Seeing that his attack had worked, Shimotsuki Koshiro seized the opportunity. With a horizontal swing, he unleashed a Flying Slash.
Then, just as Lin Yuan had done moments before, he closed in, hoping to secure victory in one move.
Lin Yuan, who had just regained his footing, narrowed his eyes and imbued his entire blade with Armament Haki.
"Hmph, you want to copy me? Then try this."
"Thirty-Six Consecutive Slashes: Endless Sword Shadows!"
With a soft shout from Lin Yuan, the Famous Sword in his hand swung at a terrifying speed, sending out one black-and-red slash after another.
In scarcely a second, he unleashed thirty-six Flying Slashes in succession. Though they were not as terrifying as those enormous sword beams, each measuring only three meters long,
there were simply too many black-and-red sword beams. Just a few shattered Shimotsuki Koshiro's enormous slash, while the rest swept toward him like countless crescents dancing through the air, threatening to swallow him whole.
Shimotsuki Koshiro, who had just been preparing to charge up an attack, changed expression. He activated Observation Haki and whirled Wado Ichimonji before him, forming a glowing mass of sword shadows around himself.
"Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang..."
Countless clashes rang across the mountaintop, and the aftershocks of their attacks carved enormous trenches into the ground.
Lin Yuan did not attack again. Watching Shimotsuki Koshiro block every one of his attacks, he had to acknowledge the man's strength.
Only after shattering the final slash did Shimotsuki Koshiro look at Lin Yuan in surprise.
"I never expected you to be able to unleash so many Flying Slashes at once. It's simply incredible."
"Heh, it's nothing. It's just the result of my usual practice chopping trees."
After that brief exchange, neither said anything more. Their fight had given each of them an understanding of the other's strength.
Lin Yuan caught his breath, then attacked again. Since he had said he would overcome strength with technique, he naturally had to show off his swordsmanship.
He pushed off the ground and appeared before Shimotsuki Koshiro in an instant, swinging the Famous Sword in his hand. Surprisingly, though it seemed he had swung only once,
three sword shadows appeared before Shimotsuki Koshiro, attacking his arm, chest, and leg.
Shimotsuki Koshiro naturally would not sit and wait for defeat. Ignoring the three sword shadows, he held Wado Ichimonji upright before his chest, then slashed down fiercely.
Wado Ichimonji sliced straight through the uppermost sword shadow and struck Lin Yuan's Famous Sword hard.
The two exchanged another blow, then were both driven back by the other's tremendous strength.
This time, Shimotsuki Koshiro had been mentally prepared. Though he was still somewhat surprised by his opponent's strength, he had gone all out and had not been put at a disadvantage as before.
Even so, he acknowledged Lin Yuan in his heart. Whether it was his opponent's attacks or his responses to his own moves, he had indeed fallen behind.
"Your strength is indeed formidable. I doubt we can decide a winner anytime soon, and it's getting late. How about we settle this with one move?"
Lin Yuan naturally did not refuse. He was also somewhat surprised by Shimotsuki Koshiro's strength. Though he could defeat him, he estimated it would take two days of fighting.
"All right. In that case, let's settle it with one move!"
Their gazes met, and both their faces grew serious.
Lin Yuan half-raised his Famous Sword in one hand and bent forward slightly, coating his entire body in Armament Haki.
Shimotsuki Koshiro likewise coated himself in Armament Haki, but this time he gripped his sword with both hands, holding Wado Ichimonji upright before him, slightly above his chest.
A killing aura enveloped the entire mountaintop. Even Kuina, who had been watching all along, seemed affected by the atmosphere, her little hands clenched tightly.
A fierce wind swept past, and the two struck at the same time, shattering the ground beneath their feet.
"Horizontal Blade Water Severing..."
"Isshin Dojo Style: Heart Sword..."
Their figures flashed past, and a terrifying clash seemed to ring through the air.
Lin Yuan and Shimotsuki Koshiro flashed past each other, then stood motionless, back to back.
Suddenly, a terrifying sword mark appeared between them, cutting an enormous chasm one meter wide and so deep its bottom could not be seen.
The entire mountaintop shook as if in an earthquake, and the sound echoed across the whole island.
Kuina stared blankly at the two, unsure who had won. She looked up in bewilderment, and her pupils suddenly contracted.
High above, a vast bank of clouds had also been split by an enormous gap, as though someone had cut it apart.
"Father and big brother actually split heaven and earth apart!"
Kuina did not know how she felt. She simply gazed at the two in admiration, a longing light flashing in her eyes.
"Clang!"
Just then, Lin Yuan gently slid his Famous Sword into its sheath and turned to look at Shimotsuki Koshiro.
Shimotsuki Koshiro did not turn around. Instead, he calmly lowered his head and took a look, and a bitter smile involuntarily appeared on his face.
Lin Yuan waved his hand, and the Flame Clouds carrying Kuina slowly drifted over.
Only after Kuina landed did Shimotsuki Koshiro turn around. He looked at his daughter, then at Lin Yuan, and slowly sighed.
"I lost. I never imagined that someone so young could have reached such a level of swordsmanship. The title of World's Greatest Swordsman is bound to be yours someday."
Lin Yuan smiled faintly and looked at Shimotsuki Koshiro.
"Heh, I only won by a trick. But I'm not interested in being the World's Greatest Swordsman. Besides, I promised Kuina I'd help her become the world's greatest someday."
Kuina could hardly believe her ears. Her father had actually lost, and the big brother she had just met was going to help her become the World's Greatest Swordsman.
Shimotsuki Koshiro's mouth twitched. He naturally understood his daughter's talent for swordsmanship; he simply did not want Kuina to follow that path.
But hearing that Lin Yuan intended to make Kuina the World's Greatest Swordsman, he felt an urge to curse. After all, with the man before him around, who would dare claim to be number one?
Shimotsuki Koshiro was truly shocked by Lin Yuan's talent for swordsmanship. Though he was young, his swordsmanship had truly reached the level of a great swordsman.
"Um, big brother, you actually defeated Father. You're amazing."
Hearing the words of his dear, leaky little cotton-padded jacket, Shimotsuki Koshiro nearly fainted with anger. She had not asked whether her father was all right, but had instead spoken to someone she had just met.
But a thought flashed through Shimotsuki Koshiro's mind. He looked at the two again and spoke softly.
"Since I lost, I'll naturally keep my promise. Kuina, from now on, he's your teacher. I won't try to talk you out of pursuing your dream anymore, so train hard!"
"Perhaps you really can reach that level."