The First Victor

Makomo's fingers lightly brushed across the blade. This was a gift Feng Ye had given her. As Feng Ye's disciple, she would not tarnish his name, nor would she lose to Kokushibo.

Clang! Clang!

Makomo and Kokushibo clashed once more.

Not far away, in a place neither Makomo nor Kokushibo had noticed, Feng Ye and Mitsuri Kanroji's figures appeared without a sound.

"Makomo should be able to win, right?"

Mitsuri Kanroji watched the battlefield and asked, tilting her head.

"She can."

Feng Ye gave only a simple reply.

Makomo had already trained her Breathing Styles to an extremely high level, and Feng Ye had personally taught her swordsmanship. Her overall strength was nearly equal to Kokushibo's. Without the sword he had bestowed upon her, she might have been suppressed by Kokushibo. But with that sword, Makomo's victory was inevitable—though it would not come easily.

Just as Feng Ye had judged, Makomo completely suppressed Kokushibo in their fierce battle with both her swordsmanship and Breathing Styles. Kokushibo had also unleashed his Blood Demon Art early on, blades protruding all over his body as he continuously released wide-ranging Moon Breathing attacks and invisible slashes to interfere with Makomo's movements.

The battle continued for over a hundred exchanges.

Until—

Makomo unleashed a strike that drove forward without hesitation!

That strike held no reservations. She abandoned all defense, carrying the resolve to die. No matter what, she could not lose here. Compared to losing, she would rather die.

"It's over."

Feng Ye watched Makomo's strike and spoke softly before it even fell. "Kokushibo survived for centuries after becoming a demon. Although he honed every aspect of himself to its peak, he also lost that will to press forward without hesitation."

"If he could have abandoned all defense as well and faced Makomo's strike head-on,