Meanwhile, at Leo's estate, in the underground training room...
Leo stood to the side, watching Miyamoto Musashi instruct Yuuki Asuna.
"Don't worry about Holy Sword or not Holy Sword for now; you should first master the fundamentals. Start by learning how to grip the sword. Once your posture is flawless, then learn how to swing it. Teaching sword techniques or skills is too early for you right now."
Miyamoto Musashi was correcting Yuuki Asuna's grip posture. She appeared nonchalant, but as soon as Yuuki Asuna's posture showed any distortion, she would instantly point it out and forcefully correct it. No matter how slight or subtle the deformation, it could not escape her eyes.
"Is this right?"
Under Miyamoto Musashi's guidance, Yuuki Asuna quickly mastered the correct sword grip. She wasn't holding a Holy Sword, but a wooden sword casually conjured with magic. From its appearance, anyone could tell that this Female Swordswoman was a beginner.
"Yes, yes, exactly! Just maintain this movement for now." Miyamoto Musashi seemed somewhat surprised by Yuuki Asuna's quick grasp and praised her from the bottom of her heart: "Although Miss Yuuki is clearly an amateur, she is unexpectedly a good prospect for sword training."
Evidently, Yuuki Asuna's talent in swordsmanship was quite good; otherwise, she would not have been chosen by Leo's "Knight" chess piece.
Miyamoto Musashi instructed Yuuki Asuna on several movements and tips, and Yuuki Asuna quickly learned and became familiar with all of them, which greatly pleased her.
"Female swordswomen were almost unheard of in my era, making me an anomaly. Even in modern times, female swordswomen are still rare. I never expected to encounter a powerful future Female Swordswoman this time."
Miyamoto Musashi saw Yuuki Asuna's future in her performance, and she became much more attentive.
As a result, Miyamoto Musashi was unconsciously teaching Yuuki Asuna the fundamentals of Niten Ichi-ryū.
The so-called Niten Ichi-ryū does not refer to a two-sword style of swordsmanship, but rather a style where one's body moves with the sword and changes with the situation.
Only when facing a formidable enemy or destiny does one calm oneself, assume a stance, and reduce one's sword-heart to zero. This is Niten Ichi-ryū.
Therefore, Niten Ichi-ryū can be performed with a single sword, with two swords, or even with three swords, like a certain green-haired individual who often gets lost and holds a sword in his mouth.
To some extent, Yuuki Asuna is indeed suitable for learning Niten Ichi-ryū, because her "Holy Sword Creation" can theoretically create countless swords and use countless swords. A swordsmanship style like Niten Ichi-ryū, which is not limited by the number of weapons and can be performed with any number of weapons, will definitely allow Yuuki Asuna to maximize the advantages of "Holy Sword Creation."
Miyamoto Musashi might have also recognized this, which is why she did not teach actual sword moves, but only intended to teach the fundamentals, and then explain the principles and essence of Niten Ichi-ryū to Yuuki Asuna, letting her comprehend and understand it herself, ultimately forming her own Niten Ichi-ryū.
Although Yuuki Asuna did not know Miyamoto Musashi's intentions, she listened very carefully.
Watching Yuuki Asuna absorb Miyamoto Musashi's teachings like a sponge, her posture becoming more and more refined, and increasingly taking on the demeanor of a Female Swordswoman, Leo almost saw the "Flash" Asuna, known as the "Conqueror of the Labyrinth."
"From the looks of it, Asuna should be able to become a combatant very soon, right?"
Leo was very satisfied.
Yuuki Asuna's talent in magic was not as high as Yukinoshita Yukino's; she wasn't even among the most outstanding Mid-level Demons, let alone High-Class Devils. However, her talent in swordsmanship was indeed not bad, comparable to Yukinoshita Yukino's talent in magic.
And Yukinoshita Yukino had only taken a short month to initially form her combat capabilities. If Yuuki Asuna could maintain this rate of progress, she would likely be similar.
In a month's time, Yuuki Asuna should be able to contend with stronger Mid-level Demons. Furthermore, against demonic creatures, she could even rival beings of the High-Class Devil level.
"They are both rare potential stocks. As expected of the heroines from their respective stories, I've truly struck gold."
This also gave Leo a hint: perhaps he could focus on heroine-level characters and choose Retainers from among them.
Individuals who can become heroines in their respective stories generally possess extraordinary qualities. Even if they are not High Potential Retainers, they should at least become Middle Potential beings.
Like Kasumigaoka Utaha, that woman is extraordinary. And the other two high-class beauties at Sobu High School, he could perhaps pay attention to them as well.
Although Leo had previously paid attention to them and confirmed that they did not possess Sacred Gears like Yukinoshita Yukino, perhaps after he Familiarized them, their potential would be developed and attract Sacred Gears to reside within them?
Sacred Gears are not necessarily innate; some may transfer into the wielder's body midway through life.
Leo strongly suspected that his "Blazing Heaven Thunder Prison" was attracted to him and made him its host only after he awakened the "Familiarization" trait. Otherwise, having been a demon for so many years, he couldn't have completely failed to notice a Sacred Gear residing within him.
He was born a demon in this life, and a pure-blood demon at that, with the other half of his lineage coming from an Exorcist of the Church. One could say he was born extraordinary.
If he had been born with a Sacred Gear, it should have awakened long ago. Why would it wait until he became a High-Class Devil without awakening, or even showing any sign of its existence?
His magic sensing ability was already very strong; he could detect Sacred Gears in others' bodies, so there was no reason he couldn't detect his own.
Given this, Leo believed that his "Blazing Heaven Thunder Prison" must have been attracted to him when he awakened the "Familiarization" trait, making him the wielder of the second strongest Sacred Gear in this world.
Similarly, under the operation of the Heavenly Realm's Sacred Gear system, unowned Sacred Gears could suddenly be attracted to someone, thereby recognizing that person as their master and residing within them.
Those characters who could become heroines in their respective stories, once Familiarized by him and their potential successfully developed, might very well become new Sacred Gear Holders.
"Speaking of which, my senior is truly patient. So much time has passed, yet she still hasn't triggered the demon flyer I gave her to summon me."
Leo thought of Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had recently been looking at him with increasing disdain, and muttered inwardly.
It seemed that ever since he started moving freely in the Service Club, and no matter where he went, Yukinoshita Yukino might be accompanying him, the contempt and disdain in Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes when she looked at him had grown increasingly intense.
Originally, Kasumigaoka Utaha, who used to call him "Demon Lord," now mostly called him "Perverted Demon Lord." Her resentful demeanor made one wonder if this autumn flower of Sobu High School wanted to fall in love with him.
Unfortunately, he didn't want a girlfriend, only servants... Love?
Not even a dog would bother!
"If not, I'll temporarily shift my focus. I haven't really paid much attention to the other two high-class beauties lately."
A certain demon thought this with extreme scoundrel-like thoughts.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Leo looked up as if he felt something.
He felt that the special Magic Circle he had placed on Yukinoshita Yukino was entering a semi-activated state due to the appearance of immense magic power.
"Such immense magic power... Is Yukino getting serious?"
Leo narrowed his eyes, thinking of something.
He glanced at Yuuki Asuna and Miyamoto Musashi, who were still immersed in their teaching, then quietly exited the underground training room, activated the Magic Circle for a jump, and left the estate...
"Boom!"
This was the roar of the atmosphere.
As a blizzard-like cold front raged across the land, the moisture in the atmosphere seemed to be sucked dry, condensing into ice while roaring, causing an endless amount of ice to form in mid-air.
The ice merged, quickly forming ice mountains. Under the control of the three-meter-tall ice princess, they crashed towards the ground with terrifying momentum.
"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"...
The ice mountains immediately fell like meteors, one after another, shaking the earth and stirring up violent impacts. Sharon, who was constantly leaping and dodging, was blown away several times by the cold, fierce winds.
"Ugh...!"
Sharon raised her hands and crossed them in front of her, but she couldn't stop her body from flying backward like a cannonball, eventually crashing into an ice mountain.
In mid-air, Yukinoshita Yukino, with the ice princess floating behind her, was still pressing her advantage, frantically unleashing magic power, causing new ice mountains to form around her.
"Is this the power of a god-slaying tool...?"
Sharon was on high alert, cold sweat even trickling down her forehead.
It wasn't that she hadn't fought Sacred Gear Holders before, but this was her first time fighting a wielder of a god-slaying tool.
Regrettably, in this one instance, she found herself in peril.
"Compared to ordinary Sacred Gears, the power of a god-slaying tool is simply too exaggerated; the two are not on the same level at all...!"
Sharon, who could contend with High-Class Devils, was now being pushed to a desperate situation by Yukinoshita Yukino. One can imagine how terrifying Yukinoshita Yukino was after using the god-slaying tool.
The power to destroy gods or demon kings was clearly hinted at in this battle.
"Yukino!"
At the edge of the battlefield, which had turned into a world of ice and snow, Yukinoshita Haruno and Mrs. Yukinoshita couldn't help but cry out in unison.
They shivered in the cold wind, with some frost clinging to them, and were almost unable to endure any longer.
"I have to say, you two are truly bold, daring to watch the battle in such a place. Aren't you afraid of death?"
At some point, such a voice reached the ears of the two Yukinoshita Family women.
At the same time, an invisible barrier rose, blocking the incoming cold current.