Up on the second-floor viewing platform, Yuuki Kyouko was utterly stunned.
She hadn't expected the kendo tournament to spiral so dramatically out of control.
One teenager—just one—had rendered all their early preparation meaningless.
And now, midway through the event, a member of the Council of Swordmasters had jumped on stage to challenge the judge?
"Madam, should we intervene? This isn't in line with the official rules..."
Her secretary asked from behind.
Kyouko gradually calmed down, her gaze fixed on Kuzeha.
The image of her daughter, the proud heiress of the Yuuki family, being completely outclassed—like a student before a master—was now deeply etched into the minds of every participant and spectator.
That was irreversible.
But what was about to happen… might restore the Yuuki family's reputation to level footing with the Yukinoshitas.
Yuta, a member of the Council of Swordmasters, dared to stake a three-year servitude on the match. That meant she had full confidence in her strength.
Kyouko didn't believe for a moment that this Kuzeha could defeat someone from the Council of Swordmasters.
If he lost, the prestige Yukinoshita just snatched from them would vanish just as fast.
And for the Yuuki family, there was no downside.
"But Madam, what if the boy wins...?"
"Impossible."
"Absolutely impossible," Kyouko replied coldly, full of conviction.
The name Council of Swordmasters represented the absolute peak of kendo.
Its members couldn't possibly lose to a boy!
"Now it's Yukinoshita's turn to worry..."
But when she turned to observe Madam Yukinoshita and her daughter, she saw no panic.
In fact, Madam Yukinoshita's beautiful face displayed only cold detachment—and… was that contempt?
Was it directed at Yuta?
"What's that woman thinking...?"
Kyouko frowned. She was starting to feel like she couldn't read her old rival anymore.
—
On the stage, rain stretched her body, her tight black waist twisting slightly—her dark skin adding a wild and seductive flair.
She casually drew her twin blades from her waist.
Seeing the wooden sword in Kuzeha's hand, she blinked in surprise.
"You sure you don't want a real sword? Or maybe give me two wooden ones to be fair?"
"No need. A wooden sword is enough," Kuzeha replied calmly.
Those light words instantly stirred rain's fighting spirit.
"So I'm being underestimated, huh?"
"Well then, you better be careful!"
The moment she finished speaking, rain launched forward like a panther.
The wooden floor cracked beneath her sudden burst.
From the stands, spectators couldn't even track her movements.
"He's not moving?"
"Is he scared stiff?"
People murmured all around.
Shido, however, frowned. With his level, he could clearly see Yuta's movements.
Her dual-blade style was as aggressive as her name—Yuta.
Once in close range, she'd unleash an unrelenting barrage like a torrential downpour.
No gaps, no breathers. Only flashing sword arcs wherever her silver hair swept past.
Even he would struggle if she got close.
But... Yuta wasn't pressing the attack.
Instead, she was dodging, flipping, twisting in the air like she was evading something.
Then she landed awkwardly, panting, and lifted her head in shock.
Sword pressure.
Vast, crushing sword intent had surged toward her the moment she moved.
Every route was sealed.
She had no choice but to dodge and block constantly.
Even then, her front and back felt cut—yet when she looked down… not a scratch.
—
Up in the stands, Awashima Seri watched, her cheeks flushing in excitement.
This was it.
This was the same sword intent that had conquered her.
Back then, she had been overpowered by Kuzeha's sword aura alone.
Now, seeing it again, her heart pounded wildly.
So what if it's the famed Council of Swordmasters?
Even they must bow to Lord Kuzeha's sword.
—
Yuta frantically scanned her surroundings.
With that much sword pressure, there should've been massive destruction.
But nothing was damaged.
Then her eyes locked on Kuzeha.
"That wasn't sword energy... it was sword intent."
What she had sensed… was the sheer presence of his sword.
To her eyes, it had taken the form of energy—but it was just pressure, nothing physical.
"I was dodging... his sword field?"
She couldn't believe it.
Not even her father or the leader of the Council of Swordmasters had produced such tangible sword intent.
And yet her senses told her it was real.
"Then I'll just ignore it."
If it wasn't real, she could power through.
Yuta took a deep breath and charged forward again at top speed.
The moment she did, Kuzeha's sword intent surged again.
It wasn't visible, but to rain, it felt like thousands of phantom blades tearing at her body.
Every inch of her screamed with phantom pain.
Her vision blurred.
But she made it—two meters from Kuzeha.
Then he moved.
Just one sidestep.
Yuta's heart surged with joy.
He was dodging—he was retreating!
He must not be confident in taking her strike!
She drew both blades with explosive power.
"ER...!"
Then—
"Too bad. You misread me."
His voice echoed in her ear.
Yuta's eyes widened.
Kuzeha… hadn't moved at all.
What she saw was a feint.
Next moment—
CRACK!
His wooden sword slammed down on her back.
She was knocked to the floor with a loud crash.
Yuta groaned, instinctively trying to strike back, but the sword tip was already touching her chest.
"You've lost, Miss rain."
From above, Kuzeha's calm voice descended like thunder, carving a deep mark in her sword soul.
She stared at the wooden sword.
And laughed bitterly.
Yeah... against him, a wooden sword was more than enough.
—
The crowd exploded.
A Sword Saint… lost?!
Yuuki Asuna watched the boy on stage, her eyes trembling.
Even though she already admired his strength, witnessing him decisively defeat a Council of Swordmasters member still shook her to the core.
Before the audience could recover, a tall man leapt from the stands into the arena.
"I am Shido of the Council of Swordmasters!"
The crowd gasped.
"Another one?!"
"Is he going to challenge next?!"
From the doorway, Iaian also heard the noise.
"Hey! Okamaitachi! Drill! Over here—I think I see Shido!"
He waved his comrades over, squinting at the scene.
Not fully understanding, he turned to a nearby boy.
"Hey, what just happened? What's going on?"
The boy, still holding the five ¥10,000 bills he'd won betting on Kuzeha, excitedly explained the entire match.
"And now this other Sword Saint dude showed up! Want to place a bet too?"
He looked at the three newcomers.
They seemed oddly familiar…
Iaian was stunned.
Yuta… lost?
Yuta might be bottom tier in the Council of Swordmasters, but she wasn't some random pushover.
Even the three of them would need effort to beat her.
And she lost to a tournament judge?
He looked at Kuzeha—only his back was visible.
Yet… somehow, that silhouette felt deeply familiar.
Unnervingly so.
"Okamaitachi… Drill… look at that guy…"
He trailed off when he saw Bushidrill's expression—eyes wide with shock.
"El…"
Two trembling syllables left his lips.
"He's the one… the boy who destroyed the House of Evolution."
The words struck like lightning.
Iaian and Okamaitachi froze.
The scene flashed before their eyes—
One slash carved a chasm.
One strike shattered the world.
They'd seen it with their own eyes.
The sword intent was so overwhelming, they still struggled to breathe thinking about it.
"No way… are you sure?"
"I'm sure!"
Drill nodded firmly.
His figure, his sword aura—it was all etched into his bones.
There was no way he'd mistake that for someone else.
"If anything, Yuta's lucky to walk away whole."
Just then, Iaian and Okamaitachi exchanged a look—and turned to Shido, who was still standing opposite Kuzeha.
He had just challenged him.
What a joke.
If he provoked Kuzeha, a single slash could turn him to dust.
"We have to stop him!"
The three exchanged solemn glances, then jumped on stage.
"WAIT!"
Their arrival drew even more attention.
Unlike Yuta and Shido, these three were famous A-rank heroes.
All disciples of Atomic Samurai.
The crowd recognized them instantly.
"It's Iaian, Okamaitachi, and Bushidrill!"
"They're here too?!"
"Is this a Council of Swordmasters reunion?!"
The boy who had explained earlier also realized something.
"If they're here, that makes five Council of Swordmasters at this one event!"
"Is today a secret Sword Saint meeting or something?"
"Only me feeling sorry for Kuzeha? Beat one Sword Saint and now four more show up…"
Everyone assumed the three came to back up rain and Shido.
Even Yuta and Shido thought so.
"Iaian-senpai, Okamaitachi-senpai, Drill-senpai!"
Shido greeted them, relieved.
They were cruel mentors, sure—but they always showed up when it mattered.
"I lost unfairly! Please observe—let me handle this match!"
Yuta opened her mouth.
She wanted to say it wasn't unfair.
But how do you explain sword intent to someone who hasn't felt it?
Letting Shido taste it himself might be better.
No need for her to suffer alone.
Shido barely finished speaking when Bushidrill smacked him on the back of the head.
"You brat! Know your place!"
"You? Challenge him? What a joke!"
Slap after slap nearly sent Shido sprawling.
Everyone was stunned.
Wait... weren't they here to support the Council of Swordmasters?
Instead, all three bowed deeply to Kuzeha.
"We sincerely apologize, Mr. Kuzeha. These juniors were out of line. Please forgive them."
Their voices were clear.
The entire venue fell into stunned silence.
To see the disciples of Atomic Samurai bowing like this…
Just who is this boy, Kuzeha?
Read advance chapters on: patre on.com/Bored_Mortal
TL: A review would be appreciated! ❤️