Editing Horizon:Volume 10A Chapter 22 (section)

==Chapter 22: Battlefield Founder==
[[File:Horizon10A_p0699.jpg|thumb]]
''View the enemy

''View the enemy

''You are not an enemy

''The enemy is only an enemy

'''Point Allocation (Back and Forth)

●

''He’s trying to trick me again,'' thought Sakon with a glare.

…''Onitakemaru-san is too good with words.

She had thought he must have been popular when he was young, but since it would be awkward to look him up on the divine network at this point, she had been asking around about him. She was kind of glad to learn the historical view of him was fairly positive. Really, she was just glad to find he had been a decent person in life. Not exactly the highest hurdle to clear.

But no one would answer her when she asked if he had been popular, so she had ended up asking Kasuya since she seemed like she would actually answer. And after a long pause, Kasuya did so.

“His wife was known as something of a monster, I believe. But since he knew what she was like and still passionately pursued her, he must have fairly unique tastes.”

“A monster of a wife and unique tastes?”

From there, Sakon had adjusted her opinion of him to “was weird in life but was judged well by history”. ''But that lowers the hurdle even further, which makes communication easier.

“Y’know, Onitakemaru-san, it sounds like you had a tough time in life.”

“Where did this come from!? C’mon, face forward!”

The husband was in front of her. And she cowered back a little.

''I mean, how can I beat him? I don’t stand a chance…

He was on another level and had something she didn’t. She honestly didn’t really understand it, but nothing she did was going to work. That’s how it had been against the wife, so she was sure it would be the same with the husband.

But she decided to go for it.

'''Onitakemaru:''' “Oh, are you going for it?”

'''Kohime:''' “Yes, yes, I am, I am.”

'''Onitakemaru:''' “Excellent. You have made much progress.”

''He’s so good at compliments. I bet he would have been really popular, if only he didn’t have such unique tastes… Well, to each their own.

'''Kohime:''' “I promised Mitsunari-sama that I would show her what I can do.”

'''Onitakemaru:''' “And I will do the same. So let’s do this.”

“Yes, yes,” she said while stepping forward. The enemy lowered his head a bit and then moved in toward her.

…''Oh, no.

This was going to hit her.

●

“Ow!”

Gin heard Sakon’s cry. And a question filled her mind.

…''What?

No, “why” may have been more accurate.

But this “what” wasn’t directed at Sakon. It was directed at Muneshige.

When facing an opponent like Sakon, the solution was obvious.

Sever a part of her or stop her.

And at Muneshige’s level, he could reach the same result she had achieved even if his methods were different. And he could do it all at once.

Without giving her a chance to scream.

So when she heard Sakon’s scream, Gin had to wonder what Muneshige had done.

She was asking if he had used some other solution.

He hadn’t.

…''Muneshige-sama.

After making his attack, he took a fighting stance.

He had not severed a part of her or stopped her. He was ''fighting'' her.

“Muneshige-sama!”

What was happening? She realize the answer when she saw him retake that fighting stance.

“This opponent is Shima Sakon, but she is also Shogun Yoritomo!”

“Thank you, Gin-san!”

Just as Muneshige responded with great fervor in his voice, something rushed at him.

It was Sakon. She had seemed so hesitant before, but now she began the battle with an attack from her left arm.

●

Kasuya heard a solid sound.

Her team was currently taking control of the bow corridor of the Musashi’s 3rd port ship.

The only teams taking control of the ship’s surface as part of the battlefield were hers and Kiyomasa’s. Fukushima’s team was spread out and acting as a diversion. That was certainly useful and it had split up the enemy that would otherwise have been coming here.

Fukushima herself was acting on her own. There was a lot to that, but it had no direct connection to what Kasuya was doing.

To Kasuya’s team’s left was an elevated area toward the bow, on their right was a base hull hole to stern, and directly ahead was the corridor they were fighting over.

…''I know that sound.

It was a solid sound.

What was it?

She felt like she had heard it recently. And not so recently too. But despite how familiar it sounded, something about it sounded vaguely off.

“Leader! What is it!?”

Kousaka raised a defense barrier in front of her and asked that question as she endured the enemy gunfire.

The fighting here was fierce. The idea had been to shatter the enemy’s defense barriers and advance, but there weren’t any barriers on the corridor connecting the right and left sides of the ship, only an ambush and gunfire.

Kiyomasa’s team attacking the aft corridor was probably making better progress.

In this partial stalemate, Inada and the others opened defense barriers and took up positions to continue taking control of the elevated area.

They made up for the hits they took by setting up a rotation, with their natural healing, and with spells, so maybe you could say they were making the most of their advantages as a nonhuman unit.

At any rate, ''this'' was what Takenaka had ordered them to do.

Kasuya knew this stalemate had to serve some kind of purpose, but…

…''Oh, again.

She heard it.

A solid sound separate from the artillery fire and scraping of the air seemed to spring up above the rest.

“This is…?”

''A wooden sound,'' she realized. It resembled the deeper notes of a xylophone, but the mallet was probably metal. That gave the notes a springing sound instead of a gentle one.

…''Is something trying to smash through a wooden barricade?

Just as Kasuya wondered about the sound’s origin, Kousaka looked up.

“Are you wondering about that sound?”

“Eh? Yes, I am.”

“I heard it at Shizugatake too. You wouldn’t have because you were asleep after you reached the peak.”

“B-but I was only asleep for a short time.”

While she said this, Kasuya also recalled hearing this sound at Shizugatake.

But what was it? Why did she think she knew this continuous sound yet feel like she didn’t?

And as she considered each of the people she knew who had been at Shizugatake and were here now, she realized who it had to be.

“Is that Sakon?”

●

''That’s odd,'' thought Kasuya.

When she considered this coming from Sakon, it seemed plausible. Sakon’s arms gave her a much longer reach than the average person, so could her attacks be causing this?

…''It does remind me of her attack tempo from Aki.

''But,'' she added. ''This continuous attack tempo sounds off.

Sakon was a combat novice, which allowed her skills to rapidly improve, but…

“What is with this attack tempo?”

It was sharp. There didn’t seem to be much of a pattern, but it was accurate and it rang in the ear. It was…

“Some kind of old-fashioned style of swordplay?”

●

Gin decided she needed to pay attention to what was happening in front of her. Because…

…''It would be an insult not to!

Directly ahead of her, Muneshige was battling Sakon.

After fighting Sakon, Gin thought of her as a powerful warrior but a combat novice.

As a bearer of the Tachibana name, Gin was familiar with countless forms of combat. The Peerless in the West knew enough ways to fight to come out on top in England when Drake’s Testamenta Arma made number of techniques into the deciding factor.

To take on someone like her, you either had to know just as many fighting styles or know how to ad lib well enough to oppose them all.

Muneshige was the latter type and Honda Futayo was the former. In Gin’s opinion, Honda Futayo’s appearance and personality made her seem undisciplined, but her combat skills were built atop a foundation of the techniques inherited from her father, the Peerless in the East.

However, a different answer was being displayed to her now.

Sakon made a lot of attacks.

But she had no variety.

She would hold her weapon at a high, middle, or low position and then swing it up, swing it down, swing it sideways, or jab. That made for 12 varieties in all.

She could defend too of course, but unlike the attacks, that wasn’t a direct threat.

However, those few attack varieties were incredibly sharp.

Because Sakon had a sword in each arm, even those simple attacks could be made in combination. Also…

…''Her positioning is excellent!

The feet of her mobile shell scraped loudly along the floor, leaving scorch marks.

That was the natural result of her rapid footwork weighed down by the combination of her weight and the mobile shell’s weight.

She sent her feet rapidly sliding along while making short, quick movements. She kept her hips at a fairly steady height and tried to manage the movement of her upper and lower body separately while maintaining a position between middle and close range.

Muneshige attempted to move in closer, but…

“…!”

Because her attack and defense were so simple, she could react quickly.

Sakon used simplicity as a weapon. She would attack or counterattack and, once that restricted Muneshige’s movements, she would defend.

Sometimes Muneshige’s attack would reach her, but the mobile shell’s armor would deflect it or Sakon would regenerate.

Meanwhile, Muneshige was doing a splendid job of holding off her two rapid wooden swords with his one sword.

It was likely only thanks to his Racing Toes that he could respond to Sakon’s rapid footwork. He repeatedly used the spell and calmly took stances that looked like he was falling over to wear down Sakon.

Gin had to watch.

The intensity of the fighting and Sakon’s transformative strength were well worth watching.

“Gin-san! I know these techniques!”

“Judge,” replied Gin. She was confident of her answer now.

“As reported, she uses the sword techniques of Shogun Yoritomo!”

What did that mean?

“That means she essentially uses the foundation of the Tachibana style!”

●

''So they’ve noticed,'' thought Onitakemaru with a silent chuckle.

He and Sakon were managing to hold their own. And because of that…

'''Onitakemaru:''' “Kohime! I will not ask you to memorize this! But your body is capable of these movements, so you just need to teach them to your body!”

He was currently moving Kohime’s body. He wasn’t using the power assist. Ootani’s virus had removed the limiters, so he could use the mobile shell’s power to actively control Kohime’s actions.

He focused on dealing with Tachibana Muneshige. He prevented that opponent’s attacks and moved right into making attacks of his own.

It was a good thing Kohime used two swords. He wouldn’t have been able to attack fast enough to deal with this opponent otherwise.

That was just how powerful the enemy was. ''But we are powerful too.'' And…

'''Kohime:''' “Um, wait, wait, excuse me? Onitakemaru-san said something about ‘using their family’s sword style’ and now he’s fighting a duel for me? What is going on?”

'''Onitakemaru:''' “Do you find it that strange that I can hold my own against this opponent!?”

'''Kohime:''' “Testament. I can only assume the husband ate some bad food and is feeling sick.”

'''Onitakemaru:''' Damn you! Were you not listening!?”

'''Super Justice:''' “To be fair, Shogun, that was a really long story by modern standards.”

'''Kohime:''' “Oh, and don’t bother telling it again. If we can fight, then I won’t complain.”

'''Onitakemaru:''' “Damn you both!”

But he was going to explain it again. ''I will! You need to understand this.

'''Onitakemaru:''' “The Tachibana family has its roots not in the Minamoto clan or the Taira clan but in the Fujiwara Hokke! The Fujiwara Hokke produced many imperial regents, it once held great influence in the imperial court, and it was equal to the Minamoto and Taira clans in military might!”

Did you know?

'''Onitakemaru:''' “The Fujiwara Hokke was led by a man called Touta. He is one of the people always mentioned among the great men of Far Eastern history, he was involved in the subjugation of Masakado, and he repelled the great centipede of Oumi’s Mount Mikami. Tawara no Touta was the head of the Fujiwara Hokke!”

And…

'''Onitakemaru:''' “When our Minamoto clan attacked the Taira clan, we had the imperial court’s cooperation because, due to the Minamoto clan’s friendship with the Fujiwara Hokke, we were able to exchange tactics and bolster our fighting force. Which means the Minamoto clan possesses the tactics and fighting style provided by Tawara no Touta!”

'''Kohime:''' “If all you did was get them from someone else, why are you acting all self-important about it?”

'''Onitakemaru:''' “Damn you! It wasn’t easy!”

''I could work on my vocabulary,'' he thought while Kohime tried to act mature by telling him to calm down.

'''Kohime:''' “It is true this was a lucky break, but, um, if what you said is true, then wouldn’t the husband we’re fighting be…?”

'''Onitakemaru:''' “Yes, the distant successor of the fighting style and combat skills we used back then!”

“But,” he said.

'''Onitakemaru:''' “You are my successor as its originator, Kohime! And I am teaching it to you now!”

●

Gin wished she could battle this version of Sakon.

Her sword technique, footwork, body movements, and balance were all intimately familiar to her as the forms she had been taught. But…

…''These are far more polished!

Forms in martial arts were of course modified to match the user’s build. A different height meant different inertial force when swinging the limbs. So you would modify them for yourself and train with them, but by understanding the meaning of the forms, you would not forget their purpose.

But the enemy before her now was different.

Her forms were as solid as if she had created them herself. These hadn’t been modified for her. They had been like this to begin with.

This was the original.

Gin doubted even her father had used the forms at this level. How was he lately? She hadn’t heard from him since he went missing during the attack on Aki, but if that was enough to kill him, he would have died back when he was struck by lightning.

According to the vassal, “Oh, his character changed a bit during Part 3 and he moved to Hondalia’s side, but all the kids are saying ‘I just know that bald guy’s a traitor!’ ”

Apparently he was having a rough time in the videos too.

Regardless, Gin straightened up. And it was Muneshige who awed her the most.

He was fighting from a foundation of the sword style she had taught him.

…''Muneshige-sama.

Briefly, she felt unease. If the “descendant” techniques he was taught were no match for the “original”, then it was her responsibility. But…

“Gin-san!” he said. Clearly enjoying himself. “This reminds me of old times!”

●

''I see,'' thought Muneshige. ''That explains some things.

This opponent’s limited variety of attacks were too good a match for his own.

It reminded him of old times. Back when he had been interested in Gin and began visiting the Tachibana house. After completing training in the fundamentals, he had been allowed to carry a wooden sword and immediately Gin had challenged him.

From there, it had all been incredible.

Gin had fully prevented all of his attacks. And not with defense. She had used counterattacks to strike, strike, and strike some more to prevent them.

“I was trying to teach you you didn’t stand a chance.”

That was her claim, but she had only used the most fundamental techniques. So by the time he had managed to deal with her counterattacks, not only had he built up his own ability to ad lib, but he had learned how to respond to those fundamental techniques and how to use them himself.

Those were the same techniques being used before him now. The attacks Gin had used back then were being used at much greater speed…

“Ohh!”

…with footwork, and as a nonstop barrage.

●

…''This youngster is good!

He was the forefront of this style’s descendants, after all. He was doing an excellent job of using just the one sword to hold his own at the mid range where Kohime excelled. No, the truth was…

'''Onitakemaru:''' “We’re being pushed back!?”

He knew why. This opponent’s defenses were too dense.

When sending an attack this way, he would switch to something that felt like his own personal style and send out great force.

But when blocking Kohime’s attacks, he was shockingly proper. He would combine the fundamentals to deflect Kohime’s slashes without placing any excess burden on himself.

And Onitakemaru would deal with his attacks. To prevent the enemy from stepping in close, he bent his knees to block the way and slid the soles of his feet along to remain at mid range.

He wouldn’t give any distance to his opponent.

When attacked, he fell back, but when the enemy backed away, he pursued.

That was fundamental.

There was nothing unusual in his attacks either.

He made high, middle, and low attacks with nothing that could be called a special technique.

He used ordinary footwork, ordinary attacks, and ordinary defense, but he combined and performed them with precision.

What happened when he never allowed himself a mistake and never rushed while attacking or defending against his opponent?

…''Calm.

He did these things all the time, so through these attacks and defenses, he could turn the battlefield into ''nothing out of the ordinary''.

Gaining great strength, special skills, spells, protections, and mechanical power was all well and good. He felt like he was rejecting his own existence here, but whatever.

However, relying on those things created a situation that was ''out of the ordinary''.

Even when done in order to win, including those unnecessary factors would place a burden on him. And…

…''Oh?

Tachibana Muneshige sped up.

The ether light scattering from the soles of his feet suggested he had used an acceleration spell. He had just applied the spell to his hands and the soles of his feet.

He applied two to each foot: one to the heel and one to the toes.

“So you push yourself past your limits, descendant!?”

“No, he does no such thing!” replied Tachibana Gin loud enough for her voice to reach him. “None may rival him! The Peerless has no limits to push past!”

“Well said!”

This was a replacement. Just as Onitakemaru and Sakon had narrowed down their techniques to that which they always had with them, those two had begun with that foundation and added in whatever they could.

And the descendant accelerated. To defeat Onitakemaru and Sakon.

“–––––”

Ether light scattered as he charged toward them.

●

Muneshige had a single thought in his head.

…''Wonderful!

The proof that he and Gin had built up was there before him.

That was a great foundation. It had taken around five hundred years for the techniques of the Fujiwara Hokke to reach them. A lot had been replaced in that time and a lot had been newly allowed, but that foundation was still great.

Its deep and unshakable roots were what had allowed the prosperity built atop it.

But the foundation was shallow. The time it took to teach and learn were short and you would only feel your time was well spent after learning the techniques and creating your own style based on them.

Muneshige had thoroughly enjoyed the time he spent battling Gin in the beginning.

“Yes.”

Looking back on it, that had been a wonderful time. ''Gin-san was especially wonderful when she gave me a reception so cold it was glacial.

That was what had let the fundamentals permeate his being. That it allowed him to realize his feelings for Gin made it all the better.

The past could not be denied. And he didn’t need to deny it.

“Thank you.”

You could say it was the creation of the original techniques that had brought him and Gin together. So…

“Allow me to show you what was passed down to me!”

●

Kasuya heard an odd noise as she accepted a rifle one of her people had secured.

…''Wh-what is that?

The previous wooden sounds weren’t stopping.

It wasn’t constant.

There were occasional gaps, but it never stopped.

It wasn’t so much music as it was a pulse. It wasn’t so much a pulse as it was a dance. And it wasn’t so much a dance as it was…

…''A martial arts performance.

Specifically, one performed by a group of two.

They would bring their forms together, confirm the meaning in them both, and thank each other.

The predetermined exchange created a seemingly chaotic cooperation, but this one was happening with unbelievable speed and density as well as with clear pauses that included feints.

Was Sakon doing this?

Kasuya thought Onitakemaru had to be instructing her. But…

“Leader, what is that sound?” asked Kousaka, pointing and glaring toward Murayama.

She would honestly rather use this rifle to finally take the corridor, but this sound caught the attention of her nonhuman ears.

She smiled a little at the sound as it accelerated past the point of having any division between individual noises.

…''What could I do to bring Sakon this far if I sparred with her?

Sakon had to be enjoying a fulfilling battle. Also…

“It’s strange. This sounds just like the person I knew.”

●

Muneshige accelerated.

He placed his toes down, spun on his feet, and launched himself forward.

He attacked with his hips low, but Sakon did not oppose it.

She moved back and sent out an attack to hold him back.

Muneshige caught the attack.

Then Sakon sent out an attack with her other hand.

He dodged that.

She then fell back and again tried to make an attack to hold him back. So…

“…”

He dodged it. He kept his stance low, sinking down as if to press his chest to the floor.

“Here I go!”

He only managed to move forward from there thanks to the acceleration spells on his feet. He climbed the floor like a slope and ran.

His destination was between Sakon’s legs. He sprang up to a position where he would hit her if he stood up.

But she sent a low attack toward his face.

Her wooden sword was aimed straight down and grazed the floor as it flew toward him in a counterattack.

Muneshige met the attack.

He raised his long sword in just his right arm, evaded the wooden sword to the left, and swung his sword forward from his low running position.

Racing Toes scattered from both his arms and the sword drew out an arc as if launched.

But Sakon reacted to the wind-splitting strike.

She swung her right foot around back and slid her left leg to turn sideways and out of the way of Muneshige’s attack.

By rotating herself 90 degrees to the right and back, Muneshige ended up running right in front of her to the right.

Sakon then stopped and pulled back the left strike she had sent out first and the lower attack grazing the floor.

She did not attack with both arms at once.

After using her right hand to stop her earlier attack, she used a snap of her wrist to launch it outwards. She was targeting Muneshige’s back as it passed her by.

The sweeping sound vanished and became a clear sound.

The wooden sword was just about to hit Muneshige from behind when he grabbed the sword he had swung forward and pulled on it.

The sword pulled back, but this also pulled Muneshige forward.

The wooden sword passed through the gap this created.

It failed to hit him.

And Sakon used the momentum of her swinging arm to turn toward Muneshige.

Still pulling on his sword, Muneshige held it close to him to use it as a fulcrum for a turn, bringing him around to look her in the eye.

“–––––!”

They clashed.

●

'''Kohime:''' “Hey! Wait! I think you’re having too much fun here, Onitakemaru-san! This is getting out of hand!”

Onitakemaru agreed with Kohime as he watched the overlapping sword strikes.

'''Onitakemaru:''' “Just pursue him! His attacks appear to be superior, but our greater reach gives us the advantage in converting defense into offense!”

They tried to pursue and catch up to Muneshige, but ether light scattered and Muneshige shot out.

…''Speed!

That had been a crucial factor in his time, but martial arts designed for the battlefield had been more highly prized in that age. Yoshitsune’s Hassou Tobi was a good example of that. But now…

…''Do modern battles include this kind of acceleration and switching up tactics to match your opponent!?

The fundamentals weren’t enough for an opponent like this. Not even pushing up against their limits as people would be enough.

How could you fight someone like that?

Onitakemaru knew the answer.

This was when you needed to acquire a new method.

…''So he is known as the Peerless in the West!

''The many methods you are showing me now tell me just how much difficulty was met by the techniques we created in that war five hundred years ago.

And one thing was clear.

…''You overcame those difficulties!

He was now looking at the form that five hundred years of victory had created.

He was battling it.

'''Kohime:''' “Umm, Onitakemaru-san?”

'''Onitakemaru:''' “What, Kohime?”

“Well,” replied Kohime.

'''Kohime:''' “You know so many ways to fight, but games always show your military might as way lower than Komaoumaru-san who was from your time and Yoshitsune-san who people claim is still alive. So was all that the result of 500 years of people badmouthing you?”

'''Onitakemaru:''' “I have not been badmouthed! You are the only one who does not pay me the respect I am due! The problem lies in those two! Firing a beam from the mouth? Long-range jumping and the headfirst fall? It’s absurd! I am the normal, reasonable kind of strong!”

''And what is wrong with that?'' he thought.

''After all, I used these techniques to defeat them.

●

Onitakemaru thought of old times.

He had often spoken with Tawara no Touta who was long-lived and had become an observer after completing his inherited name. They had discussed how to complete the history recreation of establishing the buke society.

But the Taira clan had also cared a lot about themselves. So he had often been under attack or launching attacks of his own. The two sides had often brought trouble to each other’s lives. It had been a busy age.

He had found it fulfilling.

During all that, Komaoumaru, Yoshitsune, and some others had sought an age of heroes with themselves at the top of the list. Their policy had been to set up the buke families as a symbol while they took control of and handled the harsh history recreations so their subordinates could have an easier time.

But Onitakemaru had been different. He had known there were things that couldn’t be handled with only the great heroes running history.

A note in the Testament said his shogunate was attacked by a foreign enemy and later approved of a war involving the Far East before collapsing. What could a small number of heroes do then? How could the ordinary people avoid being viewed as the insurgents in the history recreation and pillaged?

Martial arts.

Each individual had to be made strong enough to form a group that could stand up to external forces and those heroes.

So he had wanted a form of martial arts that could be easily spread. The Fujiwara Hokke had answered his call and, as a buke family at the time, developed the many techniques that would become the foundation for the Far East. His own sword style had come from working with Tawara no Touta to extract the bare minimum of techniques and use the attack on the Taira clan as a means of spreading them.

But these techniques could be used by a group to defeat even a great hero.

Komaoumaru had been pursued by Yoshitsune because Kyou’s buke families had answered Onitakemaru’s call beforehand.

The outcome would have been different in a “society of heroes” like Komaoumaru and the others had wanted.

They may have settled on their own interpretation and then used their strength as great heroes to ignore even the imperial court.

…''But society took the form I desired!

And once Yoshitsune was left behind, she too lost to the group.

''I was the ultimate winner and I am no hero.

''You could say I killed them as a group. I can see why Yoshitsune came to assassinate me. She did it because she was a great hero.

She had likely meant it as a form of protest. And he had been exhausted enough at the time to resign himself to that fate.

…''But what about now?

Now that he had awoken, Yoshitsune had recently died but some claimed she was still alive and Komaoumaru was also here, although he might not be sane. And even Tomoe Gozen was here as a ghost.

''I took everything too seriously back then.

And more than that…

'''Onitakemaru:''' “Kohime.”

Five hundred years later, the techniques he had passed down had created the peerless warrior of the Far East’s west.

And the techniques he had created were allowing someone as helpless as Kohime to hold her own against that peerless warrior.

He was glad.

He had made mistakes, but it had all worked out for the best. That he could believe.

So he spoke. ''The 500 years later version of myself is attempting to achieve yet another victory with his acceleration and strength, so I must speak to Kohime as she faces him with no more than my techniques.

'''Onitakemaru:''' “Kohime. I have something important to tell you, so listen up.”

'''Kohime:''' “Huh!? What is it!? If you’re giving me an allowance, I want it in cash!”

'''Onitakemaru:''' “Do not beg a shogun for an allowance! Listen.”

He said.

'''Onitakemaru:''' “I am shifting back to power assist mode. Move as you like. That is for the best.”

●

Sakon tried to work this out.

It was true she was too panicked to tell if Onitakemaru was telling the truth or not.

But her twin wooden swords were holding off the husband’s fierce attacks and she had plenty of chances to attack.

She could fight.

…''Yes.

She thought, ''This must be one of my abilities I wasn’t aware of.

Her understanding grew with each attack and each defense she made.

When she had fought the Mito Lord at Nördlingen, Onitakemaru had provided movement assistance.

''That'' was ''this''.

She had realized it now.

Starting with that first battle, he had been teaching her the fundamentals of combat. That was why. So…

…''I can move?

She thought back.

How fulfilling a time had she had outside that fortress city at dawn? And during the Battle of Shizugatake earlier?

These techniques had survive for 500 years.

And their origin was still effective 500 years later.

They were simple and she, their user, was an idiot.

So there was no excess there.

…''Oh, but that would mean Onitakemaru-san is an idiot too?

''Would he be mad if I said that? Probably. Yes, yes, he definitely would. But saying it would feel like we were getting along so well because we’re both idiots. Mitsunari-sama is the only smart one.

''But I understand.

''My abilities aren’t mine alone. Mitsunari-sama wanted me even if she doesn’t look the same, Onitakemaru-san has those techniques he built up over 500 years, and that all leads to me.

''I can at least trust in that now.

'''Kohime:''' “Onitakemaru-san.”

She said.

'''Kohime:''' “I’m amazed you still remember it all after 500 years.”

●

A change came over Sakon’s high-speed long reach and her rapid footwork.

She had purged her foot armor, allowing her feet to grip the floor.

She focused on and moved the her instep and toes, eliminating all excess movement.

Keeping her heels low altered her stance, so her mobile shell rearranged its armor and assistance system and worked to keep her balance.

She further eliminated the excess from her bare minimum of techniques and movements.

And light scattered past her swinging blades.

Muneshige, whose techniques were built on the same foundation, held his sword in close and altered his movements.

When he attacked, he kept his torso stationary, sending the blade out from his shoulders only.

This did not mean the attack had no strength behind it. He was simply keeping his torso in place as a launchpad for the attack coming from his shoulders.

This wore out his arm muscles, but it was a compact motion and harder to read from the initial movement.

“Damn you. That technique…”

“I expect you do not recognize it! Because…”

Muneshige smiled.

“I developed it two years ago to defeat an enemy who could attack more quickly than me!”

●

'''Gold Mar:''' “I haven’t joined the fight yet, but I just heard something incredible.”

'''Art-Ga:''' “I’ve noticed our class has a tendency to reveal their kinks or start talking about their love life on the battlefield.”

'''Tachibana Wife:''' “I-ignore it! You all can just ignore that and focus on your own battles!”

'''Horizey “Love truly is a battle! How right you are, Gin-sama!”

'''Tachibana Wife:''' “Vicereeeeeeine!!”

●

Sound raced out. Wood against blade did not produce sparks.

But solid sounds burst out and permeated the battlefield.

They were incessant.

Sakon rapidly sent out her highly-polished original techniques while Muneshige responded with techniques continually developed over 500 years to defeat any and all opponents.

Neither one held back.

They poured everything they had into it, drawing on all their preparations to see what the other could do.

When one circled in, the other dodged. When one struck, the other evaded.

When one moved in, the other fell back. When one pursued, the other circled around.

During this push and pull, the sounds acted as the only truth to bring them closer.

They fit together like gears.

One was simple and the other complex, but they still fit together, like they were both watching a musical instrument in the air.

The sounds continued, growing more dense as the distance between them reached equilibrium.

Half a step was all it took.

Half a step back brought them to mid range and half a step forward brought them to close range.

Sakon used her footwork at that in-between range as she dealt with Muneshige’s attacks.

“––––!”

She would intentionally make herself skid and spin in the air before landing. She would block the blade sent to attack there and use that force to stand up just as he moved in.

In response, Sakon sent out an attack to push him back, but Muneshige blocked that with his raised blade.

“…!”

The resultant note of impact filled their gazes with strength.

In another context, they would have been smiling. And…

“Here I go!”

The junior by 500 years accelerated as if bowing his head.

He applied Racing Toes thrice on each foot’s toes: once on the big toe and the other two distributed between the other four toes.

He shot forward.

●

The preparations were made.

Muneshige had noticed his opponent’s weak points and strong points.

…''The simplicity of her actions leads to patterns.

She pushed in at him with a combination of patterns used at high speed.

That was how Sakon’s formidable sword style worked.

Her limited options forced her to focus on how she used the techniques she did have. And that worked since there was no excess in those techniques.

However, that could be a weakness as well. Because those patterns could be seen.

That made them easy to deal with.

But it was also a strength. As simple as it was, it was definitely a threat. That allowed Muneshige to intercept her attacks and guide her into locking up.

If he was going to end this, he would have to change how he thought about this.

His preparations were complete.

…''She’ll be coming from the left.

Sakon made a hook-like horizontal swing of her left blade at medium height, so he ducked low and rushed in.

As he did, it happened.

She swung her right blade up from below to intercept. She used her long reach to launch the attack with the blade grazing the floor.

It was coming.

He had seen this before. It was a pattern. A known one. Before, he had rested his sword on his shoulder, dodged left, and swung his sword down and forward.

Not so this time. Change was the only way to achieve victory against an opponent you couldn’t seen to defeat.

So he changed. He held his sword close to his right side and…

“Toh.”

He placed his left hand on the floor and lifted his body. From there, he jabbed his knee toward the attack swinging up toward him.

“–––––”

He got up on the high-speed sword.

●

Gin gasped.

Climbing onto an attack was only possible by raising the output of an acceleration spell and possessing the physical skills to remain in control of that speed. Add in the timing and it was by no means an easy feat.

She had seen a similar move at Sanada.

Honda Futayo and had used Gin’s artillery shell as a jumping platform.

Honda Futayo had even got Gin excited enough to think they could pull it off, so it had been quite something.

But Muneshige had just done much the same time.

He had climbed atop his opponent’s attack and, because not even he could remain standing on it, he leaped.

Backwards. He made a rapid back flip and swung up his blade even as he spun.

…''It’s going to reach!

Sakon’s attacking right arm was severed at the shoulder.

●

Muneshige made a decision as he flipped through the air.

He had data on this opponent.

…''She can use a breathing technique to produce shockwaves!

He had just severed her arm, but she could still attack him that way as he flipped through the air.

He knew he was a sitting duck.

Or a flipping one anyway.

She had only used her swords to attack so far.

But what if she had just lost an arm and her opponent was defenseless?

He couldn’t hope to avoid it at this range and relative position, so she would surely fire her breath cannon.

That was her best bet for winning.

So his best bet was to throw his sword.

In this moment before she produced her voice, a thrown attack could reach her mouth and pierce through her throat and out the back. The plan formed in his head told him that would win this for him. But…

“No!”

●

Muneshige thought, ''My opponent here is both the mobile shell and the person inside.

Minamoto no Yoritomo.

His opponent was working with that man to fight this battle.

And his opponent now understood her sword techniques and was using them.

There was no personal style there.

It had been the same for Muneshige once.

When training with Gin, he had started out with his personal style, but once he understood what Gin had done for him, he had corrected himself.

Only after building up a foundation and receiving Gin’s approval did he begin incorporating his own techniques into it.

This opponent was the same.

She would not use her voice cannon here. Instead she would use…

“A low attack at my landing point!”

●

Gin saw power burst before her.

While rapidly spinning toward a landing, Muneshige suddenly stabbed his sword into the deck.

It was only for a moment, but it delayed his landing.

A moment later, the stabbed blade broke.

Thanks to Sakon.

Her right arm was missing, but she crouched low and…

…''How beautiful.

She simply extended her body so her left blade could reach.

She had even considered how to pull back afterwards, creating a clean strike that shattered the sword in place of Muneshige.

A metallic sound scattered out and light reflected.

As she pulled back, Sakon stood up and caught her falling right arm with her left arm.

She took a step back.

Meanwhile, Muneshige pushed himself up from the hilt of his broken sword and jumped.

“Toh.”

He jumped toward Gin, landing right beside her.

…''Muneshige-sama.

He was breathing heavily. Sweating too. But…

…''His legs don’t seem under any strain.

Was the Tachibana blood too strong in her if she was mostly delighted that he could fight like this again?

He looked to Sakon.

The three meter figure’s right arm was reattached, but her shoulders were heaving too.

And Muneshige bowed his head.

“Thank you for the lesson!”

●

''That was a draw very close to a loss,'' thought Onitakemaru.

The Tachibana couple had not fallen back.

They were exhausted, weaponless, and had taken losses, but they still stood in Kohime’s way.

He wanted to see what else those two could do.

He wanted to see what those individuals could accomplish with the sword techniques everyone had created as a group five hundred years ago.

But doing that could stop them here.

They would still be reckless at their age. Also…

“Kohime.”

She was close to her limit too. Both due to the exhaustion from battling Tachibana Muneshige and due to the stamina she lost from being chopped up by the wife earlier.

Her weapons were also close to their limit. Her swords were made of sturdy wood so Kohime’s arm strength wouldn’t break them, but…

…''Are they scorched?

Not just from the scraping. The air compression during the high-speed sword fight had produced heat. When blocking or being blocked by her opponent’s blade, they would get scorched.

Onitakemaru belatedly realized that final attack had shattered rather than sliced Muneshige’s sword because Southern Sky’s edge had dulled.

He thought Kohime’s movements had been correct to the end.

But she was at her limit. She could even fall asleep around here if she wasn’t careful. Now that he could switch off power assist mode, he considered walking back himself, but she had purged the foot armor.

“Kohime.”

He called to her again. And…

“Eh!? Oh, um, Onitakemaru-san?”

Had her mind only now returned from her intense focus? In that way, she really was the usual Kohime. Any more fighting was out of the question. So his grownup side took the forefront.

“Tachibana Muneshige and Gin. You will accept this as our win, I hope?”

Their bodies were still intact and they did still have weapons. But they knew Kohime’s status and would not press the issue.

That may have been why they both inclined their heads.

“Yes, as I am still training toward reclaiming my Peerless title.”

“Testament. Then make this your final loss. Do not bring shame to me or Touta.”

“Judge!”

They both nodded but did not move back. He appreciated their mental fortitude.

He knew they would grow stronger.

He had no idea who their opponent would be once they did, but this night made it clear that Hashiba’s future was far from guaranteed.

“Let’s go, Kohime.”

It was time to leave. Kohime lowered her head and took a breath, but…

'''Onitakemaru:''' “Do not bow!”

'''Kohime:''' “B-but that admission of defeat was clearly something you pressured them into saying by being all, ‘I am the great and mighty shogun’!”

'''Onitakemaru:''' “Just announce your win already! This will alter the state of the battle!”

Kohime fell back. She slipped into the shadow formed by a wall on the outer edge of the ship, started to raise her right hand but stopped, and prepared to speak aloud.

'''Kohime:''' “U-um, the Tachibana husband and wife…have been defeated?”

''It’s not a question!!

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    | [[Horizon:Volume 10A Chapter 21|Chapter 21]]
    | [[Horizon:Volume 10A Chapter 23|Chapter 23]]
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