Doma flew backward. As he dodged the slash, he swept his left hand out again. Bitter cold visibly condensed into an ice lotus. Two female figures appeared atop its opening petals and suddenly blew at Kochou Kanae.
Blood Demon Art: Frigid White Princess!
Kochou Kanae twisted, drew herself in, then leaped. She spun through the air, evading the blast of cold, and her Nichirin Blade traced an impossibly subtle arc straight toward Doma's neck!
Both the speed and power of this strike had reached their peak.
The icy flash of her blade split the dawn, yet carried the intoxicating scent of flowers. In an instant, it reached the left side of Doma's neck.
He had nowhere left to retreat. Against the path of that blade, another step back would take him straight to his death.
At the last possible moment, Doma thrust out his left hand and caught Kochou Kanae's blade.
The next instant, it sliced through his palm. Blood sprayed, and four fingers flew through the air!
That brief obstruction let him avoid a fatal wound.
Even so, his condition had become dire!
His injuries refused to heal. He could not imagine what had been done to that blade!
The bleeding would not stop, and his maimed body could no longer fight at full strength.
Worse, that swordsmith had smashed his weapons to pieces. Faced with a Pillar's swordplay, he could only dodge or take the blows with his body.
And then... his injuries would only worsen.
It was a vicious cycle!
If this goes on... I'll die!
As that thought struck him, Doma rolled his eyes toward the sky.
If I keep fighting, I'll die... But if I run away like this, fleeing in panic before a Pillar, won't I die anyway?
Kochou Kanae charged at him again.