The Radiant Sun formed from sword intent shone brilliantly, locking onto Lishiki and raining down countless flames of judgment as Zatoichi brought his blade down!
"Blazing Sun Judgment..." The blazing sunlight reflected in Lishiki's Byakugan, and beneath his mask, his lips curved into a battle-hungry smile!
Whoosh! Another Heaven's Ruin Blade appeared in his empty right hand!
Heaven's Ruin Blade was a pair of swords. This one was the "Reverse Blade"!
Boom! Lishiki's sword intent became a dark river... his twin blades wove together, leaving afterimages in their wake.
-Divine Sword Style: Naniwa Crossing!
Splash!
The dark river surged, wave upon wave rising to clash with the blazing light, weaving two vast curtains across the sky!
"As expected of a swordsman of the Divine Clan..."
Bang! Zatoichi's purple robe burst apart above his waist, exposing a powerful torso bearing no fewer than a hundred wounds, old and new, shallow and deep...
As he pressed his blade down, the flames of judgment erupted with explosive force!
Boom!
The curtain of sword intent broke, and the blazing light poured down.
Lishiki's Byakugan filled with bloodshot veins. "Have I... been defeated by a mortal swordsman?"
Rumble!!
"Aaaaaaaargh...!!!"
As the blazing light subsided, the twin swords in Lishiki's hands crumbled to dust. His body, too, was being scourged by the flames, sliding irreversibly toward ruin!
"So, I've lost," he said forlornly.
Zatoichi's arm dropped limply, his sword hand trembling. "Had you not already been gravely wounded before this battle... I might not have been able to defeat you."
Lishiki accepted it calmly. "A loss is a loss. There are no ifs. Zatoichi, was it? Do you remember the person I mentioned earlier?"
"Yes." Zatoichi nodded.
Lishiki raised his head, his expression yearning. "The goal I've pursued all my life... the greatest swordsman in Takamagahara,