Chapter 143: A Casual Glimpse at Humanity.
「 "I've told you, and that woman, many times… I am 'Dan Heng'." Dan Heng's tone was tinged with impatience.
"I have nothing to do with your past."
"Dan Heng…" Blade repeated, finding it amusing.
"Do you think that by changing your appearance and adopting another identity, your past sins can be wiped clean? You… you haven't even experienced death…"
"I will make you feel this pain, Dan Heng." Blade gritted out each word.
"…I will make you know the agony of 'death'!"
"Heh, that won't do."
Just as the imminent battle between Blade and Dan Heng was about to erupt, a youthful voice suddenly interrupted them.
The two looked in the direction of the voice, and walking towards them was a young man with goose-yellow hair and golden eyes—Yanqing! 」
「 .....」
〜One Punch Man World〜
Council of Swordmasters—
"That woman didn't come…"
Atomic Samurai shook his head regretfully.
"Blade and Yanqing are both here; if that woman were present too, it would be quite interesting… What a pity."
"The current scene is quite spectacular too, Kamikaze."
The white-haired elder, Nichirin, sitting directly opposite Atomic Samurai, smiled slightly.
"Don't you feel it? The killing intent from Blade…"
"…He's killed many people. And his aura is even stronger than when he first appeared; is this the 'Mara-Struck' state?"
Nichirin had devoted his life to the sword, constantly suppressing his emotions to achieve perfection in swordsmanship. Having observed Jingliu's movements twice before, he had broken his decades-long rule for the first time, showing an almost insane fascination with her sword art. Now it seemed… he would have to break his rule again today.
"Kamikaze, you've practiced it, haven't you? That move…"
Nichirin reined in the smile on his face and looked at Atomic Samurai.
"How has your practice been?"
"What move?"
Atomic Samurai feigned ignorance.
"Heh heh… Kamikaze, we've known each other for so many years, and you still haven't learned to lie."
Nichirin no longer concealed it.
"That sword strike Jingliu aimed at Yanqing… you've put serious effort into practicing it, haven't you?"
He had planned to secretly master a hidden Ultimate… Since he had been seen through at a glance, Atomic Samurai no longer hid it and simply nodded openly.
"Although you yourself haven't noticed, Kamikaze, your grip on the sword is gradually approaching Jingliu's."
Nichirin revealed an envious look.
"…This is good; it means you are steadily progressing towards her realm."
"But that sword strike is still incredibly difficult to master."
Atomic Samurai frowned.
"I've practiced countless times, but they're all clumsy imitations of her strike. Was that really just a casual swing from her… I still can't believe it."
"No need to rush, Kamikaze."
Nichirin pointed at Yanqing in the light screen.
"Isn't this young man also receiving instruction? Why not see how he puts it into practice?"
—
「 "You won't kill anyone today, fugitive, because you're coming with me."
"Jing Yuan's little follower…" Blade snorted.
"Didn't Jing Yuan teach you to size up the situation?"
Yanqing ignored him, turning to Dan Heng to instruct him: "Hey, get far away quickly. Swords have no eyes later… Huh? Your appearance, it looks a bit familiar…"
"Watch out!"
Dan Heng's gaze sharpened. He had intended to warn Yanqing, but suddenly saw a shadowy figure flash behind him, accompanied by that nightmarish voice echoing in his ear.
"Stop hiding."
"Tch." Dan Heng instinctively tightened his grip on Izumo, attempting to pull back with the spear tip to create distance.
But Blade's Shard Sword was both heavy and long, and his swordsmanship was bizarre; a single slash made it impossible to predict the sword's intent. Seemingly aimed at the neck, it suddenly shifted to the shoulder. In an instant, another impenetrable rain of swords descended.
This clash was no longer just a single sharp clang, but hundreds of sharp clangs rapidly succeeding one another, like popping beans. The two, one with a spear and one with a sword, had exchanged countless blows in the blink of an eye. But ultimately, Dan Heng's strength was insufficient, and he fell into a disadvantage, being kicked in the abdomen by Blade.
In an instant, Dan Heng flew out like an arrow shot from a bow.
"Reveal your true form!"
Seeing his strike succeed, the madness in Blade's eyes intensified. But just as he was about to pursue, another figure blocked his path in front of Dan Heng!
"Clang—!"
Yanqing flashed forward to intercept his sword, his sword techniques flowing. In a flash, the two had exchanged dozens of blows.
Unable to achieve a quick victory, he deployed all his flying swords to attack Blade simultaneously. This dense assault, like meteors crossing a wilderness, was effortlessly parried by Blade. 」
「 .....」
〜Type-Moon World, Carnival Phantasm Worldline〜
At the same time, the Emiya household—
"Is this Blade's strength?"
Watching Blade's impenetrable sword movements, Sasaki Kojirou sighed,
"…It's a bit of a pity."
"Pity?"
Cu Chulainn, beside him, widened his eyes. His attention had been focused on Dan Heng's spear art earlier, and he hadn't observed Blade closely, but the fact that he could directly suppress Dan Heng was enough to show that the man was ridiculously strong.
"Assassin is right, it is a bit of a pity."
Saber also agreed.
"As a swordsman, Blade's skill can indeed be called exquisite, and even on the Xianzhou, he is a top-tier existence, but that's—if Jingliu weren't around."
"Yes, if he and Jing Yuan simply competed in martial arts, the outcome would be uncertain, but in swordsmanship, he is indeed inferior to Jingliu."
"The feeling these two give me is… Jingliu is someone who seeks to reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship, while Blade has no such aspirations at all. As for the specific reason… it's not yet clear, but in swordsmanship, he is not as pure as Jingliu."
Upon hearing this, Cu Chulainn also understood:
"It really seems that way. If Jingliu were to seriously fight Yanqing now, she could probably decide the outcome in an instant, couldn't she?"
—
「 In the midst of the fierce battle, Blade suddenly abandoned his defense and raised his hand, throwing the Shard Sword forward with a fierce thrust!
The target of this sword was not Yanqing, but… Dan Heng, behind him!
"Ugh!" Dan Heng, who had just gotten up, was pierced through the chest by the sword before he could even react!
"You!" Yanqing looked at Dan Heng, who was stabbed behind him, and angrily raised his sword to point at Blade in front of him.
"Heh." Blade completely ignored his sword, slowly walking towards Dan Heng while saying with interest: "Kid, let me introduce you. The one behind you is a sinner who committed ten heinous crimes…"
As he spoke, the previously calm Ancient Sea suddenly churned with towering waves, reaching the sky like a thousand galloping armies. Instantly, dark clouds gathered, and fierce winds howled. The entire Ancient Sea Scenic Zone's sky changed, and rumbles of thunder sounded like giant drums beating.
"Ah!" Yanqing watched in disbelief as the Scalegorge Waterscape's colors abruptly changed. He spun around, only to see countless currents of seawater surging from all directions, slowly enveloping Dan Heng's injured body in a sphere of water.
"…a criminal who betrayed the Xianzhou, incited great chaos, and was banished forever. The High Elder of the Vidyadhara— Imbibitor Lunae!"
With a roar that shook heaven and earth, the waters of the Ancient Sea transformed into a colossal azure dragon that soared into the sky, then descended from the heavens, erupting in a dazzling burst of light.
And when the light dissipated—
Dan Heng reappeared in everyone's sight, standing on a lotus. His dragon horns slowly emerged from his head, his formerly short hair now reached his waist, and his usual loose coat had transformed into an ancient azure robe, exuding an indescribable dignity and nobility.
He turned his back, glancing over his shoulder, and slowly opened his eyes.
Dark clouds gathered in the sky, fierce winds howled, lightning flashed, and thunder roared. Dazzling bolts of lightning tore through the dark night sky, accompanied by deafening thunder, as if the entire world trembled. The rumbles of thunder were like a group of ferocious beasts, rolling and roaring in the clouds, releasing endless energy and majesty. 」
「 .....」