"Mist Breathing, Fourth Form, Flowing Stream Slash!"
Relying on his exceptionally sharp instincts, Muichiro instantly slid low along the floor, raising his blade to meet that terrifying purple sword energy.
"Smoke Breathing, Seventh Form, Sun-Obscuring Gloom Clouds!"
Yuichiro dared not hesitate for even a moment and immediately unleashed his strongest defensive sword technique.
Thick gray-white smoke erupted instantly. His blade scraped violently against the air, generating intense heat and a smoke screen that sought to block Kokushibo's attack.
The purple sword energy collided with Muichiro's blade with a piercing metallic screech.
Yuichiro's smoke barrier was also sliced open in an instant.
An immense force sent both brothers skidding back several meters, their feet carving deep furrows into the wooden floor.
Their arms tingled faintly.
They had barely blocked that blow.
A flicker of surprise crossed Kokushibo's eyes.
He looked at the blade in his hand, with which he had yet to use his full strength, then at the two brothers still holding their defensive stances.
"To think you could block my attack." A rare note of praise entered Kokushibo's voice. "To possess such reflexes and swordsmanship at your age is truly impressive. You live up to the Tsugikuni bloodline."
He slowly drew his sword back to his side.
"Then I shall spar with you a little. Let me see where your limits lie."
An appreciation for talent rose within his chest.
Kokushibo did not rush to kill them, instead deliberately slowing his pace.
With every swing of his sword, he intentionally left the brothers room to react.
"Don't get so full of yourself!" Yuichiro was utterly enraged by his opponent's attitude of treating this as a training match.
"Smoke Breathing, Second Form, Smoke Signals Rise on All Sides!"
Yuichiro's figure blurred into an afterimage. His Nichirin Blade raised pillars of