Chapter 86

"Ugh...!!"

Ruishia, holding her wound, steps back.

Kojirou doesn’t press his advantage, instead standing calmly with an air of confidence.

His expression is one of assured victory, brimming with arrogance.

"How does it feel? The taste of my secret technique, 'Swallow Return Death'? It’s infused with a lot of sword qi, so it must hurt quite a bit."

"Sword qi... I see, so the technique you used just now was a sword qi technique..."

A sword qi technique is a type of qigong skill used by top-tier swordsmen.

Unlike regular qigong, which focuses on the body, sword qi is channeled into a weapon, giving it various properties.

The technique Kojirou used earlier, 'Swallow Return Death,' is one such sword qi technique.

It involves gathering qi at the tip of the sword and then explosively releasing it to generate thrust, allowing for sword movements that would be impossible under normal circumstances.

"Indeed, it is a marvel that is the culmination of my life as a swordsman. A mere boy like you could never see through it."

"…Is that so?"

Ruishia, with a sudden effort, stands up.

Her wound has already been sealed by magic, and her steps are steady.

She is not in the same state as before the cut… no, her eyes are not the gentle eyes of the boy they were.

"That blow has awakened me. Thank you."

Ruishia is a gentle boy.

If possible, he wouldn’t want to fight anyone.

But such a sweet thought could lead to losing someone important. He knew this in his head, but he couldn’t bring himself to fight seriously.

But after taking that blow, Ruishia realized something.

It could have been Sharo, Yurie, or one of his classmates who took that blow. He couldn’t let someone important suffer such pain and hardship because of his own weakness.

He must defeat.

No, such a gentle thought won’t do.

He must kill to protect.

If that’s the case, he must use it.

Not a technique to "defeat," but one to "kill."

With this resolve, Ruishia’s eyes have become sharp and strong, like those of a seasoned warrior.

Kojirou is overwhelmed by the warrior’s eyes, which seem out of place on a child, and his hand holding the sword trembles.

"Y-You, a child, making me feel fear? Impossible… This can’t be happening!!"

Kojirou, with a fierce swing, raises his sword and charges.

His movements are faster than before, but to Ruishia, they seem slow.

"Die!!"

The sword, swung at super speed.

Ruishia avoids it with minimal movement and then strikes Kojirou’s sternum with a punch coated in qi.

A crack resounds, and Ruishia feels the unpleasant sensation of breaking bones in her hand.

"Ugh...!!"

Kojirou, with his ribs broken, collapses on the spot.

Seizing the opportunity, Ruishia brings down the Dragon King Sword.

Kojirou barely dodges the slash by twisting his body, but to his surprise, Ruishia’s kick is already waiting for him.

"―――Shiranui: Raging Fire!!"

The fastest qigong technique, Shiranui, made even faster and sharper, 'Shiranui: Raging Fire,' strikes Kojirou’s temple, sending him flying and bouncing off the ground. He tries to defend with magic, but it’s not enough, and a crack forms in his skull.

"Shit...!"

Despite suffering from a concussion, Kojirou manages to stand up.

He is shocked when he sees the face of the boy in front of him.

"W-What are those eyes!?"

Ruishia’s right eye has become like that of a fierce reptile.

Even a battle-hardened warrior like Kojirou has never seen such eyes.

Ruishia touches her changed eye and realizes that a new power has awakened within her.

"The name of this eye… is 'Dragon Eye.' It is the eye of the Dragon King, which can discern everything."