"The Gap"
Edelweiss; she was the second person Drake had encountered in this world whom he wasn't sure he could defeat.
The first was the Shinryuu Temple Elder; he hadn't been serious, so Drake couldn't gauge his strength.
But facing Edelweiss, Drake finally felt pressure.
Drake had come to this world by accident; he'd stayed to learn martial arts.
Like with magic, Drake knew combat was the fastest way to improve his martial arts; to reach the peak required all-out battles.
The problem was that Drake was too strong; few at Shinryuu Temple could provide such a battle.
Even with such ability, no one had the will to ignite Drake's fighting spirit.
That's why he'd trained Ikki Kurogane; he had the potential and could ignite Drake's fighting spirit.
But now, Drake faced Edelweiss. Feeling her pressure, his fighting spirit intensified.
Ikki Kurogane looked at Drake. "Let me go first! It's only a minute!"
Drake nodded, giving the battlefield to Ikki Kurogane.
Edelweiss wasn't with Akatsuki Academy; as the world's strongest swordsman, she wouldn't lie about this.
She was only stopping them.
Escape was impossible, even if they teamed up.
They should focus on the duel. It should be one-on-one.
Ikki Kurogane glowed with magic; he activated Ittou Shura at the start.
He knew the gap between him and the Valkyrie; without Ittou Shura, he wouldn't stand a chance.
One minute was Ittou Shura's limit and the battle's countdown.
"Seventh Secret Sword, Lightning Flash!"
Ikki Kurogane used his best technique. The blade turned into lightning, striking Edelweiss.
Edelweiss's counterattack was a white flash, even to Drake.
It wasn't a technique, just a sword swing. But it was incredibly fast.
Ikki Kurogane's In Iron was deflected; he retreated.
He had to retreat; he couldn't read Edelweiss's swordsmanship, let alone counter.
This was correct; a flash of a slash passed his throat.
Drake frowned; he hadn't followed Edelweiss's movements.
Drake was confident in his dynamic vision; even if Edelweiss's speed was several times the speed of sound, he'd see it.
But Edelweiss's attack was beyond his visual perception.
Edelweiss stepped forward, slashing repeatedly, delivering ten strikes in an instant.
She was a dual-wielding swordsman; her attack speed was superior. Ikki Kurogane used his fastest Seventh Secret Sword to defend.
Drake sighed; the gap was too large; Ikki Kurogane was completely suppressed. Though he blocked all ten strikes, his arm muscles were trembling.
Edelweiss, wielding one sword, was stronger than Ikki Kurogane, wielding two.
Drake wasn't surprised; even if Ikki Kurogane controlled all his strength, it wouldn't match hers. Edelweiss did something theoretically impossible, which Drake saw from her first strike.
Edelweiss's strikes were silent! Sound is created by vibrations—energy.
Controlling the energy produced by movement resulted in silent, 100% speed and power.
But this wasn't possible for humans; Newton would say, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Ikki Kurogane understood this, but it only increased his helplessness.
Speed, power, swordsmanship—Edelweiss perfected the basics. Ikki Kurogane couldn't find any openings.
Ikki Kurogane couldn't let Edelweiss continue; he was at his limit; he needed to attack.
Ikki Kurogane retreated; Edelweiss pursued.
"Fourth Secret Sword, Mirage Wolf!"
Two Ikki Kuroganes appeared, attacking Edelweiss.
This would force her to swing, missing and creating an opening.
But… naive!
Touka Toudou created an unbreakable domain with Raikiri; Edelweiss used her swordsmanship to create an even more impenetrable domain.
Ikki Kurogane sensed this; he retreated without attacking.
A flash of a slash passed; if he hadn't dodged, he'd be decapitated.
"First Secret Sword, Heavy Strike!"
Knowing tactics wouldn't work, Ikki Kurogane used his strongest attack.
Ting!
To Ikki Kurogane's surprise, Edelweiss's sword tip touched In Iron's tiny blade tip.
What perception and precision!
Ikki Kurogane didn't create an opening; his surprise created one.
Edelweiss seized it; Ikki Kurogane couldn't dodge.
The wound was on his forehead; the blood obscured his vision.
Luckily, Ikki Kurogane didn't rely solely on sight; he had "Complete Mastery" and ki techniques from Drake.
He'd analyzed Edelweiss's swordsmanship, rhythm, personality, and thinking.
Using this "mind's eye," he defended against Edelweiss's attacks.
Edelweiss remained calm. Ikki Kurogane was excellent, but there was an unbridgeable gap.
She only needed to suppress him until Ichi no Shura's time limit ended. She continued attacking.
Ikki Kurogane saw his only hope.
Edelweiss hadn't dodged since the start; she didn't need to; Ikki Kurogane's attacks couldn't reach her.
"Sixth Secret Sword, Poison Moth Blade!"
This transmitted shock to the opponent's body; it was perfect for Edelweiss, who didn't dodge.
Edelweiss didn't dodge; the black blade and white sword clashed.
But… blood sprayed from Ikki Kurogane; Edelweiss used the same technique.
Her shockwave shattered Poison Moth Blade, rebounding and harming Ikki Kurogane.
Ikki Kurogane thought he'd seen through Edelweiss's swordsmanship, but it was an illusion. He shouldn't have been so arrogant.
Even at his best, he couldn't touch her.
But Ikki Kurogane didn't give up.
Drake said, "Ikki, seeing the gap is enough; you're not ready to risk everything!"
Ikki Kurogane was silent; In Iron vanished. As Drake said, he wasn't ready for victory; seeing the gap was enough.
Drake stepped forward. "My turn!"
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