‘We both know Masamoto’s sword style,’ reminded Kazuki. ‘And we both know I’m better at it!’

‘Are you sure of that, Kazuki?’ replied Jack. Attacking with a Flint-and-Spark strike, he ran his blade down the length of Kazuki’s katana, the move so fast that sparks actually flew from the scrape of steel against steel. Kazuki’s weapon pushed aside, Jack then thrust for his enemy’s heart.

But Kazuki stopped the blade with the parrying dagger and retaliated with a Fire-and-Stone cut. The force of the hammer blow almost knocked Jack’s wakizashi from his left hand, the whole sword shuddering in his grip. He came back with a Running Water strike, flowing forward with all the force of a wave. Yet Kazuki rode out the attack, twisting and turning like the wind.

For all his arrogance, Kazuki was right. He knew the Two Heavens. Knew what to expect. Knew how to counter it.

Jack was driven back into the Great Hall as Kazuki now went on the offensive. A Serpentine strike cut through Jack’s guard and the kissaki of Kazuki’s sword tore across his chest, slicing through the diamond-chequered cloth and leaving a razor-like wound. Jack cried out and staggered backwards, stumbling into the banqueting table. Plates of meat and bowls of fruit went crashing to the floor.

‘I’m going to carve you up like that pheasant!’ snarled Kazuki, pointing with his dagger at the roasted fowl still sitting upon its silver platter.

Jack glanced down at his wound. The cut wasn’t deep, but it bled freely and it now hurt to move his left arm. There was no doubt he was losing the duel. And Kazuki knew it too. With a triumphant smirk, Kazuki raised his sword for another Serpentine strike. Hampered by his injury, Jack would be hard-pressed to fend off the lethal attack. Then a thought struck him: If a Japanese Two Heavens technique works using a Western rapier, then why not try a Western technique using a Japanese sword …?

Jack quickly pommelled his wakizashi as Kazuki bore down on him. With his katana held high to deflect the Serpentine strike, he thrust out with his short sword. The extended reach was enough to surprise his old enemy. The kissaki pierced Kazuki’s belly and the blade sank in. Kazuki faltered in his attack before dropping to his knees, his sword and dagger clattering to the ground.

‘H-h-how …?’ he gasped, his face a knot of pain and confusion as he tried to figure out how a wakizashi could have outreached a katana.

Jack stood over the wounded Kazuki. He kicked away his enemy’s weapons before pulling out the wakizashi. Groaning in pain, Kazuki clasped his bleeding abdomen.

‘That’s something you’ll never know,’ replied Jack, sheathing his wakizashi before laying the edge of his katana against Kazuki’s neck.