Ever since the Raiden Shogun created the Musou no Hitotachi, no god—no demon, no human—had ever survived that strike. The gods who had fallen beneath her blade were no exception. Orobashi of Watatsumi Island was no exception.
The swordsman before her had yet to taste defeat, but everyone knew he could not withstand that single strike. The citizens of Inazuma watching from the gates could not help but plead with him, urging him to surrender his Vision willingly, to admit defeat before the Shogun's blade fell.
But that was impossible. He had fought so hard to defeat Kujou Sara, to earn this chance to witness that blade. How could he give up now?
Facing the Raiden Shogun's question, he answered seriously, "If I win, revoke the Vision Hunt Decree. Return everyone's Visions."
His wish was to witness that blade. The existence of the Vision Hunt Decree had become the driving force behind his challenge. All the martial artists of Inazuma feared the Shogun. But someone had to stand up, didn't they?
Of course, even the swordsman held the Shogun in great reverence. But for the sake of his wish, he forced himself to keep his eyes open, staring straight at her cold face, trying to read her thoughts before the blade fell—trying to find a weakness.
But unfortunately, the Raiden Shogun before him was not the true Electro Archon, Ei. She was a puppet created by Ei. No matter how he studied her, he could find no flaw.
The Raiden Shogun said coldly, "Oh? Revoke the Vision Hunt Decree? If you win, I will do so. But if you lose, you will die."
Her expression was perfectly calm. She knew that when her blade fell, this swordsman would die without question.
She turned slightly to look at Kujou Sara. "Stand down."
At the same time, she raised a hand to her chest.
Kujou Sara was reluctant, but she dared not disobey. "Yes, Your Excellency."
She bowed and slowly stepped back, her eyes lingering on the swordsman. She sighed softly. He was a worthy opponent. But soon, he would die.
She wanted to plead for him, but seeing the determination in his eyes, the words died in her throat. It would be useless. Even if she pleaded, he would not give up, and the Shogun would not show mercy. Besides, as a Shogunate general, why should she plead for an outsider?
She shook her head, pushing her troubled thoughts aside, and obeyed the Shogun's command to stand down.
On the dueling ground before Tenshukaku, only the disheveled swordsman and the cold-eyed Raiden Shogun remained.
In that moment, the duel before the throne had officially begun. But neither moved.
The swordsman observed. No matter how he studied her, he could find no weakness. Worse, relying on his instincts as a swordsman, he rapidly simulated countless scenarios in his mind. In every one, his blade posed no threat to her. He wanted to strike first, but he could not find an opening.
And before the Shogun had even used her blade, her divine aura alone was already pressing down on him, almost unbearable. He could only grip his sword tightly, forcing himself to stay on his feet.
Then, with a swift motion, he tore off the upper half of his clothes, revealing his muscular arms. Beneath his garments, to everyone's shock, were two more sword sheaths.
Yes—he trained with three swords. Against Kujou Sara, one had been enough. But facing the Raiden Shogun, he brought out his strongest arsenal.
(T/N: Zoro, what are you doing here bro!?)
Enduring the pressure of her divine aura, he clamped one longsword between his teeth, then drew the other two from the sheaths on his back, one in each hand.
Three swords. He faced the Raiden Shogun.
As for the Shogun, she simply raised a hand and, before the eyes of all, drew a legendary blade from her chest.
Musou Isshin.
At this sight, the Shogunate soldiers standing guard, Kujou Sara with her complex expression, and the citizens watching from the gates all froze, their mouths agape.
There it was. The Raiden Shogun's blade had appeared once more, in such an unexpected manner.
Everyone watched the dueling ground and watched the blade in the Shogun's hand, forgetting to breathe.
"Why does that swordsman have three swords?"
"Could it be the legendary three-sword style of Inazuma? No—he's using swords, not blades."
"We underestimated him."
"Maybe—just maybe—he really can withstand that strike."
"Impossible. No matter how strong he is, he is still human. And the Raiden Shogun is our god."
The citizens were shocked by the sight of the three swords. They marveled at his talent. If he had chosen to compromise with the Shogun, he could have grown even stronger—perhaps become the strongest human beneath the gods. But now, there was no chance.
Under everyone's stunned gazes, the Raiden Shogun standing before Tenshukaku remained as cold as ever. She did not intend to show mercy.
But in her heart, a doubt arose. Was there truly no fear of death in some humans? Was there truly someone unafraid of that Musou no Hitotachi—that peerless strike that even gods feared?
Though she was uncertain, for the sake of eternity, for the dignity of the Shogunate, for the dignity of the Electro Archon, she had to swing that blade.
The next moment, before the swordsman could attack, she raised her hand and swung.
It was enough to grant his wish.
The instant she raised her hand, the sky above Inazuma City was torn by terrifying bolts of lightning. Deafening thunder rolled across the heavens. Countless flashes of lightning wove together like a spiderweb, dense and apocalyptic, as if the end of days had come.