The forest remained unnaturally silent. Kimotsu and Kaelven exchanged a brief glance.
Neither of them needed words. They understood each other's intentions. At the same instant both pushed off the ground. Instead of charging directly, they moved in a zig-zag pattern.
Their movements constantly shifted left and right, making it difficult to predict their trajectory.
Kaelven approached from Yamamoto's right. Kimotsu closed in from his left. The distance disappeared in an instant. Both swords flashed simultaneously.
One from the right. One from the left. Yamamoto calmly drew his blade. Clang! His sword intercepted Kaelven's slash.
At the same time…Before Kimotsu could fully draw his blade for the strike—
Yamamoto lifted one foot. His sandal pressed firmly against Kimotsu's scabbard.
The blade refused to leave its sheath. Kimotsu's eyes widened.
Yamamoto pushed Kaelven away with the force of his sword before immediately pivoting on his planted foot. His hips rotated smoothly.
His right leg whipped toward Kimotsu's head. Kimotsu lowered his body. The kick passed inches above him.
As Yamamoto's leg completed its arc, he smoothly planted it behind himself without ever losing balance.
Kaelven had already recovered. He burst forward again. His sword moved like flowing water.
One slash…Then another…And another. Horizontal. Vertical. Diagonal. Every angle was covered. Yamamoto's footwork remained incredibly compact.
Instead of wasting movement, each step barely shifted a few inches. His body slipped between several attacks.
When dodging wasn't possible his blade met Kaelven's sword.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sparks illuminated the forest.
Kimotsu finally joined. His sword left its sheath in one fluid motion. Instead of wide swings, he attacked with short, explosive cuts. He stepped forward with his left foot.
His hips turned. A rising slash aimed toward Yamamoto's ribs.
Before the attack landed… Yamamoto rotated his wrist. His sword slid along Kimotsu's blade before knocking it upward. Kimotsu immediately recovered.
He shifted his weight onto his rear foot. His front foot slid across the dirt. Without hesitation he spun. The momentum carried his blade toward Yamamoto's neck.
Yamamoto leaned backward just enough for the blade to miss. The sword cut several strands of his hair.
Kaelven immediately exploited the opening. He lunged. Rather than slashing…He thrust. Yamamoto redirected the blade with the flat of his own sword.
Kaelven withdrew instantly before stepping diagonally around Yamamoto. Kimotsu appeared from behind. The two perfectly alternated their rhythm.
Whenever one retreated the other attacked. High. Low. Left. Right. Thrust. Slash. Reverse grip.
Each movement naturally flowed into the next. Their footwork synchronized almost instinctively. Kaelven constantly circled clockwise. Kimotsu circled counterclockwise.
Together…They forced Yamamoto to continuously turn.
Yet…The old swordsman smiled. Every attack…Every feint…Every combination…Was calmly blocked.
His sword never seemed rushed. Each movement contained only what was necessary. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Kimotsu suddenly widened the distance. His sword pointed toward the heavens. White lightning danced around the glowing blade.
"Sword God…Desolate Strike."
The sword vibrated violently.
Kimotsu swung downward. A gigantic white slash erupted across the battlefield.
At the same moment Kaelven stepped forward. He held his sword perfectly straight. The tip aimed directly toward Yamamoto.
"Sword Point."
He thrust forward.
The space before the blade shattered. An enormous beam of condensed sword energy exploded from the tip. The beam tore through the earth.
The ground cracked apart beneath it. Trees vanished, Boulders disintegrated. The white slash and energy beam rushed toward Yamamoto together.
Yamamoto calmly lifted his sword. He blocked. The two attacks collided against his blade.
A tremendous explosion swallowed the entire battlefield. The sliced mountain range from earlier completely collapsed. Smoke consumed everything. Silence followed.
Several moments later…The smoke slowly drifted away. Yamamoto still stood exactly where he had been. Only a few small burnt marks were visible on his hands.
Kaelven clicked his tongue.
"Tch…Only did that much damage? What a tough old man."
Yamamoto looked at the burn marks. Then laughed.
"You youngins sure are interesting."
He slowly floated into the sky.
Holding his sword with one hand…He calmly spoke.
"Universe Splitting Sword."
He swung downward.
The movement happened so quickly…Neither Kaelven nor Kimotsu saw when he actually swung. Silence spread throughout the forest. The mountain range became motionless. Nothing happened.
Then the earth split apart. A massive fissure stretched across the entire battlefield.
At the same instant a slash appeared across both Kaelven's and Kimotsu's chests.
Blood erupted. Both coughed violently. Kimitsu dropped onto one knee.
Kaelven staggered backward. He spat blood onto the ground. His breathing became heavy. Yamamoto slowly looked at them.
"Fine…I will acknowledge you both."
For the first time…He opened his eyes. A suffocating pressure instantly descended upon the battlefield.
Kaelven instinctively tightened his grip. Kimotsu lowered his stance. Every instinct screamed at them. Danger. Yamamoto slowly descended to the ground.
Since you won't attack first…
"Then allow me."
His figure relaxed.
"Silent Step."
Immediately…Every sound vanished. No wind, birds or breathing just absolute silence. Yamamoto disappeared.
He instantly appeared before Kimotsu.
"Strength of the Blade God."
His sword descended.
Kimotsu immediately raised his own blade.
CLANG!! A shower of sparks exploded in every direction. The sheer force drove Kimotsu's feet into the earth.
The ground beneath him cracked. Kaelven moved simultaneously. He thrust toward Yamamoto's side. Without looking…Yamamoto slid his own blade along Kimotsu's sword.
Using that momentum…He redirected Kaelven's thrust harmlessly to the side.
Kimotsu suddenly released the pressure.
Instead of resisting…He kicked Yamamoto squarely in the chest. The old swordsman slid backward.
Before he could recover Kaelven appeared behind him. A sweeping kick knocked Yamamoto's feet off the ground.
Yamamoto tilted into the air. Kaelven immediately raised his sword.
Ready to finish the attack Yamamoto disappeared. A moment later…A powerful kick slammed into Kaelven's ribs.
BOOM! Kaelven was launched through several trees before crashing deep into the forest.
Silence returned once again.
Yamamoto calmly rested his sword on his shoulder.
"Your teamwork…is interestingly annoying."
Kimotsu smiled.
"Is that a compliment?"
Yamamoto chuckled.
"If that helps you sleep better at night…yes."
Branches suddenly snapped.
Kaelven walked out from the broken forest. He wiped the blood from his chin. Then smiled.
"Thanks. We'll try to make it more annoying for you."
Yamamoto's smile slowly disappeared.
His eyes sharpened.
"Since you've rekindled my flame…I shall show you my true power."
He slowly raised one hand toward the heavens.
"Circuit Embodiment — Mythical."
A pillar of brilliant light descended from the sky. His sword floated upward into the center of the radiance. Light poured endlessly from the blade.
Then the sword shattered. Countless fragments hovered within the pillar of light.
Moments later…Every fragment fused back together. The blade reformed into an entirely different structure. Kimotsu's eyes widened.
"The Mythical Sword…Impossible…How does that sword still exist?"
Kaelven looked toward him.
"What is it?"
Kimotsu never took his eyes off Yamamoto's weapon.
"It's a power used by the beings of the First Circuit Era. My grandfather used to talk about it. He said this sword was powerful enough to make a universe erupt in chaos."
Yamamoto laughed.
"So you've heard of it? Good. Your deaths will not be painful. I'll make sure of it."