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Chapter 15: The Vacuum Home

Musashi examined the contents of the Book of Five Relationships after acquiring it. He couldn’t help but flinch internally.

‘Bi-ryu… is he not human?! How does he look like this?’

Bi-ryu, the founder of an ancient kingdom called Goryeo, appeared nothing like a human at all. The book contained illustrations depicting the first encounter and dialogue between Bi-ryu and the ancient gods, Kotoamatsukami, both of whom looked like monsters.

Kotoamatsukami was considered a high-ranking deity, so it was bizarre they had such horrifying appearances.

But Bi-ryu…

Bi-ryu had a form that appeared as if chaos itself had congealed into an indescribable existence. It was questionable whether such a being could even biologically exist. It couldn’t be called ‘human’ at all.

Intrigued, Musashi decided to delve deeply into the book. He sought a quiet place and began reading it for an extended period.

The content of the book was relatively simple. The five volumes discussed the contact between Bi-ryu and Kotoamatsukami, their dialogues, and the exchanges of ancient Goryeo with Dongyoung. Moreover, after five days of intense reading, Musashi realized one thing.

There were too many unfamiliar and difficult words!

Though he had grown up as a samurai’s child and knew the basics of writing and Chinese characters, he struggled to understand the advanced vocabulary and ancient language found in the Book of Five Relationships.

With no other choice, Musashi visited Honganji Jounoshin, the master of Honganji, who interpreted the contents of the book for him without any particular demands. Musashi’s martial prowess had already surpassed Jounoshin’s, so he considered it beneficial to join forces with him instead.

After about three months of thorough reading, Musashi successfully finished the Book of Five Relationships.

On the last day of finishing the book – on a summer day with rain pattering down – he gazed silently outside. The scent of water lingered in the air.

‘Lunar Kill Technique….’

The Lunar Kill Technique was first mentioned by Bi-ryu of Goryeo. According to the book, Bi-ryu was [the one who came down from the heavens], and Jounoshin explained that this expression referred to a distinguished being descended from another realm. Naturally, he was a being of chaos, possessing powers incomparable to those of a human.

Bi-ryu sought to dominate the land of Dongyoung and suppressed the Kotoamatsukami, but their strength was also formidable, resulting in an equal fight. Ultimately, Bi-ryu agreed to a ceasefire, resulting in both chaotic beings governing their respective territories, which the Book of Five Relationships detailed.

The reason Bi-ryu mentioned the Lunar Kill Technique during the ceasefire negotiations was simple. It was the cause of the war.

‘The reason Bi-ryu of Goryeo sought to dominate Dongyoung was that he suspected the existence of the Lunar Kill Technique there, and he wanted to find it and erase it.’

But why?

Why did the chaotic god Bi-ryu go to such lengths to wage war against the powerful Kotoamatsukami just to find a single martial arts manual?

However, during the ceasefire, the Kotoamatsukami responded that they had never seen or heard of the Lunar Kill Technique. Bi-ryu believed their words and requested that they inform him if they ever found the Lunar Kill Technique. The Kotoamatsukami agreed to his request, thus concluding the Book of Five Relationships.

As a result, the Lunar Kill Technique was not recorded in the book at all. Musashi realized he had wasted his efforts, but he felt no despair. Rather, his eyes brimmed with vitality.

‘The Lunar Kill Technique does exist! I have confirmed it!’

According to Bi-ryu’s words in the Book of Five Relationships, the Lunar Kill Technique had three characteristics.

First. There exists a rightful heir.

Second. It is swordsmanship.

Third. It can kill gods.

While the second condition seemed trivial, it was actually significant. In this world, there were hundreds of diverse weapons, amounting to thousands of types when detailed. That it could be classified specifically as sword techniques was a substantial clue. Moreover, the third condition, that it could kill gods, would make anyone’s heart race. However, the characteristic that strangely troubled Musashi was the first.

‘A rightful heir?’

Could it be that it must be passed down to one successor throughout generations? Musashi felt something was off.

‘A sword technique powerful enough to kill gods has been handed down for thousands of years, yet why is there not even a trace of the Lunar Kill Technique in history? Is it possible for someone so powerful to not reveal themselves in all these years?’

It couldn’t be.

It was a contradiction similar to when his father spoke of the Lunar Kill Technique. Humans usually wanted to make their names known even if they could only wield basic sword skills. How could an heir to a transcendent sword technique refrain from showing themselves?

Of course, if they had all renounced greed and desire, it might be possible. But Musashi, knowing human avarice, believed it to be nearly impossible. Even if it were just a few, in thousands of years of history, there should be at least hundreds of heirs; did they all let go of their desires?

Contemplating this, Musashi ultimately made up his mind.

‘Alright. I’ll go seek out the warriors from monk sects or renowned families. Perhaps I can find a clue to the Lunar Kill Technique.’

He decided to head to Kofukuji Temple.

This was a place where monks trained in spear and staff techniques.

Musashi quietly observed their training and sighed.

‘No….’

Musashi immediately felt his energy drain. Yes, they were strong martial artists, but they weren’t the kind of strength he sought. Just as he was about to leave, another thought entered his mind.

‘Since I’m here, why not experience their techniques firsthand?’

By facing them, he could absorb anything.

He had some hope that his formless style might become stronger.

With that thought, Musashi resolved to engage one of the monks from Kofukuji, battling briefly for a few techniques. Just from that, he could grasp the essence of the spear techniques practiced by the monks.

He continued to travel around Dongyoung, secretly acquiring martial arts. Of course, since he was seeking the Lunar Kill Technique and didn’t want to draw too much attention, everything was done discreetly. Nevertheless, rumors of his abilities spread, and he soon became regarded as one of the strongest warriors in Dongyoung.

Musashi was annoyed. The desired Lunar Kill Technique was nowhere to be found, and it felt like annoying flies were buzzing around him. Furthermore, he expected his formless martial arts to strengthen by adopting techniques from the famous families, but they still lacked any distinct form. It was as if he didn’t need to incorporate those martial arts at all. Indeed, Musashi continued to wield his sword without any established system of swordsmanship, even though he had never lost in his life.

As he continued to build his undefeated record, he suddenly thought.

‘This place is too small. I need to go to another world.’

About five years later, he made that resolve. He had learned most of the secret sword techniques in Dongyoung, yet such abilities hadn’t made him particularly strong. In fact, he had long surpassed what was called peak expert, but he felt an invisible boundary. This boundary was indescribable.

It felt like the ultimate Realm of Intent; he sensed that he needed to create something of his own!

He recalled hearing that, unlike Dongyoung, Goryeo and the Central Plains were overflowing with incredibly powerful experts, and he began to feel a desire to challenge them. He thought that fighting with them would make him stronger and allow him to break through the boundary.

For his final opponent in Dongyoung, he named Kamizumi Nobutsuna, the Sword Saint, and Tsukahara Bokuden. Until now, he hadn’t dared to challenge them directly, but if he were to leave Dongyoung, he wanted to have at least one fight. Just as he was preparing for a duel, an unexpected nobody came and issued a challenge.

“Musashi! I am Sasaki Kojiro. Accept my challenge!”

A warrior called Sasaki Kojiro had come to challenge him.

Musashi knew his skills didn’t even reach his toes, so he found it ridiculous, but since word had spread everywhere, he couldn’t refuse. Then, Musashi suddenly came up with a clever idea and called upon Honganji Jounoshin and Fuma Kotaro for assistance.

On the day of the duel.

Musashi knocked Sasaki Kojiro down in just one technique and said,

“From now on, you are Musashi.”

“……?”

“Did you not understand? You will live as Musashi, and when I return to Dongyoung later, hand over that title. Until then, feel free to live your life however you want.”

Then Musashi used the reverse techniques taught to him by Fuma Kotaro and Jounoshin’s secret arts to transform Sasaki Kojiro into his likeness. He announced to the public that “Musashi” had won and spent some time teaching Sasaki Kojiro martial arts. At the same time, he encapsulated the two-sword style he had grasped as an offshoot into a book, naming it the <Book of Five Relationships>, which he handed over to Sasaki Kojiro.

The reason Musashi went through such a complicated process was simple. If someone were tracking his movements, he wanted them to be confused. If a sinister organization that might prove hard for him to handle came after him, it wasn’t a bad idea to prepare such contingencies before leaving Dongyoung.

After finishing teaching Kojiro, Musashi intended to leave Dongyoung. He planned to challenge the experts of Goryeo and the Central Plains.

However, while he was about to board the ship at the coastal area, he stumbled upon a peculiar ruin and paused before entering.

‘What’s that?’

Woohhhh

The ruin had an endlessly descending spiral staircase. And there lay the corpses of many strange beings piled along the steps, ending with a skeletal warrior holding a sword waiting at the base.

The skeletal warrior stood up as if alive and looked at Musashi before speaking in a ghostly voice.

[The Law of Cause and Effect has connected. Come, human.]

“……?”

[You were looking for the Lunar Kill Technique.]

“Who are you? How do you know that?”

The skeleton was silent for a moment before slowly opening its mouth.

[…Hmm, regrettably, you lack the qualifications of a rightful heir. You are unqualified.]

“…….”

What nonsense.

Musashi silently lunged at the skeleton, attacking it.

[Hmph, at that level of skill.]

Swoosh

However, the skeleton easily dodged Musashi’s attack, which had taken down everyone else in one strike, and cut off Musashi’s arm instead. Clearly, the skeleton’s sword qi surpassed Musashi’s significantly, causing him to flinch, as the skeleton readied its stance and declared.

[Then die. I am also a false heir, waiting for the true successor. It seems the Law of Cause and Effect was miscalculated.]

“A rightful heir…? What qualifications must that entail?”

[At least, you are not one. You will never meet those qualifications.]

The skeleton’s eyes shimmered with a strange glow.

[I am Minamoto no Yoshitsune! Human, reveal your name!]

“My name is Miyamoto Musashi! I will slay you!”

[Ha ha!]

Boom!

Kieeeeng!!

From Yoshitsune’s sword, eight strange rays of light erupted. Moments later, his body began to split into shadows through the dimensions and launched an attack on Musashi. Musashi thought it was merely a common sword qi, but soon realized that all of it was illusory yet real, and his eyes widened.

Literally a deathly crisis!

At last, Musashi put forth all his power to counter Yoshitsune’s attack, reaching the Absolute Realm in that instant.

Slicing through

On the boundary between life and death, Musashi felt all his offshoots converging at the tips of his fingers, as all the techniques he’d absorbed from various sword heroes fused into one. It was the ultimate slash.

The moment Musashi executed his strike, surpassing the Absolute Realm, he pierced through all of Yoshitsune’s attacks and ultimately stabbed him in the neck.

Crash!

[My double-slayer technique…?! A skill that pierced through an army alone….]

Yoshitsune looked incredulously at Musashi’s blade that had penetrated his neck and spoke.

[Human Musashi. What is the name of this strike?]

“…Huff… huff….”

Musashi was too winded to respond. He had just barely crossed into another realm and poured all his mental and physical strength into it. Although Yoshitsune could kill him with a single swing, he chose not to. Instead, Yoshitsune’s skeletal visage momentarily shifted to his living form, and he chuckled softly.

[Bestow a name upon it. Call it Divine Kill Slash….]

Swoosh

That was the instant Yoshitsune vanished.

Thud!

All the martial arts, strategies, and knowledge Yoshitsune possessed poured into Musashi’s mind as he lay collapsed.

And when Musashi awoke, he found himself lying on the beach. The skeletal ruins had completely disappeared.

“……”

Musashi clenched the sand tightly.

He felt a sense of understanding towards Yoshitsune while simultaneously grappling with his own sense of helplessness.

‘It’s not time to go to the continent yet.’

He realized he needed to refine this state he just attained. He had become aware that, upon reaching the Absolute Realm, there might be a supreme master existing at this level in the world.

Thus, Musashi abandoned his plans for Goryeo and immediately headed towards Aokigahara Life Sea, known to be the most perilous place in the world.

Upon arriving at Aokigahara Life Sea, Musashi utilized his martial prowess to swiftly cut through the Living Sea and defeated a significant number of demon beasts in the Death Sea. Just as he was about to cross into the Entering Sea, a boy with silver hair, a Yin-Yang Master, appeared before him.

“Look at how much that little boy has grown.”

“Abe no Seimei.”

“You remembered.”

“Why are you blocking me?”

“Hehe.”

Abe no Seimei flashed a strange smile and pulled out a sword, handing it to Musashi. As Musashi received the sword, Abe no Seimei spoke.

“That sword is Amano Habakiri, one of the three divine swords in Dongyoung’s history.”

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“You will ultimately challenge the ‘king’ of the Life Sea. I have no intention of stopping you. In truth, it’s no exaggeration to say there hasn’t been a challenger from the Life Sea with your level of skill.”

So he smiled.

“Stab the king with Amano Habakiri just once. Then you will have no further wishes.”

“…Hmph.”

Musashi ignored Abe no Seimei and pushed past him.

He might not defeat the king, but the intent to at least inflict an injury was clear.