Volume 4
Chapter 4 Part
2
To Part From
the Water Mirror's surface, as if Severing It Cleanly 2
Translator : PolterGlast
No matter how many
blows one strikes to the water's surface, a small wave cannot shake the great
ocean.
The characteristics of
water-based techniques are similarly heavy and immovable. That is why
water-based techniques require the acceleration of spirit power to execute.
Overturning this
fundamental principle, Ugetsu's variant technique, Kagetsu Koukou, allows for
almost instantaneous acceleration of spirit power.
Whether it's based on
a special ability like Dogyou, or purely a technique, this spirit technique,
which only the direct line of the Ugetsu is allowed to use, has only been known
by name throughout history, without even its technical principles being known.
With a thunderous
sound, water washed over Akira's vision.
Averse to the azure
spirit light, Akira subconsciously chose to retreat.
"You...
bastard!"
"—I won't let you
get away!"
The water parted, and
Souma stepped forward sharply from beyond. The two realized that they were now
within each other's striking distance.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Shoden―
"Tsuranemikadzuki!"
"Gu, raa!"
Souma unleashed three
consecutive blows. Swallowing his fear of being trapped, Akira accelerated his
spirit power.
—Forcing his trembling legs to stop, he swung his
wooden sword.
He gathered the black
glow into his wooden sword, despite the lack of acceleration, and took a step
forward, throwing away his cowardice.
Akira forcibly shook
off the heavy pressure on his body using only his physical strength.
Even with insufficient
spirit power, the black and azure clashed.
—Overpowered!?
First strike, second
strike. Unable to withstand the third strike, the fragile black glow shattered.
Enormous amounts of moisture enveloped both their visions.
"Not yet!"
It could be said that
in a battle among guardians, victory is ultimately determined by how quickly
one can deliver a spirit technique. Against Souma, who could use water-based
techniques almost as fast as fire-based techniques thanks to Kagetsu Koukou,
Akira's only chance of victory was to dominate the first move.
Turning his breath
into a shout, Akira took a step forward.
He was about to
activate an earth-offensive talisman he had drawn from his pocket, when...
Piercing through the
dissipating black water vapor, two talismans fell into Akira's vision. The torn
pieces of red spiritual thread were swallowed up by the azure spiritual light.
—Wood-offensive talismans.
"!!"
Following the warning
of his instincts, Akira accelerated the spirit power in his tanden.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Shoden, ―Aragamioroshi.
The trajectory of the
wooden sword, swung horizontally, caught the blazing, bluish-white talismans.
—The overlapping impact accompanied by lightning
flashes engulfed Akira and hurled him backward."
♢
"Well done,
Souma!!"
Amidst the swirling
dust that obscured one's vision, Tenzan clenched his fists and cheered.
Akira's, no, the
Kanna-no-Mikura's worth. The mistakes the Ugetsu family had made were now
something Tenzan couldn't deny.
If they were to let
this slide, it was obvious that the Ugetsu's survival would be in jeopardy.
The match unfolding
before his eyes was the final lifeline that would determine their future.
Souma's victory was the prerequisite for claiming Akira's incompetence and the
need for his re-education.
—No problem. Kagetsu Koukou is a spirit technique that
is impossible to imitate. It's the ultimate secret of the Ugetsu, granted only
to the head of the family. It's incredibly difficult to learn, and even those
who excel at imitating seen spirit techniques couldn't even begin to comprehend
it.
Souma mastered it at
the age of eleven when he entered middle school. It's no wonder he's proudly
called [the Jewel of the North].
Tensan desperately
tried to calm himself, disguising his growing anxiety.
He turned his gaze
away from the match.
In his field of vision
were Takamikura and the representatives of the Three Imperial Families and the
Four Sovereigns, looking bored.
Mustering his courage,
turned to kneel down.
"Takamikura-sama,
I have something to ask."
"We are in the
middle of a match. How impertinent of you."
"—I don't mind.
Ask away, Ugetsu."
Finomorimiya Kaoruko
interjected, but with Takamikura herself permitting him, Tenzan felt a sense of
relief. He bowed even deeper and raised his voice.
"I would like to
clarify the charges against the Ugetsu."
"You are being
charged. Banishing Akira is your crime."
Tenzan's question was
met with Genrei's reply.
A judgment was, in a
sense, a debate. Without a basis for rebuttal, it would be one-sided, but with
careful consideration, there would always be openings to be found.
"So, is it a
crime for a noble family to dispose of an incompetent?"
"—No. The
elimination of impure blood can be said to be a duty of life, not just of the
nobility."
"That's right.
Then it can be said that banishing Akira (the incompetent) is not a
crime."
Tenzan's arrogant
words reached the others, and uncontrollable uproar erupted from the
surroundings. Most of them looked displeased, but a few, especially Shuka,
seemed amused.
Equating Akira with
incompetence was a judgment based entirely on subjective opinion. And his
competence was, after all, judged only by the results after his expulsion.
In other words, no one
knew what his abilities were at the time of his banishment.
Takamikura, also
intrigued, lazily turned her gaze towards Tenzan.
"Indeed. If we
were to clearly define your crime, it would simply be violating the terms of
the Ancient Covenant, the foundation of the Eight Families."
"Mother! That's
an insult to me! To not hold them accountable for letting Akira slip from my
grasp—"
"Kuro, have you
forgotten? It is only you who can bind Kanna-no-Mikura.
Ultimately, the crime
of losing Akira is one that you all must be held accountable for equally."
If Ugetsu were to be
held accountable for the crime of letting Kanna-no-Mikura go, it would ensure
the fall of Ugetsu, but at the same time, it would also mean that Genrei and
Gioin would have to be held accountable as well.
"Then, what about
the crime of harming Akira!?"
"As long as he is
alive, you cannot say that we harmed him!
Regardless of the loss
of the Ancient Covenant, you also cannot say that we have violated it."
Despite the burning
anger in Genrei's voice, Tenzan raised his voice undeterred.
As if swallowing his
words, Takamikura responded.
"—That's true. If
Ugetsu's crime was violating the Ancient Covenant, then conversely, it can be
said that if Akira is safe, there is no need to question it."
"Then!!"
Seizing the
opportunity, Tenzan appealed with a beaming expression, but Takamikura's
response was cold.
"Don't get me
wrong. That's why I've entrusted all judgment to Akira.
—Just like the ancestor of the Kuga who overthrew Shuujuki,
we Divine Pillars will absolutely support the decision that Mikura makes. Your
attitude towards Akira is the essence of the crime you will be questioned about
later."
"——Y-Yes~."
As if her interest had
faded, Takamikura's gaze returned to the match.
He hadn't completely
won. But the fact that the Three Imperial Families and the Four Sovereigns no
longer held Amezuki responsible for the crime was a big step forward.
Breathing a sigh of
relief, Tenzan also turned his gaze back to the match.
Even though the match
was only halfway through, challenging Souma was like challenging four thousand
years of the Ugetsu. With the absolute confidence of Kagetsu Koukou as a
shield, Tenzan intensified his gaze.
♢
Akira emerged from the
rising cloud of dust, rolling.
"Ka, ha..."
He was caught between
the lightning and shock produced by the wood-offensive talisman.
Akira pulled out a
regeneration talisman amidst his shaky vision.
Activating it, he was
comforted by the pale blue flame of the regeneration talisman and let out a big
sigh as the discomfort melted away.
The trembling
sensation in the arm holding the wooden sword was gone.
"—Still not down?
For an ordinary person, I'll admit you're tough."
"Say whatever you
want!"
Souma's wooden sword
descended on Akira, cutting through the dust.
Akira's counterattack
followed suit, and they exchanged several blows.
"You must have at
least a basic understanding that you can't imitate my Kagetsu Koukou.
Why don't you just
admit defeat?"
"Oh? I understand
quite well. —For example," Akira replied, forcibly deflecting Souma's
wooden sword and creating some distance, "this isn't a spirit technique
based on a special ability."
Souma's expression
stiffened as Akira's casual assertion hit the mark.
His guess turned into
a certainty, and Akira smiled triumphantly.
Of course, there were
few historical cases of Kagetsu Koukou being used.
While Akira had
considered that it was simply a matter of unwillingness to show it off, it was
unreasonable to withhold an inimitable spirit technique based on special
abilities.
In other words, this
was proof that the direct descendants of Ugetsu family believed there was a
risk that Kagetsu Koukou would be imitated.
—Think. Don't let your offensive crumble.
Scrutinizing his eyes,
Akira stared at Souma without missing a single movement.
If he could grasp even
a fragment of the technique, there would be no spirit technique that Akira
couldn't imitate.
He stepped forward
with an offensive step. The distance between them was still outside of attack
range.
A crack formed in the
ground, and black spiritual light danced along with it.
Simultaneously with
his offensive step, he released his accelerated spirit power.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Shoden, ―Engetsu.
Slash. The flying
slash of the water element traversed the slightly opened distance in an
instant.
"Is that
all?" "—I'm not done yet!"
Souma's Tsukihana
barely managed to counter the approaching slash.
With a returning
strike, Akira, his eyes filled with fighting spirit, unleashed a band of
spiritual light and deprived Souma of any chance of evasion.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Chuden, ―Tsukitadori.
Depriving Souma of his
escape, Akira moved behind him.
Kicking away the
gravel, his wooden sword hummed like a whirlwind.
"This is the end!
-!?"
Although he was
certain he had caught Souma off guard, the solid counterattack he received told
Akira of his failure.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Chuden, ―Imachidzuki.
"You're probably
just trying to find a weakness in Kagetsu Koukou by brute force.
—Do you think that someone like you could come up with
a strategy that no one else has thought of before?"
"Tch."
After all, martial
arts are techniques for efficiently delivering blows to the opponent, as in the
case of the Kihoin-school.
Whether it is a
factional school or a variety of other martial arts, this concept remains the
same.
By pushing efficiency
to its limits, one can elevate it to a spirit technique.
—The question is, what is done to enable the
acceleration of spirit power?
There seems to be no
problem with continuous use, nor does it seem to be disguising distance.
Above all, the
spiritual power remains calm until just before the activation.
This is the first time
Akira has encountered a spirit technique that is so difficult to read.
Since Souma started
using Kagetsu Koukou, Akira has never been able to anticipate Souma's spirit
techniques.
—No. There was a time when he caught up to Souma's
spirit technique.
Like a revelation,
that fact settled in Akira's gut.
That's right. When he
reflexively used Aragamioroshi to dodge the wood-offensive talisman that was
about to trap him, Akira remembered the knowledge that Asōgi Genji had imparted
to him in the summer.
Akira's memories
circled around in his mind.
His focus shifted to
the words of the technique, and Akira's eyes widened involuntarily.
"The reverse,"
"—Do you think you have time to be stunned?"
Taking advantage of
the gap where Akira was still standing still, Souma took a big step forward.
The spirit power, which
had gained momentum instantly with Kagetsu Koukou, traced a trajectory of azure
from above to below.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Chuden―
"Kagetsuotoshi!"
"Oooooo!"
Aragamioroshi just
barely managed to meet the cascading waterfall of spirit power.
Clash, boom. Swept up
in the colliding shockwaves, Souma and Akira's spiritual lights fizzled out.
The stalemate lasted
only a moment,
—and then the black spiritual light was unilaterally
crushed.
Both of them took a
step back as if being repelled.
"How about
this!"
"As I thought.
There is no influence of water Qi on this. In other words, this is the
difference between internal and external energy."
While Souma was
gaining momentum, anticipating victory, Akira, who was supposed to be
pressured, simply thought quietly.
The boy who was hailed
as a treasure attempted to attack—
But before he could,
Akira lowered his stance, forcing Souma to evade.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Shoden―
"Enge..."
—Bang.
Akira was blown away
by the exploding spirit power before he could finish his declaration.
Souma was astonished
in a different way by the explosion of the spirit technique, something even a
novice wouldn't likely do nowadays. It was one of the many failures Souma had
experienced while mastering Kagetsu Koukou.
The explosion of a
spirit technique also meant that at least enough acceleration had been obtained
to manifest it. In other words, it was proof that Akira had understood Kagetsu
Koukou.
"You, you've
reversed it..."
"Yeah, as I
thought. Directly converting accelerated spirit power gives it a completely
different feel.
It's quite a delicate
technique."
Ignoring Souma's
dumbfounded expression, Akira stood up. There was not even a scratch on his
body suggesting that he had skillfully channeled his spirit power.
The black spirit
energy swirled gently around Akira, as if drawn to him.
—No. This is bad. This guy is really bad.
Souma trembled with
sudden anger. Even the symbol of the Ugetsu's pride, which he had protected
until the very end, had been understood after only a few exchanges.
There was no doubt
about it. This guy wasn't just a mere pseudo-kegare.
He was something far
more sinister to the Ugetsu.
The only chance of
victory was now that he hadn't completely mastered Kagetsu Koukou. Betting on
that fact alone, Souma lowered his stance deeply.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Shoden―
"Engetsu!"
With a sharp exhale, a
slash crossed through the void.
Before the approaching
slash could reach Akira, Souma moved on to the next attack.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Consecutive Technique―
"Kurogasane"
Excessive spirit
energy raged, engulfing Akira beyond it.
Not satisfied with the
momentary frozen scene, Souma raised his spirit power to the limit.
Even if it was Akira,
if he were swallowed by the frozen ice head-on, it would at least stop him in
his tracks.
That's why Souma had
to decide the outcome while he could still hold Akira back.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Finisher Move―
"Sakuwata—"
"Too slow."
Akira, who had stepped
over the frozen ice, matched his blade with Souma's, who was concentrating on
his spirit power.
"I've caught up,
four thousand years of Ugetsu's history."
"—Damn it."
Boom.
In an instant, Akira's
spiritual light accelerated, deflecting Souma's spirit technique and its wooden
sword before it could even land a hit.
Kagetsu Koukou is an
application of internal energy. It's a spirit technique that accelerates spirit
power in the tanden (dantian) and then converts it directly into external
power.
Accelerated spirit
power is like a wild horse. Without special training, it can easily explode.
—Akira had finally understood Kagetsu Koukou.
Souma's feet began to
retreat. But it was too late, he was already within Akira's attack range.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Chuden, ―Yumiharidzuki.
Souma resisted with a
scattering of spiritual light, barely matching the slash.
He and Akira switched
offense and defense, exchanging slashes.
"What the hell...
What the hell are you!? Why are you always getting in my way!?"
"What are you
talking about? Three years ago, you guys banished me. This is just the
consequence of that."
"No. You've been
sneering at me from the shadows all this time!"
Their blades clashed,
and they took a step back as if to start over.
Akira glanced at
Souma's incoherent words, trying to gauge his thoughts.
The boy's dull gaze
met Akira's. —And in that dullness, Akira felt a sense of understanding in his
gut.
"Oh. Are you
perhaps aware that this situation is now beyond your control?"
"!"
Hitting the mark,
Souma stopped moving.
He shook his head as
if laughing while wailing and kneaded his spirit power with all his might.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Chuden,― ―Getsumei Seiki.
"Let's have a
showdown."
"—Yeah."
With only a few words
exchanged, Akira and Souma faced each other with their blades drawn.
Relying on
Aragamioroshi, they clashed along with their spiritual light.
---
—He remembered.
The advice his
grandmother had once given him.
—You are very intelligent. In fact, you can find the
optimal solution nine times out of ten.
—Because of that, you're not used to making mistakes.
You're so used to your own accurate answers that it's difficult for you to
admit when you're wrong.
That can often be a
fatal flaw as a leader.
Because operating a
group with the wrong answer will eventually lead to ruin.
It's not a problem if
it's a trivial matter that can be corrected. The problem is when he's made a
fundamental mistake.
Because of his
intelligence, he might not realize his mistake, and Souma and the Ugetsu would
both be doomed to destruction.
---
—Their blades crossed.
Many people were
watching, and it was Akira who was the last one standing.
-----
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