Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume8 Chapter5 (section)

===Part 4===
Greyworth descended from the hill and walked into the deep forest.

The night spirits floated between trees, giving off mysterious light.

"We'll be there soon. Improving relations has to be done somewhere others can't see."

"Wha......!"

"Don't blush every time. You're really cute."

"Kuu......"

The Dusk Witch smiled like she was having fun.

The sound of fireworks still echoed from far away.

"......It's been a long time. Walking through the forest with you like this."

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"You tricked me by saying we were going mushroom hunting in the forest and we ended up hunting an archdemon class spirit."

Kamito leered at Greyworth who was walking in front of him.

"Ahh, that did happen."

"I really thought I'd die that time."

"But that live combat was the best kind of training, right?"

Greyworth shrugged.

"That was when you grasped the Bursting Blossom Spiral Blade Dance."

"If I hadn't, I would have died."

"Sheesh, since when did you become so rebellious. You were more honest and cute three years ago --- and we're here."

Greyworth finally came to a halt.

A large space made by clearing the forest. It was likely for the training of the Divine Ritual Institute's princess maidens.

"So what was it you wanted to give me?"

Greyworth's grey eyes seemed to be piercing Kamito as they gazed at him.

"---Kamito, I will entrust you with the final Absolute Blade Art."

"......Wh......at......?"

Kamito's eyes widened at the unexpected response.

The Absolute Blade Arts of the Dusk Witch who was called the strongest elementalist on the continent.

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That was something that, together with Vorpal Sword, had created Ren Ashbell.

"......What do you mean? You should have already entrusted me with the secrets three years ago."

Bursting Blossom Spiral Blade Dance --- an anti-spirit destruction sword technique.

The technique that defeated the monster of darkness, Nepenthes Lore.

Anything beyond that technique shouldn't exist---

"Certainly, that technique is the top sword technique. If successful, it will even massacre an archdemon class spirit."

Greyworth shook her head.

"But there is a final secret that I didn't teach you."

"Final secret......"

Kamito gulped. The witch wasn't teasing him.

"Why---"

"There is a reason I didn't teach you it three years ago. If someone inexperienced with the Absolute Blade Arts uses it, his or her body will be destroyed."

"......"

Certainly, the Absolute Blade Arts which surpassed the limits of flesh would destroy the user's body.

In actuality, even now, Kamito had not mastered them to a sufficient degree.

"But that technique---"

"That's right. Honestly speaking, you shouldn't use that kind of technique in live combat."

Greyworth assented easily.

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"But the you of now cannot win against the Strongest Blade Dancer. That is reality."

......He couldn't retort.

That was something that Kamito himself understood best.

"......If I perform that secret successfully, I can beat her?"

"---Possibly. You are weaker than you were then but your matured body is better. Your body now may be able to withstand the secret's recoil."

Greyworth's mouth curled and she placed a hand to the ground.

A beam of light like blood came out and an ominous magic square was drawn.

"---Come forth from the gates of Hell, earl that ascends to greatness, demon spirit Void!"

"......!"

From the center of the magic square glowing with red light came a formless lump of darkness.

Kamito's skin stood on end from the dreadful air of intimidation.

Formerly under Demon King Solomon, one of the pillars of his seventy-two spirits.

Greyworth extended her hand out and the lump of darkness became a sword at once, appearing in the witch's hand.

Elemental waffe --- Storm Bringer.

With an appearance greatly resembling Restia's Vorpal Sword, it was a jet black sword.

"......"

Kamito unsheathed the Demon Slayer wordlessly.

The shining silvery white brilliance lit up the dark forest.

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"It's been three years since our last practice. Are you prepared, lad?"

"The you of three years ago wouldn't have asked that to an opponent that has drawn their sword."

He had nothing to worry about.

For the current Kamito, the power to defeat the other Ren Ashbell was required.

In an instant, Greyworth's silhouette disappeared.

Deflecting the blade flash, a harsh metallic sound resounded in the night forest.

"......!"

"Ohh, you withstood the first strike. It seems you've recovered your sense from long ago."

The elemental waffen created sparks as they ground against each other.

(As usual, such monstrous strength......!)

He instinctively shuddered.

If it had been Kamito before the Blade Dance, he wouldn't have been able to see through it.

---Yes, this was the blade of the one previously called the strongest on the continent.

The divine power gushing forth from Storm Bringer was overwhelming Terminus Est.

"......Est is losing!?"

"That spirit isn't inferior to mine. There is an inconsistency in your output of divine power. It's been your weak point since before."

Greyworth declared that coldly and increased her sword pressure.

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"Kuu --- why, you......!"

Kamito filled Est with all the divine power in his body.

The silvery white sword gave off an oppressive shine and began pushing back against Storm Bringer in an instant.

"Yes, your instantaneous power exceeds me. However---"

Greyworth disappeared from his sight.

And faster than the thirst for blood---

"Absolute Blade Arts, First Form --- Purple Lightning!"

A stab like lightning gouged Kamito's abdomen.

"Kahaa!"

A severe impact hit him and Kamito's body hit the ground. The bodily damage from the elemental waffe was converted to mental damage, causing a severe concussion.

"---Stand. I held back."

"......"

Kamito groaned and shakily got to his feet.

It was true she held back.

Since he had taken an Absolute Blade Art but could still stand.

"......It's been a while since I've taken that sword technique."

While wiping the blood from his lip, Kamito smiled.

"Did that wake you up, lad?"

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"Yeah. Thanks."

Once again, he readied the shining Terminus Est with both his hands.

He stared directly at Greyworth who stood before him.

He could feel something awakening within himself.

The memories engraved in his body were coming back vividly.

"The girls are waiting---"

Kamito smiled fearlessly.

"I'll have you pass over the strongest Absolute Blade Art quickly."

"---That's it, those are the eyes. Only those eyes haven't changed from three years ago."

Greyworth's grey eyes stared at Kamito.

The point of the demon sword slowly came to aim at the middle of Kamito's forehead.

It was an oppression that sent goosebumps along his skin.

"Listen well, I won't show you the secret more than once. Grasp its nature in that one strike."

"Just once?"

"What it means is it will be impossible if you cannot grasp it after just once. Simply inheriting the title as the strongest elementalist does not mean you have the qualities to learn the Absolute Blade's secret."

Greyworth informed him in a piercingly cold voice.

Kamito's whole body broke out in a cold sweat.

A momentary silence. Then---

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"......Okay. That's enough."

Kamito gave a short nod.

A superficial sword would not pass for Greyworth.

In order to fill his elemental waffe with his thoughts, he closed his eyes and honed his senses.

What came to his mind was---

Claire, Fianna, Ellis, Rinslet --- the faces of his comrades.

And the Demon Slayer in his hands, Terminus Est.

(......There's no way I can lose!)

The sword in his hand was one which carried the Wishes of all of them.

"---Let's do this, Greyworth."

"Ahh, there's no use holding back. Come at me with the strongest technique you have."

"Has there ever been a time I've held back against you?"

He filled Terminus Est with all his divine power.

The silvery white sword shone dazzlingly, wiping away the forest's darkness.

Kamito charged as if to split the wind.

(---The strongest sword technique I can use now.)

He kicked the ground and accelerated. He changed to a reverse grip on the holy sword in his hands.

Then---

"Absolute Blade Arts, Destructive Form --- Bursting Blossom Spiral Blade Dance - Eighteen Consecutive Strikes!"

With a glint, countless scattered blades flashed.

The slashes' flashes were a destructive blade dance that boasted absolute killing power.

[[File:STnBD V08 232.png|thumbnail|right]]

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---Properly speaking, it was a technique for the purpose of defeating a mighty archdemon class spirit.

The storm of consecutive attacks resembling the blooming of a flower.

But the strongest witch on the continent --- stopped all of that with her blade.

Putting aside when she was in her golden age, Greyworth right now shouldn't be able to match up to Kamito physically. Then why was she able to take on Kamito's sword---

He came to know the answer soon.

(......!?)

Greyworth's ash blonde hair was giving off a faint luminescence.

It was the glow of the divine power she was expelling. And it was strong enough to be seen with the naked eye.

(While we were exchanging blows, she absorbed my divine power!?)

He wondered if that was the ability of Void's elemental waffe---

(No, that's wrong --- it's not that!)

Greyworth was matching her divine power to Kamito's divine power.

If one were to completely match their opponent's movements and breathing, he or she could make the opponent's divine power which would normally be repelled his or her own --- that was already something not of battle blade dancing but of the Divine Ritual Institute's princess maidens' specialty.

(This is the Absolute Blade's secret---)

The countless repelled sparks --- the concealed surges of the eighteen consecutive strikes that held absolute killing power.

The instant the final sword blow landed.

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Kamito understood. The truth of the Absolute Blade's secret.

(......It's coming!)

Kamito had put all his divine power into the eighteen consecutive strikes.

---That enormous power was now infused into Greyworth's sword.

Evasion was impossible. He instinctively understood that.

Greyworth's lips moved slightly---

Then---

"Absolute Blade Arts, Final Form --- Last Strike!"

The glinting tip of the sword pierced Kamito's chest.

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