Musashi vs. Yagyū / Musashi's Tengen Sword

"It's a long story, let's talk about it later."

At that moment, a black-haired man with a pipe walked over from Chaldea side.

"Yo, long time no see." Shirou quickly recognized the man. After all, he was quite different from the unkempt, reckless, and drug-addicted slovenly figure in the novel. He was more like a clean and tidy gentleman. However, this was because he was summoned at his peak as Servant. He was indeed a mortal enemy of a certain amnesiac uncle in Shinjuku.

"Mr. Holmes!" Gudako exclaimed happily upon seeing another familiar face. Since being transported to this world and losing contact with Chaldea, she felt as if a very long time had passed.

"Hello, Shirou-kun. Gudako, I'm glad to see you so energetic, but now's not the time for catching up. Let me explain my reasoning first. The communication failure is probably due to some problem with you. Gudako, your current state is similar to Spiritron Transfer, yet different. Because of the abnormal transfer, your consciousness has acquired a physical body in some world. But that's not your true body, because your true self is still sleeping in Chaldea."

"If you're unlucky and there's a mismatch between your consciousness and your physical body, you might not even be able to use your Magic Circuit. Our loss of contact this time is likely due to this. Although the communication device you're using employs modern technology, it's still a type of Mage's Formal Wear."

Gudako fell into deep thought and said, "If that's the case... I really can't even use summoning properly. So... someone else has adjusted and adapted my Magic Circuit..."

At that moment, the image of the Oni Tribe girl who had become a swordsman's heroic Servant appeared in Gudako's mind, along with her words that she had 'rebelled'.

"Shuten-doji... Could it be that she possesses the memories of Chaldea?" Gudako wondered.

"You'll have to ask her when you get back. But things are very serious right now, Gudako, you understand, right? Even though your body is still in Chaldea, if you die here, you'll still die. So be careful and make sure you get back to Chaldea unharmed!" Da Vinci said.

"Yes! I understand!" Gudako replied with a cheerful laugh.

"Alright, Mash, what have you been muttering about? Come over here and say what you have to say," Da Vinci asked.

Mash walked over and retorted a few words, then looked intently at Gudako and said, "I wasn't muttering anything. I just felt... lonely if we ended the call without saying anything..."

"Mash worry, Mashu, I've resolved the anomaly in this world and will be back at Chaldea soon," Gudako said with a smile, reassuring her junior.

Mash nodded solemnly, looking at Gudako earnestly, and said, "Yes! I will wait for you! Please make sure you return to Chaldea safely!"

After ending her call with Chaldea, Gudako looked at Shirou, who had just arrived, and asked, "Shirou-senpai, since you came along, are there no monsters fighting outside anymore?"

"No, now it's up to the strong helper," Shirou said.

Outside, more than a dozen snake monsters hissed and used their long bodies to tightly coil around the rampaging ghosts and devour the demons. Meanwhile, the fox dancer was leading the humans to retreat outside.

The female ninja with long black hair stared at the surrounding scenery with great interest, her golden vertical pupils wide open.

"Snakes? They've become ours now?" Musashi asked, looking surprised and doubtful.

"Shirou-senpai, what's going on?" Gudako looked at Shirou in confusion.

"No, it's a long story." Shirou shrugged helplessly. "Anyway, let me help you overcome this difficulty first!"

In the attic of the Gando-Naraku Land Castle, the sorcerer observed everything happening on the ground.

"Shinmen Musashi has arrived. Go and kill her. You exist for this very purpose. Even if that woman wields a legendary sword like the Demon Blade Muramasa, she is still human and has not yet reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship." The sorcerer Amakusa Shirou paused, looked at the Blue-haired Man holding the long, precious sword, and continued:

"However, you... are different. Even someone like me, a being born of hatred and resentment, cannot help but feel a sense of respect upon seeing your swordsmanship. There is no demonic sword in this world that surpasses your swordsmanship. Not even Miyamoto Musashi is a threat."

The blue-haired swordsman opposite him calmly replied, "Perhaps. It would be best if things went that smoothly. As the saying goes, a kindness of a meal or a night's lodging should be repaid with a thousandfold gratitude. I will do my best. However, there is still that sword demon with astonishing sword energy downstairs. If even he is defeated, I will find a way to keep Miyamoto Musashi."

"That's good!" The sorcerer Amakusa Shirou revealed a ferocious grin, "Hahahaha!!! My revenge is about to succeed! Look! The demon castle that could never exist in this world has descended! This Enri-eido Castle will be dragged to Chaldea, and other worlds will be destroyed as a result. Since my homeland has been slaughtered, I will not tolerate it! I will not forgive it! No one in any world will ever find happiness again! All worlds will be dragged down to be buried with us! Hmph, hahahahahahaha!!! Destroy!"

Chapter 383 Musashi vs. Yagyu

The demon city, shrouded in eerie black mist, is surrounded by long, black thorns that twist and turn like plant roots, seemingly trying to take hold of the earth. Under the erosion of the black mist, apart from the castle tower at the very top of the Tsuchi-ki Castle, which remains relatively intact, the outer walls have begun to be distorted by the black mist into a different form, and even the most basic outline of the city has begun to change.

The term "Gando-Naraku" is a Buddhist term from Japan. "Gando-Naraku and yearn for the Pure Land" is the most common slogan of the Pure Land School, one of the Buddhist sects in Japan. They advocate that people renounce this world, believe in Buddhism, and yearn for rebirth in the Pure Land.

"Dislike" means to abhor or want to stay away from; the opposite is "love" or "want to pursue".

The "impure land" refers to the three realms and six paths filled with suffering, where, as long as one exists, one cannot avoid the endless cycle of painful reincarnation, whether in life or after death. Conversely, the "pure land" is a realm that transcends the cycle of reincarnation and avoids all suffering.

Just as the Master Xuanzang advocated "consciousness-only without external objects" and pioneered the concept of Alaya- consciousness, the Pure Land School seeks to Gando-Naraku and yearn for the Pure Land.

'We despise this defiled land of suffering and cruelty, and yearn for the pure land of the highest realm.'

The demonic castle erected in Shimousa at this time is the ultimate embodiment of the former, existing like a source of infection. Once this demonic castle takes root and completely merges into the world, then the world will never be able to recover and will become a hell where only pain and cruelty exist.

That is the true hell where even the Heroic Spirit Swordmaster wanted to kill all humans to prevent them from suffering here.

The sorcerer Amakusa Shirou stood atop the Demon Castle, looking down at the outside world with a sinister grin. The Demon Castle had already taken shape, gradually merging with the Tsuchi-ki Castle, and in a while, it would become the true Demon Castle.

At that time, all of humanity will begin to be reborn as mindless monsters, turning their gazes on all living things around them. Parents will bite their children, and children will kill their parents, their bodies uncontrollably slaughtering indiscriminately, while their hearts can only howl in despair.

This is the sorcerer Amakusa Shirou's revenge against the Tokugawa Shogunate. From the Tokugawa family rulers and their blood relatives, to the samurai loyal to the Tokugawa family, and even the common people who supplied soldiers and paid war rations for the Tokugawa family, all of them were Amakusa Shirou's mortal enemies and the targets of his revenge.

But... perhaps this is the more human-like reaction he would have. The Servant Amakusa Shirou is actually a saint who transcends humanity. However, someone with such an experience can no longer remain normal.

Yes, the Amakusa Shirou here has gone mad. He is different from the Amakusa Shirou who became a saint in Chaldea. As Servant, Amakusa Shirou has let go of all hatred. Even if he is misunderstood and isolated by everyone, he still wants to make the world a better place and save people.

Amakusa Shirou, however, was blinded by hatred and had become like a madman. When the Shimabara Rebellion broke out and tens of thousands of people who trusted him were slaughtered in the breached city, he was already destined to never escape his fate.

The hatred of an avenger cannot be appeased. Once hatred takes hold, one day it will destroy humanity, turning the person into a demon who only knows revenge and hates everything.

Hatred, endless hatred. Even if the Tokugawa family, the original Matsudaira family, were wiped out, even if the entire island nation sank, it still couldn't quell his anger. Because besides this world, there are many, many other worlds, and the same outcome is destined. In other parallel worlds, his compatriots will still be slaughtered one by one.

Therefore, only by destroying all worlds, along with the timeline, or rather, the entire history of humankind, can it be considered an end.

Amakusa Shirou laughed wildly in the attic of the Demon Castle, his crimson eyes filled with nothing but hysterical madness.

The thorny tendrils surrounding the Gando-Naraku Demon Castle are stirring restlessly; time is running out for humanity in this world.

"Don't push! Don't push! Let the women and children go first! Don't worry, there are reliable bodyguards here, everyone will be able to take refuge successfully, so just follow the people in front."

On the street, the fox dancer was calling out to everyone. With her profound Transformation Jutsu, she could easily act as a tour guide, doctor, nurse, and rescue worker.

The silver-haired little girl, holding a magic bow, stood high on the rooftop. Relying on her extraordinary magic as a fusion of goddesses, she continuously released chilling energy, creating walls of ice on both sides of the fleeing people. Every now and then, she would raise her bow and shoot down the bird monsters that attacked from the sky.

Monsters continued to pour out from the surrounding area, but the multi-headed serpent monsters and horned giant demons, which were not actually human, had stopped and stood at the edge of the ice wall's crevice, swallowing or smashing any monsters that tried to pass through.

What was originally the most terrifying monster has somehow become a barrier that buys time for the people fleeing the town.

Princess Kiyohime, having received proper treatment and bandaged up by the fox doctor, then joined the fox dancer in doing the same. As Princess of Shimousa, this was something she was naturally obligated to do.

Meanwhile, Gudako and Musashi, having defeated Caster Ashiya Douman was blocking their way, and having entered the Enri-eido Castle, also sensed that something seemed to have changed on the battlefield outside, and that something important was happening somewhere they were unaware of.

After defeating Fuma Kotaro Ashiya Douman, the other female ninja who had previously intruded on the situation turned and left. However, with Shirou's repeated assurances, Musashi and Gudako, though curious, stopped worrying about it.

Just as Musashi was about to step onto the first step of the stairs to go upstairs.

A Black Shadow appeared behind her.

Musashi also sensed the killing intent coming from behind him; this was a very high level of Presence Concealment.

He was a top-tier Onmyoji could contend with Abe no Seimei Onmyoji, an Onmyoji who even Tamamo-no-Mae -no-Mae found troublesome. In the Heian period, which was full of demons, assassinations, curses, and conspiracies, he was able to be exiled to a remote area instead of being executed after his failed attempt to assassinate the ruler with a curse was exposed. This fully demonstrates his strength.

Even if Daoman mastered this level of Presence Concealment, it wouldn't be impossible for him.

Unaware that Musashi had gotten close, Musashi had no time to dodge and could only gamble by slashing backward as fast as she could.

Musashi, being a mortal human, would be unable to fight again if Caster struck her in a vital spot, even if she survived.

No sooner said than done! On the stairs, Heroic Spirit Swordmaster of the High Heavens, the swordswoman whose entire body was tightly wrapped in a cloak, silently descended from the upper floor and then swung her sword at Caster.

"Uh..." Before his claws could even touch Musashi, Ashiya Douman was completely killed.

This strike was swift and decisive, delivering a fatal blow to the weakest point in the body's defenses. With that one strike, even the Servant had no power to resist.

The cloaked man coldly looked at the unwilling Ashiya Douman and said, "Ugly, utterly hideous. You have a handsome appearance, but that's just to cover up your utter ugliness. Disappear, you're hindering my duel."

"A comrade... you killed your comrade?" Gudako said in surprise.

"No, Heroic Spirit Swordmaster aren't the kind of people you can get along with," Shirou said, looking at the swordsman on the stairs.

"Companions? I have never even considered anyone else as my companion. I have no need for unnecessary obstacles in my battles!" The black-robed swordsman turned to the pink-haired woman before him and said coldly, "Shinmen Musashi! You've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you for so long! I was worried you might be late, or that this world might have been destroyed, and I couldn't make it in time. But thankfully, you've finally arrived!"

"Your sword is truly remarkable. You wield it with all your might, striving for perfection in every detail, dismembering the human body with the utmost efficiency."

"Oh, so you've already understood my sword? Whether you're right or wrong, I am ultimately a killer. My sword path is neither Buddhist nor heavenly, but a demonic sword that kills to the very end," the man in the cloak said in a deep voice.

Musashi calmly looked at the cloaked swordsman in front of him and said, "Ah, I had some doubts when I first saw you. But after that, you never attacked me again. However, that sword strike that killed Caster just now confirmed my suspicions. Isn't that right, Mr. Tajima? It wouldn't be surprising at all if you did something like that."

The man flung off his cloak and tossed it aside, revealing his true form, and said, "Well, my name is Yagyu Danjo Munenori. I abandoned my status to become a sword demon."

Gudako looked at the other side in shock and exclaimed, "What! Grandpa Yagyu! You shouldn't be...!"

The man opposite him said unhurriedly, "Ah, people say that Yagyu Dan no Kami the savior who came here from Kyoto to save Shimousa, but the truth is quite the opposite."

He was none other Yagyu Danjo Munenori, who led his troops to subdue the demons of Shimousa. He was known as the peerless swordsman and the greatest swordsman of Edo.

"Musashi, I must first thank you," Yagyu Dan no Kami said, looking at the young female swordsman.

The Yagyu family had been samurai serving the Tokugawa family for generations. His father made a name for himself with his outstanding swordsmanship. Yagyu Muneyoshi was a descendant of the ancient Shinkage-ryu, who improved and innovated upon it to create the 'Yagyu Shinkage-ryu'.

As a top swordsman, he was recruited into the Tokugawa family and became the shogun's bodyguard and instructor of military strategy and swordsmanship. He also continued his father's position and served two generations of Tokugawa family Shogun throughout his life.

However, unlike his father, who was obsessed with swordsmanship, he possessed not only exceptional martial prowess but also extraordinary intelligence and strategic acumen.

Just like his cold, ruthless, yet highly efficient swordsmanship, his schemes also aim to achieve their goals in the most efficient way, using absolute rationality to discard any unnecessary burdens and ensure absolute success.

Therefore, he helped the Tokugawa family devise strategies and made many contributions, thus gaining the trust of Iemitsu. He was continuously promoted with the official title of "Danjō" and his territory continued to expand. Eventually, he became the lord of the Yagyu Domain and a minister who could establish his own domain. At one point, he was on par with powerful daimyo such as the Satsuma and Choshu Domains.

However, in order to obtain these things, he never became a pure swordsman, but rather a politician who had to feign compliance with officials, confront them directly in conversation, and secretly engage in all sorts of conspiracies and tricks.

"I inherited the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu sword style from my father and served as the shogun's martial arts instructor. People call me the peerless swordsman, the greatest swordsman of Edo, but no one knows that all along, I have only used the sword in my hand as a tool to rise to power."

What is Kendo? It's basically the art of killing. I've never felt any joy in Kendo. It was your sudden sword strike that woke me up.

So this is what swordsmanship is all about—the profound and subtle beauty of blades clashing, the feeling of that life-or-death moment between life and death, the battle where both you and your opponent achieve a state of perfect harmony and unity of mind and spirit.

The usually stern and unsmiling old man revealed a slight smile and continued:

"So when the sorcerer emerged from the darkness and told me that a woman claiming to be Musashi would visit this world again, I had only one choice... to fight you again, Musashi!"

"Grandpa, what you're saying is really scary. I ran for my life to escape in that last duel," Musashi said with an excited smile.

"I am no longer Danjō. All that remains in this world is a sword demon. Let us settle this once and for all! Which sword is stronger, yours or mine? I have lived until now, becoming a sword demon, just to find out this one thing!" said Yagyu Dan no Kami.

Indeed, the opponent, being human, had fallen into the form of Heroic Spirit Swordmaster, causing rivers of blood to flow in this world, piling up the corpses of tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of people, and even attempting to destroy all of humanity in the world.

Unlike those heroic Servant had no choice, he made his own choice. This is unforgivable and cannot be forgiven under any circumstances.

Musashi knew very well that the old man opposite her was no longer human, but a deranged demon. However, as a Musashi herself, Musashi understood his feelings. Her heart was pounding, and her blood was boiling. Even the Myojin-giri she held in her hand seemed to sense something and trembled slightly.

Yes, she was excited too; her heart, as a swordsman, yearned for this duel of swords.

Chapter 384 Musashi's Heavenly Sword

A chess fanatic can't go a day without playing chess, even if it's blindfold chess, he'll play to his heart's content; Martial Arts Enthusiast yearns for the way of martial arts, throwing life and death out of his mind;

Throughout her life, Musashi remained loyal to her sword. In order to achieve the realm she envisioned, she paid a price, even abandoning her homeland and becoming a drifter who constantly traveled through parallel worlds.

Because of the nature of a drifter, she cannot stay in the same world for long. Whenever she completes a trial in one world, she will be teleported to the next world and will never return to the place she has been.

She was still a young woman, yet she had already experienced dozens of worlds. In each world, there was no shortage of fighting, and she lived the life of a fugitive.

Whenever you make friends and build a bond with someone in one world, you are transferred to another world because you can't stay there for long, and you can never see each other again.

However, Musashi never regretted it. From the very beginning, she was determined to use her entire life to reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship that belonged only to her: the state of 'emptiness'.

Everyone in this world has something more important than anything else: wealth, power, lover, family, friends, or something they would want to do even if they had to give it all up.

Although this idea goes against common sense, it does indeed exist. It's the most fervent impulse in one's heart that even morality and righteousness cannot restrain—something one must do even at the cost of one's life.

Looking back, people throughout history and across the world have, to varying degrees, always done all sorts of foolish and counterproductive things.

Wilderness survival explorers and those who challenge deadly extreme sports, such as climbing Mount Everest or cycling to Tibet, are all doing things that involve taking risks, all in order to challenge their own limits and experience the thrill and emotion that comes with it.

In recent times, people have also been obsessed with certain things, such as neglecting to eat and sleep for a particular task. As long as they can achieve this goal, they don't care about simple meals or other treatment.

"I'm sorry, everyone. You go up first. No matter what, I must accept this battle, even if the world is about to end, even if many people cry, suffer, and die because of it... I will still put this fight first, because it is my dignity as a swordsman."

"Hmph! I'm leaving first, that's enough. Martial artists and swordsmen are all hopeless cases. Even Martial Arts Enthusiast have their limits." Shirou said with dissatisfaction. At this moment, Musashi reminded him of Master Li, the black mud Heroic Spirit he had fought on the mountain.

"Since we've gone this far and still insist on a duel, then we mustn't lose!" Shirou said, setting off alone upstairs without looking back.

"Ah, thank you! Shirou ~!" Musashi smiled, her eyes crinkling, and replied energetically.

"Then, Gudako, you should go too."

Gudako shook her head resolutely and said, "No, I won't leave you alone!"

Musashi was quite surprised by the girl's answer. He blushed, then grinned happily and said, "You won't leave me alone...?"

Gudako looked at the female warrior opposite her with a resolute gaze, her words conveying that she would never change her mind.

Seeing Gudako's expression, Musashi smiled helplessly and said:

"Indeed, even with the Demon Sword, the opponent stands at a higher level than me. On my own, I'm no match for Grandpa Yagyu. You saw right through me, Gudako."

"Let's fight together!" Gudako said, clenching her fist.

"Ah, I'm no longer in a position to say I have to fight alone. I entrust my back to you!"

"Shirou-senpai! You're good, aren't you!"