Chapter 89
The White Crane’s Okinawa (3)
‘No doubt about it. That’s Kusanagi’s sword.’
Miyazaki’s vision swirled.
Though he had long since lost his sight, having seen only darkness for many years, there was now a clear, brilliant light before him.
“……It’s real. Just as the stories said.”
At this moment, when the radiant light nearly blinded him, he had no choice but to stop in place.
‘A sword of the Son of Heaven that lights up the night like day.’
It was exactly as the ancient tales had described.
After a while, when the sword’s brilliance began to fade, Miyazaki spoke again.
“Could it be that the nickname is true…?”
“Nickname?”
“The Sword of Hasahi (破私). A divine sword that destroys all selfishness.”
Even the meaning of Kusanagi (草薙) was “to cut down weeds.”
The selfishness of the human world was everything beyond common sense.
Kusanagi was a sword that cut through “strange phenomena.”
“It’s said to cut down and annihilate all abilities possessed by the holders. I’ve never seen it with my own eyes until now.”
“So that’s why… no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t move.”
The sword didn’t just emit light or burn the prayer beads.
Because Kusanagi activated its Hasahi ability, all other powers around it evaporated as well.
‘So that’s why even the surrounding weapons disappeared…’
Miyazaki realized, belatedly, that what had surrounded him wasn’t just some ninjas.
‘If the bait that man set up is some kind of divine artifact, it makes sense.’
He had only assumed it was human because he never imagined one person could possess divine artifacts in such quantity.
Everything fit together once he thought of it that way.
‘Even if just for a moment, he tricked me using my own senses…’
Though the starlight power he possessed was minuscule, this was no one to underestimate.
Above all else, the Kusanagi sword in his hands could never be ignored.
It had already neutralized everything in a single strike, not only obliterating the prayer beads but also affecting even the deepest, most secluded underground sanctum.
‘Could it really affect the true divine artifact sealed deep below?’
The beads Miyazaki had wielded until now were not the true [Fugasetsu-Fugasetsu Sword].
They were only a medium borrowing the binding ability of the genuine artifact.
He could never use the artifact’s full power, but it was enough to prepare for any potential danger.
Had he tried to draw the real artifact?
‘It would’ve likely annihilated the entire artifact’s power.’
Everything he had built until now would have been in vain.
‘…All the power I’ve accumulated.’
The problem lay in how Miyazaki had grown his influence.
He expanded his power by passing down his swordsmanship and the “Twelve Steps of Draw” as abilities.
Normally, it’s impossible to pass a player’s ability on.
A player’s power is deeply personal.
But the [Fugasetsu-Fugasetsu Sword] allowed him to do just that.
‘To pass on swordsmanship is to pass on one’s history.’
It was only possible because the sword had the mythology of Time.
Thus, the collapse of its ability would instantly crumble the power he had built.
‘I can’t let him destroy it.’
He had to seize the sword.
Swish──
Miyazaki fiddled with the beads inside his sleeve.
Brushing one bead, he felt a faint trace of starlight power.
‘He didn’t fully unleash the Hasahi ability.’
Like the light that had quickly vanished, the activation of power was temporary.
As time passed, the scattered connections slowly regained their energy.
‘And… now!’
Whoosh─!!
He swiftly threw the beads.
“……?!”
Caught off guard, Sehyun’s ankle was wrapped in a flash.
This was the only chance to seize the sword.
Unless he severed the ankle and escaped, there was no way to break free.
Click─!
Miyazaki grabbed the sword without hesitation.
“Draw, First Step.”
[Mae (前)]
No grand aura, no explosive sound.
The sword simply cut where it swung.
Using a condensed sword technique of pure concept, he drew a curve toward the man holding Kusanagi.
Shhhrrr─!!!
Kwahhhhh─!!!!
The ground and buildings, as if forgetting they were sliced, collapsed like tofu, creating a tremendous noise.
Miyazaki smiled faintly.
“Too easy. Makes me wonder if drawing the sword was even necessary.”
He had severed one trace of starlight for sure.
Though the sword was dangerous to wield lightly, hesitation was not an option.
Just as he moved to step forward…
“……Damn. Almost got killed.”
The man’s voice rang out.
“How…? It should’ve cut through!”
Miyazaki clenched his teeth in disbelief.
The starlight power was so faint he had been monitoring it continuously.
The man’s faint starlight, the starlight from Kusanagi, and the beads wrapped around the ankle.
All three coordinates aligned perfectly for a strike.
Yet somehow, he remained unharmed.
While Miyazaki was briefly confused…
‘If it weren’t for this… I would have been cut for sure.’
Sehyun exhaled in relief, glancing at the chain bracelet on his wrist.
‘A waste to use it as bait…’
He sighed again at the sliced backpack beside him.
Sehyun had created another trick.
He subtly distorted his starlight to mislead Miyazaki’s sensing.
Blocking his own starlight with the chain bracelet, he made the backpack’s starlight feel like it was his own.
A clever ploy inspired by mistaking the artifact for a player.
“How you can still use the artifact, I don’t know… but you’re determined to end this, huh?”
Sehyun tapped the prayer beads on his ankle with Kusanagi; they dispersed into nothingness.
Though he couldn’t nullify the full power of Hasahi, at least the sword still retained some of its energy.
“That glorious bead won’t work anymore. You can’t sense my starlight, so you won’t even see me. How about surrendering?”
“Heh. Don’t make me laugh.”
Miyazaki chuckled and readjusted his grip.
“Once the sword is drawn, it must cut. This isn’t something to wield lightly.”
“Now that you mention it…”
Sehyun had always wondered. Despite Miyazaki being a renowned swordsman in both his past and present life, he had never actually seen him use a sword.
Until now, he had only swung the beads like a sword; this last strike was the first real demonstration of his draw technique.
Why had he hesitated to wield a sword capable of cutting entire grounds and buildings?
But Ken’s question answered it.
“You’ve made up your mind. How much are you willing to risk?”
“……Risk?”
“This sword of yours isn’t ordinary.”
Long ago, a reckless warrior wanted to leave a mark on the world.
No, he wanted an unprecedented legend.
Like leaving the name Kusanagi behind.
He honed the way of the sword, forging it to perfection, until finally reaching the “Sword Star” stage.
“Truly, he gained the power of a star. Awakened through swordsmanship alone.”
Once an ordinary man, he awakened solely through swordsmanship.
But great power brings great burden.
Ironically, having elevated his sword to a stellar level, he could no longer wield it carelessly.
He realized this when he cut the sea.
“Cut the sea?”
“Yes. Literally, without exaggeration, he cut the sea.”
The sea was severed, forming a path from Okinawa to Honshu over three days.
And as the cost, Miyazaki lost his left eye.
“So he lost both eyes…?”
“My right eye… I used it to cut the heavens.”
Miyazaki himself answered.
He cut the sea, and in his arrogance and desire, even dared to cut the heavenly position of his master.
That was the last sight he ever saw with his eyes.
“So you’ve drawn that sword now?”
“I have something I truly desire.”
If he returned the sword, who knew what he might lose—organs, limbs… even life.
Is it worth all that just to wield this sword?
“And you are mistaken in one thing.”
Miyazaki removed the scabbard from his waist, dropped the sword on the ground, and then gripped the empty scabbard as if holding a sword.
“I have not yet drawn my true sword.”
Whoooosh──
A violent wind began to stir.
“The pinnacle of a sword reaching the stars is to empty even the sword itself.”
A form of Nothingness manifested at Miyazaki’s waist.
Containing no shape, it was only starlight energy shaped into the form of a sword.
This was Miyazaki’s true sword: [Shadowless Sword (무영검)].
Clang─!
“Ugh!”
Sehyun barely reacted, catching the sword.
Miyazaki smiled faintly and lunged again.
“Let’s see how you handle this!!”
Clang─! Clang─!
The clash of swords rang out. Sparks flew from the great sword alone.
“Draw, Seventh Step.”
Miyazaki brushed past Sehyun, then…
[Sanpōgiri (Three Directions Cut)]
Invisible sword blades struck simultaneously from the front and both sides.
Ka-ga-gak─!
Without pause, he continued the next step.
“Draw, Eleventh Step.”
[Sō-giri (Total Cut)]
Five overlapping sword energies swirled like stars, enveloping Sehyun.
Ka-ga-ga-gang─!!!!
Though his movements seemed clumsy, Sehyun managed to block every strike.
Ka-ga-gak─!!!
Following the exact trajectory, he twisted his body diagonally, then struck down, keeping distance from Miyazaki.
A mix of inexperience and mastery in one.
“……What was that sword technique just now?”
“…….”
Miyazaki looked surprised.
Sehyun’s mouth fell open.
He wanted to show off, but…
‘My body moved on its own… no, the sword moved.’
The vibrating hilt made his hands tingle.
There was no way he had blocked all strikes by chance.
‘Could it… have a will of its own?’
Was it testing him for daring to challenge a divine artifact?
Before he could finish the thought, Sehyun’s body moved again.
Huuuung──
He pressed the sword tip down, leveraging it like a crowbar, raising it heavily.
Following the rising arc, he traced a circle in the air and brought it down toward Miyazaki’s head.
Click─!
Miyazaki blocked with a horizontal swing, groaning.
“Hrm… even someone unfamiliar with the sword can manage that if they hold it.”
He licked his lips in anticipation.
Many desired Kusanagi for power, fame, or legend.
But Miyazaki was different.
He was a transcendent Daoist, free from desire, a superhuman without greed even for great power.
“I have no reason to possess it. Hence… I alone am worthy of it.”
Clang─!
Miyazaki stepped back, lowering his stance.
“Let’s decide this in a single strike.”
Whooooosh──
Vast starlight gathered around Miyazaki.
Amid the raging storm, he spoke.
“That sword you hold… is the divine artifact of all divine artifacts.”
“…….”
“I want to test it. Can I, who cut the sea and the sky, cut even a god?”
“Try if you can.”
Sehyun sheathed his sword and took a draw stance to match him.
Kiiing─!!!
The slicing light of Hasahi shimmered along the blade.
A tempest that annihilates all, a sunbeam that blinds.
The two forces collided violently, shaking the surrounding area.
“You know… you remind me of a saying.”
One who claims sole right to a sword.
One who dares even to challenge a god.
One who insists on their right when others fail.
Sehyun grinned, knowing the perfect word for such a person.
“Double standards.”
“Double standards…?”
Before Miyazaki could question,
[Draw]
Clang─!
Both swords were drawn.
Ka-ga-ga-gak──!!!!
Sword lights collided with the sound of friction.
It looked like a battle of sun and wind.
But the collision lasted only a moment.
Shyaaak──
Another sword energy suddenly swept through everything.
“…….”
The battlefield fell silent.
Only the calm storm and moonlight on the swords remained, faintly glowing.
“Is this… how it ends?”
Where the light cut the wind, Miyazaki slumped to the ground.
