Chapter 35

Kenshin and Shishio simultaneously drew their swords, and the Infinity Blade and the Reverse Blade clashed in the air. The two swords, crafted by Akahoshi, were wielded by two top-class manslayers, yet they had different fates. The first clash was a draw, with neither giving way, but the next move surprised Kenshin. Flames suddenly erupted at the point where the two blades met, specifically from Shishio's Infinity Blade. The flames on the blade, though not particularly lethal, effectively obscured the blade's path, making it difficult to see its trajectory. However, this was no problem for Kenshin. A burst of sword energy from the Reverse Blade blew the flames away, revealing the blade. After blocking Shishio's downward slash, Kenshin pushed him back with both hands.

"Truly worthy of you, Shishio. To be able to so easily block my Flame Spirit Secret Sword," Shishio said, resting his sword on his shoulder, showing no negative emotions from his blocked attack.

"The flames on your blade are not from friction, but from the fat of those you have killed, scraped off by the fine saw teeth on your blade and ignited by the heat of friction." Kenshin had seen through the secret of the Flame Spirit in just one move.

"Correct. This blade was forged by Akahoshi with pure killing intent, the final and strongest killing sword, the Infinity Blade. It is designed to be sharp and covered with fine saw teeth that scrape off fat, which effectively protects the blade. The saw teeth also replace the blade's edge as it wears down, making it a blade that never needs maintenance and never breaks. It could be considered a brother to your Reverse Blade," Shishio said, stroking his beloved sword with pride.

"Is that so? This is your idea of survival of the fittest. If I don't stop you here, the innocent people across the country will become your food." Kenshin crouched down, holding his sword horizontally, his left hand clenched into a fist against the side of the blade.

"Yes, I don't deny it," Shishio said without any pretense, admitting his actions.

"Then take this, Shishio." Kenshin activated his godspeed and rushed at Shishio from below, pushing upward with both hands.

"Flying Heaven Descending Dragon Flash."

Shishio quickly blocked the attack, but Kenshin's strike was powerful enough to send Shishio flying. Kenshin naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity.

"Heavenly Sword Flow, Air Blade Slash."

A two-meter-long crescent-shaped sword energy flew out with Kenshin's downward slash. However, Shishio, upon landing, deflected the Air Blade Slash with a horizontal slash, causing it to scatter. Kenshin, who was following the Air Blade Slash, was caught off guard and hit by Shishio's Flame Spirit. Fortunately, Kenshin blocked it quickly, and the Infinity Blade was deflected by the Reverse Blade, only burning him with the flames on the blade.

"That Dragon Soaring Flash was indeed impressive, but using the Air Blade Slash was a mistake. I saw this move in the Crescent Village. Although the sword energy is powerful, like a blade, its weakest point is its side. By hitting the side of the Air Blade Slash, it can be easily deflected or scattered. Using the same move twice will have no effect on me." (Shinko: Are you some kind of Saint Seiya? O__O"…)

Shishio and Kenshin resumed their battle. The Infinity Blade was covered in fat, and every time it clashed with the Reverse Blade, flames would ignite from the friction. Kenshin, obstructed by the flames, had to release sword energy to blow them away, but the energy consumption was high, and even Kenshin couldn't sustain it for long. He maintained the minimum amount of sword energy to just blow away the flames. Shishio continuously used Flame Fan, filling the battle space with flames. Seizing the moment when a flame blocked Kenshin's view, Shishio grabbed Kenshin's clothes with his left hand and lifted him up.

Kenshin smelled a pungent odor of gunpowder. "This is... gunpowder." Kenshin flipped his Reverse Blade with his right hand, and the sharp edge easily cut through the part of his clothes that Shishio was holding. However, Kenshin's reaction was a step too slow, and Shishio had already used the flames on the Infinity Blade to ignite the gunpowder in his glove. An explosion followed, and Kenshin was sent flying in the smoke.

"Kenshin!" Sajou was about to rush to check on Kenshin, but Shinko held him back.

"Trust my foolish disciple. This level of explosion won't bring him down." Shinko looked at Kenshin, who was lying on the ground. Indeed, Kenshin got up, supported by his Reverse Blade, with only a layer of skin on his right chest burned.

"I didn't expect you to react so quickly, Battousai. The Red Lotus Wrist didn't hurt you much." Shishio took off the glove that had exploded and put on a new one.

"Using the flames on the Infinity Blade to ignite the hidden gunpowder in the glove, that's the Red Lotus Wrist, isn't it?" Kenshin panted for a while. Even though the Red Lotus Wrist didn't do much damage, the shock of the explosion had taken its toll on Kenshin. Seeing Kenshin's condition, Shishio wouldn't miss this opportunity. The Infinity Blade spun in the air, followed by Flame Fan and Flame Spirit, a series of fierce attacks that temporarily overwhelmed Kenshin.

"What's wrong, Battousai? You said you would stop me, but you can't do it like this." The Infinity Blade descended from the air, and this time, Kenshin didn't block it with the Reverse Blade but extended his left hand.

"Unarmed Style, Power Surge." Kenshin's left fist struck the side of the Infinity Blade, which grazed his right shoulder and fell. Using the momentum, Kenshin struck.

"Flying Heaven Descending Dragon Flash - Dragon Tornado Flash." The blade hit Shishio's neck, and then,

"Flying Heaven Descending Dragon Flash - Dragon Tornado Spin." A diagonal slash from Shishio's right shoulder to his left rib. With the Reverse Blade in front of Shishio, Kenshin pushed it upward with his left hand.

"Flying Heaven Descending Dragon Flash - Dragon Soaring Flash." Shishio was sent flying after being hit in the chin, but Kenshin's attack wasn't over. He launched an Air Blade Slash at Shishio. Seeing the Air Blade Slash coming, Shishio deflected it with the Infinity Blade. As the Air Blade Slash was deflected, Kenshin appeared in front of Shishio, the previous Air Blade Slash having been a feint.

"Flying Heaven Descending Dragon Flash - Nine-Headed Dragon Flash." One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. All nine strikes hit, targeting the head, both shoulders, the center of the chest, the side ribs, the waist, and the abdomen almost simultaneously. Shishio was sent flying over ten meters, crashing through a wall. If Kenshin's strength had been greater, Shishio might have been thrown off the battlefield and into the cliff below. Using the Flying Heaven Descending Dragon Flash techniques in succession was a significant burden for Kenshin, who was now on one knee, panting.

Just as the two were in the heat of battle, Saito and Shishio's subordinates arrived. Seeing the ongoing battle, Saito frowned and said, "Battousai is also exhausted. It looks like the two will soon decide the winner."

As Saito spoke, the chimneys surrounding the battlefield suddenly erupted with flames, as if announcing the arrival of the Flame Emperor. Shishio emerged from the rubble, his eyes now a blood-red color.

"The final moment has arrived. I will use my ultimate secret sword, Flame Birth Spirit."

Hearing Shishio's words, Kenshin stood up, sheathed his Reverse Blade, and assumed the stance for his sword-drawing technique.

"It's been a long time since I've fought so intensely, but I still have important matters to attend to, so I can't waste any more time with you."

"If you're talking about time, our days as manslayers are long over."

"It won't end as long as I hold this Infinity Blade."

"It has already ended, the moment I picked up this Reverse Blade."

"Let's decide this once and for all." *2

Although Shishio didn't have the information about the Heaven Soaring Dragon Flash from Sōjirō, he had learned from his battle with Aoi that it was a super-fast sword-drawing technique. Since he couldn't match the speed of the Heaven Soaring Dragon Flash, he decided to block it. Kenshin stepped forward, and the Reverse Blade and the Infinity Blade clashed violently, the force of the Heaven Soaring Dragon Flash even shattering the stone tiles under his feet. Just as Shishio was about to be overwhelmed by the Heaven Soaring Dragon Flash, he deflected it with his left hand, causing it to graze his chest. Shishio then quickly ran the Infinity Blade from the hilt to the tip along the metal edge of the sheath, the high-speed friction igniting the fat on the blade. A flame tornado wrapped around the blade, the ultimate secret sword, Flame Birth Spirit. Just as Shishio was about to engulf Kenshin in flames, a forward suction force threw him off balance.

'This... The impact of Battousai's Heaven Soaring Dragon Flash created a large amount of sword energy, which instantly expelled the air in the area, creating a vacuum. Now, the air is rushing back, creating a strong suction force...' Even understanding the secret of the Heaven Soaring Dragon Flash, Shishio couldn't change his fate. Kenshin's second strike was already coming, and this time, it was accompanied by a visible, highly condensed sword energy.

"Heavenly Sword Flow Secret Technique, Heaven Sword Energy Instant." The secret technique of the Heavenly Sword Flow was similar to the Flying Heaven Descending Dragon Flash, but the Heaven Sword Energy Instant, with its attached sword energy, was even more powerful. Shishio's body was thrown into the air by the Reverse Blade, and the blue sword energy continued to push him upward until it dissipated at a height of over ten meters. Shishio's body crashed to the ground, and the flames on the Infinity Blade were extinguished.

Shishio tried to stand up, but the damage from the Heaven Sword Energy Instant was too great. He supported himself with his hands on the ground but couldn't get up. Seeing Shishio in such pain, Yumi ran toward him but was stopped by a blue sword energy blade that cut through the tiles in front of her.

"Don't go. Their battle isn't over yet." Shinko blocked Yumi with an Air Blade Slash, and at that moment, a red mist began to rise from Shishio's body, his body temperature rising to a point above the boiling point of blood. This extraordinary body temperature gave Shishio a new surge of strength, and he finally stood up. Kenshin, having used the Heaven Soaring Dragon Flash, was almost out of energy, but his will to survive still allowed him to stand.

"I can't die. I can't die yet. There are people waiting for me. My will to live is stronger than anyone's."

"I am the strongest. This world is a place of survival of the fittest, and only I can survive." The Infinity Blade descended, and Kenshin struggled to block it. Shishio's strength was now astonishing, and even the tiles behind Kenshin were shattered by the impact. If Shinko's strength was 100, Shishio's was now 200, making him the most powerful being in the entire Rurouni Kenshin world. However, this was Shishio's last stand. As Kenshin was about to be overwhelmed, Shishio's body spontaneously combusted, the high body temperature causing his phospholipids to ignite. Seeing Shishio burning in the flames, Yumi cried out and ran into the flames, burning with him. The demon born from the flames of the Bakumatsu era returned to hell in the flames.

"How, how could this be? Master Shishio failed." Unable to accept the reality, Fūji fled the scene, and soon the entire base began to explode, with Fūji intending to make everyone die with Shishio. However, Shinko and the others were not to be underestimated. Carrying Kenshin on their backs, they quickly fled Shishio's base, managing to escape before it was destroyed.

(Contractor completed the era mission "The Demon Returns to Hell," completing the main quest of the Rurouni Kenshin world. Earned 2000 Heart Coins. Must return to the Infinite Heart Space within ten days at the latest.)

Current status:

Heart Coin balance: 3075

Rurouni Kenshin world

Name: Amakusa Shinko

Gender: Male

Physical attributes:

Physical strength approximately nine times that of an average person.

Detailed attributes:

Strength 93 (10) - Affects burst strength, pure strength, and strength beyond limits.

Agility 104 (10) - Affects speed, reaction time, and intuitive strength.

Stamina 98 (10) - Affects endurance, recovery speed, and the ability to withstand certain techniques.

Abilities: Swordsmanship - Heavenly Sword Flow

Unarmed Style: Capable of countering various weapons without a weapon.

Mastery of all cold weapons

Mastery of all firearms

Martial Arts Master: Proficient in various hand-to-hand combat techniques

Mechanical Mastery: Capable of mastering most high-tech devices within ten seconds of handling them.

Acquired Heart Powers:

Killing Heart LV2: Does not waver in most situations when killing others, has resistance to certain illusions, and gains minor recovery from killing.

Compassion Heart LV2: Compassion is a necessary trait for a strong person, has resistance to certain illusions, and gains minor recovery from helping others.

Peaceful Heart LV1: Daily life can cultivate one's character, has resistance to certain illusions, and can gain the favor of ordinary people.

Equipment:

Kikyo Sen Sangetsu: A long sword condensed by the power of the Infinite Heart, surpassing the limits of human craftsmanship in the Rurouni Kenshin world. It carries the principles of the Flying Heaven Descending Dragon Flash, allowing the user to perform secret techniques without the need for life-or-death decisions.

Special Items:

Broken Reverse Blade Shadow Strike: The broken blade from Kenshin's battle in Crescent Village, a divine sword crafted by Akahoshi. Can be repaired for 5 Heart Coins.

Infinity Blade: Shishio's sword, a supreme killing sword crafted by Akahoshi. Although its sharpness is the same as a regular sword, it is extremely durable and can use the fat scraped off by the saw teeth on the blade to perform the Flame Spirit Secret Sword.

PS: Please recommend, collect, and review (non-advertising) this book! Ahhhh!! (>﹏<.)

Previous page AD starts

Previous page AD ends