I think these two pages illustrate the distinct difference between Yagyu and Musashi. Musashi is as uncultured and uncivilized as a person can be(by choice) and also has an intense bloodlust but when you fight him - it is a fight and if youâre strong he sincerely enjoys the back and forth with you. Itâs not a game to him but he canât help but express this weird, childlike joy he has when heâs able to swing his blades around with another driven opponent. Itâs the sport the practice the art of swordsmanship that fuels him, heâs not about killing you or harming you. Those are just things that do happen in life and death fights but theyâre far from his actual aim. He just wants to get stronger, to improve his swordsmanship further, and enjoy the thrill of a fight. Yagyu on the other hand despite being civilized and and brought up rather priviledged and taught to be honorable and well-mannered is a sadistic, murderous bastard who like Musashi has an intense bloodlust and love for swordsmanship but itâs not about the art or sport for him. He just cares about inflicting as much pain as possible before he kills you. He NEEDS to make sure your death lasts long enough so he can enjoy it. He needs to keep your body from going into shock while heâs carving you up so you can feel every bit of what heâs doing to you because thatâs what fuels him. His getting stronger and developing a better technique isnât done out of a love for the sword or self-improvement. He just wants to craft the perfect sword style that will allow him to make every death he gives his victims a âgoodâ one. One that seems like it lasts forever and is worthy of the name âperpetual tormentâ.
