Gales whipped up the snow, blurring the entire world.
Only two people still faced each other on the hillside.
Kazahana Dōtō had never imagined that a single exchange of attacks would bring the battle to this point.
Was his enemy too powerful, or had he been too ignorant?
Perhaps it was both.
Unfortunately, none of that mattered anymore.
He tightened his grip on his long sword and raised it overhead, taking a high attacking stance.
Whatever happened, he could not lose this last shred of dignity. It was all Kazahana Dōtō had left.
Watching his opponent take his stance, Taiichi's amusement faded a little. After some thought, he tried to persuade him.
"Surrender. Your brother won't kill you."
"Surrender?" Kazahana Dōtō snorted, his contempt plain. "Everything I did was for the rise of the Land of Snow. Now all my plans have failed, and you want me to surrender? What meaning would there be in clinging to life?"
With a roar, Kazahana Dōtō kicked off the ground and charged at Taiichi first.
His long sword carried all his fury in a powerful downward slash, as though he meant to cleave Taiichi in two.
The Chakra Light Blade in Taiichi's hand suddenly brightened, becoming more solid, like crystal. He raised it in one hand and easily caught the heavy blow.
They traded attacks, one striking with crushing force, the other moving with effortless ease. The continuous clang of their blades filled the air, and the pressure from their clashes scattered the swirling snow.
After more than ten minutes of fighting, Kazahana Dōtō finally realized something was wrong.
Given the strength Taichi Matsushita had displayed earlier, there was no way their deadlock should have lasted this long.
Anger had clouded his mind before, but as his strength drained away, reason regained control.