"So this is your real power, which defeated the Last Samurai."

  Part 5

  "There's been one thing I've been concerned about since I heard how Kaito-san was defeated by Kurashiki-kun two years ago from Ayatsuji-san. Why was Kaito-san defeated so one-sidedly? Even if he was ill, he was someone who grasped for the crown in the world of swords, the Last Samurai. The battle would never be that one-sided at his own court. There had to be a suitable reason."

  And that was the factor Ikki noticed about Kuraudo's strength.

  "And I've now confirmed that."

  Evading and defending against attacks that had almost absolute perfect timings. Disappearing like haze and attacking from a completely different angle. All of these were the fruit of one certain ability.

  "What are you talking about!? Is there some kind of trick!?"

  Ayase immediately pressed at the topic. For her, this might be the answer to why her father was defeated so one-sidedly two years ago, a truly important matter.

  Did Kuraudo use some kind of trickery? But Ikki denied that.

  "No, there's no deceit nor trick."

  "Haha, seems like you've noticed…. Say it, I'll match the answer."

  Kuraudo, who had a large grin, asked to reveal the true identity of his power that Ikki had managed to see through.

  "It's something Kurashiki-kun got directly from his roots: reflexive sensitivity."

  "Reflexive… sensitivity…."

  "Ikki, that… isn't that the same normal reflex gear all humans have?"

  "That's half right, half wrong. If put into words then it would be that, but the efficiency, and speed are all too great. I'm talking about the time it takes for a human to complete the sensory process, as in 'sense', 'comprehend,' and 'respond'. For the most part, it's point three seconds for us. They say a professional sprinter has a time of point fifteen seconds. And no matter how much you train, this number can't cross the bounder of point one seconds. That is common sense. However… for Kurashiki-san who just dodged that counter, it seems like the time for him is point zero five seconds or lower."

  ""―!?""

  Stella and Ayase became speechless at that fact. Well, it was obvious to be surprised. The reaction time for Ikki and Stella was about 0.13 seconds. Kuraudo's senses had long crossed the human boundary. In other words, the time it took for Ikki and Stella to perform one action, Kuraudo could do about two or three actions in that same amount of time.

  "And with that common sense defying reaction speed, he can dodge our attacks that might seem absolutely impossible to dodge with perfect timing, or he can change the direction of an attack just before it clashes with ours and make it come from a completely different angle. The reason why his sword seemed to vanish halfway was because of that."

  "Haha… hahaha… HAHAHA! BINGO!"

  Kuraudo widened his eyes while laughing madly.

  Yes, his sword wasn't an art. It was pure violence. And with that violence, the Sword Eater tramples all down.

  Because reaction speed was the base of all sports and actions. No matter how much one trains, or how much one polishes his stance; it doesn't matter how much experience one has, it all becomes meaningless before it. No matter how much of an absurd surprise attack is thrown at him, he can deal with it after seeing it. No matter how someone charges at him recklessly, he can change his guard after seeing that. It allowed something irrational like seeing the opponent's choice of rock, paper, or scissors before making his own: that was the true value of the Sword Eater.

  Techniques and experience, schemes and tactics, a nightmare that renders all of these useless. Superhuman reflexes, and reaction ability born from that, adding the two and thus creating Marginal Counter.

  "You're the first one to see through my Marginal Counter on the first meeting! I'll commend you, Worst One! As I thought, you're the best. But so what!? Even if you know how it works, can you do anything about it?"

  "…."

  Hearing that, Ikki's expression clouded.

  Yes. His Perfect Vision was meaningless before a rock, paper, scissor game where the opponent could see his move beforehand. And Ittou Shura only fortified his physical abilities and not the transmission speed of his brain. In other words, it was exactly as Kuraudo said. Ikki had no method of tearing through Marginal Counter.

  "Haha. You can't, can you. My Marginal Counter isn't an 'art'. It's a special trait. I didn't cheat and stuff…. And just this ain't the limit of my Marginal Counter!"

  Saying that as if howling, he attacked. And what came towards Ikki was an attack as if it was aiming for two areas at the same time!

  "Hebigami2!"

  As if biting it, the swing by his right hand attacked both the left and right side as if biting in. A phantom like that, unrealistic as it may be came in with ridiculous vigor and speed which was impossible to defend against, attacking both sides at the same time.

  Even if he managed to defend against one of the attacks, the other would just rip him apart. Then he had only one thing to do. Ikki used all his strength to leap backwards and tried to evade it. Being a twofold attack didn't matter if he just escaped it's range.

  "There's no way I'd let you do the same thing twice riiiiight!?"

  Orochimaru's blade extended and immediately chased after Ikki. There was no longer any meaning in distance. The saw blades came in from both left and right and intersected on Ikki's body.

  ―But right at that moment, Ikki took action. With a clang, the sound of two blades clashing reverberated and sparks containing mana flew out. With Intetsu which Ikki had in his right hand, he repelled the Orochimaru coming from the right. But that was… a mistake! Ikki's reflexes weren't fast enough to be able to block the second attack coming from the left! The saw blade coming from the left struck his body!

  The saw blade ripped off the flesh from his body which flew in the air, and blood spilled on the floor dyeing it red… that was supposed to happen.

  "What?"

  But that didn't happen. What spilled wasn't blood but sparks. Why? The answer was in Ikki's hand which defended against Hebigami.

  "You―!"

  After noticing it, Kuraudo raised a howl. Ikki wasn't gripping the hilt of , but the base of the blade and thus intentionally reduced his reach.

  "That's right, kodachi3 techniques…! As expected of Ikki!"

  "Kurogane-kun can use a kodachi?"

  "He can even teach Shizuku who has a kodachi-shaped device, so of course he can use it!"

  Ikki hated teaching wrong things to others, knowing that nature of his, Stella was convinced. And her guess was correct. Ikki wasn't only well versed in swordsmanship, he was also proficient in archery, grappling, unarmed, and many others. Even if it could only raise his strength on a minuscule level, he desperately practiced it and used all the time his body would allow to pursue those methods. Because he was well aware of the fact that he was weaker than anyone. And he was now bringing out everything he had learned back then.

  The fact that was able to discern the position of the Hunter after being struck by his arrow was also a result of that. That was true for his display of defense and offense in this match too. Because of the shorter reach, the kodachi had less offense, but since it could be rotated faster, the blocking ability rose. Ikki, utilizing that defense, deflected Kuraudo's godspeed attack.

  "It means that you're not the only one who can change his reach."

  Ikki, after defending against Hebigami with Intetsu immediately stepped in and started the counter.

  "Haha."

  Kuraudo laughed after seeing Ikki challenge him, despite that fact that Ikki had already witnessed his overwhelming attack speed. Even though this was just one exchange, for a mage-knight who relied heavily on mana, this was once in a lifetime decision. Kuraudo commended Ikki for that. But―

  But you can't win. Not with just this.

  It was skilled of him to suddenly switch to a kodachi technique. But in the end, the reach is still short.

  ―So he'll teach that guy. As one of the best eight of the whole country. As someone who resides at the summit of the Seven Star.

  Strength isn't just gorgeous sword techniques that enchants people. Strength isn't some burning feeling you have when you fight for a friend,

  It's something simpler; it's something far more dreadful. There's just one fixed answer to that.

  ―It's just simple overwhelming violence.

  "HAHHAAAA―!"

  "Wha-!"

  For a moment, Ikki including those who were watching, Stella and Ayase were at a loss for words. The snake-like attack that was released at Ikki after he stepped in to counter attack―it had four heads! An impossible four-fold attack!

  He can still go faster―!

  A complete surprise attack. But Ikki didn't lose his cool and blocked the attack, coming to sever his head and to attack his left flank, with kodachi technique.

  However it wasn't enough. Kuraudo released four attacks at Ikki instantly. Ikki could only block two. The remaining two slashed at Ikki's chest with a cross.

  "Argggggh!"

  "Ikki!"

  "Kurogane-kun!"

  "…I-I'm fine, I can still fight."

  A large amount of blood was spilling. The wound probably reached the sternum. But Ikki still poured power into his knees and refused to give up. He continued to gaze at the opponent before him.

  "Oh! You avoided a fatal wound by using the momentum of the first and second hits to move backwards. Crafty ain't ya…? But that all ends now!"

  Kuraudo extended his Orochimaru, that was now dyed in fresh blood, like a whip.

  "What can you do from that distance? I'll turn ya into mincemeat!"

  He attacked from a distance where only he could take the offensive, and slashed at the wounded Ikki.

  Part 6

  At first when Ikki blocked Orochimaru, Ayase thought that he could definitely win this. When he deflected Hebigami with kodachi technique, she thought 'He can do this!' But each time, Sword Eater just rose even higher. He jumped over every one of their expectations and hypotheses. Like a nightmare.

  The current Ikki could go head to head and win against every last one of the current festival candidates at Hagun. He was the Crownless Sword King who even defeated the Crimson Princess without sustaining a single wound. Even that Ikki―

  He can't do a thing… even in close range.

  Perfect Vision lost to Marginal Counter. With Ittou Shura, Marginal Vision left all the actions useless after the initial dash when using that, so there's no meaning in using it. Rather, it could be fatal if he used it carelessly.

  Ittou Shura was something Ikki used by utilizing all his resolution and determination. If he tried it while at his wit's end, he would end up burning all his power. He couldn't stop half way, nor could he do minuscule regulations like holding back and extending the time limit a bit. And if an opponent who could make two to three actions in the time he could make one go fully defensive, defeating that opponent in just one minute would be nigh impossible.

  He's completely… out of options….

  All he could do was keep defending against Orochimaru and Hebigami while standing on top of the puddle made of his own blood and bear that deep gash. A completely one-sided battle.

  Ayase gulped while biting down her lips and seeing the figure of Kuraudo continuing his barrage on Ikki.

  …Strong! This man, he can't be defeated!

  So this was the national level! In the best eight of the last festival, this was the real strength of Sword Eater.

  Are there such monsters at the summit of the Seven Stars…!?

  She couldn't see victory. No way out was visible. He trampled down all tactics and techniques sent at him while mocking.

  Before that, Ikki kept getting hurt as time dragged on. He kept defending against Orochimaru and Hebigami time and time again with his acute observation and kodachi techniques which were dulling as time went on, and the number of strikes he couldn't dodge or defend against increased. And each time that happened, the saw blade chipped away the meat on his arms or thighs.

  At this rate―!

  An ominous déjà vu. The sight of Ikki refusing to stay down even after being injured to such an extent overlapped with the sight of Kaito two years ago.

  "―!"

  Ayase could no longer bear it.

  "Vermillion-san! Please stop this match! At this rate, Kurogane-kun will break!"

  "If I stop it now then you won't get this dojo back you know."

  "I don't care! Kurogane-kun is more important!"

  "That's true. …But still, no."

  Ayase was shocked at the words from Stella, who was watching her lover be chipped apart little by little while having her arms crossed under her breasts like it was nothing.

  "Why!? Aren't you his girlfriend!? Then how can you say that!? Or is there some kind of way to turn this situation around!?"

  "―No way. If it was me I could've restricted him with my flames, but Ikki doesn't have that option. He doesn't have a method to attack from that distance. And on top of that, his only way of attacking, his defense and offense in close range as a swordsman, he can't do that from that distance…. The situation is quite hopeless I guess. Honestly, I didn't think that skull guy would be so strong."

  The replying Stella was serenity itself. But looking closely, her fingernails were piercing into the white skin of her crossed arms. A drop of blood smudged on her uniform. She's enduring it, the urge to dash out right this instant.

  "The label of best eight in the country isn't a joke, I have to admit after seeing this. That man is strong. At this rate Ikki is going to lose."

  "I don't get it…even though you understand all that why aren't you stopping him!?"

  "There's no way I can do that."

  "Why!?"

  "Because Ikki… he looks like he's having so much fun."

  "Eh?"

  Ayase looked at Ikki, thinking, what the hell was Stella saying? And she was hit by shock.

  He's… laughing?

  Ikki had a smile on his face. And it wasn't the usual kind and innocent smile. As if a beast baring his fangs.

  "Come to think of it, he was smiling like that when facing my Katharterio Salamandra."

  "W-Why? Even though he might be killed? T-There's so much blood… why?"

  "Isn't that because it's so fun?"

  She couldn't understand. She wasn't yet… at that level. But, Stella understood. And probably, her father did too.

  "…Hey Sempai. After hearing your story, there was one thing me and Ikki just couldn't figure out. We just weren't satisfied."

  "Weren't… satisfied?"

  "Did the Last Samurai really sink into regret?"

  "…H-Huh? What are you saying? That, isn't that obvious!"

  Ayase suddenly became excited at Stella's unexpected words.

  "If only, if only that guy didn't appear, then we would still be living peacefully! My father wouldn't have fallen into a coma! Our dojo wouldn't have been stolen away! The pupils wouldn't have to be hurt either! That guy, he destroyed our peaceful daily life! That, of course Father had regrets!"

  "But that's nothing but Sempai's subjectivity right?"

  "Wha―!"

  "Just try thinking about it a little. A man who once wanted the crown in the world of swords, he was even called the Last Samurai because of that absurdly high ambition… a person like that, would he truly be happy in a life where he couldn't even use his sword, and would decay as an instructor? Is it really a daily life he would want to continue forever? ―If it was me, then I definitely wouldn't be able to bear it."

  "―!"

  "Certainly, the nuisance of the fight is undeniable. And the methods that skull guy took to challenge your father wasn't commendable at all. But, there was a person who would go that far just to challenge your father…. As a swordsman, isn't this something to really be glad about?"

  No way…. There's no way that's possible. After all, Father was always smiling. He would take care of the pupils with kind eyes, and pass off his sword to the next generation―

  「This is my battle! Don't interfere!」

  "―!!!"

  At that exact moment, something inside of Ayase, something that has been loose for a long time fell into place perfectly with a click. And then, she understood everything.

  During that fight, the reason why Kaito looked so dreadful, and why he sounded so much like a wild demon that even Ayase had never seen or heard him like that, when Ayase tried to stop the duel. Why he intended to continue the duel with that obvious outcome.

  She hadn't realized it till now; she hadn't realized Kaito's true feelings.

  For so long, she had thought that Kaito accepted a duel he didn't want to forcefully, and was defeated full of regret.

  But, that's wrong! Absolutely, wrong!

  Certainly, he had intended to fight for the pupils that were injured. He wanted to fight to protect the place his daughter lived in.

  However, that wasn't everything!

  The fuel that drove Kaito back then, it had been a feeling far simpler than decorum or morals, it had been far more pure.

  He wanted to fight.

  He wanted to fight the opponent before him.

  He wanted to defeat the amazing guy before him.

  It was just the simple natural instincts of a wild beast to fight. Because that fight was, for Kaito-san who was ridden with illness, a moment he had always yearned for. He desired it even if his soul should burn away, a single moment of passion.

  …Aaah… so that's it.

  ―Sorry.

  That word, it wasn't something he said to us.

  If it's now, she could understand. Those words were not aimed at Ayase or the pupils; he said those words to Kuraudo. No matter what the reason, there was a boy willing to challenge a illness-ridden fossil of the past like him. But he failed to show him everything of the Ayatsuji single-blade style. So he was asking Kuraudo to forgive the weak him.

  …Really, that old fool.

  To actually speak the words that might as well be his last words to his enemy. She always thought of him as a more intellectual type of person. But what? He turned out to be an astonishing egoist! Almost like a boy who just hates to lose.