Iaijutsu Russian Roulette
Three bastards. In an instant, three domains collided.
Domains were abilities that manifested one's inner image. Naturally, the most lacking one here was...
'Me, fucking hell.'
Han Cheon-wi, hailed as the first hero, and the Satsuma-hatted demon who had utterly wrecked Tyrbing.
The wasteland and thousands of flying swords began shoving back my domain.
If this kept up, I'd be royally fucked.
-I'll help you.
Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu!!!
At that moment, mana surged within me, and my sword began glowing golden.
"Borrowing the power of demons, as expected of a fiend!"
Han Cheon-wi grimaced and swung his sword.
Domain: Cheon-gang-eo-geom-myeong-bu (Heaven's Descending Sword Control Underworld).
Thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of mana-forged swords filled the sky.
They said facing a flying sword user gave you this kind of feeling.
'Like dealing with two swordsmen at once—such a pain.'
But the flying sword arts unfolding now... it was an army from the heavens.
"Where do you think you're going!"
But then, a slashing strike flew in, smashing all those flying swords at once.
The Satsuma-hatted demon. His domain: Ilgwanggeomhwa Daiji (Sunlight Sword Flower Great Earth).
The rule was simple: shatter all shackles.
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga!
One slash pulverized every attack. No—erased them was more accurate.
It was the power of the demon sword Bel-Gos.
'Hmm.'
Han Cheon-wi or the Satsuma-hatted demon—which to hit first? Obviously, the former.
I immediately assumed an iaijutsu stance and drew my sword.
Sriing-.
Kwa-a-a-a-a-a-a-ang!!!!
A slashing strike that rent the heavens, flames as a bonus.
A slash employing every authority I had.
Gram's authorities of collapse and rupture. Dainsleif's authorities of must-hit and mortal wound.
The authority of must-hit that even Thousand-ri Eyes, which pierced all, couldn't evade...!
But Han Cheon-wi knew it too.
"So that's your power."
A sub-space opened, and a sword radiating immense presence appeared in Han Cheon-wi's hand.
[1st Grade Relic: Eternal Sharpness].
A relic embodying the law of slicing through anything.
Kaa-a-ang-!
With the sound of space shattering, my slash vanished.
'Fuck.' "Is that how it is?"
The Satsuma-hatted demon laughed as he wildly swung at Han Cheon-wi. Quick on the uptake, that one.
In a setup where we all had to check each other, focus shifting to one meant it was time to dogpile.
"Tsk tsk, when you should be showing respect to your elders..."
Han Cheon-wi clicked his tongue and began pulling relics from his sub-space. Not many, but each a high-grade one.
"Eo-geom-gae-jin (Sword Control Formation Deployment)."
Han Cheon-wi's "technique."
The classifications of swordsmanship: Strength (强), Speed (快), Illusion (幻), Softness (柔), Energy (氣).
The ultimate technique recreating each sword art as flying sword arts.
"Insane...!"
The grin vanished from the Satsuma-hatted demon's face as he braced for the next attack.
Relics' power and performance varied by user.
So what if the strongest swordsman used sword-type relics...?
Kwa-a-a-a-a-a-a-ang!!!
Power's strength.
Shiiiiiik!!!
Speed's swiftness.
Wuuuuuuu-!
Illusion's deception.
Suuuuuuu-!
Softness's fluidity.
Shwaaaaa-!
Mana's energy.
The ultimate single strike.
"......!"
But there was one thing Han Cheon-wi didn't know.
-Kekeke, delivering lunch out of nowhere? You've got killer timing.
Tyrbing's authority of Gluttony.
The moment the attack flew, Han Cheon-wi's sword was devoured.
Chwa-a-a-a-ak-!
A heaven-slicing sword: Il-geom-jong-cheon. Like starlight hurtling toward the sky called Han Cheon-wi.
"Kuh!"
Kaa-a-a-ang!!!
A deafening roar shook the surroundings. He blocked the slash, but mine didn't end there.
Hwarrrrrruk!
Flames blazing fiercely, as if to incinerate the world.
"You... you bastard!!! Those flames!!!"
Han Cheon-wi's face twisted. The first hero, who had fought on the front lines during the Red Gate incident, recognized the flames of Cthuga from his own experience.
'Today is a good day to die.'
The phrase heroes had repeated like a mantra during the Red Gate crisis.
But Han Cheon-wi knew.
The true meaning of those words...
They were utter bullshit.
Not said to die, but to survive.
"Right..."
The real meaning was...
"There is no such thing as a good day to die until the day you actually croak!"
You had to live every day like it was your last.
Kaa-a-a-a-a-a-a-a!!!!!
Han Cheon-wi's sword cleaved through the flames.
"What...?!"
Chiiiiiik-.
Steam rose.
Han Cheon-wi glanced at the Satsuma-hatted demon and me.
"Listen up, you whippersnappers. When you see an old codger who's survived to this age, think of him as a survivor."
Ch-click-.
It's coming...! Another of Han Cheon-wi's "techniques"...!
"Can't have that."
There's a saying.
That good intentions can look like arrogance from the outside.
Beyond good and evil.
What is good, what is evil?
The world values human imperfection.
Enlightenment only has worth if you achieve it yourself.
Like how an egg broken from outside is food, but from inside, new life.
"Heart Sword."
A translucent sword appeared in the demon's hand.
The ultimate sword forged from dozens of shackles.
'Do not draw without reason. If drawn, do not sheathe without reason.'
Ilgwanggeomhwa Daiji (Sunlight Sword Flower Great Earth).
The law was simple: nullify all shackles.
But that was enough.
The ultimate sword swung at Han Cheon-wi.
Domains applied laws based on the user's image. With three domains in a precarious tug-of-war, two massive techniques disrupted the balance slightly.
Right now, the strongest law emanating was none other than mine.
Dancheon Il Do Cheon (Severing Heaven One Blade Heaven).
The law was simple.
'Within the domain, only iaijutsu can be used.'
"What...!" "Kuh...!"
The balance shattered, and the domain's law began enforcing itself.
Laws were concepts above all concepts.
"Do you know iaijutsu?"
I assumed the iaijutsu stance.
Naturally, the Satsuma-hatted demon and Han Cheon-wi, bound by the enforced law, had no choice but to do the same.
Click. Click. Click.
"......" "......" "......"
The interior of the domain fell silent in an instant.
But no place held more tension than here right now.
Forced into a law at the moment we were about to unleash our mightiest techniques.
In other words, a hellish Russian roulette where no one knew who would strike where!
Han Cheon-wi's all-out strike? The Satsuma-hatted demon's ultimate sword? My slash fusing every authority and trait?
A proper hit from any would leave no one unscathed.
"Forcing this bullshit law...!"
Han Cheon-wi bellowed, veins bulging on his forehead.
Here, only "iaijutsu" was possible.
Defense counted as a technique, so impossible.
Unless you countered attack with attack, you'd die!
"...Gramps, where you aiming?" "......"
Obviously, no answer.
"Hey bro, we were cool at first, right?" "Who're you?" "Guess you don't remember—we're pretty tight."
Cold sweat dripped. No raising the domain's influence now.
The moment a gap appeared, an attack was sure to fly.
"Hey, y'all might not know, but I'm pretty damn good at iaijutsu?"
Relax even a little, and you'd become the target.
"...Thousand-ri Eyes pierces all. Countering an attack is child's play." "Yeah, I'm must-hit." "......"
A true hellish rock-paper-scissors.
"Kekeke, this is a fresh experience. As expected of me."
The Satsuma-hatted demon cackled.
"I don't get your confidence." "So how long we gonna stall?" "......" "......"
Exactly as he said. We had to decide ASAP.
We were deploying massive domains while simultaneously channeling our ultimate "techniques."
The instant focus wavered, it was over.
"One......"
The Satsuma-hatted demon grinned and opened his mouth.
"Twooo......"
Grip...
All waited for the next word, preparing attacks.
"Three!"
Kwa-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a!!!! Kwa-jijik!!! Kwa-ji-ji-jik!!!! Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu!!!!!!!?
"You... fucking bastards......"
Han Cheon-wi's sword headed for the Satsuma-hatted demon. The demon's sword for Han Cheon-wi.
Left alone, it might've been a clash for the ages.
The ultimate techniques colliding.
But I targeted none other than Han Cheon-wi.
Simple reason: he was the strongest here.
"Kekeke, knew it! I'd have done the same!"
The Satsuma-hatted demon snickered.
The instant the gap appeared, the law began unraveling.
-Switch.
But we were two.
Black mana enveloped my body as the golden sword shone even more brilliantly.
"...Can't you do that?" -Want me to switch? "Hell no."
The moment the domain vanished, a new one emerged.
Gwi-sik-man-geom-gae (Ghost Eating Ten Thousand Swords Realm).
-Time to pay back that grudge!
Tyrbing roared, spewing the murky mana unique to demons.