156 Tournament 11

Himura Kenshin versus Nakagawa Hikotaka.

Kenshin entered the stage. He feel the worry in his father's gaze, he also feels the pressure from the spectator's expectation, no one would think that he reached this place not because of luck but because of his abilities. This pressure... he will take this pressure and win this match to make him stronger.

Nakagawa Hikotaka entered the stage slowly, Kenshin has waiting for him at the arena. He walked with his arrogant expression. He looks at Kenshin. "I never expected you, the fallen Young Master, will stand here before me. But your luck ends here because you meet me. Even though we have the same cultivation stage, but you didn't have Sword Intent."

"There is nothing impossible. I will beat you here and take this experience to make me stronger de gozaru" Kenshin expression becomes solemn.

"You! Since you didn't understand our difference, then I will teach you personally!" Hikotaka glared at Kenshin hatefully.

"Match Start!"

"Nakagawa Sword Style, Desolation" Hikotaka seems not going to play around, he is going to obliterate Kenshin. Five Swords immediately made their way toward Kenshin one by one. Kenshin raised his sword.

"Splitting Sword"

Kenshin's sword started glowing. This is also one of the flaws for 'Nakagawa Sword Style, Desolation'. There will always be a gap between each sword. Kenshin took advantage of it, and cut them one by one with his 'Splitting Sword'. That is also the reason why Alex can easily dodge them with his 'Fleeting Step'.

"You cut them" Hikotaka was surprised, though he knows that this is 'Desolation' flaw, but to cut them one by one needs a high skill. Even him, can only barely cut them all. But seeing that Kenshin managed to cut them pretty easily, he was angered. Isn't that mean he is better than him?

"Echo Sword!"

"Splitting Sword"

Hikotaka rushed toward Kenshin madly, his pride was hurt just now. Clash after clash... in a span of a few minutes, they have exchanged for more than 200 rounds. But the situation change when Hikotaka finally used his Sword Intent. His blow become more powerful, and he started suppressing him in the arena

"First Strike"

"Second Strike"

"Third Strike"

"Fourth Strike"

"Fourth Strike"

Kenshin is using his 'Fourth Strike' to block Hikotaka 'Sword Intent', albeit barely. But continuously using his 'Fourth Strike' is taking a toll on him.

*Pant Pant*

He was still blown away each time he used his 'Fourth Strike' to block Hikotaka Strike. But Kenshin still didn't give up, each time he was blown away, he stands on his feet again and again. But, unfortunately, this makes Hikotaka gain his pride.

"Haha... this is our difference."

Kenshin looked at him smiled while wiping the blood on his mouth. "I haven't lost."

"You! I'm just giving you time so you can perform well and impress some elders. Since you don't appreciate it, I will defeat you in the next strike."

"Echo Sword!"

"Fourth Strike!"

Hikotaka used his 'Echo Sword' while coating his sword with Sword Intent. But surprisingly, this time, Kenshin wasn't pushed back. Instead, he surprises everyone by pushing Hikotaka back. And clearly, his sword was also covered by another form of energy. Hikotaka and the people in the VIP Seat understand this energy.

"Sword Intent!"

Hikotaka was shocked that Kenshin suddenly used his Sword Intent. Did he hide this the whole time? Why he used the Sword Intent now? No, he recalled the fight between Kenshin and Himura Soma, if he had his Sword Intent back then, he would use it. And he recalled another fight. It is the fight between Alexander Sirius and Kusunoki Kayo, where Kusunoki Kayo suddenly acquired a Spear Intent. He remembered that Himura Kenshin used Soma to help him achieve a breakthrough in the arena. And with all of that, he finally realized that he was used by him too.

"You...you used me too!" Hikotaka shouted at him.

Kenshin only smiled toward him, "I don't know what you mean. But, since both of the Sword Intent has been present, time for the round two de gozaru."

Kenshin took the initiative to attack this time, "Fourth Strike!"

"Echo Sword"

Previously, Kenshin can only barely blocked his attack while being blown away, but this time, Kenshin is the one who pushed him back.

"You!" Hikotaka can't take this anymore. The battle is slowly turning to Kenshin's favor. They continue clashing for a few ten rounds. In the stage, Kenshin looked very exhausted while Hikotaka seems still have some energy left, but his own physical condition is the same as Kenshin. If the battle continues like this, Kenshin will undoubtedly lose.

Kenshin looked at Hikotaka fiercely. Judging from the situation, He needs to finish this battle right now. He decided to end this in a single strike. He took a breath before he finally charged toward Hikotaka. He swings his sword toward him while Hikotaka is trying to block his sword, but surprisingly before the swords connect, Kenshin leaped.

In the air, Kenshin flies downward toward Hikotaka.

"Fourth Strike"

He took him by surprise, Kenshin is using Alex's strategy. Where he used his 'Heavy Step' to press him to the ground. But Kenshin didn't have Martial Art like that, so he didn't use his weight to fight Hikotaka. Instead, he used his momentum. That is the reason why he jumped to the air.

The clashed took a few seconds before Kenshin finally succeeded in penetrating Hikotaka's defend. Hikotaka was pinned toward the ground and lose the strength in his grip, finally release the sword in his hand. Kenshin pointed out his sword toward his neck, and the match was finally over.

"Himura Kenshin wins!"

The crowd turned into an uproar. They never thought Himura Kenshin could win this fight, overcoming many difficulties, he walked step by step and with his exhausted body, he finally defeats his opponent.

"Son" Himura Takata was on a high up, after all, it is his son that finally win and advance to the Semi-final. Nakagawa Otoshi sulked in the corner, Kenshin now has been in the Elder Conn's eyes. But at the very least, his son is in the Top 8, so he can still go to the four sects, unlike a certain someone...

There is only Alexander Sirius, Himura Kenshin, Ray Adams, and Nakagawa Hiina, who are most likely to win the tournament. And for the semi-final, the first fight is Nakagawa Hiina versus Ray Adams, and the second fight is Alexander Sirius versus Himura Kenshin. But for now, to let the winner rest. They commence the battle for the loser in the top 8 to decide their actual rank.

After a few more fights, the ranking is as such, 5th is Nakagawa Hikotaka, 6th is Himura Tsunehira, 7th Soga Tsutsuyo, and 8th is Kitajo Kagemochi.

Finally, the first match of the semi-final, Nakagawa Hiina vs Ray Adams, begins.

Nakagawa Hiina, still wearing her aloof expression, walked toward the stage, on the opposite, Ray Adams smiling toward her.

"Please have a nice match" Said Ray Adams, and Hiina only nodded her head. She is planning to win this match quickly so she can reserve her strength for the final. At first, she was convinced that 'Alex' would be the one who will fight her little brother. But she never thought that her brother would lose to Kenshin. Judging from Kenshin's previous situation, Alex would likely defeat him pretty quickly since Kenshin's condition isn't that good, So she is also planning to finish this match as soon as possible so she can reserve her strength to fight Alex.

"Desolation" Nakagawa Hiina immediately used her 'Desolation', five swords appeared beside her and made their way toward Ray Adams.

"Roaring Fist" Ray Adams punch the first sword, and when he destroyed the first sword with his punch, the other swords also disappeared. It seems that it wasn't an ordinary 'Roar'. It also sends a Shockwave, the shockwave vibrate the sword, and made the Illusory Sword think they hit the target.

But he still underestimates Nakagawa Hiina too much. For her, this is only a distraction, the moment his fist destroyed the First Sword, it exploded and gave her the necessary Smokescreen to close their distance.

Nakagawa Hiina suddenly appeared from the smoke and swung her sword downward.

"What!" Ray Adams was shocked by this sudden attack, and He immediately sends another fist. "Roaring Fist!"

It is very effective for an ordinary Sword User, but Nakagawa Hiina has Sword Intent. The moment they clashed, Hiina's Sword Intent penetrate Ray Adams's Defense. It injures his fist.

"Argh!" Ray Adams screamed in pain, the blood gushing out from his fist, and Nakagawa Hiina took this chance to point her sword at his neck.

"Na...Nakagawa Hiina wins!"

The match ended in an instant. The old monk immediately went to the arena and gave Ray Adams a pill to recover from his injury. Then he took him and left the arena.

...

The next match, Alexander Sirius versus Himura Kenshin. The battle between brothers.

Alexander slowly walked to the arena, he looked at Kenshin, who is already waiting for him. There is still a trace of exhaustion on his face.

"Alex, please have a serious fight with me this time. I don't want you to fight like our usual sparring. I know you are still concealing your real strength de gozaru." Kenshin said.

Alex shakes his head, "You are too exhausted for that."

"Even so, I will use my full power from the beginning. Now I have a Sword Intent de gozaru."

"Match Start!"

"Splitting Sword"

"Splitting Sword"

They both used the same Sword Art. This is the skill that they used the most when they had sparring. When the swords still clashing, Alex noticed that Kenshin suddenly covered his sword with Sword Intent. Alex immediately deflect his sword.

"Alex, fight me seriously!" Kenshin entered his sword stance.

Alex knows this stance since he is also using this stance a few times. Kenshin jumped forward while swinging his sword, Alex also jumped forward while swinging his sword. Their movement is exactly the same, but only Himura Takata, who is in the VIP Seat know something different in Alex's stance. Though it was a small difference, he who is very familiar with this Sword Stance can notice it. Alex lowers his stance a few millimeters down from the usual position.

"First Strike"

"Second Strike"

"Third Strike"

"Fourth Strike"

Both of them did the exact same movement, But Himura Takata observed Alex carefully, each swing from him is a bit different. He can also notice that the power that comes from it is a little stronger than Kenshin's.

"This is the different me de gozaru!" Kenshin roared, he clad his sword with his Sword Intent and send another swing. With this, he will surpass him.

"Fourth Strike"

Alex also did the same, but this time, his swing is different.

*Clang*

The sword clashed, however, to his surprise, the power between them is equal.

"Alex" Kenshin was very surprised at this moment because he knows what is the last swing is, even Himura Takata suddenly stood up from his seat and said in surprise, "Fifth Strike!"

Kenshin smirked, "As expected of you, Alex. A few days ago, I only used it in a duel a few times. But now, you have surpassed me in that Sword Art. But I still won't lose."

As he said that, he raised his sword and swung it again with his Sword Intent. "Fourth Strike!"

Alex smiled a bit, "Then, I will show you something special."

Alex suddenly lowered his sword to his left side, and he swings it toward Kenshin's head, no... to be exact to where their sword will clash. He is targeting Kenshin's sword.

"Sixth Strike"

*Clang*

The clash ended in an instant. The moment they clashed, Kenshin felt the very powerful force from Alex's sword, and he immediately loses his grip on his sword as his sword was sent flying and finally planted on the arena wall.

Kenshin was taken aback, He looked at Alex in disbelief. "That..."

Takata's jaw suddenly dropped to the ground the moment he saw Alex's last swing. "That...That...is..."

He can't mutter his sword cleanly, that's how big the scene Alex's made just now.

"Himura Family Head?" Nakagawa Otoshi noticed the strange Himura Takata.

After he called him, the others also noticed him, who currently looked at Alex with his jaw opened as big as possible.

"Is that boy do something irregular?" Conn Kindellan

"He...He..." Takata was still shocked and can't speak clearly. He took a while to calm down and finally, "He..."