Chapter 67: Hokushin Itto-ryu

The Kunoichi, one of the Sixth Serenade's summoned zombie warriors.

Having just gathered intelligence on this distant land of the Far East, the Kunoichi prepared to return and report to the Sixth Serenade.

She never anticipated being discovered and intercepted by another. However, upon sensing the Honkai energy within the samurai, everything became clear—this was why her presence had been revealed.

The Kunoichi had no interest in engaging with this maiden warrior, but the warrior persisted, determined to cross swords with her...

Reluctant to let this disturbance escalate for her master's sake, the Kunoichi prepared to make her move.

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Upon realizing a worthy opponent had arrived, Hokushin Mei's excitement surged. With barely a word, she eagerly charged towards the Kunoichi.

As the warrior and ninja closed in on each other, they simultaneously drew their katana.

Clang!

The two blades collided, emitting a melodious sound. Honkai energy began to radiate from their bodies, as if the inner strength described in wuxia novels had been ignited.

An invisible force swept across the area, uprooting small trees in its path.

Having failed to strike her blow, Hokushin Mei's excitement surged even higher!

"Perfect! You managed to parry my blade without so much as a scratch. Let's have a good, proper fight!" Hokushin Mei gazed at the kunoichi before her with the fervor of a lecherous man ogling a beauty, her eyes burning with passion and madness.

Ever since Hokushin Mei had made her name, she'd vanquished all comers, leaving none her equal. And now... not a single soul remained who could hope to meet her sword.

This left Hokushin Mei in torment!

Was the loneliness of invincibility unspeakable? No one knew but her!

At times, Hokushin Mei had contemplated suicide, yearning to descend into hell just to find a worthy opponent. But... her wishes, and a promise she'd once made—to die by the hand of someone strong enough to defeat her—had stayed her hand.

So she had desisted!

Now, at last, Hokushin Mei had found someone capable of standing against her. She cared not a whit about this person's identity; she wanted only to cross blades with them in a satisfying match.

After so many years, Hokushin Mei once again experienced the thrill of having a worthy opponent.

However, Hokushin Mei didn't stop just because the Kunoichi had blocked her sword strike. Instead, she unleashed even more furious attacks, swinging relentlessly at the hidden warrior.

The Kunoichi was no ordinary opponent. Her Super Defense and Super Evade skills were specifically designed to counter adversaries like Hokushin Mei.

In essence, she could completely defend against Hokushin Mei's sword strikes, waiting for the perfect opportunity to counterattack.

One could say... the Kunoichi's fighting style was incredibly steady.

Hokushin Mei's attack speed was incredibly swift, perfectly executing the pinnacle of Eastern Swordsmanship. Enhanced by Honkai energy, this was the reason behind her invincibility across the Far East realm.

Her blade moved with speed! viciousness! and precision!

It bore a semblance to the Demon-Repelling Sword Technique...

Yet it wasn't quite the same. In Hokushin Mei's hands, the sword moved so rapidly that it created countless afterimages, dazzling the eyes.

Each strike aimed at a deceptively cunning angle, rendering defense nearly impossible! Had she faced an ordinary opponent, they would have perished long ago at her blade.

But the Kunoichi was no ordinary opponent. She countered each strike with scientifically defying moves... again and again, blocking Hokushin Mei's sword.

Even Hokushin Mei's expression began to waver. What should have been a certain death, this ninja had somehow managed to fend off!

Is she cheating or what?

However, Hokushin Mei wasn't about to be deterred. She intensified her attack, striking with even greater speed and ferocity against the Kunoichi.

If there had been an observer on the sidelines, they would have seen... as if the katana in Hokushin Mei's hand had multiplied, becoming a blur of hundreds of swords.

Yet the Kunoichi, defying all logic, parried each blow with her own blade as if it were nothing.

The two katana clashed in a relentless dance of steel...

The metallic symphony of clang-clang-clang-clang-clang resonated without cease, echoing like a discordant masterpiece.

Hokushin Mei's swordsmanship was a synthesis of the finest techniques from the Far East's hundred great schools, combined with her own innovative style.

Of course, this so-called "study" was actually espionage at its finest!

Hokushin Mei possessed extraordinary talent in kendo. She could even absorb an opponent's sword techniques during battle. Since her debut... she had spent three years challenging every single dojo across the vast expanse of the Far East.

"Fusion of Five Souls!"

After about fifteen minutes, Hokushin Mei assessed the Kunoichi before her. She realized that the ninja's strength lay primarily in defense.

Deciding not to hold back any longer, Hokushin unleashed the secret art of the Hokushin Itto-ryu.

In an instant, Hokushin Mei's body seemed to multiply, transforming into five distinct figures. Each of these five Hokushin Meis charged at the Kunoichi with their katanas drawn.

Facing five adversaries at once, the Kunoichi found herself at a disadvantage. Her defense and evasion techniques were nearly invincible in one-on-one or even one-on-two scenarios. But now, she faced a daunting one-on-five situation.

As the quintet of Hokushins attacked simultaneously, the Kunoichi could only parry two or three strikes at a time. The remaining two assailants' katanas found their mark, striking the Kunoichi.

This pattern continued for roughly a minute until Hokushin Mei's clones began to dissipate... However, by then, the Kunoichi's body was riddled with countless wounds.

"Let this be the end! Secret Art: Hokushin Itto-ryu!"

Gazing at the wounded Kunoichi, Hokushin Mei focused her energy into her katana, channeling a massive blade of sword energy hurtling towards her opponent.

As the sword energy bore down on her, the Kunoichi, now grievously injured, attempted to evade. But she quickly realized the sword energy was locked onto her, leaving her no choice but to block it with her own katana.

In a stunning turn of events, the sword energy pierced through her katana, striking her directly.

It seemed utterly incomprehensible... For the Kunoichi's katana should have been capable of repelling even elemental attacks with ease.

However, the Kunoichi had no time to ponder this predicament. As the sword energy struck her body, it instantly extinguished her life essence, ending her existence in an instant.

As Kunoichi crumpled to the ground, Hokushin Mei didn't feel triumphant. Instead, she experienced a sense of loss.

I thought I'd finally met someone who could defeat me...

But in the end, it was just another ordinary battle.

"Still, to have fought me for so long and even forced me to use two Ultimate Techniques, you're truly extraordinary," Hokushin Mei couldn't help but marvel, gazing at the body of the Kunoichi.

She was the first opponent in years that had truly matched up to Hokushin Mei's abilities.

Yet, though it might have been mere imagination, after killing this ninja, Hokushin Mei sensed the power within her had grown even stronger.

While increased strength was certainly a good thing, it also meant... finding someone who could defeat her would now be even more challenging!

Hokushin Mei sheathed her katana, looking in the direction of Yae Village. Her intuition told her... there would be even more formidable opponents ahead.

I just hope this intuition doesn't lead me astray.