My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 562: Chapter 183: Final Showdown! Aoto vs. Shinno

The facts proved that Aoto’s judgment was correct.

The narrow bridge, only wide enough for three adults to walk side by side, was just enough for Aoto to move freely alone.

After exchanging more than a dozen blows, Aoto and Shinno, as if by prior agreement, both leaped back to widen the space between them.

—This guy’s strength is nowhere near what it was just now!

The excitement of the moment made Shinno grip his sword even tighter.

The high-speed exchanges allowed both parties to gain a certain understanding of each other’s current state.

Shinno could clearly feel—Aoto’s power and speed were far less than when he had fought alone against Shinno and 66 other Samurai not long ago.

The grueling one-against-67 battle had significantly drained his physical energy... Shinno internally concluded.

In fact, Aoto’s strength was indeed quite diminished from earlier.

But this wasn’t solely because of physical exhaustion and fatigue.

The main reason was that ”Lone Brave” had failed to activate.

”Lone Brave” only activates when faced with an enemy stronger or more numerous than oneself.

The failure of ”Lone Brave”... certainly felt regrettable.

But looking at it positively, it meant one thing—by the system’s recognition, Shinno’s strength was no longer superior to Aoto’s current state!

Reflecting on the ”Foreign Language Research Institute Battle” two months ago, Aoto had to activate ”Lone Brave” just to barely match Shinno.

Now, facing Shinno alone again, ”Lone Brave” no longer triggers its effect.

This signifies that in the short span of two months, Aoto had achieved remarkable progress, which could be described as ”leaps and bounds”!

Aoto’s decline in strength due to the non-activation of ”Lone Brave” and significant physical exhaustion fueled Shinno’s fighting spirit and desire for victory to unprecedented levels.

Aoto also experienced an explosion of fighting spirit!

Aoto understood his own condition far better than Shinno.

Aoto estimated that in his current ”state of combat damage without full amplification,” he could roughly only tie with Shinno.

This battle would be even tougher than originally expected...but Aoto felt neither fear nor discouragement.

The fiery gleam in Aoto’s eyes became even more dazzling!

Completely focused on the sword in his hand and the enemy before him, Aoto failed to notice the trace of excitement flowing within his heart.

The second round of the duel between the two Swordsmen began in a profound silence.

Shinno assumed the Middle Stance, with his sword upright in front of his chest, the tip slightly tilted upwards. The sword’s bluish-silver gleam split his image into two symmetrical halves.

Though seemingly calm, this stance hid a potential threat, exuding an invisible, intimidating pressure.

Aoto did not flinch or feel intimidated.

Ignoring the oppressive aura emanating from Shinno, Aoto spread his feet apart, pointed the sword’s tip at Shinno’s chest, assuming his most adept Kasumi Stance.

The two stood poised against each other as a refreshing night breeze swept over from a distant horizon, their unwavering confrontation unyielding.

Finally, Aoto broke the stalemate. Little by little, he moved forward, gradually closing the distance between him and Shinno.

Shinno remained still, allowing Aoto to approach.

In no time, the gap between them narrowed to four or five meters. Aoto continued advancing, while Shinno remained rooted to his spot.

When they were barely three meters apart... they maintained this ”mutual understanding.”

Moving steadily forward, like ink gradually spreading on rice paper, Aoto advanced.

With his feet firmly planted on the bridge, Shinno stood like sturdy bamboo, like a rock.

Just as the distance between them narrowed to less than two meters, Aoto suddenly halted.

In the next instant... the world pressed fast-forward!

Clang! Clang!

Simultaneously, both swung their swords rapidly! In the blink of an eye, their blades collided twice mid-air.

The two streaks of light, like silver serpents, disrupted the tranquil moonlit night once more.

With a ”clang,” Shinno deflected Aoto’s slashing attack, then suddenly froze his sword’s tip. Swiftly, with a momentum like a whirlwind, he slashed horizontally at Aoto’s chest!

Aoto remained unperturbed and fearless. As he tilted his body to evade Shinno’s strike, his left shoulder shifted forward, concealing the Ghost-Slaying blade in a lower stance on his right side. Then he slashed upwards at Shinno’s body, but Shinno leapt back lightly, dodging this strike.

Aoto switched stances, opting for the most frequently used stance of the Natural Reasoning Heart Stream: Flat Cyan Eye, aiming his blade’s tip diagonally at Shinno’s right eye.

Shinno, still adopting the Middle Stance, contracted his body and neck, drawing in his shoulders and waist, as if trying to hide entirely in the shadow of the sword before him.

Evidently, Shinno’s posture signaled the accumulation of explosive power.

As expected—Shinno let out a low roar, and in the next instant, his previously contracted body sprang open like a ”compressed spring released”! Charging straight at Aoto!

The sharpness and killing intent within this sword could not be underestimated.

Aoto parried the attack and retreated, but Shinno continued his onslaught with a new blow.

The next strike was an equally menacing thrust. Yet Aoto easily blocked this lethal sword thrust.

The two crossed paths, exchanging positions.

The bridge resounded with ”thud thud thud.”

Stand still!

Twist!

Then swung their swords at each other once more!

”Haaaaaaa!”

True to the reputation of the elegant Mirror Heart Mingzhi School, even the Qi Union shout sounded more refined than those of other schools.

Shinno shifted to an upward attack, drawing a luminous arc with his sword in the air.

Aoto advanced instead of retreating, leaping forward with force.

Shinno and the onrushing sword and body of Aoto collided heavily.

Clang!

Another resounding metallic crash that made onlookers wonder if someone’s sword had broken.

As if repelled by an invisible force, both retreated, leaving two parallel white trails on the bridge under their feet.

The space between them opened for only an instant.

In the next moment, both stopped in their tracks and rushed at each other again!

Shinno reverted to the Middle Stance, while Aoto confronted with the Lower Rank.

Aoto slid across the ground, leaning forward to slash, his upward swing from the lower rank grazing the bridge, leaving a thin line on its surface with the sharp tip.

Faced with Aoto’s upward slash, Shinno took a deep breath and brought his blade down vertically, attempting to suppress Aoto’s swift strike!

Aoto’s upward sword sweep carried immense strength and skill.

Upon impact, Shinno felt as if a powerful gust from below would seize his sword.

Although Shinno’s forceful downward slash met Aoto’s sword precisely in midair, the imminent threat following this filled Shinno with an unwelcome change in expression.

Fortunately, Shinno wasn’t someone easy to overpower; he clenched his teeth, applied strength, and through sheer force and technique, managed to hold his sword tightly, preventing it from slipping away.

Immense force erupted where the two swords met.

Driven by this force, both sank down, stepped forward. As they changed positions, they exchanged another move without either gaining an advantage.

Passing by each other, Aoto and Shinno returned to their original positions.

This round ended slightly in Aoto’s favor.

But the battle continued!

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The author spent a long time yesterday thinking about whether to have Aoto and Shinno say some inspiring words to build up the mood before they started fighting.

After much consideration, having Aoto and Shinno babble on before the fight felt silly—A duel between swordsmen requires no words!

Draw your sword, and strike!

Given today’s Chapter’s quality, please, you must vote for the book! (*Leopard Crying Emoticon*)

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