Chapter 784: Six Years Later
Chapter 784: Six Years Later
Six years had passed.
To be precise, for Makomo, six years had been spent in diligent cultivation, bringing her to the age of sixteen, while Feng Ye had simply skipped over this period of time.
Having led a leisurely life for so long, he had no intention of secluding himself in a canyon for years. Such a detachment from the world would only distance him further from his humanity.
Of course, Feng Ye didn't merely skip these six years. During his temporal jumps, he paid a visit to the Soul Society and placed the worlds of Fairy Tail, Demon Slayer, and the Soul Society into a small flask he carried with him.
He also took the liberty of naming the flask the "World Flask."
His plan was to travel back in time and, upon returning to the past, place the various worlds he had experienced into the flask as well... Well, he needed to give it some thought regarding the One-Punch Man world, as Saitama possessed the power to break the flask. This was the reason Feng Ye hadn't immediately acted on this idea.
Of course, Makomo was unaware of these events, nor did any of the beings in the Demon Slayer world know that their world had been moved from the vast universe into an independent space.
In the canyon...
Makomo stood on a lush green grass field.
Over the past six years, she had transformed from a young child into a delicate and lovely young girl, though her features still retained a hint of childishness, and her stature hadn't grown much, reaching only about five feet tall. She gave off the impression of being frail and delicate.
At this moment, Makomo stood there, holding a well-worn wooden sword in her hand, and in front of her stood an iron pillar about as thick as an infant's wrist. The pillar was over two meters tall, and one could clearly see signs of wear and tear on it, as if it had endured countless slashes.
"I must succeed."
Makomo stared at the pillar before her, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her wooden sword. Her large, green eyes, speckled with stars, shone with seriousness and determination.
This was the trial left for her by Feng Ye.
About six years ago, he had taught her the basics of swordsmanship, left her with ample food, and then departed. In the six years since, his appearances could be counted on one hand.
The iron pillar had been left by Feng Ye six months ago.
The trial he had set for her was this: when she could cut down the iron pillar, she would be free to leave the valley and no longer need to remain there in seclusion for her training.
Living in the valley for six years, practicing day in and day out—it had been fine when she was younger, but now that she was fifteen or sixteen, Makomo longed for the outside world.
Thus, after receiving Feng Ye's final trial, she threw herself into her training with even greater fervor.
However, this trial was incredibly difficult.
To cut steel with a wooden sword was no easy feat! Half a year had passed, and she still hadn't succeeded. The most she had managed were some marks on the pillar.
Standing before the iron pillar, Makomo slowly closed her eyes.
What appeared in her mind was a scene that had replayed in her mind day and night for these past six years—a scene from six years ago when Feng Ye had held her hand and swung the sword with her.
The sword's edge and the direction of the swing were in perfect harmony, not deviating by even a hair's breadth. It was a natural, flawless strike.
If one were to freeze that moment and zoom in, even a hundredfold, the direction of the swing and the sword's edge would still be in a perfectly straight line.
The perfect swing compressed and tore through the air, creating a sword energy that cleaved the void.
That movement...
That movement...
That movement!
Makomo simulated that scene over and over, reliving that moment as if she were there once more, repeatedly experiencing that one strike.
Finally...
Makomo abruptly opened her eyes.
Her clear eyes were calm and serene, devoid of any emotion, reflecting only purity and tranquility, like a deep, windless pool.
Whoosh!
She raised her wooden sword and swung it forward.
Her entire body's movement was almost identical to the strike Feng Ye had guided her through years ago. The incredibly fast sword edge compressed and tore through the air, but instead of becoming a void-cleaving sword energy, it fused with the wooden sword, slicing towards the iron pillar before her.
Crack!
The sound of the wooden sword snapping rang out.
Only a thin strip of metal remained connecting the edges.
"I did it!"
Makkomo snapped out of her tranquil state, a hint of delight on her face, but it quickly turned into uncertainty as she murmured, "Does... this count as a success?"
The iron pillar was almost completely severed, but a thin strip still connected the two halves.
Before Makkomo could make a move, the upper half of the pillar, now only held together by that thin strip, began to bend at the point of the cut. With a final pong!, it broke and fell to the grassy ground beside it.
"Wonderful!"
Makkomo's tense expression turned to joy once more, and she happily waved her hands in celebration.
She skipped around the broken pillar, her excitement overflowing. After a moment, she calmed herself and turned her attention back to the broken piece of the pillar and the half-sword still in her hand.
As she thought back on what had happened, a hint of awe appeared in her eyes.
I cut steel with a wooden sword!
Wooden swords are so fragile, and steel is so resilient, yet I cut through it. What incredible power I now possess!
"Congratulations."
At that moment, Feng Ye's voice came from behind her.
Makkomo paused, then turned to face him, a joyful expression on her face as she said, "Master!"
"You've barely managed to grasp the basics of swordsmanship. Well done. Now you can choose to stay here and continue your training, or you can go out and explore the world."
Feng Ye stood by the side of the wooden house, his demeanor gentle as he spoke.
Makkomo was gentle by nature but also quite lively, and at sixteen, she was at the peak of her youthful energy. Now that she had strength and confidence, it was natural for her to be curious about the outside world.
"Thank you, Master, for all your teachings."
Makkomo held the broken wooden sword in both hands and bowed politely to Feng Ye, holding the broken sword high above her head.
Feng Ye smiled and walked forward a few steps to stand before Makkomo. He took the broken sword from her and examined it casually.
Makkomo stood up and stood obediently in front of him.
Feng Ye held the broken sword's hilt and casually flicked it through the air a couple of times. "There aren't many people in this world who can beat you now."
Makkomo was slightly stunned by Feng Ye's words.
Not many people in the world can beat me? Am I really that strong?
Having spent six years secluded in the valley, she had no accurate gauge of her own strength, so hearing Feng Ye's assessment left her a little dazed.
"Don't doubt yourself. You really are that strong now," Feng Ye said with a light smile. Then his expression turned serious as he continued, "But don't let it go to your head. Your swordsmanship is still far from its peak."
As his words trailed off, Feng Ye casually waved the broken wooden sword to the side.
The wind stopped.
All sound ceased.
For a moment, it felt as if the entire world had frozen.
Makkomo's gaze fixed on the spot, and she slowly tilted her head to follow the direction of Feng Ye's swing. In her clear, large eyes, a look of shock began to grow.
There, in the earth!
A black line, as if drawn with a brush, ran from their very feet to the horizon, splitting the entire world in two.
"This..."
Makkomo's eyes trembled like the surface of a pond disturbed by a stone.
When I cut through the steel, I thought for a moment that I had mastered the essence of swordsmanship, that I was close to Master Feng Ye's level.
After all, I managed to cut steel with a wooden sword.
But now...
It feels like I've climbed out of a well and discovered a whole new world beyond.
She stood there, awestruck, for a long time.
When Makkomo finally snapped out of her daze, Feng Ye was gone, leaving only the deep chasm stretching to the horizon as proof that what she had witnessed was not an illusion but reality.
(End of Chapter)
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