The finals of the bare-handed division would likely be between Lynokis and Gandolph, assuming there were no sudden upsets. Now that Lynokis had been injured, she might even... No, let’s not think about that.
“This is a match I have personally been greatly looking forward to. Standing in the ring now are Lynette Bran and Asuma Hinoki.”
This would be the second most exciting match of the day.
You’ve thought this through, Lynette. Or is this your original style? Before beginning her training with me, Lynokis had originally used a sword as well.
“Lynette has come bearing a shield, completely different from what we have seen her wield thus far. She must understand that her opponent is not someone she can take down with superficial skill, so she must be a skilled shield user.”
In her right hand was a sword, in her left hand a small wooden round shield. I hadn’t known that Lynette knew how to use a shield nor had I ever seen her wield one. But considering her tendency to play it safe, it wasn’t so surprising to learn that she knew how to use one.
Speaking solely from a logical perspective, you carried out your offense and defense with a defined role for each arm. It increased one’s stability compared to fighting with just a sword. You simply took the attacks with a shield, and attacked with the sword. This alone made it a safe fighting style.
But the shield itself could also make for an interesting weapon. It may look like an object solely used for defense, but you could attack with a shield just as effectively, just as a sword could also be used to block. If there were sharp spikes added to the shield, all you had to do was thrust it forward and you could easily cause damage. That wasn’t to say shields were useless for defense. It was just that depending on the situation, you could use it in either role.
The Kenki was unsurprisingly fighting with nothing but a wooden katana. There was no tension in his stance, no fear. Even though a match was about to begin, he was standing as if everything were normal.
I see I wasn’t wrong. You’ve reached that state of mind, after all. Is this because of your teacher? Or did you reach that precipice through your own efforts? It’s certainly surprising, but that tends to be the case in the martial world, anyway. I see, I see...
The precipice of that murderous man’s martial arts was that of the empty mind and empty killing intent—the soul of the crane. The twilight wavers within the clear pearl river... Wonderful.
“Asuma Hinoki appears perfectly calm. In all of the matches we have seen, he has never been overwhelmed by the audience nor shown an ounce of tension. We haven’t even seen him be aggressive. He is constantly in a natural state. A martial artist like this is strong.”
Reaching the precipice of one’s martial arts did not simply mean calming the mind or striving to empty the mind of all thoughts. To put it very simply, it was like a fusion with one’s weapon. It meant not viewing the tool as a tool, but as an extension of one’s self. It was a psychological state that affected the very core of one’s consciousness.
Right now, the Kenki was both weapon and man. That was what it meant.
It...was a little hard to explain with words, but honestly, it had always been one of those concepts impossible to understand through theory alone. The only ones who really understood were those who had also reached a precipice of some kind.
In any case, I really was getting excited now.
I’ve come prepared, you know? Don’t let me down now.
“Let the match begin!”
Lynette held her shield firmly in front of her the moment the match started. It was the most basic stance combining offense and defense—shield held out in front, blunted broadsword held behind. It was a basic but effective stance, one that left very few openings. Though that did mean it was lacking in the excitement department.
The Kenki also took up his stance. He brought his sword low, gripped in both hands, so that the tip of the sword was angled slightly lower than horizontal. From Lynette’s perspective, it was being held at an angle a little past three. It was a stance I hadn’t seen in any of the other matches, not even preliminaries. It was similar to a waki-gamae in Kendo, but the concept seemed fundamentally different.
The stance itself suggested he was planning to counter. He appeared to be preparing to defend himself from the opponent’s incoming attack and then immediately strike back. I would’ve loved to see him use the technique with a real sword. I was devastated that I could only see it with a wooden one. The weapons ruling really did put him at a disadvantage.
“Asuma’s stance is that of a traditional style. The stance is focused only on striking, yet it is relaxed. It is a form awaiting the opponent’s attack. There will be no exchange of blows or intention to lure the enemy in mind, only slashes. Only with a real sword could the true potential of this form shine. A wooden sword may not be... No, a wooden sword may be enough.”
It was clear to me that he was stronger than when I’d faced him a few years ago. But what if he was even stronger now than I thought? In that case, a wooden sword should be enough—he may even have the potential to kill.
“Lynette makes her move.”
Lynette charged forward with her shield raised, her sword hidden behind it. This was another way shields could be used. It effectively served as a blindfold on the opponent.
The Kenki...remained still.
“Asuma has readied his stance to attack. He fully intends to cut with that wooden katana. Someone skilled enough with the blade can certainly manage it. Lynette has now stopped. Has she realized Asuma’s intentions?”
Would the tip of his sword reach her or not?
If she stepped forward, she would be slashed.
If she pulled back, she would be slashed.
Had Lynette not realized what the Kenki was about to do, he would have cut through not just her shield, but her arm... Well, no, it seemed impossible for him to cut off her arm. But he would definitely have easily cut the shield.
This battle may reach its end early. If it dragged, Lynette would only get more injured and pushed further into a disadvantage. In that case, rather than thinking about how to deal with the Kenki’s attacks, she would be better off considering how to take him down quickly.
Lynette aside, the Kenki really was quite good. There was no need for bared hostility or killing intent. They were nothing more than distractions, emotions that would impact one’s concentration and even dull the blade. Pure murderous intent was its own precipice if it was intense enough, but reaching that point with a purely twisted nature was dangerous—it was impossible to remain sane.
An empty mind and absent killing intent was good.
His only goal was to cut. The mind had merged with the blade.
That was perfect. There was no need for murderous hostility.
Regardless of what emotions lay behind the attack, if you kept slashing your opponent, they would eventually die.
What is this feeling?
The second Lynette had felt it, she stopped her advance.
Asuma Hinoki remained motionless with his wooden katana held horizontally. The two were close enough that a strike from one or the other may very well reach. It was at that moment that Lynette had strongly felt something was off and came to a stop.