Your Excellency Is Strong, but My Style Surpasses Yours!

"This is the thunder god beating his drums," parents told their children.

As if in response to those words, a flash of white suddenly streaked across the sky. Then came deafening thunder that pierced everyone's soul.

Clang!

Another ring followed, crisper and more pleasant, carrying a lingering tremor like a dragon's cry or the sound of wind~

Sizzle...

It was the sound of hot iron plunged into coolant.

Clang!

Clang!

The hammering continued as torrential rain began to fall. The patter of countless raindrops gradually drowned out the collision of steel and fire...

The downpour lasted until dawn. When the wind died down and the rain ceased, sunlight began to spill across the damp earth. In a room still rolling with heat, a group of utterly exhausted swordsmiths finally completed the last step.

This forging had drained them of all their strength. They would likely need a long period of rest afterward, and some might even fall seriously ill because of it.

Yet no one looked regretful. Their gazes were fixed on the unusually shaped longsword raised by the only person still standing in the room—Iori.

At that moment, everyone, including Nobuyasu, felt immense satisfaction and happiness. It was the transcendence of having no further wishes in life. As craftsmen, they had surpassed their ancestors and achieved an unprecedented accomplishment.

Iori had participated in the forging from beginning to end and expended tremendous effort himself. More than half his spiritual pressure had been consumed, and he too felt mentally exhausted. Still, he forced himself to remain alert and carefully examined the treasured sword in his hand.

"...What a fine sword!" he exclaimed sincerely.

"I have never felt such joy in all my life... and I never will again."

Nobuyasu sincerely asked Iori, "May I name this sword?"

Before Iori could answer, the other swordsmiths' expressions twisted. Nobuyasu hesitated, apparently realizing that something was inappropriate, then turned to discuss it with the others.

Iori had no objections. A true name was very important, but a sword blank was a sword blank, and a Zanpakuto was a Zanpakuto. Naming this sword would not affect its future Shikai activation name.

It was like the relationship between a phone and its software. The phone's hardware could affect how quickly the software ran, but it would not rename "Taobao" to "Timi."

"Good! It's decided, then!"

The group of old men quickly settled on a name for the divine sword based on the unusual weather that had appeared during its forging today.

At that instant, a familiar notification sounded in Iori's mind:

CG Recorded

Heavenly Cloud Sword

Category: Exclusive Armament

Information Overview~

Base Attributes:

Ever Sharp · Remains sharp without needing sharpening.

Everlasting Durability · Extremely high strength and toughness, nearly indestructible unless subjected to pressure far beyond its limits.

Dragon's Lament · The blade seemed to hold a certain sorrow and lamentation, enough to influence reality. On rainy days or near sources of water, abundant water essence increases the wielder's stamina recovery speed.

Forming a bond with a "dragon," or incorporating materials with compatible affinities, can alter and enhance this effect, granting the sword new attributes.

Inherent Skills:

· The jeweled orb at the end of the hilt can store additional life energy and mental energy, refining them into highly pure "divine energy" that can be applied to the blade to amplify the power of slashes.

· Pour energy into the sword to unleash crescent-shaped ranged slashes. Their power is determined by the intensity of the energy.

Can be charged in multiple stages by continuously channeling and compressing energy, then releasing it all at once to raise its destructive power to its peak.

--

CG Recorded

Zanpakuto · Unknown

Category: Bond

Level: --

Quality: --

Reward: --

Special Note: Its true name has not been unsealed. However, the power being restrained is already dissatisfied with the sluggishness of its main body and is restlessly on the verge of emerging.

--

"So that's how it is... You like this, don't you?"

Iori examined the longsword, which would be difficult for ordinary people to wield. Its main body was as translucent as jade, outlined with alloy lines. Its spine was straight and thick, while its blade was divided into a smooth front section suited for thrusting and a rear section with wave-like curves suited for tearing. Overall, it differed greatly from both the Far East and continental styles.

This was neither something Nobuyasu and the others had deliberately designed, nor had Iori intentionally forged it this way. Rather, as they had said—

"It was as though it had been born this way, merely shedding its shell."

The "other self" within Iori also seemed quite satisfied with this sword.

"Then there's only one thing left..."

Iori's gaze passed through the walls and windows, looking toward the distant, boundless sea.

"Let's fulfill our promise, Izumo Seisoryu!"

Chapter 44: Mirror Water

A strange man completely shrouded in a cloak arrived at the coast. Though he kept a low profile, his peculiar mask made his identity immediately recognizable. He was the Great Swordsman who had once driven back the Dragon King at sea and saved countless soldiers.

Yet he ignored everyone who came to speak with him. He merely bought a small skiff from a fishing family and headed out to sea, leaving the people following behind him with endless speculation.

"Though he's a swordmaster, he isn't carrying a sword."

"Is he going home? I heard he came from the other side of the sea."

"A little boat like that can't cross the ocean."

"What was he holding in his arms? It was wrapped in burlap."

"Could he be going to challenge the Dragon King?"

—One person's words silenced everyone. Yet that thought, like a seed, began to grow wildly beyond all restraint.

Izumo Seisoryu had once been regarded by them as a god. But around ten years ago, its behavior began to turn strange. Not only did it rarely leave its nest and begin wandering everywhere, it even took the initiative to come ashore and seek out the large aberrations—Dangerous Species—living inland for battle.

Battle after battle ended in Azure Dragon's victory, and nearly all the aberrations on the island chose to submit to it.

Even so, it remained unsatisfied and continued searching for opponents. From sea to land to sky, it seemed determined to turn everywhere it could reach into its own domain.

Yet its actions showed no will to become a "king." It seemed to be purely pursuing battles with the strong, even including clashes with human armies.

Those days continued for ten years. The island nations, especially the coastal countries, suffered greatly. Those who had once revered Azure Dragon as a god had no choice but to unite and form a powerful expeditionary fleet...

The truth proved that even deploying a great army could not kill that majestic dragon. Foreigners from a thousand years ago could not do it, and neither could the people of these island nations today.

But... could this mysteriously appeared swordsman, this strong man who had wounded Azure Dragon alone, create such a miracle?

More and more people learned that Iori had sailed out in a small boat. Some worried, some hoped. Some feared the Dragon King's thunderous wrath, while others prayed to gods and buddhas for Iori's victory.

Unknowingly, countless hopes and worries wound themselves around Iori.

...Meanwhile, Iori remained wholly focused. He neither cared about nor concerned himself with the thoughts of others. Riding the little boat along the current, he had unknowingly drifted far from shore. An endless ocean surrounded him, as though heaven and earth held no one but him.

There was no need to search deliberately. He only needed to wait quietly, because the youth knew that certain things were bound to come!

Like gravity, like fate, like fruit falling to the ground once it ripened—it was only natural.

The cool sea breeze became wetter, making the corners of his fluttering cloak seem heavier as they absorbed the moisture and hung by his feet.

Clouds gradually gathered from every direction, changing from flawless white to gloomy gray. At the edge of the hollow at their center, a faint golden light gleamed like the pupil of a deity watching over the World of the Living.

"Humans and animals are born, age, fall ill, and die. Immortals and gods also suffer the Five Declines of Heaven and Man. Nothing in this world can escape the shackles of time and fate. It is an incurable disease, a curse bestowed upon every living thing from the moment of its birth... Though I suppose it could also be called a blessing."

After all, the world was not beautiful everywhere—Iori spoke as he gripped the long object wrapped in burlap.

"You are so powerful. Your body is as hard as steel, your scales are armor, your teeth are blades, your claws are spears. A swing of your body can stir wind and clouds, a shake of your mane can summon thunder down to earth. You are practically the most perfect creature in this world~

"Yet even you cannot resist the erosion of time..."

Roar—

A low chant came from the clouds, approaching from afar. A colossal figure revealed a scale and claw through the gaps.

"Like a beautiful flower, since it is destined to wither, it may as well fade in magnificent splendor!"

Boom!

A thick bolt of White Lightning descended from the sky toward the small boat!

"This is what you desire, isn't it?"

Grasping the hilt, Iori let the gale blow away the crude burlap, revealing a slender blade as translucent as jade—

Zheng!

Blazing white sword pressure shot out, colliding fiercely with the lightning in midair like a waning moon. In an instant, fierce winds blasted outward and the lightning scattered apart!

Arcs of electricity exploded around the small boat, and the surging waves rocked the tiny skiff up and down. Yet Iori remained firmly standing at its bow.

"Then let me, as a Bleach, grant you the blessing of this fate!"

The longsword pointed skyward. The enormous body coiled like a mountain floating in the heavens. With a sweep of its tail, it split the gray clouds and plunged downward at a speed comparable to lightning.

Bang!

A wave crest thirty meters high crashed down. The small boat charged directly into it. Facing the massive wave that could easily swallow him whole, Iori brought his longsword down from above—

Break!

As though a myth had been reenacted, the sea was split in two by invisible force.

Yet what emerged from behind the wave was the evil dragon's gaping maw, its countless teeth like a mountain of blades and thorns. The force that had split the sea was easily torn apart. Its jaws closed, crushing the small boat into countless fragments that scattered across the ocean.

Azure Dragon did not hesitate in the slightest. After crushing the boat, it plunged straight into the sea. Almost simultaneously, Ivan appeared in midair, his longsword slashing fiercely into the silver mane along its back.

Sizzle!

A large swath of mane was severed, and even the hard scales were cut open. Scalding blood burst forth, filling the sea breeze with the warmth of life.

Had it not lowered its head, Iori's sword would have struck Azure Dragon directly in the forehead!

Smack!

A shadow descended swiftly, smashing into Iori like an Iron Chariot racing at full speed!

With one sweep of its tail, Azure Dragon sent the youth flying. Its entire body plunged into the sea, leaving only a winding wave crest racing across the surface.

As Iori flew more than a hundred meters, his body skipping repeatedly across the sea like a stone, Azure Dragon had already split through the rippling waves like an arrow loosed from a bow. Just as the youth was about to steady himself, it suddenly burst from beneath the surface—

Slash!

Clang!

The Heavenly Cloud Sword pierced through the dragon's upper jaw, but Iori's thigh was merely grazed by its teeth, leaving behind a bloody gash.

At the critical moment, pillars of light as thick as spear shafts appeared around him, barely holding back the dragon's killing bite. They were the Hundred Steps Barrier he had summoned using a binding spell.

Creak—

The overwhelming bite force quickly crushed the hastily summoned pillars of light, but fortunately Iori escaped the dragon's jaws before that happened.

"Crimson Smoke Escape!"

As the youth flew away, he aimed his left hand at the dragon's head. With a soft shout, a great mass of crimson smoke erupted from his palm, instantly robbing Azure Dragon of its vision—though it was merely a low-level binding spell, it could have enormous effects in the right circumstances.

"Slash!"

Using Flash Step to move beneath the dragon's belly, Iori's blade was covered in white vapor, as though its length had been extended out of thin air. It fell decisively and coldly, slicing open the dragon's hide and spraying out a torrent of blood.

"ROAR!!!"

The pained dragon grew enraged. Specks of electricity began to dance between the gaps in its scales. The instant Iori saw that, his scalp went numb. Knowing what would happen next, he immediately shifted his posture, planted both feet against the dragon's body, and kicked off hard, darting into the sea like a flying fish.