Raikage infused his entire body with Lightning Release chakra, blue arcs of electricity forming armor that covered him from head to toe. The powerful lightning energy boosted his physical strength and significantly increased his defensive capabilities. At the same time, the surging electricity in his body sharpened his reflexes, further enhancing both defense and speed.
Anya, observing through the mask with the Sharingan, quickly discerned the characteristics of the ninja technique Raikage was using. This was the first time he had ever seen Lightning Release used in such a way. Unlike his own method of combining Lightning Release with sword techniques, this appeared to be a fusion of ninjutsu and taijutsu.
Without a word, Raikage vanished like a bolt of lightning.
"So fast," Anya's eyes sharply narrowed. He activated the Dance of the Blade and Lightning Blade Art at full strength.
The Blade of Indifference emitted waves of cold sword light, its eerie blue glow radiating a bloodthirsty aura, like an endless void of mystery, countless layers of sword flashes converging into one.
The two forces of lightning clashed midair, their immense power shaking the surrounding ground and causing it to sink several meters downward.
"Roar... roar..."
Amidst the rising dust, a furious roar echoed out as Anya was sent flying backward.
His Dance of the Blade had been overwhelmed—no, shattered—by the power of Lightning Release. Raikage had concentrated massive amounts of lightning into his four fingers, unleashing a piercing strike so fast and forceful that it exceeded the limit of what the Dance of the Blade could withstand. The sheer penetrating power of this attack was unlike anything Anya had ever encountered before.
Taking the advantage, Raikage wasted no time. His figure transformed into a streak of lightning charging forward once more. At the same time, one of the four fingers on his hand bent inward—now only three remained raised. This strike would decide everything.
[Hell Stab]
Just as Raikage was about to land the blow, the space around them suddenly plunged into complete darkness. In this void, everyone became isolated, feeling as though the world had drifted far away, as if they were utterly abandoned, overwhelmed by an endless flood of buried panic. Negative emotions surged forth, dragging them toward a cold, hopeless abyss.
The most terrifying thing for humans isn't death itself, but despair—the kind where not even a sliver of hope remains, forever trapped in oppressive darkness.
Amplified by the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, the darkness within Anya surged with immense power. This technique had long surpassed the might of the Second Hokage. And as Anya poured more chakra into it, the darkness thickened, becoming even more terrifying...
Any person abruptly stripped of light would naturally feel unease and fear—even Raikage was no exception. However, he quickly steeled his gaze and charged forward without hesitation toward the position he'd locked onto earlier.
A devastating blow struck into the darkness, yet met nothing. It missed completely.
With his extensive combat experience, Raikage instantly reacted the moment his attack fell short. He immediately pulled his chakra inward and barked coldly, "Ultimate Lightning Release Suit."
Raikage's chakra erupted at full capacity, his hair standing straight up behind him as the Lightning Release reached peak intensity. Under the Lightning Armor state, his already formidable damage resistance increased even further.
Having already launched the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, Anya was ready with her follow-up attack.
The Blade of Indifference moved faster than lightning, concentrating all its edge to a pinpoint. This silent, deadly slash scattered star-like flashes of light as it lunged toward Raikage.
"Clang..."
The Blade of Indifference struck precisely at Raikage's throat. The impact created an ear-piercing screech as the powerful Breaking the Blade clashed against Raikage's armor and became firmly locked in place—only one centimeter away from piercing his throat. That single centimeter felt like an insurmountable chasm, preventing even an inch of further penetration.
"How is this possible?"
This was the first time since mastering Breaking the Blade that Anya had failed to land a direct hit on an opponent. Such an overwhelming strike had actually been blocked.
"Heh, found you!" Raikage's massive hand slid swiftly along the blade toward Anya, moving so fast she couldn't react. Raikage clearly came prepared for a defensive counterattack the moment he entered the darkness. He firmly believed his lightning armor could block all enemy attacks—and indeed, it had.
Feeling the imminent danger, Anya's eyes transformed—the Three-Comma Sharingan swirling into three blade-like Mangekyo Sharingan. Closing her right eye tightly, a thin line of blood trickled from the corner of her left eye as her signature Mangekyo Dojutsu, [Eternity], activated.
[Time Freeze]
Raikage's outstretched hand hesitated momentarily. Seizing the opportunity, Anya activated [Sword Art: Draw Technique] and vanished back into the darkness.
Strange—what just happened? Raikage's mind filled with confusion. That attack should've connected for sure, so why did it miss? This Anbu member was indeed no ordinary foe—one not easily defeated.
Raikage raised his guard instinctively. His lightning armor surged to maximum power as he held his ground, fingers already transformed into two sharp appendages ready for assault.
"So strong," Anya thought, still shaken from barely evading that attack with her Mangekyo Sharingan. Even within her home territory of darkness, Raikage still managed effective retaliation without showing any signs of panic—his battle composure ranked among the best.
"Does he have any weakness?" Anya contemplated. There must be one. Then I'll use this technique to expose your flaw.
Anya smeared the strongest toxin she cultivated onto her blade and unleashed Dance of the Blade in full force. Countless waves of 'Sword Light' surged like towering mountains. Raikage was engulfed in a relentless multi-directional assault.
Remaining unfazed within the darkness, Raikage crossed his arms protectively over his chest, allowing his lightning armor to neutralize all of Anya's attacks effortlessly.
When the storm of 'Sword Light' reached its peak, Anya resheathed her sword—absorbing all previously blocked strikes back into the blade itself. Her mighty aura instantly disappeared, entering a state of apparent oblivion.
"Weng weng weng..."
The Blade of Indifference, brimming with immense power, vibrated audibly.
The blade unsheathed.
It was indescribably swift. In the blink of an eye barely perceptible to the naked eye, the Blade of Indifference transformed into a rainbow-like streak of lightning tearing through endless dark voids. The surrounding airflow and vitality seemed sucked completely dry by this earth-shattering slash—erasing life itself while spreading desolation and death.
This was without a doubt the most powerful [Sword Art: Draw Technique] Anya had executed since mastering swordsmanship.
Raikage sensed the deadly strike closing in from ahead. With eyes wide in fury, he roared, "Well executed, [Ippon Gogotsu]!"
What would happen if the so-called mightiest spear—Anya's [Sword Art]—were to clash against Raikage's ultimate defense?
It wasn't even close.
Anya had no intention of clashing head-on with Raikage at all. The moment her [Sword Art: Draw Technique] landed, she tightly shut her left eye, which had just started to bleed, and immediately activated the [Dojutsu: Setsuna] in her right eye.
Under Time Acceleration, Anya's drawn slash evaded Raikage's attack and unexpectedly pierced his body first.
"Puchi..."
The sound of a blade slicing into flesh echoed. With the wound inflicted and the potent poison smeared on the sword itself, Anya felt completely assured—this battle was hers to win.
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