“Have I kept you waiting long?”
With his eyes closed in meditation, Tatsuo looked up at the sound of Nobushige’s voice.
“No. I assume you’re ready.”
“Thanks to you, I’ve finished all my preparations.”
Tatsuo studied Nobushige.
“That’s a strange weapon you’re carrying.”
It wasn’t an ordinary sword in Nobushige’s hand.
He held a weapon with an iron ball attached to the hilt.
That wasn’t all. A chain extended from the end of the hilt and wrapped around his right arm.
“I used a sword in the past as well. But while studying Breathing with Gyomei, I came to realize... this weapon suits Stone Breathing better.”
“I see... So we’re really going to spar with real blades.”
“Yes. And if you’re worried about me, don’t be. I’m still skilled enough to protect myself.”
When he finished speaking, Nobushige’s expression turned serious.
“I’ll begin.”
Nobushige steadied his breathing.
As he extended his arm, part of the chain wrapped around it loosened, and the iron ball flew toward Tatsuo.
Thrown off by the sudden attack, Tatsuo hurriedly raised his guandao to block.
The strike is heavy. At the very least, he’s on par with Katame.
The iron ball was knocked upward by Tatsuo’s guandao.
“Don’t relax. This isn’t over yet.”
As he spoke, Nobushige lowered his wrist. Then he immediately stepped on the chain.
[Stone Breathing, Second Form - Thousand-Surface Breaker]
With a sound like the earth itself was groaning, the iron ball that had been flying through the air suddenly changed direction. Its target was Tatsuo.
Tatsuo didn’t block this time. Instead, he slipped away with his trademark speed.
With a tremendous crash, the iron ball smashed into the ground, but its target was already gone.
The chain gives him free long-range attacks. And there’s a rhythm to his offense. This is a type I’ve never seen before.
Doesn’t matter. If his main strength is a chained barrage from a distance, then I just need to get close.
As soon as he finished thinking it, Tatsuo’s figure vanished.
In an instant, he closed in near Nobushige and instinctively ducked his head.
The chain swept over him.
If he hadn’t lowered his head, he would have been hit dead on.
He noticed I was closing in. Quick judgment.
But... this isn’t enough.
Tatsuo immediately struck the chain aside. Losing its balance, it flew off into the air.
He charged in at once and swung his weapon.
But the blow never reached Nobushige.
The iron ball had already returned to block the attack.
Nobushige gripped the handle attached to the iron ball with his right hand and entered a contest of strength with Tatsuo, his face tightening in surprise.
“Ugh...! What kind of strength is this...!!!”
Even with one arm missing and his age, Nobushige still possessed the strongest physical strength he had ever had in his prime.
And yet this boy, who looked far younger than he had when he was promoted, wasn’t being pushed back at all in a contest of strength. In fact, he was forcing Nobushige backward.
“Gyomei and you both... Are all children these days monsters?”
Nobushige used Tatsuo’s guandao as a springboard and kicked off the ground, leaping into the air.
He exhaled once, and his eyes widened.
[Stone Breathing, Fifth Form - Arched Wheel]
The iron ball launched from Nobushige’s hand began battering Tatsuo.
The ball was driven down and sent back up again by the chain, over and over.
The more it repeats, the stronger and faster the attack gets. I can’t just sit here and watch.
As he knocked away the fourth descending iron ball, Tatsuo made his decision.
He pushed off the ground and sprang upward.
He swept his weapon as he passed Nobushige, but the attack was rendered useless by the chain that had already formed a circle around Nobushige.
The two locked eyes in midair.
As they fell, Nobushige was the first to speak.
“Amazing, Tsunokake. You look quite young, so may I ask your age?”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m fifteen this year.”
“To have this level of skill at your age... You’ll surely become a Hashira someday.”
Before long, both of them landed on the ground.
“But Tsunokake, you aren’t fighting with everything you have.”
“I apologize. It’s a habit... I was about to get serious from here on out anyway.”
Tatsuo’s usual indifferent expression now carried a hint of seriousness.
In the next instant, dust kicked up and Tatsuo’s figure vanished.
A chill ran down Nobushige’s spine.
Behind me!
Judging Tatsuo’s position by instinct, Nobushige swung the iron ball with all his strength.
The collision was the same as before, but the result was different.
Guh...!
Nobushige felt himself floating.
Tatsuo had unilaterally knocked him back.
He didn’t even have time to regain his stance.
All Nobushige could do was keep deflecting Tatsuo’s relentless attacks.
This is dangerous...!
While parrying, he quickly rotated his arm.
The loosened chain partially unwound and blocked one of Tatsuo’s strikes.
If I can block even one attack, that’s enough!
[Stone Breathing, Third Form - Black Smoke Skin]
He grabbed the loosened chain and whipped it around quickly to form a barrier.
The chain and iron ball spinning around Nobushige deflected Tatsuo’s attack.
Nobushige’s arm moved. The chain that had only been defending suddenly lashed out head-on.
It was an instant shift from defense to offense, but Tatsuo had already moved away.
For the most part, Tatsuo kept attacking while Nobushige kept defending.
There was no doubt that Tatsuo held the advantage in strength and speed.
And yet, even when his attacks overwhelmed Nobushige, they never quite landed.
Strange. Is this the difference experience makes? I’m definitely stronger and faster. But I still can’t land a hit.
Tatsuo bit his lip slightly, as if frustrated.
“It’s over.”
Tatsuo pressed the blade of his guandao to Nobushige’s neck.
Nobushige had defended well, but his body had already been worn down by age. His stamina couldn’t keep up.
As time passed, he made more and more mistakes in his defense, and in the end, he could no longer stop the blade from reaching his throat.
“So I’ve lost.”
Nobushige accepted his defeat without protest.
“I’d like you to rest at my home and talk for a while afterward. What do you say?”
At the question, Tatsuo nodded as if in agreement.
The two of them headed to Nobushige’s cabin.
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