as it moved. Furthermore, the vacuum blades surrounding the Qi-blade smashed the broken pieces of earth into tiny pieces.

To Nozomu's eyes, it looked like a gigantic wall that was closing in on him.

A wall born from a single blade of light running vertically. It was a blow that could not be compared to the [Single Stroke] that he had shown at the previous combat training.

It was no longer a "slash" to defeat an individual, but a "weapon" to annihilate an army.

At that moment, Nozomu's consciousness switched.

Sound and color disappeared from his senses.

In slow motion, all the muscles in Nozomu's body awakened at once, and he poured all his Qi into his right leg, strengthening it to the utmost.

He strengthen his muscles from his right leg to his waist and arms without wasting any movement, and at the same time, he transferred his Qi to all the interlocking muscles one after another.

His target was the huge Qi-blade approaching in front of him.

"Haaa !"

He opened the scabbard's mouth and pulled out his katana.

A flash.

The next moment, Jihad's [Single Stroke] cut the forest in the direction of travel.

"Uwaaa!"

"Kyaaa!"

The flash, roar, and gusts of wind that pummeled the area caused Irisdina and the others to scream.

White light burned their eyes and the wind blew sand and stone.

Soon, there was silence again.

Fearfully, Irisdina and the others opened their eyes and saw an unbelievable scene.

"......"

Everyone was speechless at the sight before them.

A single line of slash was carved into the earth. On either side of the deeply gouged ground like a trench, the ground, crumbling and surging, continued in a straight line through the forest.

And in the middle of it stood Nozomu with his drawn katana hanging down.

A single line of slash on the ground split in two in front of Nozomu and flowed behind him.

Nozomu's [Phantom -Flash-] had indeed cut through Jihad's [Single Stroke].

However, the aftermath of the [Single Stroke] could not be prevented, and Nozomu was also unable to pursue further.

Jihad did not change his expression, but inwardly he wanted to let out a sigh.

Nozomu, turned around while putting his shackles back on, and was surprised at the sight behind him.

"Uwa ... there's a trench forming in the forest."

Nozomu cut through Jihad's attack that had destroyed all kinds of demon beasts 10 years ago.

And Jihad fought head-on with Nozomu, who had unleashed his power.

As if it was planned, both opened their mouths at the same time.

"What nonsense..."

"What a mess..."

Oddly enough, it was the moment when Nozomu and Jihad's dismayed voices overlapped.