Dragon Power 6 Volume 8

Squeezing his muscules to the limit, he added to his next blow the twist of his spine by turning his entire torso away from his opponent. Of course, Stella would close in further as he did so, but Ouma knew she would bat away any more slashes with less weight behind them, so he wagered everything on the fastest strike he had, the godspeed sword passed down in his style. Using every muscle in his body and even the rebound of his body returning from the twist to accelerate, it was a slash made by his body and spirit unified. A strike based on speed alone, with no thought to recovery.

"Kyokujitsu Isshin Ryuu─Jin no Kyoku, Amaterasu[4]!"

The blade slid into Stella without a sound. Like Ikki's Blade Steal, Ouma's Amaterasu had also reached the level of Twin-Wings, surpassing the reaction speed given even by Stella's dragonic power. Ryuuzume cut through Stella's body. Ouma felt it slice flesh and bone as blood arced through the air. It did not reach her organs, but this would be enough to slow her advance─

"Take this!"

"Gah…!"

Not only did Amaterasu fail to slow Stella's advance, she stepped forward even faster, and with one long leg she lashed out at Ouma's right shin. The kick broke through Tenryuu Gusoku and crushed Ouma's bone. Wobbling in pain, Ouma tried to understand what had happened. Even if Amaterasu could not deal a fatal wound, it should have done enough to stop Stella's movement. But Ouma saw the truth instantly.

This is…!

Stella had a large gash on her skin, but not a drop of blood flowed from it. No, he could see the wound stitch itself at an unbelievable speed. A dragon's vitality─in the myths, a dragon must be decapitated, for no lesser wound would suffice. Stella had inherited this nigh-immortal vitality. His indecisive wound was useless.