The distance between the three warriors—each of them at least a great swordsman—had narrowed to almost nothing. Even the air around them carried a sharp edge, as though it would slice anyone who dared approach into pieces.
But—
The first to lower his banner was, unexpectedly, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami Munenori.
"Hmph. Has the ronin who provoked me like a wild beast that day finally acquired the barest semblance of human form?"
"Very well, woman. Let me see what you are capable of now."
Sakumura watched coldly from the side—though he was also somewhat curious about what kind of person this "female Musashi," so utterly different from both history and what he knew, truly was.
"What do you mean by that?"
Musashi's gaze grew faintly dangerous.
As the three faced off, a hint of danger suddenly descended from high above. Even children like O-Nui and Tasuke noticed its approach.
"Is that a crow? Or an eagle?"
O-Nui looked up fearfully, but her body instinctively burrowed into Fujimaru Ritsuka's embrace.
The corner of Yagyu Tajima-no-kami's mouth lifted in an almost imperceptible smile.
Sakumura's eyes flicked backward for an instant.
Musashi flexed her fingers.
"Caw—"
Locked onto by three streams of sword aura at once, the creature speeding toward them let out a terrified shriek. Then Musashi leaped into the air and unleashed Niten Ichi-ryu, tearing the monster cleanly into two.
".Sometimes, I sincerely feel that these powerful swordsmen are monsters themselves."
Fuuma Kotarou muttered instinctively.
Though the three had reacted differently, the actions they took had overlapped almost perfectly. The strange creature approaching from the sky had crashed headlong into an iron wall formed by their combined responses.
"You actually used the Nika Heido method. Say, aren't you the representative of Yagyu Shinkage-ryu? If you are the representative of the Shadow School, then