Chapter Twenty-Two: The Lonely Swordsman

So this really is just another parallel universe... Yue Longze sat in a daze.

Not long ago, in order to confirm whether this world was indeed a parallel one, Yue Longze had sought out the two police officers from before to question them. The so-called Black Diga and the three evil Ultramen had never appeared. The two officers looked at him as if he were an idiot.

This was a time and space where events proceeded according to the normal plotline—at least, until he appeared, everything followed the original story. But now, with his presence, perhaps the plot... would begin to change.

Yue Longze had a hunch: the third generation of the Kirielode tribe had also been swept into this world.

"Ha!" At that moment, Daigu in this universe had already transformed into Diga and was fiercely battling the demon Shukna. Shukna’s swordsmanship was superb, forcing Daigu to retreat step by step.

"Sir, you seem to be a person of light as well?" Dressed in black, sporting a hairstyle unique to the Edo period, Ida Jinryu appeared beside Yue Longze, his samurai sword in hand.

"Eh?" Yue Longze turned to look up at Ida Jinryu.

In Yue Longze's eyes, he saw Jinryu’s true face.

"You carry the aura of darkness, yet I sense no evil intent," Jinryu said, shaking his head in surprise. Daigu had already astonished him, and now encountering another such individual, Ida Jinryu was even more surprised. Yet, as befits Jinryu’s cultivated composure, the surprise was like a gentle breeze—passing swiftly, leaving nothing behind.

"Heh, no wonder you’re the solitary swordsman specialized in defeating demons, Ida Kojuurou Jinryu!" Yue Longze stood, brushed the dust from his clothes, and responded with a smile.

Diga and Shukna continued their battle, Shukna’s swordsmanship cutting down everything before him. Meanwhile, Yue Longze and Ida Jinryu watched the fight, exchanging lighthearted conversation.

...

"Inside this artifact of yours resides a ghostly spirit; its aura seems chaotic, both bright and dark," Jinryu remarked calmly, staring at the dark divine light rod that Yue Longze had deliberately presented for his advice.

"Camilla, so you really are inside..." Yue Longze gazed at the dark divine light rod in his hand, his expression complex.

"We’ve become allies from enemies...?" Yue Longze murmured.

"Mm, Shukna’s swordsmanship has improved yet again," Jinryu observed, arms folded, watching the battle between Shukna and Daigu. His calm voice rang in Yue Longze’s ears.

"Senior, your former adversary has grown stronger, and you remain so composed?" Yue Longze put down the dark divine light rod, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"Would you be interested in learning swordsmanship from me?" Jinryu didn’t answer Yue Longze’s question, instead abruptly tossing out this proposal.

"What?" Yue Longze wondered if he had heard correctly.

"Your foundation is excellent. Learn swordsmanship from me!" Jinryu insisted.

Yue Longze: ...

"Well? Consider it. I don’t wish for this divine sword’s skills to be lost," Jinryu said, deliberately stroking the so-called divine sword at his waist in a showy manner.

The calm, aloof, and serious masterly demeanor instantly vanished in Yue Longze’s mind.

"Senior... Are you joking?" Yue Longze was a bit excited. If he truly could learn Jinryu’s swordsmanship, even just a fraction, it would be invaluable!

"I never lie," Jinryu replied coolly. "I only wish for my swordsmanship not to be lost," he added.

"Master, please accept your disciple’s bow!"

...

Shukna’s iron sword had been severed by Diga’s light skill, cutting off Shukna’s head as well. The severed head, just as in the original tale, suddenly latched onto Diga’s shoulder when Diga, thinking the battle over, was caught off guard. Diga’s timer began to flash red.

Up in the sky, Lina piloted the Swallow One, attacking Shukna’s head. The nose fired a single white beam, striking precisely at the demon’s head. Yet Shukna’s head remained locked onto Diga, and the attack seemed ineffective.

Meanwhile, Yue Longze was suffering, his mind wracked with pain as if sliced by knives. Jinryu’s soul entered Yue Longze’s body, imparting his life’s swordsmanship within Yue’s mind.

After several seconds, Jinryu withdrew from Yue Longze’s body. Yue Longze clutched his head, feeling as if it might split apart. It was as if a book had appeared in his mind, recording Ida Kojuurou Jinryu’s various sword techniques and insights. All this would require Yue Longze to spend much time and effort to study and comprehend.

Looking up at the demon’s head biting the shoulder of the person of light, Jinryu frowned.

"It seems today I must settle things with Shukna once and for all!"

He drew his sword from his waist and hurled it, like a bullet, toward the demon’s brow. Instantly, the enormous head dissolved into a burst of light, vanishing into the air.

"As for a demon left with only a head, I can still handle it," said Jinryu.

Diga paused, then nodded at Jinryu on the ground and flew into the void.

Yue Longze fainted, collapsing into a patch of wild grass.

Jinryu stared at Yue Longze for a moment.

"I hope my swordsmanship will not end with you," he said quietly. The samurai sword he had thrown at Shukna’s head appeared once more in his hand.

"This sword is called Cloud Cluster Blade—a true divine sword. Don’t let its reputation fade!"

He carefully placed the sword in Yue Longze’s arms, who was still unconscious, and departed the body of the thief who stole the sword. Jinryu walked alone toward the depths of Mount Shukna; his silhouette radiated both solitude and pride.

No one knew where Ida Kojuurou Jinryu’s soul had gone. Perhaps it continued to slumber within the samurai statue, perhaps it inhabited another body, perhaps it vanished entirely. Or perhaps he had embarked on a new journey to slay monsters.

When Yue Longze awoke, he found the unconscious thief beside him and the sword in his arms. He paused, as if understanding something, then walked away from Mount Shukna alone, carrying the sword Jinryu had left him.

While unconscious, he felt as though he had dreamed. Jinryu had spoken many words to him in the dream.

"A warrior must fight continuously, maintain the fruits of victory, and thus becomes very lonely."

...

As he walked through the forest, Yue Longze pondered the words Jinryu had spoken in the dream. He touched the sword in his hand and murmured, "Cloud Cluster Blade... I shall not let your name be tarnished!"

The Shukna demon incident, it seemed, had come to an end.