My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 115: Chapter 80: Niō Stands Tall!

Their sword and spear clashed for just a moment before Mogami’s Wind Cut was deflected.

The deflected Wind Cut swung high into the air, and Mogami nearly lost his grip on the spear shaft.

In the next instant, after successfully deflecting Mogami’s Wind Cut with his sword, Aoto kicked off with his back foot, charging straight at Mogami with the highest speed he could muster!

Mogami attempted to pull back the deflected Wind Cut for defense, but with only one arm, he lacked the strength to retrieve it before Aoto closed in.

So, he simply abandoned the spear, reached to his left waist with his right hand, and drew his tachi.

Just as he drew his tachi, Aoto, who had rushed up to him, struck as Mogami’s defense was wide open—

Clang!

In a flash, Mogami narrowly managed to raise the sword he had just drawn from its sheath to block Aoto’s strike.

”Ugh...!” Mogami, using only one arm against Aoto’s two, felt as if his body was being gradually crushed.

Seeing Mogami block his attack, Aoto didn’t show any expression or emotion.

He quickly and silently executed a change in tactic!

Originally locked in a struggle with Mogami, Aoto suddenly flashed his body to the left, pivoting with his sword to Mogami’s left side, disengaging from the struggle.

Unprepared for Aoto’s sudden evasion, Mogami couldn’t withdraw his strength in time, causing his body to fall forward by inertia.

In that fleeting, flowing moment, Aoto swiftly took a half-step to the side, switching to a more powerful stance, holding his sword from a lower position.

The sword tip flew close to the ground, then soared skyward!

The blade, swinging from bottom to top, deeply embedded into Mogami’s body.

”Ugh...!”

Mogami lowered his head, staring at the blade already embedded in his abdomen.

The sword in his hand fell to the ground.

He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something.

But when he opened his mouth, all that came out were bloody froth and meaningless words.

After a brief struggle, his eyes began to roll back.

His head, as if pulled by his rolling eyes, also tilted backward.

Mogami’s body fell heavily to the ground, kicking up clouds of snow mist.

The stirred snow mist hung in the air for a while, then settled like light dust on Mogami’s fading body.

[Ding! Talent scanned]

At the same instant Mogami fell, a cold system voice echoed in Aoto’s mind.

[Successfully copied talent: ”Healthy Body”]

[Talent description: Possesses exceptional wound recovery speed]

...

...

At this moment—

The temporary camp of Mogami and his group—

Crack... crack... crack... crack... crack...

Cracks spread from the Statue of Niō of Mogami.

Before long, dense cracks spread over the wooden statue like a spiderweb.

Then...

Kara.

With a crisp ”kara,” the mighty Statue of Niō shattered into dozens of pieces, scattering across the ground...

...

...

At this time, a member of the Anti-foreigner Group engaged in fierce combat with Oomura and others caught sight of Mogami lying in a pool of blood, and was so shocked he forgot to attack, completely oblivious even to a cold snowflake falling into the back of his neck.

His face paled, he opened and closed his mouth a few times, then silently took a few steps back before turning to flee, only to accidentally collide with a companion behind him.

The companion, cursing angrily while clutching his sore chest, inadvertently caught sight of their leader’s corpse.

”Mr. Mogami is dead!” A terrifying scream echoed across the battlefield.

With this scream, members of the Anti-foreigner Group ceased fighting one by one.

When they realized their commander, Mogami, had also fallen after Yamada, their expressions turned visibly pale.

The only reason they had the courage to oppose Aoto and the others was because of Mogami’s presence.

Mogami’s spear technique, Mogami’s Wind Cut, had given them confidence to turn the tide of battle!

And now... with Mogami’s death, their final fighting spirit and morale vanished completely.

The remaining members of the Anti-foreigner Group on the battlefield began fleeing in disarray.

A complete and utter rout.

Almost no one stayed to continue the fight.

They fled in panic, like headless flies.

Oomura and the others did not pursue them—after such a protracted battle, their physical strength was nearly exhausted.

Watching the Anti-foreigner Group members flee farther and farther away, Oomura and the others appeared dazed, their minds slightly dulled from extreme fatigue, unable to immediately grasp—they had won! They had repelled enemies nearly ten times their number!

Also appearing dazed were Anthony and Elodie.

This grandfather and granddaughter stared blankly at the now silent surroundings. After a while, perhaps it was because of their familial bond, they did the exact same thing: they both sat down limply on the ground, as if all energy had been drained from their bodies.

Equally stunned by the reality that the ”enemy had retreated” was Mukiwa, who suddenly caught a glimpse of an unexpected sight from the corner of her eye.

She saw Kiryu beside her wearing an eerily ambiguous expression that bordered on a smile.

This was the first time Mukiwa had seen such an expression on his face since she had known the old man.

With this strange expression on his face, Kiryu was staring intently at Aoto, who was still standing by Mogami’s body, gasping heavily and adjusting his breathing rhythm.