The brilliant circular sword light slowly dissipated, and a brief silence settled over the training ground.
Atomic Samurai remained in his sheathed posture, his blade reflecting a cold gleam.
Across the ground before him lay a thick layer of black powder, the remnants of the Black Sperm individuals instantly annihilated by Atomic Slash: Scattered Flowers.
"Hmph. Pathetic."
Atomic Samurai shifted the toothpick to the other side of his mouth, his tone carrying the arrogance of a master swordsman.
However, the moment he finished speaking, an unexpected change occurred.
The black powder covering the ground began to writhe and converge violently as though it were alive, moving several times faster than before.
Within a few breaths, tens of thousands of intact Black Sperm individuals rose once more. There were even more of them than before, and their piercing, chaotic laughter echoed across the training ground.
"Hehehe! It's useless, useless!"
"Even if you chop us into dust, it won't matter!"
"We are endless!"
"Keep chopping! Let's see how many slashes you have left!"
Atomic Samurai's pupils contracted slightly. A grave expression settled over his face.
He could tell that his previous attack had indeed reduced his opponents to their fundamental particles. Yet their regeneration ability surpassed his understanding. It was as though they truly were endless.
"Tsk. What a troublesome ability."
Atomic Samurai tightened his grip on the sword hilt.
"Then let's see whose division is faster, yours or my blade!"
"Atomic Slash: Wild Dance!"
He abandoned wide-range slashes and moved like lightning, instantly plunging into the black tide.
The katana in his hand transformed into countless afterimages, moving too quickly for the naked eye to follow. Each strike precisely cut down the approaching Black Sperm individuals at supersonic speed.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Sword light flashed like a violent storm.
Every Black Sperm individual touched by the blade was instantly sliced apart before disintegrating into dust.
Atomic Samurai's figure weaved through the black tide. Wherever he passed, Black Sperm individuals fell in swathes like harvested wheat.
His swordsmanship had reached a state of perfection. Every slash was precise and efficient, without a single unnecessary movement.
Swinging, slashing, advancing, and retreating all flowed together seamlessly, displaying the skill of a master swordsman.
"What an incredible blade speed!"
Yuta Okkotsu, watching the battle, could not help but exclaim.
He wondered whether he would even have enough time to react if he were facing such swordsmanship.
"But it's useless."
Nanami pushed up his glasses as he calmly analyzed the situation.
"That monster's ability to divide is effectively infinite. No matter how fast Atomic Samurai's slashes are, he will eventually exhaust himself. This is a battle of attrition, and his opponent has virtually unlimited numbers."
The situation unfolded exactly as Nanami had predicted.
Although Atomic Samurai's attacks were fierce and eliminated an astonishing number of Black Sperm individuals, the overall mass of Black Sperm did not appear to decrease at all.
The destroyed individuals were immediately replaced by those surging forward from behind. The entire simulated battlefield had become a writhing black ocean, rushing toward Atomic Samurai from every direction, including from above.
Atomic Samurai's blade grew faster and faster, but fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on his forehead.
The high-intensity, precise swordsmanship demanded an enormous amount of physical and mental energy.
He began relying on smaller movements to evade attacks he could not eliminate in time, and his footwork was no longer as composed as it had been at the beginning.
"Hehe! He's slowing down!"
"Tired, tired!"
"Now it's our turn!"
The Black Sperm individuals shrieked excitedly as their attacks became even more frenzied.
Some began combining into crude weapon-like shapes, while others attempted to launch surprise attacks from Atomic Samurai's blind spots.
Atomic Samurai swung his sword, annihilating dozens of individuals charging from the front. However, hundreds more simultaneously closed in from his left and rear.
He immediately spun and swung his sword again, the blade tracing an arc that cleared the surrounding threats. Yet his breathing had noticeably quickened.
"Atomic Concentration Slash!"
He attempted to unleash another burst of power. A concentrated blade aura shot forward in a straight line, carving a path through the Black Sperm horde.
The opening was filled almost instantly.
"Useless! Useless!"
Black Sperm's mocking laughter came from every direction.
Atomic Samurai gritted his teeth and swung his sword again, but this time, there was a barely perceptible delay in his movement.
That tiny opening was all Black Sperm needed.
"Opportunity!"
Dozens of Black Sperm individuals suddenly emerged from beneath Atomic Samurai's feet. They instantly climbed over his legs and sword-wielding right arm like parasitic worms.
Atomic Samurai's heart jolted.
He immediately unleashed his strength, attempting to shake the sticky monsters off, but even more Black Sperm individuals surged forward and engulfed him like a tide.
"Ugh!"
Atomic Samurai felt his limbs being restrained and entangled by countless tiny arms. Despite their size, they possessed tremendous strength, making it increasingly difficult for him to swing his sword.
More individuals climbed onto his body, furiously punching and biting him.
Although Atomic Samurai's physique was far beyond that of an ordinary person, he could not withstand the siege of countless Black Sperm individuals indefinitely.
His clothes were torn apart, and small wounds appeared across his body as blood began to seep from them.
"Get away!"
Atomic Samurai roared and attempted to unleash an even more powerful sword technique, but his arms were tightly restrained, making it difficult to even wield his sword.
The Black Sperm individuals swarmed over him, completely engulfing his body and forming a constantly writhing black humanoid mass.
"Atomic Samurai!"
Someone from the Hero Association's side shouted in alarm.
"It's over," Sol calmly announced from the observation deck.
As soon as he spoke, the Black Sperm tide surrounding Atomic Samurai receded like a wave, flowing away from him before reassembling into Black Sperm's familiar, grinning form.
Atomic Samurai knelt on one knee, supporting himself with his sword.
His clothes were tattered, his body covered in small wounds and bruises. He breathed heavily, his face showing both exhaustion and unwillingness to accept the defeat.
"Fourth round, Black Sperm wins."
Black Sperm twisted his body triumphantly and let out a victorious cackle.
"Hehehe! Thanks for the match, Swordsman! Your blade is fast, but it's useless against me!"
Atomic Samurai silently rose to his feet, retrieved his sword, and walked off the fighting platform without saying a word.
The defeat was undoubtedly a heavy blow to a swordsman of his caliber, especially after losing to an opponent whose ability was so difficult to counter.
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