On the east side of the battlefield, two swordsmen, a man and a woman, stood facing each other.
A huge full moon hung over the ruined Bell-Ringing Village, and the night wind blew more fiercely.
Mai Hime pointed the tip of 'Seimasun Hime' downwards, subtly observing her opponent.
This was a tall man, about 3 meters tall, around 30 years old, with short red hair like flames. He wore a neat, open-chested short shirt and loose, comfortable long pants. His lips were slightly thick, he had a short beard on his chin, his eyes were somewhat narrow, and there was a clear scar on his left temple. The man held a straight-bladed long sword with a large cross-shaped hilt, uncommon in the West Blue. In the eyes of Mai Hime, a master swordsman, the entire sword emanated an ominous aura.
"I didn't expect to meet a swordsman in the West Blue, and such a rare female swordsman at that," the red-haired man said in a low voice. "I was rude just now."
He twirled his sword, holding it level with his eyes, the tip pointing at Mai Hime: "Allow me to introduce myself. 'Tiger Imp' Fleming, former bounty hunter, now one of Master Moria's Four Freaks. By the way, I don't like the name Four Freaks, and I'm currently looking for a new title. If you think of a suitable one, please tell me."
"No, you can just continue being one of the Four Freaks..." Mai Hime subconsciously muttered, then her face flushed as she realized what she'd said, clearing her throat and speaking seriously: "My name is Mai Hime, a swordsman from Wano Country, currently a companion of Victor."
Fleming looked at 'Seimasun Hime' in Mai Hime's hand, his voice still low: "Your sword is good. But you need to be careful, this one in my hand is a 'cursed sword.' And... I am a 'Full Slaughter' adherent!"
"Rampant Tiger's Chaos!"
As soon as he finished speaking, stone scattered from under Fleming's feet, and an upward reverse kesa-giri slash went towards Mai Hime!
But Mai Hime was faster! Her figure was like a freely flying swallow, and with a dodging movement, she sidestepped the powerful reverse kesa-giri. Then, 'Seimasun Hime' in her hand transformed into a streak of cold light, piercing towards Fleming's chest at an elusive angle.
Thornbird Stab!
"Hmph... I was waiting for you! Tail Tiger!"
Fleming had already experienced Mai
Hime's swiftness, and he had anticipated this counterattack from the female swordsman. Without letting his upward side-slash lose its momentum, he gripped the hilt with both hands, reined in his sword, and then launched a backhand downward slash fiercely at Mai Hime, who was close by!
Mai Hime's move was even faster! The sword light from her 'Seimasun Hime' first tilted to the left, then her feet moved as if she were performing a spinning dance, and the sword light, following her body's rotation, carved out an elegant, revolving arc of light.
Sword Dance: Divine Crane's Neck Song!
Clang! Clang! Clang-clang-clang!!!
Fleming's fierce 'Tail Tiger' not only missed Mai Hime, but he was forced to retreat by her continuous, increasingly fast whirling sword winds. He realized that each revolving slash was stronger than the last. Was this woman using the momentum of her body's rotation? Fleming guessed correctly but temporarily had no way to counter it, only able to desperately protect himself with his long sword.
Another clear, echoing sound of steel clashing! The elegant dance eventually ended, and Mai Hime's final revolving slash made Fleming lean back slightly, revealing an opening, followed by a swift kesa-giri slash that was a natural progression!
Mighty Blade: Lion Hunter!
Just as the Victor was about to be decided, a strange and ominous fluctuation emanated from the long sword in Fleming's hand, and two hidden, strange sword qi suddenly appeared on Mai Hime's left and right sides!
Caught off guard, Mai Hime had no choice but to change her sword stance, barely deflecting the sword qi on her right with 'Seimasun Hime', but despite her efforts to dodge, she was cut on the arm by the sword qi on her left, and blood instantly stained her red kimono even more vividly.
Mai Hime gracefully leaped back a few times, putting distance between herself and Fleming, and frowned as she looked at the sword in his hand, tilting her head cutely—could this even be considered a 'cursed sword'?
Generally, while 'cursed swords' are incredibly sharp, they often come with a 'harmful to master' side effect. She had truly never seen a 'cursed sword' that would automatically emit sword qi to protect its owner. Perhaps the opponent was simply abbreviating 'sorcerer's sword' to 'cursed sword'?
Fleming shook his hand, which was a bit numb from the shock, and rested his long sword on his shoulder, saying in a low voice:
"I warned you just now, this one in my hand is a 'cursed sword,' the 'Cursed Sword Man-Tiger Calamity.' You've personally experienced its power, it's pretty formidable, isn't it? But your sword style is very unique, it feels like a flying bird." He praised her sincerely; if it weren't for 'Man-Tiger Calamity' acting up at the moment, he really might have been cut down by this woman.
Mai Hime tore off a section of her sleeve and used it as a bandage to tightly bind the wound on her left arm: "My sword skill is inherited from Tianniaoshouge of Hakumai, Wano Country, the secret art 'Flying Bird Sword,' which is known as one of the four secret arts of Wano Country, along with 'Hundred Flowers True Martial,' 'Whale Kumite,' and 'Cricket God Spear.'"
"...Flowers, birds, fish, and insects?"
"They are the Four Secret Arts!! The Four Secret Arts!!"
Just then, there was a deafening roar! Mai Hime felt as if the ground beneath her had been flipped over, debris tumbling, with irregular tremors everywhere!
Was it Victor? Before Mai Hime could ponder further, another tremendous roar erupted! The ground beneath her completely cracked, huge chunks of rock carrying large amounts of earth were lifted, and amidst the deafening 'rumble,' Mai Hime suddenly found that Fleming had disappeared.
She subconsciously darted backward! Her light figure had just left the spot, and the next second, the place where she had been exploded violently!
Fleming was in the air. Seeing that his surprise sword attack hadn't harmed Mai Hime, he wasn't annoyed. He unleashed another vertical slash, and the fierce sword wind drew a straight line, directly striking at Mai Hime, who had just found her footing!
"Tiger Malign Wind: Imp-Bite!!"
Mai Hime gritted her teeth and countered with a reverse kesa-giri slash, scattering the strong incoming sword qi, then executed a side flip to dodge the strange, silent wave of sword qi that had appeared beside her.
"So, what kind of 'cursed sword' is this anyway!" Mai Hime muttered angrily. Having lost the initiative, she could only keep moving, rapidly leaping and shifting between the constantly rising huge, tilted rock chunks, with shattered stones occasionally splashing behind her from the fierce sword wind.
"Got you!! Tiger Calamity: Imp Drill!"
Fleming, having leaped into the air again, seized the opportunity, semi-curling his entire body and gripping 'Cursed Sword Man-Tiger Calamity' with both hands in reverse, its tip pointed directly at Mai Hime below him, using the momentum of his descent to violently stab at her head!!
And Mai Hime should have been completely unable to react, but she moved her body as if anticipating the enemy, narrowly avoiding the fatal stab!
Fleming had no time to be surprised, as Mai Hime's counterattack followed! She slid the tip of her sword downwards on the rocky ground, creating streaks of sparks, then violently swung it diagonally upwards! Brilliant sparks of fire, accompanied by a swift and beautiful arc of sword light, swept across Fleming's chest!
"Secret Sword: Night Bird's Flight!"
Fleming only had time to pull out 'Man-Tiger Calamity', which was deeply embedded in the ground, before being directly struck head-on by this beautiful arc of sword light. 'Man-Tiger Calamity' once again released several strange sword qi fluctuations, blocking Fleming's chest, but they were all shattered by 'Night Bird's Flight'! However, this ultimately provided Fleming with a precious moment of opportunity. He leaped backward, simultaneously pulling 'Man-Tiger Calamity' to his chest, and then violent sounds of sword clashes rang out!
Fleming spat out a mouthful of blood, and using the immense impact, leaped back again, landing on a huge rock that was slowly tilting amidst violent tremors. He clutched his almost bone-deep chest wound, staring intently at Mai Hime: "...How did you dodge that just now? That 'Tiger Calamity: Imp Drill' should have come from your blind spot; you absolutely couldn't have seen it!"
Mai Hime didn't answer Fleming. She looked at the distant battlefield, her beautiful peach blossom eyes slightly narrowed, a hint of a smile appearing, and she whispered to herself:
"This time, I'm one step ahead, Perona."
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