With Ioroi providing cover, Shiki confidently immersed her consciousness into the Ley Line. Perhaps because her will was very firm this time, the scene that appeared before her eyes was that unfinished battle.
The image continued from the unfinished scene of the first time. The Tengu girl transformed into a ball of electro element and instantly appeared in mid-air, simultaneously raising her fan. A thick purple lightning bolt then descended from the sky.
"electro element Summon!"
The lightning rapidly magnified in the Oni youth's eyes. He said nothing, and then a streak of Burning ignited on his body.
The Oni youth gripped the katana in his hand, his legs pushing off the ground with force as he leaped high into the air.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment. Shiki could clearly see the continuously extending electric arcs and the gradually solidifying ghostly visage.
With a Fire-Lei Overloaded reaction, a violent explosion erupted the moment the blade touched the lightning. The Tengu girl was directly blown away by the shockwave. Fortunately, her wings stabilized her, preventing her from falling flat on the ground.
But the Oni youth, Burning with flames, rushed out from the explosion right behind her. The katana grazed the Tengu girl's nose by a hair's breadth.
Missed? No, that's not right.
The katana suddenly changed direction after grazing her cheek, finally resting directly against the girl's fragile neck.
"Your sword can now even surpass the speed of a Tengu."
"During these thirteen years of dueling with you, I have never forgotten a single day. But as a Tengu of the image, I must ultimately bear the responsibility of my clan."
"Thinking back now, I initially changed for you, hoping you could break free from the curse of Oni blood. The non-human bloodline has become increasingly thin with that war."
"After all, non-human beings rarely find a good end among humans. But you are different; now you are [Iwakura], not the Imperial carriage (Omikoshi) burdened with Oni blood."
"Forget me, Douki. Then, with your sword, forge a new path in the name of Iwakura."
The Tengu girl's tone was full of reluctance, but she still transformed into a flash of electro element and disappeared before Iwakura, leaving Iwakura alone standing in the shattered house.
"Mitsuyo…"
Iwakura softly called out the girl's name, then, with the long katana on his back, walked towards Inazuma City. From then on, the Iwakura style became famous in Inazuma.
And the unique skill of this school was named "Tengu Sho."
The scene ended here. Shiki withdrew from the Ley Line, a flash of understanding appearing in her eyes. So, that Oni youth was the founder of the Iwakura style.
Tengu Sho is an extremely fast sword technique. Simply put, it's a powerful initial strike followed by a rapid cut back in the opposite direction.
Sounds simple, doesn't it? But simple means it doesn't require harsh conditions, meaning Tengu Sho can be initiated at any time from any direction.
But Shiki was not satisfied with this, because Tengu Sho could be dodged. She wanted to create a sword technique that could not be dodged even if one knew it was coming.
Hmm, I'll create it based on Tengu Sho.
Thinking this, Shiki took Ioroi back home. Although her mental energy consumption wasn't very high after watching this battle, she still reserved some because she planned to go find Hana Sanri tonight.
However, Shiki didn't know that the Tanuki beside her was thinking the same thing.
That familiar aura made its heart itch. So, Ioroi planned to go to that Tenko Statue tonight, after everyone was asleep, to observe it carefully.
Thus, one person and one Tanuki, with almost the same thoughts, waited for night to fall. Of course, they weren't just waiting; Shiki tried out the unavoidable sword technique on seabirds during this time.
Hmm, she didn't cut down a single one. Clearly, she failed.
She used electro element to accelerate and rush in front of the seabirds, then tried to cut them with her sword. But seabirds, who fly in high altitudes year-round, are extremely sensitive to air vibrations.
Before the sword even reached them, they could feel the warning from the air and would flap their wings to turn and dodge the strike.
Perhaps if her own speed accelerated to the point where even seabirds couldn't react, she could cut them down. But one thing must be considered: her body simply couldn't withstand it.
No matter how powerful the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception were, it couldn't change the fact that she was a mortal. Her body couldn't compare to those Archons and beings created from element Crystalize.
So, what she needed to think about wasn't acceleration, but more strikes.
If one strike misses, then what if I use several more? One strike to block their movement, one strike to cut, and another strike just in case. Would the opponent still be able to dodge then?
The sword technique Shiki was conceptualizing in her mind was "Tsubame Gaeshi," but she had no idea how to execute three strikes at the same time.
'Forget it, let's finish the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual first.'
...
At midnight, Shiki quietly left the house with Kujikanesada. However, what she didn't notice was that Ioroi had opened its eyes in the darkness.
Shiki walked to the Waypoint, looked around to confirm no one was present, then placed her hand on it.
At the same time, Ioroi removed its illusion and crawled out of the ditch.
"Where did Shiki go?"
Ioroi pondered for a moment, but soon he shook his head, dismissing the thought, and instead set off on the path to the Tenko Statue.
At the beach teleportation point, a figure suddenly appeared beside it. This was Shiki, who had teleported through the Ley Line.
The seaside at night was always peaceful, but now was not the time to enjoy the tranquility. Shiki looked towards the Tenko Statue, and indeed, a Miko wearing a fox mask was there.
"Please stop, esteemed Swordsman. I have a matter I need your assistance with. Please look at this Tenko Statue here; it contains a warding item. Only those favored by 'electro element' can…"
Before Hana Sanri could speak, Shiki made a STOP gesture.
"Stop, stop, stop. Don't bother with those deceptive words. I'm here to save you."
"Save me? No, you cannot save me. I am merely a consciousness formed by defilement, an existence that should be purged. Saving me is like saving defilement. Since you know about the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual, then you should even less save me."
Hana Sanri shook his head. Now, he no longer held any hope for himself. His only goal was to complete the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual.
"You can't say that. If you don't even try, how can you know it won't work?"
As Shiki spoke, she flung a golden electro element at the Tenko Statue, and something resembling a Gohei (a wooden stick wrapped with cloth strips) fell out of the statue.
Shiki bent down and picked up the warding item. Hana Sanri, upon seeing the golden electro element, stiffened, as if he had discovered something astonishing, and fell silent.
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