Holy crap! I suddenly realized I don't know how to summarize a 4000-character chapter title...

Sensing the commotion on the other side of the Earth Style: Earth Style Wall, Ringo's heart pounded. She had no time to pick up the Lightning Blades, and her hands formed seals again—but this time, she used Lightning Body Flicker!

She could already roughly tell that her half-baked Earth Release most likely could not block Shiro's strike, so she decisively retreated to the side.

Unfortunately, Blade Storm covered far too wide an area. Ringo did not completely dodge it, and when she appeared again, her whole body was covered in wounds!

They were all superficial injuries, but she looked especially battered—frighteningly so.

Once she had safely broken free, the first thing Ringo did was beckon with her right hand. With the help of a special magnetic field, she drew the two Lightning Blades back into her hands, then looked solemnly at Shiro.

Ringo had originally thought she had already taken Shiro, who had slain two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, very seriously, and had practically gone all out from the start. But she had not expected Shiro to be this strong!

With just a few casual moves, she had been completely unable to defend herself. Though Samehada countering the Lightning Blades was part of the reason, that was not the main issue. She had fought Fuguki before too.

Though she had still been at a disadvantage, it had not been to the point of being as powerless as she was now. And just as Ringo's thoughts were turning, Shiro had already begun reining in his strength, preparing to launch the next wave of attacks!

"Forward!"

After Samehada retracted its barbs, Shiro's raised right hand suddenly chopped downward!

A stream of air once again rushed toward Ringo!

This time, however, Ringo did not dodge. She gritted her teeth, gripped the Lightning