My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 657: Chapter 8: The Might of Niō! Defeating the Heroes of Little Chiba Sword Dojo! [7200]

Aoto swiftly swung his sword, aiming three horizontal slashes at Tamura’s chest, each strike landing solidly on the target.

Even as Tamura’s chest was struck by three blades in an instant, he couldn’t escape the fate of ”flying.” Although he struggled to keep his footing, his feet still left the floor.

Short in stature and light in weight, Tamura broke the previous record set by Kumai, who was sent flying—he tumbled backward five steps before landing in a parabolic arc.

After hitting the ground, his body skidded backward along the floor until he crashed into the ”audience stand,” finally halting his retreat.

...

”I am Hirata Shuichiro!”

...

”Waaaaaaaah!”

Skilled in sword speed, Hirata let out a loud shout, gathering all his strength, spinning his Palm Sword like a wheel, creating a blurred afterimage of a light curtain aimed at subduing Aoto.

Aoto’s eyes darted up and down, quickly scanning Hirata’s blade path.

In an instant, Aoto pushed off the ground with his tightly planted feet, gathering force, and leaped up!

With a powerful push of his legs, the strength transferred from his feet to his waist, and from his waist to his arms, making the bamboo sword in his palm spring up like a coil.

The upward springing sword tip precisely intercepts Hirata’s bamboo sword in mid-air!

Like a strong wind dispersing a light mist.

With a loud ”pop,” Hirata’s light curtain, formed by the afterimages of his swinging sword, vanished!

Aoto broke through Hirata’s ”light curtain” with a single strike, sending Hirata’s bamboo sword flying!

[Successfully copied talent: ”Swordsman with Minor Achievement”]

[Talent Introduction: Swordsmanship talent amplification is three times the average level of ordinary people]

[Ding! Detected that the host already possesses a similar type of talent]

[Ding! Beginning talent fusion]

[Ding! ”Sword Genius” and ”Swordsman with Minor Achievement” starting fusion]

[Please wait, host... please wait, host...]

[Ding! Talent fusion successful]

[”Sword Genius” ability upgraded]

[”Sword Genius” Talent Introduction: Swordsmanship talent amplification is 76 times the average level of ordinary people]

...

”Hey, while I was answering nature’s call, why has Niō’s opponent changed? How many people has Niō defeated now?”

”Already six!”

”So strong! Six fights, six victories! And look, even after so many rounds, Mr. Tachibana still seems full of energy, not blushing, not short of breath!”

”Of course, his energy is sufficient! Hardly anyone can put Niō in a tough fight!”

”Those who just went up against Mr. Tachibana were all people practicing at B Area, right? Yet these eligible people in B Area were all beaten by Mr. Tachibana into disarray...”

”Incredible, us who don’t even have the qualifications to practice at B Area, if we were to face Niō... couldn’t even take one move from him...?”

...

”I am Katsuyama Hideyoshi! Please advise me!”

...

Aoto’s and Katayama’s bamboo swords interlocked in the air.

As they separated, Katayama moved his steps, trying to pull away from Aoto.

But at this moment, Aoto’s bamboo sword swiftly slashed down from a diagonal upper angle, and Katayama attempted to parry it with a strained posture, but couldn’t hold it, and his body suddenly lost balance due to unsteady footing.

Seizing this precious gap while Katayama was yet to regroup his stance, Aoto transferred the bamboo sword to his left hand, freeing his right hand to seize Katayama’s right wrist, using grappling techniques to disarm Katayama of his bamboo sword and throw him heavily to the ground.

The seamless flow of disarming and tossing the opponent to the ground with bare hands demonstrated both power and spectacle, drawing gasps of amazement and rounds of applause from the onlookers.

...

”Tsk! Damn it! Here I come! I am Fujiwara Seisaburo!”

...

Fujiwara shouted abruptly, and in contrast to his robust stature, the seemingly much shorter bamboo sword made a slight ”swooosh” sound, sweeping horizontally toward the spot where Aoto stood.

The angle of attack was perfect, the landing point accurate, and the force abundant... yet it might not necessarily hit the opponent.

Aoto’s evasion speed was far swifter and more precise than the speed at which Fujiwara swung his bamboo sword!

The robust Fujiwara did not lack the power to slash, but lacked the agility to swing his sword at high speed.

Aoto’s dodging speed left Fujiwara at a loss, like leading a cow down a well, but what posed a greater challenge for Fujiwara was Aoto’s strike speed, which was even faster than his dodging speed!

”Hyaaah!”

As if intending to shatter the ceiling above his head, Fujiwara unleashed a roar filled with vigor, with the bamboo sword swung by his most proud mighty arm slicing through the air, closing in on Aoto’s face from above.

The instant Fujiwara launched a fierce chop at Aoto again, Aoto also struck!

Aoto used a Middle Stance, slashing horizontally at Fujiwara’s chest.

The two bamboo swords nearly simultaneously slashed toward each other!

Aoto’s strike was a moment later than Fujiwara’s, yet Aoto’s attack reached first!

His bamboo sword hit Fujiwara’s chest first, knocking Fujiwara to the ground.

[Ding! Talent detected]

[Successfully copied talent: ”Strong Stomach”]

[Talent Introduction: Superior digestive and nutrient absorption capability]

...

Having been shocked too many times by Aoto, Chiba Shigetarou was long aware that Aoto was a genius beyond the ordinary.

However... Even though he had understood this for a long time, Chiba Shigetarou still found it hard to contain the overwhelming emotions surging within him.

As a referee, he had been virtually non-existent since earlier.

Stepping forward to announce the bow and the start of the match, stepping back, announcing Aoto’s victory—Chiba Shigetarou kept repeating this cycle.

There was no need for him as a referee to decide whose hit was effective or ineffective.

For Aoto’s strikes were extremely clear—so obvious that even complete outsiders to swordsmanship could see that such strikes were definitely lethal and effective.

And Aoto’s opponents... couldn’t touch even a corner of Aoto’s garment.

”Ha...”

Chiba Shigetarou let out a sigh, with a complex expression mainly featuring admiration, he murmured to Sazanoko beside him:

”It’s been only three months since the Marquis of Aizu’s sword competition ended, and Mr. Tachibana has become much stronger again...”

”I really can’t imagine what level Mr. Tachibana can grow to over time...”

”If Mr. Tachibana keeps progressing at this rate... It might not take much longer before even Brother Rong cannot be his match.”

Sazanoko: ”...”

Unlike Chiba Shigetarou, Sazanoko remained much more composed.

Neither showing any expressions of shock or admiration, nor exclaiming like Chiba Shigetarou.

She watched impassively, gazing quietly at the dojo ahead where Aoto had fought eight matches and won them all.

The reason for Sazanoko’s calmness... it wasn’t because Aoto’s rapid improvement didn’t amaze her.

But because she had grown accustomed to it.

She had unconsciously become accustomed to witnessing various unthinkable feats in this young man, who was four years younger than her.

*******

*******

This time, really can’t blame the author for not writing 10,000 words... too much going on during the long holiday, last night the author’s sister-in-law’s parents came over to our place for dinner during the holiday. The meal took more than an hour... reducing the author’s writing time again yesterday (leopard exhausted.jpg)

Though today the explosive update failed once again, considering this Chapter has 7,200 words, plus the quality isn’t bad, might as well cast a monthly ticket for this book (leopard crying.jpg)

Begging for a monthly ticket! Requesting a recommendation ticket! (leopard headache crying.jpg)