Skill 26 Volume 9

First secret sword-Saigeki.

Within Another One’s original sword techniques, it boasted the fastest charging speed and the strongest penetration. With that thrust, Ikki met the vacuum blade head on and destroyed it with all his strength, sending the force right back at Ouma like an arrow.

Ouma had tried to use Tenryuugusoku to form a gap and engage in long range combat, but Ikki's speed completely destroyed that plan. He would unable to respond to Ikki charging back into range again with such timing-supposedly. However…!

(It’s no use!)

Touka and the other spectators all shivered.

At the same time, Ikki noticed it too.

When he destroyed the vacuum blade, the distortion disappeared from his field of vision.

Ouma brandished Ryuuzume, twisting as far as to face his back towards Ikki.

Everyone knew what technique would be fired from that stance.

Kyokujitsu Isshin-ryuu, Jin no kiwami- Amaterasu[5].

It was a secret technique where he used his whole body’s strength to twist his frame down to the bone, then slashed by releasing that wound up power. Though it was but one stroke, unlike Ikki’s Blade Steal, this, Sword Emperor of Wind’s fastest strike, was more truly within the territory of Twin-Wings.

Moreover, Amaterasu was not long ranged, but a close ranged attack.

Ouma had understood.

After breaking through the vacuum blade, Ikki would immediately return to sword distance.

Having read his opponent, he amassed his power and waited.

This was the worst development for Ikki.

Saigeki was an assault technique. He had put all of his power into the starting kick, as it was a technique that shot oneself like an arrow towards its target.

Therefore, once in the middle of Saigeki, it would not be possible to stop.

Ikki could now only move forwards.

As Ouma’s Amaterasu would win in reach and speed, Ryuuzume would behead Ikki before Ikki’s blade reached him.

However-

Ikki was not such a naive man as to be unable to improvise in a pinch.

“Wha…!?”

In the next moment, the spectators all widened their eyes in surprise.

In the instant Ouma fired Amaterasu, Ikki pointed Intetsu down and stabbed the tip into the ground.

As a result, Saigeki’s assault pitched forward, launching Ikki over Ouma’s head like a pole vaulter. He then kicked off the ceiling hard enough to break it, and once again charged at Ouma with Saigeki.

Amaterasu was a technique in which one devotes their all into one move’s speed.

That meant it left one vulnerable until it ended, leaving Ouma unable to avoid this Saigeki.

...Direct hit.

The close range Saigeki pierced Ouma’s wind armor, Tennryuugusoku, and Ikki’s sword dug in right above his collarbone.

That was by no means a random target.

Ikki had seen through Ouma’s muscle shape and density based on his movements, and attacked so as to slip through a gap.

He realized that without doing so, his offensive power would not be enough to pierce Ouma’s body.

His judgement was correct.