Chapter 7 Part 1 : The Arrival of a Veteran

The rain poured down in torrents, that blurred the lines of the world and merged the sky with the soil. Lightning forked across the heavens as thunder roared overhead, lending a primal fury to the scene unfolding below.

Saigo Watanabe stood tall, his powerful frame barely yielding to Kazuki's furious onslaught. His skin was like iron, a fact well-known amongst his subordinates who whispered nervously among themselves as they watched the battle from a safe distance. Each slash from Kazuki's black sword seemed to find no purchase on Saigo's impenetrable hide, even as the shadow magic imbued within the blade pulsed darkly.

"Look at him go," one of Saigo's men said in awe. "He's like a demon."

"More like a god," another corrected with a shudder. "Saigo can kill any man who stands against him."

In contrast, Kazuki's movements were fluid and graceful, a dance of shadows honed by years of practice and hardship. Yet, even as he fought with every ounce of his skill and strength, his opponent remained frustratingly out of reach.

"Your stance is terrible!" Saigo bellowed, his voice cutting through the storm like a blade. "No wonder you're struggling. Your technique is just as pathetic as your resolve!"

Kazuki gritted his teeth, anger and humiliation boiling beneath his skin. With a roar, he lunged forward, his sword aimed squarely for Saigo's chest. The strike landed with a resounding clang, but it merely scratched the surface of the warrior armor-like skin.

Saigo smirked, unfazed by the attack. In a flash, his fist shot forward, landing a powerful blow that sent Kazuki hurtling through the air. His body slammed into one of the nearby houses, splintering wood and causing the village onlookers to scatter in terror.

As he spat blood onto the rain-soaked ground, Kazuki acknowledged the truth of Saigo's words. The man was an immovable force, his hard skin nearly impervious to harm. Killing him would not be easy.

"Is that all you have?" Saigo taunted, his laughter booming like thunder. "With such pitiful skill, it's a wonder you were ever chosen to guard the Shogun."

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"Your arrogance will be your downfall," Kazuki snarled, pushing himself to his feet despite the pain wracking his body. He glared at Saigo with cold determination, every word dripping with venom. "I will tear down everything you stand for and make you beg for death."

"Bold words," Saigo sneered, raising his sword once more. "Let's see if your actions can match them."

Kazuki's eyes flickered, the shadows around him growing darker and more intense. As Saigo charged forward, his sword aimed for a lethal strike, Kazuki vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind his opponent. The shadow teleportation was a gift from the god named Tsukuyomi, but it came with a heavy price.

"Pathetic," Saigo spat, spinning around to face Kazuki. "So you're nothing more than a coward who hides in the dark?"

"Your arrogance blinds you," Kazuki said, gritting his teeth. He lunged forward, his sword slicing through the rain-soaked air. But despite his supernatural abilities, he felt his body growing weak, the edges of his vision starting to blur.

Saigo deflected the blow with ease, smirking at Kazuki's evident exhaustion. "What's the matter? Are your precious shadows not enough to save you?"

Kazuki's breath came in ragged gasps, each inhale bringing fresh pain from his bruised ribs. Blood seeped from the wounds on his arms and legs, staining the muddy ground and further weakening him.

"Enough talk," Kazuki snarled, desperately trying to conceal his rapidly failing strength. He dove into the shadows once more, aiming to catch Saigo off guard. But as he attempted to reappear behind his enemy, fatigue slowed his movements, giving Saigo ample time to counter.

"Your tricks won't work on me," Saigo taunted, sending Kazuki sprawling to the ground with a powerful kick. "Face it; you're outmatched."

As Kazuki struggled to rise, his limbs trembling with the effort, he cursed his own weakness. The power granted to him by the gods was waning, drained by each use of his shadow abilities. And now, against a formidable foe like Saigo, it was beginning to fail him completely.

"Your magic will not save you," Saigo sneered, advancing on Kazuki. "You've relied on it for too long, and now it's abandoned you."

"Even without my magic, I will defeat you," Kazuki vowed, his voice a rough whisper as he forced himself to stand once more. His body felt like lead, weighed down by pain and exhaustion, but he refused to give in. He would avenge the fallen Shogun, even if it cost him his life.

"Then come, pitiful swordsman," Saigo challenged, raising his weapon. "Show me what you can do."

As the rain continued to pour and lightning illuminated the sky, Kazuki prepared for one last desperate charge.