Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 902: Chapter 721: Real Sword Trial

Tobio had just finished speaking when Arakawa glared at him and raised his hand, defiantly saying, ”I vote for myself too!”

One vote each for Tobio and Arakawa.

Three people left.

The head of the Hisashiga House puffed on his pipe, glanced around at everyone, and tapped off the ash: ”I stick to my previous decision, unchanged, my vote goes to Arakawa.”

Two votes for Arakawa.

Chiba Ryouni held his wine glass, chuckled: ”Then, just for fun, I’ll vote for Old Man Tobio, haha! After all, I owe a lot of favors.”

Two votes for Tobio.

Finally, all eyes turned to the last of the five big shots.

The female head of the Ochiai Family said without looking up, ”I have no interest in the position of chairman. It makes no difference to me who holds it.”

She said coldly, ”I abstain.”

The result was the same as before the meeting at the start of the banquet.

Tie, two to two.

Tobio and Arakawa stared at each other.

The old man grinned and asked, ”Not planning to give up, Arakawa kid?”

”Unfortunately, I hate those who rely on their age to press down on others,” the head of the Arakawa Family said indifferently, ”Since you think you have a chance, I’ll take these two votes myself.”

”Then, according to the rules?” Tobio asked.

Arakawa nodded, ”Then according to the rules, but this time it will be different.”

He paused, his expression becoming stern:

”——I want a Real Sword Trial!”

Below the stage, Huai Shi paused, suddenly feeling a chill down his neck.

He looked up sharply, meeting Tobio’s smiling and expectant gaze.

He smelled the familiar scent of a setup.

The food in his mouth suddenly didn’t taste good anymore.

.

.

Ten minutes later, Huai Shi felt completely unwell.

To the Yingzhou People, a trial means a contest and a duel.

It’s just like how a Chef Demon trial is a cooking competition for everyone.

Unfortunately, a Real Sword Trial doesn’t mean seeing who can hammer iron fastest barehanded... it’s a real sword and gun fight to the death unless blood is drawn, otherwise it doesn’t stop.

It really can be life-threatening.

The competition prohibits the use of any Border Relics and Stigma or even Source Substance techniques, literally a swordsmanship duel between both parties.

Of course, the big shots definitely won’t get on the field personally, let alone get hurt. No, it’s impossible even to have a bump. So the dirty work and heavy lifting can only be enthusiastically volunteered by the subordinates.

Now, Huai Shi, who was enthusiastically volunteered, stood dumbfounded in front of Tobio.

Tobio handed him the Treasure Sword, patted him on the shoulder, implying he was strengthened and should go out there.

”Really? You trust me this much?”

Huai Shi looked bewildered.

”Isn’t there still two other people besides you?” Tobio glanced at the two stern and expressionless Sublimators beside him.

Just by their walking posture and muscle usage, it was clear these were not good-natured folks, not to mention the murderously bloody aura they carried.

Finding a few thugs in the grand Tobio Family should’ve been easy, right?

It’s just that mentioning this made Huai Shi’s eye twitch violently: ”But the problem is, even adding up the three of us might not beat the one on the opposite side, alright!”

He spoke without any cover, prompting the two nearby teammates to immediately turn back and stare at him angrily.

If it weren’t for Tobio being present, they might have already roughed Huai Shi up.

But still, Huai Shi felt what he said wasn’t wrong.

To have Tobio adhere to the rules, the Arakawa Family only dispatched one person.

Now seated at the other end of the arena with his eyes closed.

The silent and sluggish middle-aged man sat kneeling, a plain-looking katana placed on his knees, with standard length and weight.

Yet any Sublimator could tell he had no Stigma, he was just a Whitboard Sublimator. Occasionally as he refused water from some attendant with a lift of his eyes, they appeared neither lively nor animated, more like they were in some otherworldly daze.

But Huai Shi sensed a strong Death Perception from this man.

Especially when holding this sword himself...

Intuition told him that engaging in a Yingzhou Sword Art duel with this man by Sword Dao rules was a dead end!

”Who is that person?” Huai Shi asked quietly.

”They say, he’s from the Dojo,” Tobio replied thoughtfully, ”and I’ve heard he’s a named disciple, likely quite formidable.”

”Dojo? Which Dojo?” Huai Shi asked, puzzled.

Tobio shook his head, ”It’s just nonsense... in all of Yingzhou, what other Dojo except for Shangquan Sword Saint’s Dojo could qualify as a dojo?”

Huai Shi gasped at intake, then again and again.

Continually, taking deep breaths.

The central air in Arakawa’s space was about to be sucked dry by him, and he couldn’t stop.

Holy crap, why does this feel like it’s doomed this time?

Shangquan Sword Saint, the notorious veteran among Yingzhou Sublimators, recognized as ’The Best in the World’ in Yingzhou for fifty years, with unfathomable skills.

Underlings and disciples too many; in both the Duke’s and the Wu Family’s circles, countless have benefited from his guidance.

His swordsmanship is divine.

Huai Shi’s attainment in Yingzhou Sword Art was only the base level [LV5] taught by Luo Lao in the general weapon tutorial class, and he merely used it as a stick.

While the swordsmanship level of Shangquan Sword Saint, at least above LV25.

Refined to god-like precision, ultimate mastery... even invincible under the heavens.

Such exaggerated terms are just meant to describe these exceedingly rare talented, experienced, diligent, and focused strong individuals.

It is even said that if it weren’t for the Sword Saint’s quirky and odd personality, and his disinterest in participating in Current Circumstances struggles, the disputes between the Duke and the Wu Family might have long been resolved.

Huai Shi once tried to instigate Luo Lao by asking: Old man, who’d win if you fought the Sword Saint?

But he ended up being beaten thoroughly by Luo Lao, barely breathing, almost landing in the ICU.

Later, after hearing about Luo Lao’s road being cut off, he sincerely thanked him for sparing his life.

For that muscle-bound old man, perhaps the greatest regret in martial arts in this lifetime is that he can no longer have such a heartfelt duel with such opponents?

Back then, with one punch, he knocked his ancestor into the Abyss, severing both grievances and the path forward. Even now, the Heretic King is unmatched in the Abyss, thriving like a fish in water in the Golden Dawn. Just looking at that battle on the Group Star, you’d know the old man fought four at once and even dismantled a mecha with his bare hands, as if playing, ferocious to the extreme.

If Luo Lao were in full form, he would probably be fighting all over the world for fun by now.

How could it be the turn for the senior sister?

Now, he, who only took ten trial lessons in a Orchard Gym and learned three moves, is going to compete purely in swordsmanship against an in-registered disciple of the Sword Saint Door...

Just thinking about it makes him feel a lack of prospects.

”Where do you get such confidence in me?” Huai Shi felt genuine bewilderment towards Old Man Tobio’s choice.

”Of course, it’s because Lihua thinks you’re amazing.”

Tobio said seriously, ”I’ll tell you, that child Lihua has a good eye... she said you can do it, so of course, I think you can do it!”

Huai Shi turned back in a daze to look at the arena, and Lihua smiled back at him, gesturing a thumbs-up to encourage him.

Huai Shi felt like he was going crazy.

”How about it? Do you feel old man’s earnest trust in you?”

Tobio smiled as he comforted, ”Don’t be nervous, maybe it won’t be your turn, Jiechuan and White Butterfly are both top-notch fighters... Besides, this time the rule is ’one win decides’, maybe with luck, if you secure ’one win’, you win.”

Before he finished speaking, a solemn announcement echoed from the field.

”—Little hand!”

Instantly, there was a deathly silence, followed by the sound of metal grinding, and the referee’s voice sounded: ”Victory is decided!”

The entire process lasted less than a second, and when Huai Shi looked back, he only saw the man called White Butterfly stumbling back, collapsing to the ground.

Blood gushed like a fountain.

The longsword fell to the ground, along with both hands that held the sword.

Along with the sword blade, armor, flesh, and even bones cut cleanly and sharply by a single sword strike.

At the opening moment, without even finishing a round, Xiangqu Yilang, representing the Arakawa, scored first!

Huai Shi froze in place.

The dull and stiff man, after drawing his sword, became fiercely intimidating, his eyes blazing with aggressive fire, arrogantly unbeatable.

Ignoring Arakawa’s laughing praise beside him, he lifted his eyes to look over, like a beast snarling.

”Next one...”

Grinding teeth and sucking blood, impatient.

On the sidelines, Jiechuan, who was donning armor, stiffened for a moment, his expression becoming heavy, as he put on his mask without any expression.

This is likewise a favor from the opponent.

If not wearing armor, regardless of life-threatening risks, facing Xiangqu Yilang, you would be utterly defenseless. Even the ’one win decides’ rule is accommodating to you.

This is what Arakawa said.

It turns out, he was right...

Huai Shi squinted his eyes, feeling that fleeting sharp aura behind him as his arm hair stood up.

The delayed wind carried the sound of tearing, the echo lingering.

Something sharp appeared briefly and thoroughly crushed everything.

Such swordsmanship is terrifying...

He shouldn’t be wasting words with Tobio, otherwise, he might have seen something just now.

He focused his complete attention on the field.

Under everyone’s witness, Jiechuan, fully armored, stepped into the arena, both sides bowed meticulously, then drew swords, crossing blades, a moment’s touch.

Both slowly retreated a step.

”With dignity—”

The referee raised his hand and cut: ”Decide by one win!”

Instantly, a thunderous roar erupted from beneath the mask.

The explosive sound, so immense, even cracked the mask from the inside.

It was Jiechuan’s roar.

The terrifying boom spread instantaneously, blinding everyone, thoughts momentarily halted.

—Qi合!

One of the most common techniques in swordsmanship, unleashing all power at once, synchronizing breath, spirit, and physical strength by shouting while striking.

Ignoring the opponent’s actions, exerting full speed to the peak.

Putting life and death aside, the structure in Jiechuan’s hand instantly transformed from starry-eye to overhead, slashing downward:

”Face!”

In swordsmanship, effective strike points are the face, hands, abdomen, and throat; ’face’ is undoubtedly aimed at the head.

And Jiechuan’s method at the moment was a path of mutual destruction.

Learning from White Butterfly’s lesson, Jiechuan made no defenses, using Qi合 to seize an instant opportunity, abandoning all defense, betting everything on the offensive.

As long as he hits, regardless of whether he wins or survives, it’s equivalent to a win for Tobio.

This is a self-sacrificing sword!

Unfortunately, Xiangqu Yilang was unaffected by Qi合, remaining indifferent.

In the crossing moment, everyone heard his calm, low voice.

”Trunk!”

The cold blade pierced through Jiechuan’s back, blood spraying, dripping onto Xiangqu’s ten fingers from the sword hilt.

Victory is decided!

Expressionless, he pulled out the blade and tossed the dying Jiechuan to the ground, Xiangqu raised his head, looking at Huai Shi.

”Next one.”

The last one...

”Alright, planning to defeat three in a row?”

In the silence, under everyone’s gaze, Huai Shi sighed once, shrugged, and stepped into the arena.

Draw the sword.

Even though he didn’t know if Yingzhou had a ’surrender loses half’ rule, he suddenly realized he might have a slight chance of winning...

Then, after ten practice trial lessons at Orchard Gym, the swordsmanship novice trainee most skilled in singing, dancing, and cello—Huai Zhisu steps into the fray!