What’s going on?
Ikki’s eyes opened wide at the sudden irregularity that had occurred within him just as he was to clash with the Gale Sword Emperor. His surprise was to be expected, as it had happened at the very moment he’d planned to use his extreme focus to ward off Ouma’s strike and leap in to attack. However, that crucial moment had been abruptly cut off, as if the link between body and mind had suddenly been severed. Despite him still being conscious, his body simply refused to move.
What in the world?!
He had no time to spend agape with shock, however, as he was the only one who had stopped moving. Ouma’s strike was still heading directly toward him.
This is bad!
Ikki just barely defended himself from the incoming blade. Even so, he took a direct blow from power that had carved through the earth.
“Ngaaah!”
As if hit by a large truck, he was launched dozens of yards, stopped only by the stone wall he slammed into.
“Gahaaaah!”
The impact on his internal organs sent a mist of blood flying from his mouth; at least one had undoubtedly been damaged. Further, the bones in his arms were smashed all the way to the shoulder, as they’d taken the brunt of the impact. However, that was the only option that had been available to him.
What the hell was that?!
Ikki’s question was directed at the strange stiffening of his muscles during the deciding moment of the battle. Why had his body frozen beyond his control in that moment? Never in his life as a Blazer had such a bizarre thing happened to him, and it was driving him crazy.
“Hmph. Why are you so surprised?” Ouma asked with irritation in his voice. “You fought the strongest swordsman in the world and thought nothing about you would change because of it? Even if you remain physically sound, that doesn’t mean your heart made it out unscathed.”
“Huh?!”
“Strange that you would come barking at me when you have yet to overcome her parting gift. You clearly don’t know your place.”
Not caring to hide his displeasure, Ouma hurled invectives at Ikki, then slowly moved into an attacking stance. He raised his arms such that his sword was horizontal. In the next moment, Ryuuzume unleashed its harshest glow yet and became surrounded with wind.
The wind seemed to suck in the very space around it, rolling and raging as it devoured the air. It was then shaped into an ethereal blade, forged by gales folded countless times over. A tornado sword that could sever all of creation, Ouma was using the Noble Art that had felled both the Crimson Princess and Raikiri.
“Kusanagi, the blade that severs the full moon. This ability is wasted on a fraud such as yourself, but I’m displeased with my poor aim from earlier. As such, I offer this to you as a special gift. Accept it, and die graciously.”
Spitting those last words like venom, the Gale Sword Emperor finally exerted his full power. His most powerful blow, an attack that he prided himself on, was now trained on the injured Failed Knight.
I can’t let him hit me with that!
Ikki had to escape at all costs. He was curious about the so-called “parting gift” that Edelweiss had supposedly left, but chased the thought out of his mind. He gave a desperate order to his failing body, still shaken from the previous impact, to use every last ounce of its strength to flee from the impending threat. However, he once again stiffened. His brain continued to beg his muscles to move, but they remained frozen and unresponsive.
Why?!
The first possibility that came to mind was that his muscles were failing to function because of the damage he’d sustained, but after confirming the severity of his wounds, he discarded the idea. He was markedly injured, but not to the point that he couldn’t move. Why, then? He hadn’t a clue.
Hrgh!
If nothing changed, he would take the brunt of the blow. He had to do something, so he racked his brain—his one working muscle—but failed to find a breakthrough. In the end, his consciousness was swallowed whole by the thousand gales of Ouma’s blade.
“Take a bite, Tiger Kiiing!”