Ten years ago. As promised Miko and Rin went to the Tertitus Branch to receive training in swordsmanship from Kirika Dragna. They were escorted by Sasha and Karim. When they arrived in the Tertitus Domain they were greeted by Alec.

“Welcome everyone.”

“Tsk!”

Karim clicked his tongue.

“Hello, Alec.”

Sasha greeted him with a smile.

“Yo, Miko and Rin. I heard today’s the day.”

He stooped down in front of the boys.

“May Tiamat have mercy on your souls.”

“Stop scaring them.”

Karim pushed him over with his foot.

“I just want them to brace themselves. Kirika isn’t in a good mood.”

“What did you do?”

“Sasha, why did you automatically assume that I did anything?”

Alec stood up.

“Kirika never wanted to take an apprentice. The Branch Leaders basically forced her.”

“Kirika’s talent for swords is too great to not utilize in every way possible. It makes sense to have her help raise the next generation of swordsmen.”

Alec nodded to what Karim said.

“The problem is that she wants to focus on improving her own skills. Taking an apprentice was not in her plans.”

“And because of that, she’s upset, huh?”

Sasha looked at Miko.

“Is this okay? If she isn’t motivated then won’t it harm the boys’ development?”

“I never said she wasn’t motivated.”

“But you said…”

“No, she’s motivated. Just a little too motivated.”

Alec led them to a field where Kirika was.

“Kiri, I’ve brought them.”

Kirika, with her back turned to them, spoke.

“Do any of them have any experience with a sword?”

“Miko doesn’t.”

“Rin knows the basics.”

Sasha and Karim answered.

“Hypothetically, how would you react if they come home with a few broken bones one day?”

“Huh?”

An awkward silence formed among them.

“You aren’t planning on taking out your frustrations on them, right?”

“Nothing of the sort.”

She turned to face them.

“It’s just that if I’m going to do this, I’m going to give it my all. I’ll make my apprentice reach the satisfactory level as quickly as possible so that I can focus on myself.”

Her eyes sharpened.

“Again, are you fine with them coming home with a few broken bones?”

“…Devil.”

Present time, Karim cursed Kirika.

“I regret nothing.”

“You not only destroyed their bodies but the bond the two had.”

“…..I was desperately chasing a goal back then. I was only focused on myself. I could only keep one apprentice.”

“But why Miko? Rin was way more dedicated and most of all, he idolized you...You know, he has never referred to you by name since the day you rejected him. “That woman”, that’s how he calls you. His idol is dead to him.”

“….Because of that, he grew to be so strong. His hatred and angry towards me fueled him to reach so far.”

“The way you say it makes it sounds you’re taking credit for his growth. I don’t like that.”

“That wasn’t my intention though.”

“Now, now.”

The triplets stood between them.

“Let’s calm down and watch Miko and Rin’s fight. Alright?”

Karim looked away while Kirika’s eyes never strayed from the fight. Cuts appeared around them. Tension filled the air. Rin slowly lowered his center of gravity and placed his hand on his sword. He pulled it.

“?!”

Miko jumped into the air. Slashes appeared in the ground below him.

(He has long-ranged attacks too?)

He spread his wings and took to the skies.

“Wrong decision.”

Rin mumbled as he lifted his sword overhead. Miko ascent came to a bloody halt.

“?!”

Holes appeared in his body and he was unable to move.

(Don’t tell me…)

Blades appeared in front of him, with some stabbing into his body. He turned his head. The sky was filled with blades that formed a ceiling.

(He used his Sword Intent to form a prison of blades?)

Rin launched off the ground and flew towards Miko.

“Demolition Arts: Explosive Cut!”

He swung his sword in front of him. A wave of destructive flames rushed at Miko.

“Ishma!”

Ishma flew out of his hand. She fired a green slash on her own and countered the attack. He forced himself off the blades. Rin flew through the flames and came straight at him. Miko dove at him. The two swung their blades. Shockwaves spread out when they collided. Cuts appeared on Miko’s body and face.

(It’s really hard to fight this guy!)

He distanced himself. Images of a dragon and a crow appeared behind him.

“Caw, Crow of slaughter! Roar, Dragon of Murder!”

The crow and the dragon fused to become a new being.

“Collapse The World!”

He swung down his swords and azure and green cracks covered the area. Immediately after, it was as if Rin’s world had crumbled. Everything around him imploded and he was swept in a wave of destruction. When everything had finally calmed down Rin was seen laying on the ground, with his clothes ripped up.

“Cough!”

He coughed up a mouthful of bad blood and stood up.

“Your ability to use Sword Intent is impressive, Rin. Far better than my own.”

“Says the guy who just destroyed my Sword Intent.”

“That? That was because I have the best swords in the world. It had nothing to do with my skill.”

“It’s said that every weapon possesses a faint soul. That soul is where the weapon’s true power lays. The soul of a sword, that’s what Sword Intent is. Swordsmen are able to tap into their sword’s soul after years of training with it. Once they become one and share a bond, they’re able to weaponize Sword Intent and reach another level of swordsmanship.”

Kirika mumbled.

“Ishma and Regis are sentient swords, so they can make it easier for Miko to use their strength…He’s right. Rin is better at using Sword Intent but Miko can make up for it by using better weapons.”

“There are some people who can use Sword Intent with any sword because they know how to instantly tap into its true power. Rin, I think that you’ll be able to do that in the future.”

Miko pointed Regis at Rin.

“But that’s in the future. You’re the better swordsman, but I don’t intend to lose because of that. I plan to win using everything at my disposal whether it’s fair or not.”

“You’re speaking as if you’ve won.”

Rin stabbed his sword into the ground.

*Bam!*

Miko was blown back with blood spraying from his body.

(I was cut?)

His feet skid on the ground. He rushed towards Rin.

*Bam!*

He was blown away again. He focused his eyes and red lines appeared on his body.

“Demolition Arts: Mine Room.”

Red lines appeared all over the area. Explosions erupted. Miko’s surroundings were sliced apart. Cuts appeared on his body.

(So there are techniques in the Demolition Arts that use Sword Intent as its base. I thought that it was all about speed and destructive power like the Raging Dragon Style….Well, I guess I can’t use it against him. It’s too risky to use my self-created style too…)

Miko’s feet touched. Despite bleeding heavily, a smile crept on his face.

“Then, let’s try this.”

Miko swung his swords to the side. Green and azure energy rushed out. The red lines disappeared.

(He broke the technique. A counter is….)

Rin’s thoughts were cut short. He found himself staring blankly at Miko’s sword. It had a gentle glow. Miko’s body flickered. He reappeared in front of Rin.

“Lunar Strike!”

A moon rushed at Rin. Before he knew it, he was flying back with blood spraying out of him.

“Just now…”

Rin paid no attention to the pain or the condition of his body. He looked at Miko with widened eyes.

“The Slaughter Moon Arts?!”

Just now, the audience had witnessed something strange and hard to believe.

“Kirika…Did you teach Miko that?”

Karim asked. Kirika shook her head. Her eyes were trembling and there was a huge smile on her face.

“I didn’t teach him.”

“…Back when we went to the Newgate Country, we ran into a group of swordsmen known as the Luna Family. They used the Slaughter Moon Arts…Miko was almost killed by one of their members after fighting her for hours…”

“Are you implying that he copied what was used against him?”

Sophia asked.

“….That’s the only explanation.”

Kirika clenched her fists as the smile on her face grew wider.

“Hahaha, to think I actually pulled it off. I understood the theory behind it but this is my first time actually trying it. I was worried that my arm might’ve exploded or something.”

Miko laughed in contrast to the frowning Rin. Seeing that, he sighed.

“There you go again. Taking everything so seriously.”

He pointed his sword at Rin.

“That’s why Kirika didn’t pick you.”

Rin’s eyes twitched.

“Looks like you got cocky. Time for me to show you the difference between the two of us.”

“I’m well aware of it already.”

He grinned.

“Say, Rin. When was the last time swordsmanship has been fun for you?”