In the original game from Lu Ze's previous life, players had considerable freedom in how they dealt with neutral NPCs.
Take the bald fellow they had encountered at Hirata Estate, for example. Players could talk to him for clues about treasure, or simply cut him down.
In fact, if players killed the bald fellow three years in the past, they would never see him in the main timeline.
Other characters, such as Inosuke, who helped Sekiro fight Juzou the Drunkard at Hirata Estate, could also be attacked.
Zhong Yi had once been mocked by the danmu for an entire night for cutting down the very man who had saved his life.
In Lu Ze's Illusion Realm, that freedom had been taken even further.
Players could attack every NPC without distinction.
That included Isshin Ashina, the true master of Ashina Castle and the man hailed as the strongest Sword Saint, who stood before her now.
"Well, well... what an ambitious wolf."
Isshin Ashina casually deflected Li Moran's blade. The silver-gray Tachi in his hand swayed slightly, and even the air around him seemed to warp.
"!"
Li Moran's expression changed in alarm. The air pressed in like iron and stone, bearing down on her with tremendous pressure.
"But you're still too green."
Isshin Ashina's figure abruptly vanished, and the Tachi in his hand came crashing straight toward her face like Mount Tai...
A crushing defeat was inevitable when facing Isshin Ashina for the first time.
Even Li Moran, hailed as a genius in both reality and the Illusion Realm, was no exception.
After all, this was Isshin Ashina.
On paper, he represented the very ceiling of strength in Ashina Country.
In the game, he was an incredibly troublesome opponent, whether in his old age or his prime.
Even though Lu