What do I think? It was awesome!
If asked, a third-dimensional loser would definitely answer that way.
"Very strong, unimaginably powerful! Big Sister's swordsmanship truly opened my eyes! Although I always knew Big Sister was the strongest, this is the first time I've seen just how strong she is."
Zhi Feng looked at Rin with excitement and admiration, answering Rin's question with the highest praise she could think of. Rin smiled sweetly at this, shaking her head slightly and saying:
"Very strong? But it's not enough."
"Uh…"
Zhi Feng didn't know how to continue the conversation. In her opinion, the strike Rin had just unleashed was a height she could never hope to reach in her lifetime.
However, Rin, who had achieved it at only sixteen years old, felt no pride or satisfaction, instead saying it wasn't enough.
"That sword strike just now was an extension of a secret technique created by an unnamed wandering swordsman from history: Secret Sword: Tsubame Gaeshi."
"Tsubame Gaeshi?"
Rin nodded slightly and explained:
"That great swordsman was very imaginative. One day, when he happened to see a swallow fly overhead, he had a sudden thought: How could he make his blade cut down a swallow? Swallows can use the wind to dodge blades; it has nothing to do with speed. No matter what kind of blade, it's impossible to swing it without vibrating the air. Swallows sense that vibration and change their flight path. So, no matter what kind of strike, it cannot cut down a swallow. A blade is just a line. It makes sense that it can't catch a swallow darting back and forth in the air. What should be done?"
"Then, just block its escape routes. One blade attacks the swallow, and another blocks the swallow's escape route as it evades with the wind. However, swallows are very agile, and the second blade in hand cannot keep up. To succeed, two blades must be almost simultaneous in an instant. If they are all simultaneous, both blades will be too slow. For this, there should also be a third blade to block the side escape route. Therefore, to cut down a swallow, three blades must be swung simultaneously without precedence within the same time node, making one sword exist as three in an instant. This is Tsubame Gaeshi."
If this were told to a passerby on the street, it would probably only elicit a comment like, "Though I don't understand it, it sounds very impressive." But Zhi Feng was also a martial artist and a general in the army, so she could understand the meaning of Rin's words and the weight of Tsubame Gaeshi's content. Precisely because of this, she felt even more incredulous.
"Then… Big Sister, you achieved it?"
"Ah, I achieved it. I truly achieved it with my own hands."
Facing Zhi Feng's excitement, Rin remained calm. Once she possessed a sufficient level of martial arts, Rin could also unleash the true Tsubame Gaeshi with her own hands. And unlike Sasaki Kojiro, who wielded a long katana with both hands, Rin accomplished it with a single-handed draw. Rin, possessing abilities far superior to Sasaki Kojiro, was capable of achieving an even greater degree than the original creator. However… "This profound sword art, seemingly mythical, impossible to dodge and undefendable, still has a fatal flaw."
Rin impassively articulated her views after using Tsubame Gaeshi. Only someone standing at such a height of martial arts mastery was qualified to make such a judgment. In the eyes of others, such a sword art was simply an invincible, transcendent skill.
"Still… still has a flaw?"
"Yes, it still has a flaw."
Rin affirmed steadfastly.
"Ultimately, this sword art was created based on the concept of cutting down a swallow. It is naturally flawless for cutting down swallows, but when rigidly applied to killing people, a fatal flaw emerges. Because swallows do not fight back!"
Whenever topics involving martial arts or magic came up, Rin was always incredibly serious. At this moment, she couldn't help but recall the anime she watched in her previous life, where Sasaki Kojiro used Tsubame Gaeshi in his decisive battle with Saber, only for Saber to break through Tsubame Gaeshi with a counter-attack, ultimately leading to his defeat.
Sasaki Kojiro's loss was certainly due to Saber's parameters being far superior to his, but it also illustrated a point: as long as one doesn't dodge or block and instead counter-attacks with a faster sword strike, Tsubame Gaeshi can be broken.
"Therefore, a sword art meant for cutting swallows is bound to be broken when used to cut people. As long as one possesses an equivalent level of swordsmanship, it will definitely be seen through. Hence, I tried to perfect this by swinging more swords at an even faster speed in an instant, weaving a watertight cage with blades, sealing off all directions, all space for evasion, defense, and counter-attack, forming a true decisive kill."
At this point, Rin's expression did not improve; instead, her face darkened like still water. Zhi Feng couldn't help but ask cautiously:
"Could it be… the flaw still hasn't been remedied?"
"No, the flaw has been remedied, but a new problem has emerged."
Rin sighed with her eyes closed, then looked calmly at Zhi Feng and asked:
"How many slashes do you think it takes to kill a person?"
"Hmm? That depends on the opponent. If it's someone comparable to me…"
"No, I'm not asking how many moves it takes to defeat an opponent. I'm asking how many truly fatal slashes are needed to kill an opponent?"
"That… a fatal blow is, of course, one slash."
"Exactly. To kill a person, or to kill a life, fundamentally only requires one slash. If killing only takes one slash, then why do I still swing dozens of slashes?"
"This!…"
Zhi Feng was completely at a loss for how to answer. She couldn't keep up with Rin's pace. From the beginning, they were not standing at the same height, and she, who couldn't see the same scenery, couldn't give Rin the answer she sought.
"There is only one slash that kills; the rest are superfluous. It's only because I don't know which slash can kill the target that I have to swing through all possible sword paths that could kill it. Because of this uncertainty, this sword skill cannot be called powerful."
Rin said seriously, her emerald eyes clear and profound, bottomless and inscrutable, yet also revealing an unwavering martial artist's will.
"Every day I practice, every day I search, to find the one slash that can absolutely kill an opponent among all possible sword paths! I firmly believe that as long as I am not confused, not wavering, and pour all my essence, qi, spirit, and intent into every practice, one day I will find that one slash."
Looking at Rin standing before her, Zhi Feng suddenly understood why this girl, four or five years younger than herself, possessed such immense power. It was this heart—never confused, never satisfied, always clear about her path forward—that was the source of this young girl's absurdly powerful strength!
"By the way, Zhi Feng, last night I just realized you're so open-minded; you don't wear underwear under your clothes~"
"Eh? Oh—!"
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