As time went on, the apocalyptic scene in the basement intensified, causing the barrier separating the two worlds to become unstable, looking as if it could collapse at any moment.
The power Young Master Leo released had gradually exceeded the barrier's limit.
However, Leo's expression, as he continuously released such power, grew increasingly solemn, and the look in his eyes when he gazed at Miyamoto Musashi below changed.
At first glance, the entire battlefield seemed to have become his domain, filled with the power he released, creating scene after scene of natural disasters. Yet, these disasters, powerful enough to cause terrifying destruction in the outside world, were utterly unable to harm the Heavenly Origin Flower that continuously bloomed in the center.
The Female Swordswoman named Miyamoto Musashi merely wielded her swords freely amidst the calamities, fully displaying her swordsmanship. The disasters that continuously assailed her were repeatedly cut apart by her seemingly unadorned twin blades, never once touching her body.
The surging flames were cut in two… the rushing torrents were cut in two… the lightning descending from the sky was cut in two… the gales capable of blowing away everything were cut in two… Even the constantly rising sand from the ground and the glaciers attacking from all directions were severed by Miyamoto Musashi's successive slashes, with none escaping.
Although her opponent was just an extremely delicate-looking Female Swordswoman, and the Female Swordswoman's opponent was nature itself, transformed into a disaster, this seemingly unequal battle—which anyone would think human power is limited and humans could not possibly challenge nature—was completely overturned by the Female Swordswoman with the sword in her hand, practically telling everyone that humans can also conquer nature and overcome disasters.
For a moment, the sword light gradually overshadowed the disaster-like scenes, as if it could sever even the apocalypse, inspiring awe.
"Indeed, anyone capable of becoming a Retainer of a Demon Lord, no matter how unreliable they may seem, cannot be weak."
Leo had basically confirmed that Miyamoto Musashi's strength could be considered top-tier even among Highest-Class Demons; she was a genuine battle-power equivalent to a ten-winged Demon, ten-winged Angel, or ten-winged Fallen Angel!
Ten-winged Demons, ten-winged Angels, and ten-winged Fallen Angels are already executive-level figures within the three major factions, fully qualifying as high-end combatants in their respective forces!
Furthermore, Miyamoto Musashi, among them, had probably already reached the pinnacle, an existence just one step away from the Demon Lord-class!
He himself was very likely no match for her at all!
As he realized this, Leo let out a heavy breath.
"Final strike—"
Leo's voice echoed throughout the entire venue.
"The next strike will be the strongest I can currently unleash!"
If this strike still couldn't secure victory, then for Leo, this battle would be no different from a defeat.
"Take this!"
Without waiting for Miyamoto Musashi to respond, Leo mobilized all his demonic energy, channeling it into his next strike, causing the power of the Blazing Heaven Thunder Prison to erupt instantly.
In an instant, the dark clouds in the sky slowly pressed down, and countless bolts of lightning surged within them, gathering around Leo along with flames converging from all directions.
The earth also rose, and the atmosphere continuously hummed, causing various abnormal natural phenomena to appear one after another.
Thunderstorms, windstorms, floods, sandstorms, blizzards, falling fire… various extreme weather conditions successively appeared in this basement, and under Leo's control, transformed into terrifying monstrous forms.
The falling fire transformed into a firebird roaring with its body ablaze, the flood transformed into a giant water dragon roaring, and the windstorms, thunderstorms, sandstorms, and blizzards each transformed into ferocious beasts, emitting wild roars that shook the entire estate.
That nightmarish scene left Yuuki Asuna in shock, and also made Miyamoto Musashi narrow her eyes and smile charmingly.
"In that case, I shall also unleash my strongest slash!"
The astonishing aura that had been gathering around Miyamoto Musashi since the very beginning erupted.
She slowly raised her sword, exuding terrifying pressure, and behind her, a colossal statue of a Benevolent King appeared, standing majestically.
That was a phenomenon condensed from pure sword pressure.
Historically, Miyamoto Musashi chose to convert to the Great Heavenly Demon God after achieving fame, so that Benevolent King statue could be said to be Miyamoto Musashi's guardian deity, a symbol that naturally formed after her swordsmanship reached its zenith.
"One slash, three bows, breaking through infinity to reach zero—"
Astonishing demonic energy gathered on the sword Miyamoto Musashi raised, causing the blade to transform into a blade of light, continuously extending.
"This slash is my Empty Path, my entire life's work!"
Miyamoto Musashi's declaration easily overpowered the roars of the disaster beasts around Leo, echoing throughout the entire venue.
"Sword 轟拔刀, here I come!"
As her words fell, Miyamoto Musashi swung the sword in her hand, causing the Benevolent King statue behind her to also strike down with its blade, slashing towards Leo.
This was a slash that seemed capable of cutting the world apart, reducing everything in existence to zero.
When this slash fell, whether it was Leo or Yuuki Asuna, they could only see a beam of light separating the two ends of the world, causing the two ends of the world to begin to misalign.
The roaring disaster beasts around Leo suddenly touched that dividing line of the world, and in the end, without even causing a ripple, they successively split apart and vanished without a trace as the world misaligned.
— — — —
Time seemed to have stopped at this moment, causing all the rumbling and loud noises that had been echoing throughout the basement to vanish.
Leo and Miyamoto Musashi remained, one in the sky, one on the ground, one soaring with wings, one standing with a raised sword, facing each other, yet one was silent, and the other maintained a constant smile.
Leo lifted his gaze, shifting his sight from Miyamoto Musashi to the entire basement.
He saw that this basement, which had been ravaged beyond recognition by various natural disaster phenomena, now had a bottomless chasm, like an abyss, in its center, almost splitting the entire basement in two.
And the barrier that enveloped the entire basement had silently disappeared, as if it had been cut in two long ago, without causing even a ripple.
"…Alright."
Leo let out a wry laugh, retracted the wings on his back, and landed on the ground.
"I lost."
As the declaration of surrender was made, time seemed to restart its flow, causing the tension that filled the basement to vanish into thin air.
"Thank you for the match, Young Master Leo."
Miyamoto Musashi put away her two swords and walked towards Leo, a refreshed expression on her face.
"Oh my, it's been a long time since I've had such a satisfying fight. I truly didn't misjudge you, Young Master; you are indeed a worthy opponent."
The warrior Miyamoto Musashi seemed utterly content.
"You two are both amazing!" Yuuki Asuna belatedly approached, saying with rare excitement, "Can a Demon's power really be this strong? That's incredible!"
Yuuki Asuna was not someone who worshipped power, but after seeing Leo and Miyamoto Musashi's performance, she still couldn't suppress the excitement in her heart, making her wonder if some unknown violent factor was hidden deep within her.
In reality, that was merely human nature.
Just as people are unconsciously excited when they see towering mountains, and their hearts swell when they see the boundless sea, Yuuki Asuna's feelings at this moment were similar.
After all, before this, she was just an ordinary human. After being attacked by a Rogue Demon, she lost consciousness, and upon waking, she was told she had become a Demon. However, she hadn't really seen a Demon's power, so this was Yuuki Asuna's first time witnessing such a supernatural battle scene, and her emotions were bound to fluctuate somewhat.
"This is nothing. If you work hard, you might not be unable to step into this realm in the future."
Miyamoto Musashi encouraged Yuuki Asuna with a smile, and from her tone, it was clear she wasn't being perfunctory.
At least, in Miyamoto Musashi's view, Yuuki Asuna had the potential to reach her realm.
As for whether that potential could be realized, that would depend on Yuuki Asuna's own efforts.
"And Young Master Leo, you should easily be able to surpass me in the future, right?" Miyamoto Musashi's eyes sparkled as she looked at Leo, genuinely exclaiming, "I never expected the legendary Blazing Heaven Thunder Prison to be on you, Young Master. If Lady Serafall… my master knew about this, she would definitely be very surprised."
Let alone Miyamoto Musashi's master, if the Demons of the Underworld knew about this, it would likely cause a complete sensation.
The world's second strongest god-slaying tool appearing on the heir of the once-extinct Erigor Family—if this news got out, wouldn't the high-ranking officials of the three major factions be alarmed?
Frankly speaking, Leo, possessing this god-slaying tool, already had the ability to influence the future balance of all factions.
Once exposed, all factions might take action, including the Demons themselves.
"Please keep this matter a secret for me for now," Leo said to Miyamoto Musashi, "I don't want to expose it yet."
"Understood, understood. I will certainly keep this secret well," Miyamoto Musashi readily agreed, saying, "As long as I am still enjoying food and lodging here, I will not actively expose this matter."
In other words, once she left this estate, completed this mission, and returned to the Underworld, Miyamoto Musashi probably wouldn't be able to help Leo keep it a secret.
After returning, she couldn't possibly not report to her master what she had experienced during this trip, could she?
Therefore, Miyamoto Musashi could only help Leo keep the secret until then.
"That's enough."
Leo didn't intend to hide it forever; he just wanted as much time as possible to grow stronger, so that when it was eventually exposed, he could have more initiative.
In this situation, Leo asked Miyamoto Musashi a question.
"In your opinion, how strong am I now?"