"Murata! Don't just stand there!" Komi Kata reached out and caught the swordsman who came flying back. He stumbled back several steps before steadying himself and shouted loudly in Murata's direction.
"I know!" Gripping his nichirin blade tightly, Murata pushed off the ground and charged towards Yoizumi, light blue water splashes overflowing from his blade.
Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance!
Using agile footwork to evade the attack range of the other swordsmen, his blade aimed directly for Yoizumi's back.
A chance!
Murata looked at Yoizumi's unguarded back and couldn't help but speed up his swing. Who would have thought Yoizumi had eyes in the back of his head? He precisely raised his arm and held his nichirin blade vertically behind him, blocking Murata's attack.
No way! He can even do that!
Even using both hands was useless. Yoizumi delivered a back kick to his side, causing Murata to nearly lose his grip on his blade from the pain, and he quickly fell backward.
Komi Kata, from behind, leaped high, raising his nichirin blade above his head and jumping onto Yoizumi's head. All his strength concentrated in his arms, he swung down with all his might, striking Yoizumi like a heavy hammer.
Water Breathing, Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin!
Yoizumi looked up and swung his nichirin blade at him just in time. The two nichirin blades clashed, and a "clang" echoed through the training ground.
The others seized the opportunity and also launched their attacks. An endless stream of Breathing Forms reappeared. At this moment, everyone had only one goal.
That was to endure this minute no matter what.
If they fell, they immediately got back up. Even if they were going to faint, they had to wait until these 60 seconds passed!
A subtle flicker of approval crossed Yoizumi's eyes.
Now this is more like it.
It seems his training wasn't entirely useless. At least in terms of resisting blows, everyone had adapted very well.
Water Breathing!
Wind Breathing!
Flame Breathing!
...Everyone still standing used their strongest Breathing Forms.
The stalemate between Yoizumi and Komi Kata lasted only two seconds. Adjusting the force in his wrist, Yoizumi easily pushed Komi Kata away. Facing the combined attacks of the others, Yoizumi remained unhurried, but the force of his blade swings did not diminish in the slightest.
A clear whooshing sound resonated through the training ground. The next moment, Yoizumi's attack directly damaged the ground of the training ground, with winding cracks spreading across the entire surface.
The cracked ground kicked up gusts of dust. The sweeping sword qi was like a rainbow, and all the team members who tried to approach collapsed to the ground, unable to move.
And this was only the result of Snow Pillar using the back of his blade.
If he had used the edge, they would all be dead by now!
This was the collective realization of everyone.
"Get up! Everyone who can move, get up!"
Komi Kata, who had just managed to extricate himself from being embedded in the wall, shouted loudly.
Those who could barely move struggled to stand up. Some even crawled on the ground, making their way towards their nichirin blades.
Only 20 seconds left!
Komi Kata had never felt a minute drag on so agonizingly. A bone-chilling coldness mixed with immense pressure stimulated his restless mind.
He adjusted his breathing, forcefully suppressing his anxious heart.
Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux.
Pouring all his strength into the Tenth Form, Komi Kata prayed incessantly that he could delay for even a little bit longer. He really didn't want to keep getting beaten here!
He continuously spun his body, and with each rotation, the roaring water dragon grew stronger.
Pouring all his hope into the Tenth Form, Komi Kata exerted his entire body. The coiling giant dragon roared as it lunged at Yoizumi.
Facing such a powerful attack, Yoizumi bent slightly at the waist, gripping his nichirin blade tightly. Solidified snow qi swirled around the blade, and scattered snowflakes and ice crystals fell, making it so cold it was hard to breathe.
Komi Kata's breathing hitched, his body stiffened severely, and his eyelashes were frosted over. A white sword qi swept past his eyes, instantly blinding his vision, and he fell to his knees, collapsing onto the cold ground.
The others fared no better. Those who hesitated often fell faster, and those who actively attacked didn't fare much better, only struggling a bit more before being unable to get up again.
Yoizumi finished off the last person, scanned the area to see no one could stand up again, and silently counted down the time in his mind.
5
4
Komi Kata weakly flipped over, his eyes filled with despair. The days of getting beaten were about to start again. His lifeless gaze fell on the ceiling, and he suddenly chuckled. Just as Yoizumi finished counting down, he looked at him quizzically.
How could this person still be smiling?
Yoizumi calmly stated "Fail" and was about to leave when he was stopped by a voice from above him.
"Um..."
Yoizumi looked up, his blue eyes momentarily stunned, and after a long silence, he said, "Pass."
Murata, who was clinging to the wooden beam on the ceiling, looked surprised. He instinctively let go to celebrate, falling straight to the ground.
"You really did it, Murata," Komi Kata said, exhausted but still filled with the joy of surviving a catastrophe.
Rubbing his throbbing back of his head, Murata clearly hadn't expected that after being flung by Snow Pillar, he flew so high he managed to grab onto a wooden beam. He was hesitating whether to come down, not realizing he had outlasted everyone in the end!
"We passed!" Someone shouted first, followed by a chorus of excited voices, which gradually turned into sobs.
"We can finally leave this place..." Murata said with a bitter expression.
Yoizumi clearly hadn't expected them to pass in such an unforeseen way, but it was an undeniable fact.
A group of limping people gathered and tossed Murata, whose clothes were still clean, into the air. Everyone's faces were beaming with joy.
Yoizumi watched this scene quietly from the side. In battle, as long as one person lives, hope will not be extinguished, and the sacrifices of others will not be in vain.
Everyone supported each other and walked together in front of Yoizumi. They all bowed deeply and said in unison, loudly,
"Thank you, Snow Pillar, for your guidance these past few days!"
Yoizumi nodded and turned to leave. After a few steps, he paused and then spoke.
"Don't die. Strive to live."
No one knew if everyone present would ever meet again... After sending off this batch of team members, the next batch wouldn't arrive for another three or four days.
Kanzaki Aoi finally had a chance to breathe. Cooking had been truly exhausting these past few days.
Stretching and loosening her muscles, Kanzaki Aoi stood up and laboriously lifted a basket full of bedsheets. The next instant, the weight in her hands lightened. Kanzaki Aoi looked up to see Nezuko helping her carry it.
"Thank you, Nezuko."
Nezuko smiled brightly, a smile very similar to Tanjirou's, Kanzaki Aoi thought.
"Alright! Once I've hung out the bedsheets, I'll play with you."
Hearing this, Nezuko immediately lifted the basket over her head and ran off excitedly, disappearing in an instant.
"Hey! Slow down!"
Kanzaki Aoi chased after Nezuko, reminding her.
This is also very much like Tanjirou!
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