https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-860-The-Willow-Temple-Gatekeeper-Sasuke-Kozuma/12948726/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-862-The-Ultimate-Twin-Blade-Style-vs-Secret-Sword-Yanfan-/12948728/
Chapter 861: Sword Master Showdown, Yecheng vs. Sasuke Kozuma!
Chapter 861: Sword Master Showdown, Yecheng vs. Sasuke Kozuma!
"Due to some special circumstances, I know your true name and your ultimate technique.
This seems a bit unfair for this sword duel, so I'll introduce myself as well.
My name is Yecheng Yecheng, and although I'm not a dedicated swordsman, I can be considered a swordsman to some extent.
Since I have some understanding of your abilities and sword skills, to avoid taking advantage of you, I won't use any abilities other than swordsmanship in this duel."
As an Assassin, Sasuke Kozuma did not choose to ambush Yecheng upon their first encounter but instead adhered to his identity as a Sword Master and initiated a conversation.
To reciprocate the respect, Yecheng naturally wouldn't take advantage of the information gap.
Upon hearing Yecheng's words, Sasuke Kozuma was taken aback for a moment, then showed respect and assumed an offensive stance.
"Ding——————!"
After a brief exchange, the two spoke no more, and as a leaf gently fell to the ground, their figures seemed to disappear for an instant, both moving away from their original positions.
When their figures reappeared, the long swords in their hands had already clashed in mid-air, creating a shower of sparks.
"Night God Style Third Form: Mad Butterfly!"
After the initial clash, Yecheng took the lead with a fierce attack, his long sword leaving afterimages in the dark sky, creating streaks of light.
Facing Yecheng's ultra-high-speed consecutive slashes, Sasuke Kozuma's defense was to continuously dodge and counterattack.
Indeed, due to the unique nature of his sword, "Bamboo Staff," and his sword skills, Sasuke Kozuma's fighting style had no defense, only relentless offense.
Offense was the best defense. The "Bamboo Staff," measuring one and a half meters long, followed the principle that every inch of length added to its strength. While parrying Yecheng's attacks, it even had the strength to launch attacks at tricky angles.
In history, the long sword "Bamboo Staff" used by Sasuke Kozuma was not an official name but rather a derogatory term, implying that the sword was too long for practical use.
However, only those skilled in swordsmanship understood that a longer sword wasn't necessarily better. An overly long blade was prone to breakage, and mastering the wielding of such a long sword required exceptionally high swordsmanship.
"Night God Style First Form: Broken Waterfall!"
Compared to the previous multi-stage high-speed slashes of "Mad Butterfly," Yecheng's current attack, "Broken Waterfall," was a powerful downward strike.
The "Bamboo Staff" was the most suitable long sword for Sasuke Kozuma, and only he could bring out its full power. However, no matter how Sasuke Kozuma played to its strengths and minimized its weaknesses, the inherent fragility of the long, thin blade was an unavoidable issue.
To break the stalemate, Yecheng needed only to launch a powerful offensive! Facing the oncoming slashes, Sasuke Kozuma had two options: either block with the "Bamboo Staff" or dodge.
If he chose to dodge, in a duel between such skilled swordsmen, excessive evasion would inevitably expose an opening.
Even the slightest opening in a duel of this caliber could decide the outcome.
If Sasuke Kozuma attempted to block with the "Bamboo Staff," how many times could even a Noble Phantasm withstand Yecheng's powerful slashes with its slender, fragile blade?
Seeing the crescent slash flying vertically towards him, Sasuke Kozuma, also a swordsman of great skill, instantly saw through Yecheng's intention and chose to retreat for the first time.
With a series of backflips, Sasaki Kojiro distanced himself from Yecheng and glared at the incoming sword aura slashes. In that instant, his eyes sharpened with an unparalleled intensity.
Sasaki Kojiro possessed an A-rank 'Mind's Eye' skill, granting him an extraordinary sixth sense beyond that of ordinary people.
Unlike Emiya, whose crisis avoidance was based on prediction supported by experience, Sasaki Kojiro's 'Mind's Eye' was a danger prediction ability rooted in innate talent.
Even before Yecheng unleashed his sword aura slashes, Sasaki Kojiro had already foreseen the danger, and his chosen response was something Yecheng could never have anticipated.
With the additional boost of his other inherent skill, 'Penetration,' Sasaki Kojiro had reached a state of 'Calm Mirror,' allowing him to maintain a calm mental state even as the sword aura approached. Instead of being affected, he utilized his exceptional swordsmanship and deft strength, wielding the bamboo staff in his hand to alter the trajectory of Yecheng's sword aura slashes!
The crescent slash, its path altered by Sasaki Kojiro's deft strength, fell harmlessly into the void, but its unstoppable force sliced the stone steps leading up to Willow Temple in half. Sasaki Kojiro continued his ascent, covering his face, until finally, even the temple gate itself was cleaved in two and collapsed with a mighty crash.
Sasaki Kojiro's ability to deflect his own attack in this manner was something Yecheng had not anticipated. However, what surprised him even more was Sasaki Kojiro's decision to redirect the altered trajectory of the sword aura slashes towards the temple gate!
If Yecheng's memory served him right, Sasaki Kojiro had been summoned by Medea through irregular means, and the medium used for his summoning was none other than the temple gate of Willow Temple.
This circumstance bound Sasaki Kojiro to the temple gate, preventing him from leaving and confining him to the role of a gatekeeper, earning him the playful title of 'Willow Temple's Gatekeeper.'
As the summoning medium, if the temple gate were to be destroyed, Sasaki Kojiro's departure from the war would be all but certain.
Yet, moments ago, he had chosen to redirect his slashes towards the temple gate, seemingly intending self-destruction.
Yecheng initially believed this to be the case, but he was soon astounded to find that while the temple gate had been reduced to a pile of rubble, the Sasaki Kojiro before him showed no signs of fading away, let alone any impact from the destruction!
What the hell is going on here? Why has this Fifth Holy Grail War deviated so much from what I know?
Spirit Servant Emiya: ( _ ;) I'd like to know too. As a future Heroic Spirit, knowing the plot should be the ultimate cheat, but now the plot is all messed up!
"My previous assessment was indeed correct. Your Excellency is indeed an unparalleled swordsman of exceptional skill.
Such astonishing sword aura slashes are likely beyond the reach of most in this world.
Moreover, Your Excellency is currently in a human body. I can hardly imagine the extent of your power once you become a Heroic Spirit.
Regardless of physical capabilities or overall strength, I acknowledge that I am no match for Your Excellency. However, I still have one sword technique in my repertoire, which I hope you will witness."
During the battle, Sasaki Kojiro had realized that compared to himself, Yecheng had not yet demonstrated his full strength.
Not only did he refrain from using means other than swordsmanship, as he claimed, but he also deliberately suppressed his physical abilities.
Aside from agility, Sasaki Kojiro was aware that he fell short of Yecheng in every aspect, including strength, endurance, and more. Yet, Yecheng had restrained his advantages and instead relied solely on swordsmanship to determine the victor.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
