Demon’s mastery in the absolute realm ensured that in real combat, he could exert overwhelming power. If his opponent misstepped, they could lose their life in a single stroke, but even if that did not happen, he could steadily sap the opponent’s strength.
Thwack.
Before long, Musashi began to find himself on the defensive. He had retreated far from the original battlefield to an unnamed cliff, while the Sword Demon, backed against the cliff, unleashed his techniques, sending thousands of sword intents toward Musashi.
Thud.
Musashi, pierced by sword intents, was sent crashing against the cliff. As he fell, he bore an expression not of pain, but one of disbelief at the current situation. Moments later, as Musashi disappeared over the edge of Manjangan Cliff, the Sword Demon coldly gazed down from the cliff’s edge.
In truth, the Sword Demon’s strength still paled in comparison to Musashi’s. Having only just entered the absolute realm, he had not yet tailored his techniques to this level, and it could be said they were just a sheet of paper apart. In a genuine fight to the death, it was an immense gulf. Thus, Musashi had consistently attacked with overwhelming confidence. He believed he could win since he was experienced in battles of the absolute realm.
However, the Sword Demon’s few words had unexpectedly shattered Musashi’s pride in his Heart Sword, directly affecting his swordplay. The moment a swordsman loses their coolness, the match is, for all intents and purposes, over.
‘Luck was on my side.’
In truth, even with an injury to his shoulder, the disparity in skill remained. Had Musashi maintained his composure to showcase his own abilities fully, it would have been Musashi, not the Sword Demon, lying dead by now. The Sword Demon himself was just slightly bewildered that Musashi could shake so easily.
Why had Musashi lost his composure so readily?
‘Is it because he’s a genius?’
For a moment, the Sword Demon pondered this, considering it a weakness of genius. Musashi, merely a derivative raised to the absolute realm, had soared to this level of genius through fleeting connections while seldom experiencing a true defeat in life; at best, he had only struggled against the technique of the Master of the Twelve Joules. With absolute confidence, he believed there was no swordsman stronger than him in heaven or earth, an unwavering certainty that bred arrogance.
Therefore, it was clear he couldn’t accept that the level he attained in the Heart Sword was, in fact, not true, and that he was shallow compared to past masters. While an ordinary person might panic momentarily, they would quickly recognize reality and contemplate the next steps –
‘He’s overgrown his ego excessively.’
His unwarranted self-importance and arrogance prevented any acceptance of reality. In the end, the invincible swordsman of the absolute realm, Miyamoto Musashi, had lost to himself. This was not merely the Sword Demon’s victory; it was Miyamoto Musashi’s defeat. Additionally, it was evidence that once a genius encountered a failure, recovery would be far more challenging than that of an ordinary person.
“I must go kill him.”
Swish.
After briefly reviewing the situation, the Sword Demon leaped off the cliff. Ordinarily, one would think such a fall from Manjangan Cliff would mean certain death, but this was Miyamoto Musashi. He would not easily perish from being wounded by his own sword. The Sword Demon intended to descend and ensure his death.
Eventually, the Sword Demon descended with a flourish of techniques, landing at the bottom where Miyamoto Musashi stood unsteadily. Though he appeared to have somehow survived, he was clearly not capable of fighting properly.
They silently stared at each other.
The Sword Demon charged at Musashi and attacked.
Clang!
Clang!
The sounds of clashing weapons echoed in the air. Were they engrossed in battle, they wouldn’t let such noise distract them, but having already determined the outcome, this battle was meant for a kill. Musashi swung his sword, clinging to life, while the Sword Demon swung his sword to end it swiftly.
Thud!
The conclusion arrived.
Musashi did not scream. No matter how trained a warrior might be, the moment a blade pierced his heart, it would make him gasp and bleed reflexively, yet he didn’t. Instead, Musashi spoke.
“If you had told me about… the Sword Saint… earlier…I could’ve….”
“…”
“My sword… take it.”
Musashi’s head slumped as he spoke those final words.
As the Sword Demon slowly withdrew the blade from his heart, complicated thoughts raced through his mind.
What if he had revealed the existence of the Sword Saint?
Would he have gone to the Celestial Realm to test his skills against the Sword Saint instead of concerning himself with the Central Plains martial world?
Miyamoto Musashi was a man who warranted that line of thought, and instead of feeling spite, the Sword Demon felt a surge of pity. A lifelong pursuit of pure strength had rendered him blind to both himself and his surroundings, like a blaze.
After killing Musashi, the Sword Demon constructed a grave and placed his own renowned sword, Hojo, atop it. He then took up the Amanohabaki sword, mumbling,
“I will take good care of it.”
Amanohabaki, a sword received from Abe no Seimei, was powerful against demons. Musashi, in his final moment, appeared to acknowledge his defeat and pass his sword to the victor, the Sword Demon. The Sword Demon looked back at Musashi’s grave with bittersweet eyes before turning to leave.
His destination was Liaoning Province.
He intended to reunite with his companions there.