Catching Saigoji Youmu's gaze, Onoki instinctively floated higher. "Saigoji Youmu, you are formidable," Onoki remarked, clenching his fists, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. With his keen perception, he immediately realized that Saigoji Youmu had deliberately allowed Third Raikage to be incapacitated.
"Third Raikage is out of combat," Saigoji Youmu observed. "Onoki, what will you do now?"
"Hmph," Onoki snorted dismissively. "Even with your strength, you can't reach me up here." He was well aware that the coordinated assault from the Hidden Stone and Hidden Cloud villages had failed. Alone, he couldn't possibly restrain Saigoji Youmu. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to admit defeat.
"Heh, perhaps ordinary swordsmen would struggle against you," Saigoji Youmu mused, sheathing Hongying. He then bent his knees slightly, lowering his center of gravity, and placed his right hand on the sword's hilt, preparing to draw it.
Noticing this, Onoki instinctively began to retreat. However, Saigoji Youmu was faster.
Swish.
A flash of red light streaked through the air as Saigoji Youmu unsheathed Hongying in a blur, swinging it toward Onoki. Numerous afterimages of the blade appeared, indicating the incredible speed of his strikes. With each swing, a white sword energy shot toward Onoki, creating a relentless barrage from all directions—above, below, left, and right—leaving no escape.
"What?!" Onoki exclaimed in shock. In a desperate move, he formed hand seals, pressing his palms together to create a transparent, conical barrier, within which a bright white light pulsed.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World," Onoki intoned.
The conical barrier expanded rapidly, and a thick beam of light met the oncoming sword energies. The Dust Release, a technique capable of disintegrating anything it touched, seemed a perfect counter. Yet, the sheer volume of sword energy Saigoji Youmu unleashed was overwhelming. The beam and the barrage of sword energies collided, resulting in a fierce stalemate in mid-air.
"Even Dust Release can't counter his attack?" Onoki gritted his teeth, struggling to maintain the technique.
As time passed, Onoki's chakra reserves began to deplete, making it harder to sustain the Dust Release. Sensing his advantage, Saigoji Youmu increased the intensity of his assault. Eventually, Onoki's barrier faltered, and the sword energies broke through, leaving deep gashes across his body. Weak and injured, Onoki descended to the ground, barely managing to land without further harm.
"Next time, you won't be so fortunate," Saigoji Youmu remarked, turning to leave.
"Why?" Onoki managed to lift his head, looking at Saigoji Youmu with a mix of confusion and defiance.