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Fortune blitzed through the air, lightning energy surging from his entire body. His heart beat faster and faster, a living engine that spread Thunder Elemental Divine Power throughout his body.
At the same time, Nagahide left a gray trail of his combined energies, and the two clashed. Nagahideās blades struck Fortuneās heavy blade with a thunderous impact, sending shockwaves of energy rippling outward.
Fortune stepped back, luring Nagahide forward, baiting him into a powerful kick to the jaw, followed by a slap to the face with his massive hands, and then his heavy blade rushing down toward Nagahideās back, aiming to cripple him by piercing his spine.
All within a second.
Nagahideās eyes widened, his blood pumping through his veins. The strength and technique of this barbarian were unlike anything he had encountered before.
In fact, despite Fortuneās "casual" and "relaxed" demeanor, his movements were meticulously choreographed and calculated.
However, Nagahide had a technique prepared for this very moment.
"{Measured Rebuttal: Hakari no Hangeki}!"
In a split second, his blades surged upward, piercing through Fortuneās bulky arm and emerging on the other side, blood spraying everywhere.
Fortune dropped his heavy blade reflexively as his bones and nerves were pierced and then swiftly punched Nagahideās face, only for the wolf-headed samurai to open his jaws and bite Fortuneās hand, tearing off one of his fingers.
"Nngh?!"
The Venerable gritted his teeth as he saw the samuraiās technique take effect. A slashing wave sliced his arm apart, blood spraying everywhere.
SLAAASH!
"Aaaaahhh!"
Fortune was stunned as he lost a limb, glancing back at his ancestor. The ancient Venerable, made of pure light, observed the battle closely.
He couldnāt disappoint his master.
"You asked for it!"
CLAAASH!
"GUH?!"
Nagahide vomited a mouthful of blood as he felt the heavy blade pierce his guts.
He hadnāt expected the sword Fortune to drop to rise and fly through his stomach.
The wolf glanced at the sword lodged in his stomach, his eyes widening.
He felt his strength fading but gripped his katanas as tightly as he could.
"GRAAAAHHH!"
With a furious roar, he swung them at the Venerable, covering his chest with slashing wounds, then punching and kicking his face and chest, and slashing at his wounds.
Fortune staggered back as he tried to cleave his foe in two with the sword in Nagahideās stomach, only for Nagahide to strike the sword downward, pulling it from his stomach as his guts and blood spilled into the sky.
"Still not dead? Donāt tell me you have super regeneration."
"RAAAAHHH!"
Nagahide roared, overcome by adrenaline and pain. He opened his jaws and unleashed a blast of cursed energy, striking the Venerable, who charged forward, wielding his heavy blade after retrieving it, and split the beam.
SLAAASH!
Fortune tried to cleave the warrior apart, but Nagahide saw through his simple plan, dodging at lightning speed, appearing behind the giant human, and striking his back with a barrage of slashing attacks and kicks. The hole in his guts didnāt hinder his assault.
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
Fortuneās eyes glowed brightly. His Aura surged as he was hurled downward, hundreds of spheres of light manifesting and hurtling toward Nagahide, exploding on impact.
The wolf samurai evaded them as best he could while descending, kicking the air and wielding his katanas as he targeted his foe.
"{Symmetry Cascade: TaishÅ no Rensa}!"
Three slashes unleashed a spiraling triangle of force, cutting through all the magic sent at him as he reached Fortune, his attack poised to strike with full force.
"Enough."
The Venerable pointed his index finger at him as a massive sphere of condensed plasma formed in a split second, hurtling toward Nagahide.
"Hah... Hahahaha!"
Nagahide laughed at the absurd attack. Could he split what seemed to be a miniature sun?
He had to try.
"{Architect of Equilibrium: KinkÅ no Kenchiku}!"
In that moment, Nagahideās beast aura and swordsmanship techniques merged.
His swords doubled in length as he swung them upward, then to the left and right, cleaving the horizon itself.
SLAAAASH!
A rumbling sound echoed as Fortuneās eyes widened, stunned by what this wolf was doing, as his massive attack was sliced into four perfect pieces.
"Impossible..."
As Nagahide faced Fortune again, he prepared to go all-out.
His Aura surged, resembling a swordsman with multiple arms wielding a blade.
No, it was more like a demonic wolf...
Fortuneās eyes widened in shock.
"This is the summit of my soulās stillness, the fulcrum where chaos and order converge. I offer no fury, no fear... only purpose. Should my life tip the scales toward my lordās wishes, then let it fall. Through silence and harmony... I sever fate itself."
Nagahide unleashed everything he had at that moment.
His entire life was poured into that technique.
His very apex.
Balance.
Complete balance was achieved.
His swords sliced through space... and time!
All for his lord.
"Apex of Balance: Kinsei no Kyokuten!"
Nagahide raised his blades overhead as an immense force formed a fractal dome. Fortune desperately fired thousands of projectiles at him, but they were swiftly deflected.
"I-Impossible!"
Fortune screamed, his aura surging with immense power as he faced the samurai with everything he had, going all-out as the world around him twisted into the eternal light of providence.
"UUUOOOOHHHHHH!"
Nagahide poured everything into striking Fortune with immense force. The fractal dome, composed of slashing waves, tore through the Venerableās Aura as a storm of slicing attacks warped the space around them.
"This is the power of Oda Nobunagaās retainer? Then how strong is that damn bastard?
Unnnggh! HAAAAHHHHH!"
Fortune screamed, swinging his giant sword toward Nagahide. Their colossal techniques clashed, their auras surging, unable to overpower one another.
Until, in the end, a titanic explosion reverberated, and all players in this battle glanced skyward for a moment.
BOOOMMM!
Silence.
Stillness.
For a moment, everyone on this chaotic battlefield stared.
The match was so even that no one could guess who would emerge victorious.
The Great Ancestor gazed with eyes like stars...
But then he smiled confidently as, amid the smoke, a tall, radiant figure emerged.
Gasping for air, covered with bruises and slashing wounds, some already scarred, he stood.
He held his bloody sword, with Nagahideās corpse pierced by it, enveloped in light, slowly fading into ashes.
"Haaa... Haaa... Haaa..."
Fortune caught his breath, calming himself, and gazed at the closed eyes of his foe.
He was truly a formidable opponent.
And what an exhilarating battle that was!
"Thank you, you were incredible."
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