After saying this,
Watching Miyajima Tsubaki instinctively tighten her grip on the handle in defense, Sasaki chuckled and then leaned forward, his legs powering up.
With a 'crack' sound from the ground, his figure suddenly enlarged in her pupils.
"What!
Looking at the bamboo sword suddenly appear before her eyes,
Miyajima Tsubaki, who didn't see his movements clearly, subconsciously thought to parry with her sword,
But recalling his mysterious strength, she immediately restrained her urge to counterattack.
After awkwardly dodging to the side,
Watching the boy, whose old strength was exhausted and who couldn't guard in time, she advanced with a step, both hands wielding the sword, slashing towards Sasaki, who was sidestepping her.
But just like in their first exchange,
The bamboo sword, which had originally pointed to the ground, again oddly appeared in front of her, blocking her slash.
Clack—
There was no time to think about what was going on.
Seeing Sasaki blocking her with his sword in front, Miyajima Tsubaki knew this was a great opportunity.
So after her failed slash, she decisively retreated while leaning forward, swinging her bamboo sword at Sasaki, who was attempting to follow up.
The rapid afterimages that sliced through the air, much like a fisherman's net, wove a dense mesh in front of Sasaki.
This dazzling display of afterimages, resembling a torrential downpour, made it almost suffocating due to the oppressive force.
However, even this intense barrage of sword strikes failed to stir a ripple on the boy's face, which remained as calm as a still well, cold as ice.
Clack, clack, clack—
The continuous echoes of the sword strikes were like a series of firecrackers going off, each clash echoing crisply through the air.
Miyajima Tsubaki felt a tingling sensation in her palms due to the adrenaline rush from the intense exchange and the rapid circulation of her blood, which slowly brought her body to a boil.
"You really are quite surprising~"
Knowing that the longer she dragged on, the more embarrassing it would be for her, she no longer cared to find out why this young man in front of her was so peculiar.
After her competitive spirit as a martial artist was triggered, she decided not to hold back any longer.
As she suddenly retreated, creating distance between them, no longer continuing the energy-draining confrontation.
Miyajima Tsubaki slightly adjusted her stance, then rapidly moved with a more bizarre and elusive step, like a fish swimming through water, charging towards Sasaki.
Striking a sword with an expressionless face, the boy looked at the beautiful young woman rushing towards him with a calm expression.
Although he used only a bit more force than when he dealt with Kirishima, from their spar just now, Sasaki had gained a vague understanding of the beautiful elder sister's abilities.
Judging by her reaction force and speed, she was far superior to an ordinary adult male.
Someone like her could easily handle about five men like Kirishima even if she were unarmed; and with a sword, Kirishima wouldn't even be able to see her before he would collapse on the ground howling.
That itself was a great deal, off course, it was nothing for him.
Now aware of the elder sister's approximate strength, Sasaki stood casually in place, thinking back to an anime he had watched in his previous life.
He vividly remembered that in that anime, there was also a character named Sasaki who used a sword technique called "Tsubame Gaeshi."
(Tsubame Gaeshi: Swallow Counter)
Although he hadn't researched whether there was someone named Sasaki Kojiro in this world, Sasaki Fuyumi was quite fond of that sword technique.
After all, simultaneously striking three slashes was supremely cool.
Although he knew that even though he was quite inhuman, with his current strength and speed, it was impossible to perform three slashes at the same time.
After all, no matter how powerful he was, performing sword technique involving dimensional phenomena was simply beyond his current reach.
However, while it was impossible to perform simultaneously, he could still manage to strike three rapid slashes.
Although he didn't know how fast he could manage it, he figured it was worth a try.
With that thought in mind, Sasaki Fuyumi concentrated.
Adopting the posture from his memory, he slightly squatted, lowering his center of gravity with both hands holding the sword at shoulder height to the right, then slowly adjusted his breathing.
His eyes fixed firmly on Miyajima Tsubaki, whose steps were unpredictable.
Seeing the boy's strange starting stance, the latter didn't pay much heed, thinking he was unlikely to know any actual techniques or sword skills, relying solely on his bizarre speed and immovable strength.
Having closed the distance to two meters from Sasaki, and now within her striking range, Miyajima Tsubaki raised her hands high, intending to unleash her family's sword style in one fluid motion to overwhelm Sasaki.
Her family's sword style didn't focus on strength but rather on unpredictable agility and speed.
It was this attribute that allowed her to dodge his slashes multiple times.
Despite being puzzled by Sasaki's extraordinary speed and strength, she did not think she would lose.
Holding that belief, she raised her bamboo sword, but before she could bring it down, the boy, who had remained still up to that point, suddenly focused his bright eyes behind the mask.
Then, without warning, a slash appeared from his left.
Miyajima Tsubaki's heart tightened as the strike approached, too sudden for her to think.
Instinctively, she tried to block.
But before she could move, another unforeseen slash appeared from above her head.
The rapid thumping of her heart felt as though it was being squeezed, causing her breathing difficulties as she faced these two mysterious and abrupt strikes, unsure which to defend against.
But it was precisely because of this slightly hesitant thought that the movement in her hand slowed down a beat.
And by the time she realized the danger, a third strike from the right had already entered her field of vision.
Caught between three strikes, with nowhere to run and nowhere to hide, Miyajima Tsubaki felt a profound sense of lethal danger envelop her.
'I'm going to die! I can't dodge; I'll definitely die!' Though it was just a practice sword and she was fully armored, she felt no sense of security.
The deathly cold she felt was as if she was exposed, naked in a blizzard, making her deep blue eyes tremble incessantly.
Overwhelmed by the scent of death, Miyajima Tsubaki could no longer feel her body.
The only thing she could sense was the piercing cold wind that was constantly caressing her cheek as the strikes neared.
Whoosh— The bamboo sword abruptly stopped, but the blade of wind it generated brushed past her mask, fluttering the sweat-dampened hair stuck to her nervous face.
Looking up at the bamboo sword halted less than half an inch from her mask, a now-conscious Miyajima Tsubaki lowered her gaze, with lingering fear, breathing heavily from the shock.
Realizing he had frightened Aunt Miyajima, Sasaki quickly dropped his sword and rushed to her side, steadying her staggering figure.
After unmasking the shaken woman in his arms, looking her overly pale yet sweaty face,
He gently guided her to sit on the ground, supporting her head and fanning her, all the while apologizing and checking for injuries:
"I'm so sorry, Aunt Miyajima, I didn't mean to scare you like that. Are you hurt anywhere?"
As he asked, he reached out to remove her gloves.