The Seven Secret Swords were a series of unique moves that Ikki Kurogane had developed over more than ten years of honing his kendo.
Each Secret Sword possessed power comparable to the core techniques of any major kendo school.
However, Ikki had told Roy about his remaining Secret Sword without reservation.
"No wonder you didn't use this trick before," Roy nodded, understanding the reasoning. "In that kind of open arena, the utility of the Fifth Secret Sword: Kuruizakura is too limited."
Kuruizakura is a delayed slashing technique. It masks the sharpness of the blade, making the opponent feel as though they've only been buffeted by wind pressure.
In reality, an imperceptible wound is left on the enemy's body. To detonate these wounds, specific conditions are required.
In the fast-paced duel with Roy, there hadn't been an opportunity to set up those conditions.
"You should be able to walk around by this afternoon, right?" Roy asked.
"Although my body is still a little weak, there should be no problem if I just walk," Ikki replied. This weakness was the inevitable side effect of Ittou Shura.
"Okay. I'm going to a pharmacy in the city this afternoon. Co with ," Roy said.
"Pharmacy?" Ikki was puzzled but nodded anyway. "Sure, no problem."
Afternoon.
Thanks to his rigorous training, Ikki's recovery rate was impressive. After five or six hours of rest, he had recovered significantly.
As long as he didn't fight, he looked nothing like the corpse that had been dragged to the infirmary that morning.
Roy and Ikki took a taxi to a large traditional pharmacy in the city center.
"Roy, why are you buying so many herbs?"
Seeing Roy list out a long requisition of rare ingredients, Ikki was baffled. Having suffered injuries since childhood, Ikki knew basic first aid and dicine.
He recognized that the herbs Roy was buying were extrely precious and expensive.
Looking at the prices, Ikki gulped. He couldn't afford a single root. As a disowned student, he had no inco source beyond the school's stipend.
"For you," Roy replied simply.
"For ?" Ikki was stunned. "My body is fine. I don't need any dicine."
"Fine?" Roy glanced at Ikki with a knowing smile. "Is it really?"
"Am I... not alright?" Ikki scratched his head, suddenly doubting his own assessnt.
"Your Ittou Shura is indeed a powerful Noble Art, but the side effects are terrible. It's not as simple as just exhaustion," Roy said thoughtfully.
"Wait... you saw through the principle of Ittou Shura too?" Ikki asked in surprise.
"It's a technique that forcibly suppresses the survival instinct to access the latent power usually reserved for life-or-death crises, right?" Roy asked back.
Ikki nodded silently. That was exactly it.
Humans possess a survival instinct. A limiter placed by the brain to prevent the body from tearing itself apart.
Under normal circumstances, no matter how hard one tries, they can only access about 50% of their true muscular and magical potential.
Ikki, through sheer willpower and absolute body control, forcibly removed these limiters.
"It is indeed powerful, but it's also incredibly reckless," Roy sighed.
"I have no choice. I don't have the talent to be a Blazer. I'm too far behind the geniuses. This is the only way to bridge the gap," Ikki said with a wry smile.
"To be honest, Ikki, you are a friend I recognize. I don't want to be visiting your grave in five years," Roy said bluntly.
Normally, removing limiters allows a person to exert roughly twice their normal strength. But Ittou Shura went far beyond that. In his duel with Roy, Ikki's output had multiplied by dozens of tis.
This was achieved through imnse physical and ntal torture. Ittou Shura was a technique born from desperation and pain.
It allowed an F-Rank knight to fight A-Rank opponents, but the cost was devastating.
"Is it really that serious...?" Ikki laughed dryly.
Although Roy's words were harsh, they ward Ikki's heart.
As the Worst One, most people only offered ridicule or pity. Rarely did anyone care about his well-being. At this mont, Roy's status in Ikki's heart rose to that of a close friend.
"I'm afraid it's even more serious than I said," Roy continued.
"Forcibly drawing out twice the power is already harmful. Multiplying it dozens of tis? You're basically overdrafting your life force. Every ti you use THAT move, you're shaving ti off your lifespan."
"It's fine when you're young; your body can bounce back. But the damage accumulates. By the ti you're middle-aged, your organs will fail, and you'll be riddled with chronic pain."
"Dying young is one thing, but living as a cripple with tubes stuck in you? That's hell for a swordsman."
Ikki shivered, imagining himself bedridden and helpless. That was indeed a fate worse than death.
"Your order is ready," the pharmacist called out, placing a large stack of wrapped herbs on the counter.
"Thank you."
After paying, Roy asked, "Can I borrow your decoction room?"
"Please follow ."
The pharmacist led them to a back room equipped for brewing traditional dicines.
"Roy... these herbs are all for ? Isn't it too expensive?" Ikki hesitated. He felt guilty accepting such a gift when he had nothing to offer in return.
"You taught your Seven Secret Swords without reservation. This is nothing," Roy shook his head.
He had gained Blade Steal, Ittou Shura, and the Seven Secret Swords from Ikki. A few expensive herbs were a cheap price to pay for such skills.
"I didn't teach much... you learned most of it yourself..." Ikki muttered, still embarrassed.
"Okay, stop talking nonsense. I'm going to make sothing," Roy waved his hand, cutting off Ikki's protest. He began unpacking the herbs, preparing to refine a potion that would repair the deep seated damage in Ikki's body.
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