Under the shocked gazes of the crowd, Kujou Sara, who had been steadily pushed back by the swordsman, finally raised her hand and unleashed her ultimate technique.
Tengu Stormcall.
The moment it was released, a terrifying bolt of lightning descended from the sky. With a deafening crash, it struck the dueling ground.
The violent explosion made everyone watching fear for the swordsman. Had he been hit? Was he dead?
Just as the citizens of Inazuma were worrying, the initial strike of Tengu Stormcall split into four new bolts, which scattered across the arena. Another series of explosions rang out. Smoke and dust filled the air.
No matter how fast or strong the swordsman was, he could not evade such a carpet bombardment.
Though the outcome was still unclear, the spectators assumed the swordsman was dead. Even if he survived, he would be barely clinging to life.
The citizens at the gates of Tenshukaku sighed.
"It's over. As expected of Lady Kujou Sara—the strongest of the new generation of Shogunate forces, trusted by Her Excellency."
"Lady Kujou Sara may seem cold, but she is too kind. If she had used this technique at the start, she could have ended the duel in an instant."
"This swordsman was too arrogant."
"Someone who can't even defeat Kujou Sara—how dare he challenge the Raiden Shogun?"
"How tragic. We don't even know his name. Let's just call him Swordsman."
The onlookers sighed, but no one blamed Kujou Sara or the Raiden Shogun. The one who had challenged the duel was this reckless swordsman.
But only two or three seconds passed. As the smoke from Tengu Stormcall began to clear, a figure with disheveled clothes, holding a sword, stood upright in the center of the arena. His blade pointed straight ahead.
Everyone was stunned.
"What? He's not dead?"
"Impossible. Why hasn't he fallen?"
"A mere human body withstood Lady Kujou Sara's Stormcall? How did he do it?"
"But even if he's still standing, he must be seriously injured."
"If he can withstand Lady Kujou Sara's Stormcall, maybe he really could take Her Excellency's blade—"
"Dream on. Lady Kujou Sara's Stormcall is strong, but compared to Her Excellency's, it's nothing. You know nothing of Her Excellency's martial prowess."
"Look at Musoujin Gorge, and you'll understand the gap."
Kujou Sara's Stormcall could blast a crater in the ground. But the Raiden Shogun's blade could slay the mighty Orobashi, and the residual force of that single strike carved a gorge that shook heaven and earth.
Watching the swordsman standing tall, everyone was dumbfounded. They could not believe that after taking Kujou Sara's full-powered strike, he remained on his feet, seemingly intact.
In that moment, the watching citizens began to change their view of the swordsman. They started cheering for him.
On the dueling ground, Kujou Sara stared in disbelief. Why? After taking such a powerful blow, why hadn't he fallen?
Under her shocked gaze, the swordsman gripped his sword tightly and charged at her with incredible speed.
Under normal circumstances, Kujou Sara would have had time to retreat. But after unleashing her ultimate technique, she had exhausted too much elemental energy. Her speed was diminished. She could not dodge.
And so, the weakened Kujou Sara could only watch as the swordsman closed the distance, raised his blade, and placed it against her throat.
He had subdued her once again.
If the first defeat had been due to Kazuha's distraction and an ambush, this time was different. They had fought fairly before the Raiden Shogun, before the citizens of Inazuma. And Kujou Sara had lost again.
In that moment, Kujou Sara's confidence, her pride, was shattered. She stood frozen.
She had lost. Truly lost.
At the gates of Tenshukaku, the citizens watched in disbelief.
"He defeated Lady Kujou Sara that easily?"
"Incredible. After taking Lady Kujou Sara's full-power strike, he seems completely unharmed. His condition hasn't been affected at all."
"Now he will challenge the Raiden Shogun."
"Defeat at Kujou Sara's hands would have spared his life. But defeat at Her Excellency's hands means certain death. One casual strike from the Shogun will end him."
The outcome surprised everyone. They had not expected the swordsman to actually win.
Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, the swordsman's hand trembled slightly as he spoke.
"Kujou Sara, I win. Now, may I challenge that blade?"
Clearly, he had not emerged unscathed from Kujou Sara's ultimate technique. He was simply hiding his injuries.
Seeing this, Kujou Sara also trembled, unwilling to accept her defeat. Finally, she spoke.
"Yes. You have succeeded. Her Excellency will grant you the chance to witness that blade."
"But—after you witness it, you will die."
She wanted to stop him from seeking death. But she had failed.
Hearing this, the swordsman smiled. "I know."
Then he turned to look at the Raiden Shogun on the platform. His eyes were full of longing.
At last, he would see that blade.
On the platform, the Raiden Shogun watched Kujou Sara's defeat with mild surprise, but her expression remained cold.
She stepped down from the platform and approached the swordsman. Her face expressionless, she asked, "Swordsman—I'll call you that for now. What is your wish?"
If he could survive one strike, the Shogun would grant his wish.
But the swordsman said seriously, "My wish is simply to witness Her Excellency's blade. That is enough."
The Raiden Shogun frowned slightly. "If you survive the strike, what do you want?"
The swordsman hesitated for a moment, then said seriously, "Then revoke the Vision Hunt Decree. Return everyone's Visions."