The Limits of Genius

She stared intently at the other person, her mind completely focused.

He held the Kiku-Ichimonji Norimune with both hands, raising it to the right side of his head, blade upward, tip slightly downward, with a barely perceptible rightward tilt.

Flat Green Eye.

This is a sword technique from the Tennen Rishin-ryū, and it's the starting stance that Okita Souji used most often.

This can almost be considered one of Okita Souji's characteristics.

Even within the entire lineage of the Tennen Rishin-ryū, only Okita Souji is the only swordsman who uses the Flat Green Eye as his starting stance.

This is inextricably linked to her fighting style.

Okita Souji's swordsmanship can be summed up in one word: speed!

She was used to parrying her opponent's weapon in the blink of an eye, instantly plunging into the enemy's chest and abdomen, and slashing upwards to kill him.

The Flat Green Eye is the most suitable starting stance for Okita Souji, and he has brought this sword technique to its fullest potential.

Kokushibo watched as Okita Souji's aura solidified, revealing no flaws, and he too took her very seriously.

The man before him was a true swordsman; he had only ever seen such an aura in his younger brother.

His Yoriichi Tsugikuni brother, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, was the most skilled and talented swordsman Kokushibo had ever seen, and the one before him was no less so.

Kokushibo also began to gather his strength, focusing all his energy on facing Okita Souji.

Such battles allow no room for carelessness or underestimation of the enemy; victory or defeat can be decided in an instant.

Kokushibo adopted a very standard starting stance, focusing all his attention on Okita Souji.

His starting stance is very ordinary, but hundreds of years of practice have allowed him to make this most ordinary move almost perfect.

A general meets a worthy opponent, a worthy opponent is a worthy opponent.

Brush!

Okita Souji launched the first attack. She was not the kind of swordsman who was used to going second; her style meant that she had to take the initiative.

In the blink of an eye, Kiku-Ichimonji Norimune was already in front of Kokushibo's eyes.

Quick!

This was the only impression that left on Kokushibo.

He swung the Demon Blade in his hand and held it horizontally in front of him.

Clang!

The two swords clashed, producing a crisp sound.

Flying Dragon Sword!

Okita Souji showed no intention of retreating after his attack failed.

In the blink of an eye, the blade direction changed, angled to the left, and the second attack was launched immediately.

Kokushibo's reaction was equally swift; his sword blocked Okita Souji's attack route as she changed direction.

Brush!

While Kokushibo was fully focused on defending against the sword strike and anticipating Okita Souji's next attack.

He did not feel any force of impact from the Demon Blade in his hand.

I've been scammed.

Okita Souji was merely a feint; before the old force had dissipated, it changed direction once more.

Dragon Tail Sword!

A dragon has a head, and it also has a tail.

Okita Souji had set his sights on Kokushibo's right side from the beginning; the sword strike on the left was merely a feint to mislead his opponent.

In a split second, before Kokushibo could exert all his strength, he had already thrust the blade toward his body.

Sizzle!

A long scar appeared on Kokushibo's left arm.

He couldn't block the sword, but with his own reflexes and powerful physique, he managed to dodge Okita Souji's attack.

It only left a very shallow scar on my arm.

Such an injury would render even an ordinary swordsman unable to fight, let alone Kokushibo, who possesses a demonic body.

Before any blood appeared, it had already begun to heal and quickly disappeared completely, leaving it perfectly intact.

The two stepped back a few paces, and the brief exchange ended with Okita Souji gaining a slight advantage.

In the end, Kokushibo did not lose by much; the difference was only a hair's breadth.

Despite gaining an advantage, Okita Souji never believed that this alone would be enough to defeat her opponent.

No one knew better than her what kind of skill someone who had been dedicated to swordsmanship for hundreds of years would possess.

Effort itself is a talent.

Even an elderly human swordsman who has spent his entire life honing his swordsmanship will possess remarkable insights into this art.

Not to mention Kokushibo, who possesses the body of a demon.

Centuries of consistent training have perfected every sword technique.

Kokushibo did not possess the mastery of Yagyu Musashi, nor the extraordinary talent of Miyamoto Musashi.

But such an opponent is very strong.

It is a kind of strength built up over time.

Okita Souji remained expressionless, his gaze focused.

Her fighting spirit was also ignited.

I haven't encountered such an opponent in a long time.

Even though Chaldea has many powerful swordsmen, the one in front of them is the most special.

This special quality ignited Okita Souji's fighting spirit.

She and Kokushibo seemed to be two extremes.

A battle between geniuses and mortals, a clash between the sick and the strong.

Putting aside Kokushiboki's identity and actions, Okita Souji deeply admired such a person.

Kokushibo's experiences were something that this frail and sickly genius could never have known.

So, now.

Okita Souji will use the sword in his hand to experience all of this.

Chapter 48, Section 361: The Limits of Genius

Kokushibo suffered a minor setback in his first encounter with Okita Souji.

He dared not be overconfident.

Kokushibo sheathed his sword, gripped the scabbard with his left hand and the hilt with his right, leaning forward slightly.

He quickly drew his sword and launched a single, sweeping slash at Okita Souji, the trajectory of which left a crescent-shaped blade.

Moon Breathing - First Form, Dark Moon - Night Palace!

Kokushibo uses Moon Breathing, a direct derivative of Sun Breathing, which has a fast attack speed and a huge range.

Unable to learn the Sun Breathing, he created the Moon Breathing.

Through centuries of honing his skills, he expanded the Moon Breathing sword technique into many other sword techniques.

This is Breathing Technique unique to Kokushibo.

Okita Souji did not simply dodge Kokushibo's attacks.

Dodging was not enough for her to defeat her opponent.

Moon Shadow Sword!

She also slashed forward, engaging in close combat with Kokushibo.

The wider the attack, the closer you need to get to the opponent. This is Okita Souji's understanding, and that's exactly what she does.

Moon Breathing, Second Form: Waning Moon in Calamity!

As Kokushibo faced the approaching Okita Souji, the moment his attack failed, he turned around and unleashed two blades.

One turn of the body was not enough to create much of a distance, so Kokushibo continued to spin around.

Moon Breathing, Fifth Form: Quarter Moon and Crescent!

As his body spun, a vortex of blades appeared around him, and the wind from the blades deflected the Okita Souji.

The moment Kiku-Ichimonji Norimune was deflected from Okita Souji's hands.

Kokushibo forcibly stopped his spinning body in an unbelievable manner, and instantly followed up with a sweeping attack, aiming at Okita Souji.

Moon Breathing - Eighth Form, Remaining Moon - Mid-Autumn Moon!

This move is extremely fast, encompassing the entire area in front of it, and simultaneously unleashing a massive crescent blade.

A move that combines offense and defense.

Okita Souji was forced to retreat for the first time, and had to quickly step back to create a large distance and avoid the range of the blade wind.

But going back is not the end; it's just a step towards moving forward better.

Before the Crescent Blade had completely disappeared, Okita Souji immediately charged forward again.

She quickly tapped the ground with both feet, advancing at near-sonic speed, and simultaneously unleashed two slashes.

Lightning Flash Sword!

Flint Sword!

With a dash speed that seemed to shrink the distance between them and a lightning-fast sword swing, the blade appeared in front of Kokushibo in the blink of an eye.

Okita Souji once again enhanced her advantage: speed.

Fast, incredibly fast.

Sizzle!

The sound of several blades slicing through flesh rang out, and Kokushibo was once again wounded by Okita Souji's blade.

Several gruesome wounds appeared between his chest and abdomen, each one penetrating deep into his internal organs.

Moon Breathing, Sixth Form: Long Night Lonely Moon, Unending!

Kokushibo had no time to pay attention to his injuries. Even as he was wounded, he unleashed a rapid series of slashes, with irregular crescent blades flying everywhere, as if the moon had actually appeared in the sky.

Moon Breathing - Sixteenth Form, Moonbow - Lonely Moon!

Kokushibo did not stop his actions. Before the Sixth Form was finished, he launched another sword technique Moon Breathing.

The crescent-shaped blades in the sky began to fall continuously, violently impacting the earth as if to shatter the entire land.

This move is far more powerful than the previous ones.

The battlefield was covered by countless crescent blades, and Okita Souji had no choice but to continue forward.

The Lion King Sword!

This sword move is very different from the sword moves that Okita Souji usually uses.

The Lion King Sword embodies a fearless and courageous spirit, like a lion, a leader of the mountains and forests.

This is a valiant sword strike.

Under Kokushibo's barrage of crescent-shaped blades, Okita Souji displayed unparalleled ferocity, charging forward, forward, and forward still.

Puff!