Chapter 9: Strike
A tree.
A very big tree.
Massive, solid, and planted firmly into the earth.
Ironwood.
Yes.
That what she was facing.
A massive ironwood tree, planted with its roots nested into the ground.
That was probably the best way to describe Willow Park right now. Standing in front of such a thing is daunting. More so when you are faced with the prospect of taking it down.
And it was no metaphor, Willow really was just like an ironwood tree in the literal sense. It took Miyuki a bit too long to realize it.
"…. Armor…"
She said it without realizing it. Willow seemed a bit confused, so maybe she herself hadn't realized it yet.
It's alright, after this brutal battle, they both had only one more strike left before they fell for good, so it would be the last one anyway.
Why not tell her? Why not give her the chance to grow even further after this fight? She had already done the unthinkable and evolved sumo for the first time in over 400 years. Was it not Miyuki's duty as a Japanese person, who has inherited the will of her predecessors, to help this magnificent warrior grow and understand herself better?
If it is the role of all adults to raise the children, is it not also the role of all seniors to raise the juniors as well?...
"…When you are about to be hit, when you are prepared to take a blow, you cover your body with a thick and hard layer of ironwood, and you plant your feet into the ground with thick, powerful roots that seep into the ground and distribute the force of any blow you take directly into the earth itself. When you fight, you fight not with your power alone, but with the power of the very earth beneath your feet, and of the mighty trees you are deeply connected with…"
Willow was shocked. She had no idea she was doing any of that, but in hindsight it made sense. Miyuki's blade should have killed her more than once, and their head-first clashes should have broken at least a couple of bones. But that didn't happen, and her unconscious technique was the reason for that.
Was that what sukune meant by "the true force of the earth"?
Miyuki continued.
"…. I would like to apologize to you. I was arrogant and foolish in thinking the strike of a blade carried by a single hand would ever be able to cut you down… In hindsight, the very essence of the Ni Ten Ichi Ryu is arrogant and crude like that, much like the man that created it… When you face enemies much weaker than yourself, a single hand gripping the blade in more than enough."
Miyuki remembered something.
This was not the first time she had faced a mighty tree like this one.
When she first met her master, he brought her before a massive ironwood tree in the depths of Japan's so called "Forest of Darkness", a place so wild and dangerous in the heartland that only the most powerful masters ever dared to approach.
He walked in this land of death calmly, like he had been there countless times before. Many wild beasts attacked them in their way, all of which were cut down by him with ease.
He took her before this tree, and told her to "cut it down".
"but master, this is an ironwood tree! I mean no disrespect to the craftsmanship of the blade you gave me, but can a metal sword ever be able to even damage this thing?!"
"…. Fufufu! How naïve can my student be?... Miyuki, do you think the blade is the one that cuts the tree down?"
"Eh? Well… yes, I.. suppose."
"hmmmmmm… … … … Miyuki. A blade is nothing more than a slab of metal shaped into a wedge. No matter how skillfull the craft, how pure the ore, or how strong the metal, it is nothing more than a tool made for a single prupose: cutting."
"But the blade is not the one that cuts. It is merely what the cutting is done with. The one that cuts is the warrior holding the blade. A powerful enough warrior can even cut down this tree with no more than a twig. And some I have met in this day and age can even do so without any weapon at all!"
He then pointed to a nearby stump that was cut cleanly at the base, which was even bigger and thicker than the one she was standing in front of.
"That one, for example, was cut by a man called Katsumi Orochi, and he did so with his bare hands. So if the hand of a human can do that, your blade can cut this. If it cannot, then you are the one that lacks might, not the blade."
"You will be my student from now on, and as my student, I will not acknowledge your growth until you can cut this tree down, understood?"
"Yes! Master!"
Months passed, over a year even, and Miyuki could not cut the tree. Not even a scratch every time she struck. She broke many blades and tried herself out to near death. Her master's training was brutal and grueling as well.
But no matter how hard she tried, she could not cut the tree.
Day in and day out, her skill with the Ni Ten Ichi Ryu grew, but her progress in taking down her everlasting foe did not.
Her master was disappointed, and one day, simply left after she kept trying. Saying they would continue tomorrow. She was angry and frustrated.
She stared at her blades in anger, and even threw one in frustration.
And that is when, while staring at the single blade in her hand, a thought came across her mind:
[Force is equal to mass times speed times grip]
According to this principle, the harder you grip, the stronger your strike.
Was there a way to grip the sword harder than she already was?
…..
The next morning, the tree was cut cleanly.
Her master was shocked, but pleased, to see this.
She then explained how she did it, and he praised her immensely for the first time. But he did mention one thing he was angry for:
"I am a bit mad you diverted from my style"
Miyuki threw away her Wakizashi, leaving her only with her massive Tachi. She then took a simple stance, with both hands grasping the handle of the blade firmly over her head.
"The truth is; a blade must be used to strike properly if it is ever to cut a mighty enemy such as yourself."
It was a style that used the principles of the Ni Ten Ichi Ryu, but with only one blade.
On the upside, it was much stronger, and can cut anything and everything. On the downside, it was a bit slower. In a way, it was somewhat similar to Kojiro Sasaki's Ganryu.
But the way Miyuki saw it, it was pure. A pure art of the blade that is without the arrogance of thinking you can attack an opponent with one hand and that will be enough to win. Only a monster like her master could use such a style. She was different, she would no longer try to imitate the arrogance of her master, and instead walk forward with her own might.
If his style was "two heavens as one", then her style should be "The one above the heavens". Her strike would be simple, devoid of any complex or unnecessary moevements. It would be a pure strike of the blade, as pure as the void itself.
Willow was excited, whatever that was about to happen, it was going to be the end of the fight. She didn't exactly have in in her to do any more.
She thought of what Miyuki had said, and decided to try something.
She went for a Shikirinaoshi and planted her roots firmly in the ground, while also covering herself with a thick layer of ironwood.
She remembered the most basic of training techniques in sumo, the Teppo. In which you slam into a wooden pole or a tree to build up power and resistance. It could also be used as a strike.
This would be Jukai sumo's first ever proper technique, with her whole body covered in wood, Willow looked like a massive mountain ape about to slam into an opponent.
In an instant, they both leapt forward to meet for the last time, in one last Tachiai.
Miyuki swung her blade:
Tenjoo Ryu: Kuuhaku giri
Willow struck with all of her might
Jukai sumo: Oozaru Teppo
….
….
….
….
….
After the brutal clash, one of them fell
….
….
….
"FIGHT OVER! THE WINNER IS:"
"FIGHTER #15, MIYUKI HANAMURA FOR THE HUMANS!"
It was over.
Miyuki was the last one standing, as Willow's unconscious body was lying on the floor, blood coming out of her massive wound.
And yet, her bones were intact.
Despite her best efforts, Miyuki had failed to cut this tree down. She then concluded that Willow did not fall due to her blade, but due to exhaustion. It was impressive.
After a moment, Miyuki fell too. Exhaustion had taken her down as well.
She woke up momentarily, noticing that she was being carried in someone's arms. This weren't Kendrick's arms though, she had never felt these arms before. She looked up, and saw that it was her master. She was obviously shocked, she wanted to ask so many questions, but she was too tired to even speak. He spoke instead:
"AH! You are awake! Well, I was going to wait to get you taken care of in a healing facility, but since you are here, allow me to ramble on for a bit."
"Your battle was magnificent! I can't remember the last time I was personally excited for someone else's fight! You may not have heard me, but I was cheering you on from outside the ring. Seeing your might in the face of battle reminded me of my younger days, before I was called "Peerless under the heavens". Miyuki, I am so proud of you! The art of the blade is in good hands!... Perhaps I am truly out of place. Now, I am not even needed to maintain the purity of the sword of Japan… So why, may I ask, is even my purpose anymore? Just to fight for glory? But in this modern age, what glory is there in cutting like I do?... Glory these days is found in principle and resolve… In that way, you had surpassed me a long time ago, since even before we met…"
"Miyuki, thank you for letting this old man's existence out of his time mean something."
Miyuki couldn't help the tears of happiness in her cheeks.
"T-thank… you…. Musashi... sensei…"
Miyuki lost consciousness once more.
"Fu..fu…fu! …. And that opponent of yours! Willow Park…"
"HOW MIGHTY, THAT TEMPLE OF FLESH!"