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Chapter 133: A Perfectly Sublimated Strike, Comprehending a New Nen Ability
"It seems I will have to get a little serious as well."
The moment Yoriichi finished speaking, his feet shifted slightly, and he drifted forward several meters in the blink of an eye.
He didn't deliberately activate a Sun Breathing form, nor did his breathing rhythm change from its usual calm pace. Yet, the crimson-gold halo wrapping around him grew increasingly blinding, as if a miniature sun was slowly rising within the training room.
"I've been waiting for this!" Saeko's battle lust flared even hotter.
She gave Reizan a light twirl. The killing intent slithered down the blade like a venomous snake ready to strike.
She stomped fiercely against the floor. An invisible shockwave rippled out from under her feet, as if she were trying to shatter the very earth.
This time, it wasn't a simple, singular slash. Her form blurred, and the shadow of her blade layered over itself time and time again, unleashing dozens of overlapping strikes in a single instant. Every single slash carried the suffocating weight of the killing intent refined from a million slaughtered zombies.
Fast, ruthless, absolute!
She left no room for mercy. Had the target of this attack been anyone other than Yoriichi Tsugikuni, they would have been chopped into fine mincemeat on the spot.
A flash of approval crossed Yoriichi's eyes.
With a slight lift of his wrist, the Nichirin Sword in his hand seemed to spring to life. He didn't employ any complex sword forms—only the most fundamental parries.
Yet, it was these incredibly basic, ordinary movements that systematically dismantled Saeko's furious assault.
The crimson-gold flames flowed along the blade. With every single clash, the flames brushed aside and melted away the turbulent killing intent roaring on Reizan. But it didn't outright destroy it. Instead, like a blacksmith hammering steel, it slowly compacted and condensed the aura.
His actions perfectly validated his earlier claim—he was acting as a whetstone to push her to the next level.
The longer they fought, the more shocked Saeko became.
Although she never said it out loud, she naturally harbored her own pride when facing Yoriichi, even knowing he was the undisputed strongest swordsman in the world. She had initially scoffed at his offer to help her 'take another step forward.'
Her pride stemmed not only from the million zombies she had slain in the apocalypse but also from having continuously surpassed Suyan in swordsmanship over the past year. In her heart, only Suyan was truly the strongest. Thus, she believed her fight against Yoriichi was simply an opportunity to revel in the thrill of battle. For that reason, aside from her raw killing intent, she hadn't even channeled much of her Nen Aura into the fight.
However, she now realized how wrong she was. Her proud sword techniques were being effortlessly deflected like child's play.
What terrified her even more was the undeniable, irresistible force transmitted through every parry. It gently washed over her killing intent, tempering the violent but somewhat illusory aura into something dense, solid, and unshakable.
"I don't know how you managed to condense this killing intent," Yoriichi's calm voice echoed out. "It is concentrated, but lacks substance. It might give you a massive advantage when the fight begins, but in a prolonged battle, your opponent will easily see through its hollow nature. Blindly pursuing overwhelming power will only lead you down the same pitiful path as my brother, Tsugikuni Michikatsu."
The moment the words fell, his wrist sharply dropped.
The flames along his blade completely retracted and vanished, returning the Nichirin Sword to its ordinary state. Then, lifting the edge slightly, he brought it down toward Saeko in a feather-light slash.
There were no roaring flames, no earth-shattering pressure. It looked exactly like a child casually swinging a wooden stick at some tall grass.
But it was this unfathomably ordinary strike that caused every single hair on Saeko's body to stand on end.
The flash of the blade reflected in her eyes. The strike appeared agonizingly slow, yet it perfectly sealed off every possible route of escape. It felt as if this single blade was the only thing left in the entire world.
If she couldn't block this strike, then she...
Would die?!
Saeko's pupils shrank to pinpricks.
How could I let that happen? I still need to stay by Suyan's side until the end of time. How could I possibly fall here?!
"He's so strong!" Suyan watched from the sidelines, unable to tear his eyes away.
Yoriichi truly deserved his title as the absolute ceiling of power in the Demon Slayer world. His swordsmanship was in a realm completely separate from the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. There were no flashy moves, no deliberate showing off—every single movement naturally aligned with the absolute peak of martial truth.
Suyan had to admit that he had fallen victim to the common arrogance of transmigrators, looking down on the native inhabitants of the world. Based on Yoriichi's peerless swordsmanship alone, unless Suyan relied on the overwhelming Nen he had cultivated over the past two years to shatter the technique with brute force, even he might not be a match for the man.
Watching Saeko face the incoming blade, Suyan prepared himself to intervene at a moment's notice.
He knew that if Saeko fully unleashed the Nen inside her, blocking the strike wouldn't be difficult. But he also knew exactly what kind of person his Saeko was. She had her own absolute pride when it came to the way of the sword. Facing this attack, she would almost certainly only use Reizan and her killing intent to strike back.
While he understood and wanted to respect her choice, neither his emotions nor his logic would ever allow him to lose her. Therefore, the moment he was certain she couldn't block it...
If that happens, I'll step in myself!
As the light of the Nichirin Sword drew closer and closer, Saeko felt Suyan's gaze resting heavily upon her back, feeling the intense concern radiating from his heart.
In that instant, her mind became exceptionally tranquil.
Every moment she had spent with Suyan over the past two years flashed through her mind frame by frame. When did she actually fall in love with him? Was it because of his steady, persistent companionship after joining the Kendo Club? Or was it his unwavering absolute resolve on the night of their contract, when he told her to entrust her future to him?
Perhaps it was both.
Saeko slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, her gaze hardening into steel.
No matter what, as long as Suyan was standing behind her, she absolutely would not lose! Anyone who dared to stand in her way...
Even if it is a god, I will cut them down for you to see!!
Her grip on Reizan tightened.
In that fleeting second, the killing intent radiating from the young woman underwent a qualitative evolution. The bloody red hue of slaughter transformed into a deep, regal purple—the unique color that belonged solely to Busujima Saeko and her Reizan.
She unleashed every last drop of killing intent from her body directly into the blade. Reizan accepted it all, greedily devouring the majestic purple aura.
Then, she swung her blade in a seemingly weightless arc!
Yoriichi's figure reflected in the arc of light.
It was a perfectly sublimated strike! And it was the most breathtaking slash she had ever delivered in her entire life!
Snap!
The Nichirin Sword shattered upon impact!
The next thing she saw was Yoriichi's face, a warm smile gracing his features.
"Not bad. A perfect strike!"
The gratifying smile hadn't fully faded from his face before Yoriichi's figure dissipated into the air like a wisp of smoke. From beginning to end, he hadn't even bothered to ask Suyan or Saeko for their names.
Thank you, Mr. Yoriichi, Saeko said silently in her heart, watching him fade away.
She turned around, flashing a brilliant, radiant smile at Suyan. "Suyan, I did it!"
It wasn't just about defeating Yoriichi with that breathtaking strike. She had truly digested the killing intent forged from a million zombies, making it entirely her own.
It was a brand new Nen ability!!!
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