My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 379 - 144: Yet Another Instant Kill! Swordsmanship Talent Amplified 62 Times! [8600]_2

Although of humble origins, he possessed the ambition to strive forward.

Seeing the glint in Tsuzaki’s eyes and hearing his earlier request to "not hold back," Aoto felt a chill in his heart and nodded solemnly toward Tsuzaki.

Facing such an outstanding swordsman, not giving his all would indeed be disrespectful.

The last wisp of worry in Aoto’s heart about whether going all out would embarrass the Xuanwu Hall that Tsuzaki represented instantly dissipated.

With Tsuzaki initiating from the middle stance, the tip of his bamboo sword trembled lightly like a warbler in the typical style of the Beichen One-Sword Style.

During confrontation, the continuous slight movement of the sword tip is the most prominent characteristic of the Beichen One-Sword Style. This prevents the sword tip from becoming rigid, enabling faster responses to various opponent actions, making it difficult for the opponent to discern one’s intentions.

Tsuzaki’s strength was evidently much greater than Morioka’s. He stood firm on the ground like a rock, adopting a stance that could both attack and defend from the middle rank.

Attacking head-on like the previous matches with Adachi and Morioka might not be enough to defeat Tsuzaki.

Thus, after pondering for a few moments, Aoto stepped slightly to the side, his left shoulder pointed diagonally towards Tsuzaki, and drew the bamboo sword in front of him backward to the right rear, switching to a right lower rank hold, hiding the bamboo sword behind his right side.

This stance of hiding the bamboo sword behind one’s side makes it difficult for the opponent to predict the direction and distance of the attack, especially suitable for surprising the opponent unexpectedly.

Seeing Aoto adopt this stance, Tsuzaki’s expression became considerably more serious.

Tsuzaki was the type who excelled at attacking.

He believed that by taking advantage of his strength and focused attention, launching the first attack and initiating a fierce assault on Aoto, his chances of winning should increase.

With this thought, Tsuzaki hesitated no longer.

He gathered his strength, concentrating his energy in his dantian, and with a sudden shout, stepped forward significantly, closing the distance with Aoto in one breath, and then swept his sword horizontally toward where Aoto stood with a "whoosh."

The slash had ample power and speed, and the aim was quite accurate, but it might not necessarily hit the opponent.

Having "Eagle Eye" to see through Tsuzaki’s moves, Aoto moved with speed that far surpassed that of Tsuzaki’s sword.

And the bamboo sword hidden behind his right side was even faster than Aoto’s evasive movement!

As he swiftly took a half-step backward, dodging Tsuzaki’s slash, Aoto simultaneously swung his bamboo sword counterclockwise in a half-moon arc, quickly switching from the right lower rank to the right upper rank.

Immediately after, he leaped slightly, posing as if about to deliver a powerful "Powerful Split" to take down Tsuzaki with one strike.

Tsuzaki’s pupils constricted sharply at Aoto’s swift change of moves, and as a reflex, he raised his sword as quickly as possible to intercept the impending attack from Aoto.

Seeing Tsuzaki raising his bamboo sword high... Aoto’s lips curved slightly.

Tsuzaki noticed Aoto’s slight smile and his expression changed, an ominous premonition rising in his heart.

But by then, it was too late.

Aoto wiped the unintended smile from his face, braced his waist and abdomen, and with a "snap," his feet, which had just slightly leaped up, landed back on the white gravel-covered ground.

Aoto’s earlier "downward slash" was merely a feint to trick Tsuzaki into revealing his moves.

Having been deceived by Aoto’s feint, Tsuzaki was now still holding his sword high, in a defensive posture, his body unable to quickly react to Aoto’s change of moves.

At this critical moment, Aoto aimed the bamboo sword’s tip at Tsuzaki’s exposed chest with the Kasumi Stance, directly executing his specialty move — the thrusting skill: Unconscious Sword.

Bang... The bamboo sword’s tip struck Tsuzaki’s chest guard squarely, producing a dull thud.

"Ugh..." Chest hit, Tsuzaki staggered back two steps before he barely steadied himself.

— It succeeded...

Seeing that his strategy to deceive Tsuzaki with a feint and create an opening succeeded greatly, a few traces of joy emerged on Aoto’s face.

The move he just used was learned from the "Plum Blossom Festival" Red and White Battle two months ago, where he and Chokata together defeated Chiba Shigetarou.

At that time, when they teamed up against the siblings Chiba Shigetarou and Sazanoko, Chokata first pretended to use the "Powerful Split" against Chiba Shigetarou, successfully deceiving him into a defensive stance.

After Chiba Shigetarou was tricked by Chokata’s feint, Aoto seized the opportunity to swing his sword, successfully shattering the porcelain bowl on Shigetarou’s forehead, defeating him.

At this moment, Aoto replicated the move he and Chokata used together using his own strength.

From the viewing seats, the expressions of Chokata and Chiba Shigetarou simultaneously changed.

Chokata was pleasantly surprised, amazed at how beautifully Aoto was able to replicate the move they had once used together.

As for Chiba Shigetarou, his expression was peculiar.

He had a vivid memory of the move that caused him to lose miserably in the Red and White Battle back then.

Seeing Aoto use the move that once spelled his defeat, Chiba Shigetarou couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"The winner is—"

After Aoto’s Unconscious Sword struck Tsuzaki’s chest squarely, the judges immediately extended an arm toward Aoto.