Anime: Fight Sukuna at the beginning?.

Chapter 405 You're unlucky to have met me.

Zhang Yong had already realized a fact.

Even if one were to use their full potential, both physical and spiritual, to withstand this attack using the "Remnant Cherry Blossom" technique.

If one's skills cannot match his, and one cannot hit him with sword energy, then one will likely be unable to defeat him.

Besides awakening the [Remnant Cherry Blossom] that turned his life around.

He needed some time to rediscover that feeling of omnipotence that had arisen in his heart the day he held the stone knife again.

To kill the other party through that kind of 'miracle'.

This is the only option he can choose now, having staked on [resurrection] and [relics] with no way out.

All he did was immerse himself in his memories and pick up that knife once more.

He watched as the blade flashed, about to cleave him in two.

Without a moment's hesitation, Zhang Yong immersed himself in his memories, observing the two scenes that appeared before him.

Those were the scenes when he held the stone knife at the ages of seven and seventeen.
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Humans often set vague goals or wishes during childhood.

Although at the time they were unaware of how difficult and unrealistic those goals were.

But they just have that kind of confidence.

When he was seven years old, he received this heavy longsword, which was said to be forged from the remains of the soul of some kind of creature.

At that time, he felt that he was invincible because he was called a genius.

The wish I made was very simple.

"I want to hone my swordsmanship to the level of being the best in the world, a level that no one can reach."

"The one who holds this knife is the greatest in the world."

At that moment, he vaguely heard the knife telling him its name.

However, Zhang Yong, who was unable to wield the stone sword at the time, could only place it in a corner.

This hiatus lasted for ten years.
-
When seventeen-year-old Zhang Yong once again found the knife he had long forgotten in the corner.

He has been fallen from the clouds of genius for a long time.

He was completely rendered useless.

Furthermore, the cost of healing such an injury is quite high.

Despite numerous efforts, all ultimately ended in failure.

This repeatedly verified the truth of the theory that 'a seed is just a seed, and a genius that does not grow up is worthless'.

And on the day they are about to come of age, they will be kicked out of the house.

While he was cleaning his room in despair, looking for another way out.

As if by some strange twist of fate, he found the knife he had long forgotten in a corner.

Although his strength had increased considerably, it was still insufficient for his injured state.

The stone sword remained as heavy as ever.

Seventeen-year-old Zhang Yong stared at the knife.

His words, "I will hone my swordsmanship to the best in the world, and with a sword in hand, I will be the best in the world," echoed in his ears once again.

At that time, he only felt that his past self was really stupid.

A feeling of contempt arose in my mind.

[It's just a child's fantasy; what use is a stone knife?]

This knife is heavy and takes up a lot of space; I'll just throw it away when I move.
-
But in the end, he didn't throw away that knife.

Just like him, who wasted several years, he never gave up his wish to master the swordsmanship of the world until the very end.

He stared at that knife for a long, long time.

In the end, I still shook hands with it.

What did I say back then that led me to learn the name of this knife?

Having interrupted his recollection and returned to reality, Zhang Yong looked at the "Only My Blade" that was already approaching his body.

He gripped the knife just like that day.

I recalled once again that fleeting moment of omnipotence within me, the strange feeling of changing all destinies.

This time, even stronger, he didn't let that feeling slip through his fingers.

The longsword is constantly nourished by the [Resonance Spirit Infusion - Blade] and its innate talent, which is transformed into [Talent], [Mirror Heart Reflection Blade].

It allowed him to understand and retain that feeling of omnipotence with perfect clarity.

Finally, he said those words with great determination.

Just like the words he uttered the day he picked up the longsword again.

"My swordsmanship is the best in the world."
-
A notification sounded in my ear: "[You have acquired the special branch 'Unrivaled' derived from 'Master-level Swordsmanship'."

He sensed the sword energy that swept across the heavens and earth mercilessly tearing his body apart.

But he did not stop chanting.

"Full bloom!"

"Press down the entirety of your soul that is in the body except for your brain."

He looked at Fang Yi, who was more powerful than ever before.

The determination in my heart to kill the other person was stronger than ever before.

Even if we end up with nothing after this battle, that's a matter for the future.

[Using my last 'trump card,' I'm going to kill you here! Fang Yi!]
-
In an instant, the incantation of self-sacrifice covered Zhang Yong's body, taking away his limbs and internal organs, leaving only his soul.

Ruthlessly, he dedicated his value to some unknown being, turning him into a half-crippled person whom even the healing services of this space could not cure.

In return, he gained a fleeting moment of unparalleled power to wield the longsword.

As an unusually heavy blade shadow appeared on his back, black flames spread across his entire body.

Having already been split in two and on the verge of death, Zhang Yong looked at Fang Yi not far away.

Like the Grim Reaper described in those intelligence reports, he uttered an extremely bloodthirsty declaration.

He forcibly called out the name of the long sword in his hand.

"Bloom, [the withered cherry blossoms]."

The stone longsword in his hand, reforged using the [Shallow Forging Method] through the space, shattered with a crash, transforming into a somewhat slender cherry-colored longsword.

The blade of the long sword was so slender that it resembled a branch just sprouting new buds in early spring.

After the long sword named "Remnant Cherry Blossom" revealed its true form, a light rain of cherry blossoms began to fall from the sky.

Zhang Yong had already been torn to pieces by the sword energy, and his scattered body instantly transformed into drifting cherry blossoms, merging into this sea of ​​flowers.

Then, driven by the [Remnant Cherry Blossom], several cherry blossoms once again gathered into a human shape, piecing together a complete body.

Seeing Fang Yi's tense expression, Zhang Yong finally managed a smile.

Surprised?

"It's just that we paid the price and crawled out of hell again."

"Fate has smiled upon me once again; this battle is not over yet!"

Fang Yi tilted his head and looked at the scene of 'resurrection' that felt very familiar.

He glanced at his own [This Fist is the Only Method], but did not reply.

He always felt as if he had forgotten something very important in order to acquire this skill during that battle.

What is that?

Fang Yi was initially troubled.

But after glancing subconsciously at his waist, a smile crept onto his lips.
-
As Zhang Yong spoke, he watched the petals disappear into the air at a visible speed, signifying the imminent end of the awakening of the [Remnant Cherry Blossom].

Sensing the power within his body constantly draining away as the incantations throughout his body dissipate and the [Full Bloom] technique is about to end.

He uttered his last words to Fang Yi, whose expression was not right.

"You are a respectable opponent, so I will make sure you die knowing why."

"The power gained from forcibly releasing an incompletely forged Zanpakuto is very short-lived."

"I can't even withstand your next attack right now."

As he spoke, Zhang Yong drew his longsword, perfectly demonstrating his belief that "no one can match him" by utilizing attributes that surpassed those of a rank 2 being.

A peerless blade of light, destined to hit, kill, and win, was drawn and swung towards Fang Yi.

That strike was incredibly fast.

It subtly incorporates the concept of "guaranteed hit" from the perspective of the soul.

"But if I want to kill you, that should be enough!"

Seeing Fang Yi's surprised expression, Zhang Yong stopped looking at his enemy.

Instead, she turned her head and picked up a cherry blossom that was drifting in the air.

Without turning his head, he uttered the words "final kill" to his enemy.

"Unless you have knowledge of the soul and can protect it, you cannot 'dodge' this blow."

"Even if your fist is imbued with 'belief,' if your punch can't match the power of my blade, you'll only..."
-
In response to Zhang Yong, Fang Yi suddenly sped up as if he possessed an independent flow of time, narrowly dodging the blade's energy.

It was a trump card that Fang Yi had never used after obtaining it, but whose effectiveness was temporarily amplified by the [Binding] ability.

[Inherent Time Imperial Order] [1.5x Speed]

The additional time flow rate provides more room for reaction.

Knowing that this attack cannot be dodged and cannot be nullified with [Relic] or [Legendary Heart], they realized that this attack was unavoidable.

Fang Yi, who needed to deliver an equal attack to annihilate this blow, did not swing his sword, but instead switched to his fist.

The next moment, an unparalleled black light burst forth from his hand, which annihilated and devoured the incomparable sword light with a single punch.

It is precisely [This Fist is the Only Method] [Ten-Stroke Incantation] [Black Flash].

For the first time in his life, Fang Yi did not suppress the power of [Black Flash].

After finishing all this, the man shook his slightly scraped right hand and gave a very surprised response.

"You said I can't keep up with your speed?" "But it doesn't seem like that's the case."

Watching him dodge the attack and effortlessly break through the blade's energy.

Despite the scrape on his right hand, Fang Yi exuded an aura of great power.

After sensing through their [Special Ability] that the other party's magical energy has been completely depleted and they will be unable to cast [Magic] in the short term.

Zhang Yong's smile widened even more.
He did not swing his sword again, but instead flicked the cherry-colored longsword in his hand, which had expanded again.

He then explained his own abilities.

"I forgot to tell you something."

"My initial understanding is the control over the transformation of the soul and the body."
"This is also the key to my ability to 'resurrect' and kill you."

As he spoke, Zhang Yong watched as his body instantly disintegrated, as if his flesh and bones had been ripped away, under the influence of the Zanpakuto he had unleashed.

Fang Yi then collapsed backwards like a snow-capped mountain.

He tossed the vanished cherry blossoms in his hand into the air, making a triumphant pronouncement.

"Although this power lasts only a moment, you were already dead the instant I struck you."
"Skills with delayed damage settlement and invalid attacks are ineffective."

"Furthermore, after you die, you will remain unaware of your own soul."

Even if you're worth 300 merit points to me, and you definitely have off-field resurrection items like [Resurrection Coins], it still won't work.

As the long sword fell to the ground, Fang Yi saw the fragmented flesh already turning red, showing a tendency to transform into cherry blossoms.

Zhang Yong's power has begun to wane, and his [Initial Release] is about to end.

Sensing the fading life force of his opponent's body, he shook his head regretfully at Fang Yi's body.

"I can only say that you're very unlucky to have met me."

However, the process of watching the enemy transform into cherry blossoms was suddenly paused.

Then, as if time had reversed, they began to piece together and reconstruct the human-shaped corpse.

Zhang Yong's words, which he had not yet finished speaking, came to an abrupt halt, like a pistol that jammed when it was about to be fired.

[Resurrected on the spot? How could something like that possibly appear at this rank?!]

Zhang Yong's eyes turned fierce, and he subconsciously raised his long sword.

【Then let's kill him again! My strike will be faster than his!】

He soon realized that he couldn't do it.

Just like a gambler who bets everything in a game, there is no second chance unless life is restarted.

He has staked his entire present and future on this.

After the [Full Bloom] that prematurely awakened [Remnant Cherry Blossoms] gradually faded, the souls of the limbs, except for the brain, have already been extracted as the price of activation.

All I have is a physical body stuck in a 300ms delay state.

All he could do was watch helplessly as his enemy raised his longsword before him and then unleashed a strike that was no less skillful than his own.

【Moon in the Mirror】

Seeing it appear silently in the space, so fast it was unbelievable, stirred up some painful memories.

Then, with a swift and decisive motion, the azure blade shattered its own body.

Zhang Yong, having understood his opponent's swordsmanship through the [Mirror Heart Reflecting Blade] technique, felt somewhat helpless.

[Is it only now that you've used such swordsmanship?]

Fang Yi, who had been missing for a long time, activated the fourth "Resurrection" by using the "Five Emperors Coins" after being blocked and killed by Teacher Su Nuo at the beginning of the game.

Looking at the message that appeared before my eyes: "[Remaining lifespan: 170 years, next resurrection cost: 14 years]", I realized that...

Then, as if doing a sit-up, he did a somersault and straightened his body again, retaliating against his opponent.

"However, it seems like you're not the one who won."

Just as you said.

"You're unlucky to have met me."

Looking at Fang Yi, who had died and then come back to life.

Zhang Yong is losing consciousness, with only his head still able to move.

First, she stared wide-eyed in utter astonishment, as if questioning Fang Yi, or perhaps questioning herself.

"Why do you have this item that completely counters my ability to revive on the spot?"

After taking a very unwilling look at the cherry blossoms in the air that were gradually becoming transparent, and the [Broken Cherry Blossom] in his hand that had once again turned into a stone longsword, he...

A hint of bewilderment flashed in Zhang Yong's eyes, as if all his life's efforts had vanished into thin air.

"I've bet almost everything I can on the future."

"My swordsmanship is the best in the world."

"Why can't I still beat you?"

However, this confusion came quickly and went quickly as well.

At the final moment of his life, he looked at Fang Yi, who was calmly watching him die.

When killing others, Zhang Yong, who had seen similar expressions on his own face, quickly calmed down.

And he accepted the fact that he had failed.

Well, a loss is a loss.

I'm not the kind of sore loser who gambles recklessly.

He recalled his experience of risking his life to obtain the [Book of Time] and the [Protagonist] card from others.

A hint of regret flashed in Zhang Yong's eyes.

I knew the adage "gambling always leads to losses" from the moment I started gambling with my life.

If you keep gambling, it's only a matter of time before you lose everything.

If only I could control my greed to keep digging for more in this [assessment task].

But this weak thought only surfaced for a moment before he firmly banished it.

No, if I were that weak, I should have collapsed long ago.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yong took a deep look at the man he had killed and who had been killed by him.

He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter the curse.

He left behind only a somewhat stubborn statement, seemingly hoping to find an answer from Fang Yi.

"When you attacked me with your knife just now, you didn't use the knife but your fist, right?"
"That must be your most powerful and confident move."

"So, you're saying that my swordsmanship surpassed yours back then?"

Fang Yi recalled the unparalleled qualities that the other party could not 'learn'.

I heard the notification sound in my ear: "[You have killed a hostile space reincarnator]".

Having already won, Fang Yi gave a very frank assessment, offering a final plea for the enemy's well-being.

"In terms of swordsmanship, I was indeed inferior to you at that moment."

Then, he added a sentence in his heart.

[Of course, this only applies to that moment before I had fully mastered the "Moon in the Mirror."]

I am endlessly acquiring knowledge from skills and enemies, constantly 'leveling up' and becoming stronger.

Although there was no notification in my ear that my spatial skill level had increased.

However, Fang Yi had already sensed that his swordsmanship was clashing with his opponent's, and after absorbing some nourishment, he had become stronger again.
-
Upon hearing Fang Yi's reply, Zhang Yong, who had retained some consciousness thanks to [Remnant Cherry Blossom], [Talent], and [Mirror Heart Reflection Blade], was able to speak.

A satisfied smile appeared on his lips as he closed his eyes contentedly.

"Hmph, therefore my swordsmanship is indeed the best in the world."

[I only lost to him in areas outside of swordsmanship; I guess you could say I won this one.]

But in the end, he still gave this exceptionally difficult enemy a very high evaluation.

This expressed his respect.

"Fang Yi, your swordsmanship and 'realm' are incredibly strong, unbelievably strong, the kind I've never heard of before."

"Losing to you is not unfair."

That's all I wanted to say.

After saying these words, Zhang Yong and his stone longsword transformed into transparent cherry blossoms and vanished into the air.

The Holy Grail War is on its third day, with four minutes and twenty-nine seconds remaining until sunset.

Main God Space: [The Fallen Genius], Zhang Yong, dead.
-
And with the death of the other party.

Five notification sounds rang in Fang Yi's ears.

[You have killed a Reincarnator from the opposing faction. You have gained the ability to weaken their talent [Mirror Heart Blade] as a trait.]

This trait may cause your trait [Blade of Light and Shadow] to evolve; it is recommended to solidify it.

You have earned the respect of an enemy. You will receive corresponding rewards based on the [Respect List] missions.

You have killed a reincarnator who possesses the [Protagonist] card. Your [Protagonist] card will receive corresponding benefits.

[Currently, there are 5 surviving reincarnators, and 2 surviving reincarnators from the opposing faction.]

Watching Zhang Yong disappear into thin air, Fang Yi was about to contact the swordswoman to inquire about the battle situation over there.

See if I can find some time to kill that [Sea Demon] and earn some [Great Achievements].

But then the Five Emperors Coins at his waist suddenly started to get hot.

Two more nonsensical notification sounds from the [Main God Space] popped up in his ears.

You have acquired partial ownership of the [Scroll of the Deceased], and this [relic] has been automatically added to your personal inventory.

[Due to the influence of the Five Emperors Coins absorbing the Book of Time, your remaining lifespan has increased from 170 years to 270 years.]

Upon hearing these two notification sounds, Fang Yi tilted his head.

This was the first time he had ever seen the Five Emperors Coins show any interest in other relics.

(End of this chapter)