The man, seething with rage, activated the Tenryū-no-Honō—the "Flame of the Heavenly Dragon." Flames erupted along the blade, casting an intense, otherworldly glow that seemed to consume the very air around it. The heat was palpable, and the girl who had struck him moments before now stood frozen in fear. The sword's power was undeniable; once activated, there was no escape.
Sensing the bloodlust emanating from the man, Kage stepped forward, his voice steady and commanding. "If you don't surrender now, that will be the last blade you ever wield."
The man, consumed by his fury and the sword's power, barely registered Kage's words. He raised the blazing blade, ready to unleash its deadly force on the girl. The flames danced menacingly, promising destruction.
The man's eyes flared with fury as he activated Inferno Edge. The blade of the Tenryū-no-Honō ignited, and a wave of scorching flames surged toward the girl. In an instant, Kage moved, his sheathed katana slicing through the air with precision. The flames were cut in half, dissipating harmlessly around the girl, leaving her unharmed but visibly shaken.
Undeterred, the man shifted tactics, summoning the power of Aether Blade. The sword gleamed with an ethereal light, its edge capable of cutting through the toughest defenses. He lunged at Kage, the blade descending with lethal intent. Once again, Kage intercepted the attack with his sheathed katana, the clash of weapons resonating like a thunderclap. The ethereal blade was rendered ineffective, much to the man's shock.
Surprised and enraged by Kage's effortless counterattacks, the man roared and charged forward, swinging his sword wildly. The sheer force of the swing produced a gust of wind so powerful it cut the ground beneath them. Kage stood his ground, blocking the vicious strikes with measured precision.
"Did you not hear what I just said?" Kage's voice was calm but edged with warning. "If I unsheathe my blade, I will be the last opponent you fight."
The man, eyes blazing with fury and determination, tightened his grip on the Tenryū-no-Honō. "I will never surrender to the likes of you!" he roared, his voice echoing through the village. Undeterred by Kage's warnings, he launched into a relentless assault, activating every skill in his arsenal.
He began with Inferno Edge, the blade engulfed in flames as he swung wildly at Kage. The heat was intense, but Kage moved with agility, blocking each fiery strike with his sheathed katana, the flames splitting harmlessly to either side.
Not willing to relent, the man transitioned to Dragon's Breath, unleashing a wave of fire that surged toward Kage. The ground sizzled under the intense heat, but Kage sidestepped the blazing inferno with practiced ease, maintaining his composure.
Frustration mounting, the man activated Seismic Strike, channeling the power of the earth. He slammed the sword into the ground, causing a tremor that cracked the earth beneath them. Rocks and debris flew up, but Kage's swift movements kept him safe from harm.
With a snarl, the man summoned Blazing Barrier, surrounding himself in a vortex of flames. He charged forward, the fiery shield burning everything in its path. Kage met the charge head-on, his katana slicing through the flames, dissipating the barrier before it could cause any damage.
Desperation and rage fueled the man's next move as he activated Phoenix Rebirth. Flames enveloped him, healing his wounds and restoring his strength. He emerged from the inferno, seemingly revitalized and more ferocious than ever.
He swung the Aether Blade with renewed vigor, the ethereal edge aiming to cleave through Kage's defenses. Each strike produced gusts of wind that cut the ground around them. Kage blocked each attack with precision, his movements a blend of grace and power.
Seeing his relentless attacks thwarted time and again, the man's rage reached a boiling point. "You cannot stop me!" he bellowed, his voice filled with desperation. He continued to swing the sword, each blow more frantic and powerful than the last.
Kage stood firm, his calm demeanor contrasting sharply with the man's wild frenzy. "If you don't surrender now," Kage warned, his voice unwavering, "this will be the last blade you ever wield."
The tension in the air was palpable as Kage's hand moved to the hilt of his katana. With a deliberate, almost serene motion, he unsheathed the blade. The sound of steel whispering against the scabbard sent a shiver down the spines of all who witnessed it. The girl and the boys, despite their swollen faces and limited vision, felt the weight of the moment, an almost primal fear gripping them.
The man, eyes wide with rage, charged at Kage, his flaming sword blazing with unrestrained power. But Kage remained calm, his expression unchanging. With a single, fluid motion, he swung his katana. The clash of blades echoed like a thunderclap as Kage's strike met the man's sword. The sheer force of the impact shattered the flaming blade, sending shards of metal scattering in all directions.
Before the man could react, Kage's blade continued its arc, slicing cleanly through his opponent. The man crumpled to the ground, the life draining from his eyes. With a practiced flick of his wrist, Kage swung his katana, the blood flying off the blade in a crimson arc.
The girl, who had watched the entire encounter unfold, could think of only one word as she gazed at Kage's katana: "Beautiful." With the confrontation over, Kage calmly retrieved his pouch and walked away, leaving behind an air of awe and respect.