My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 566: Chapter 184: Wielding the Captain’s Sword in Moonlight, Sword Qi Like a Dragon!

Shinno casually wiped the blood off his face and once again pounced at Aoto.

This time, Aoto didn’t move along the bridge rail. Instead, he leaped back onto the bridge surface... to be precise, after evading another round of Shinno’s attacks, he flashed and jumped to Shinno’s rear side.

As soon as his feet stabilized, Aoto pivoted on his left foot, spinning like a top, using the momentum to swing his sword upwards towards Shinno’s side abdomen in a reverse kesagiri cut.

This strike by Aoto, in terms of angle, timing, and force, was impeccable. But, unfortunately, Shinno dodged it; he jumped back just in time, and the tip of the Ghost-Slaying sword only grazed his clothes.

The overlapping figures separated... Aoto didn’t pursue Shinno who had jumped back, and Shinno didn’t rush to attack Aoto, who had returned to the bridge.

The exhaustion of their bodies had nearly reached a critical point, and both of them chose, without prior agreement, to ”take a breather.”

”Ha...! Ha...! Ha...! Ha...! Ha...!”

”Ha...! Ha...! Ha...! Ha...! Ha...!”

Their heavy breathing formed an overwhelming sound barrier, overpowering the wind and the sound of the water under the bridge.

The effect of ”Strong Muscle” only prevents Aoto’s muscles from easily tiring; it doesn’t make them never fatigue.

Fighting all the way while pushing his body... ”Strong Muscle” finally reached its limit.

Whether it’s his hands or feet, every single muscle in his limbs and waist is now fiercely protesting against Aoto.

The muscles in his right arm are so sore and swollen that he feels he can hardly hold the sword securely.

His left leg has even started to cramp slightly.

Even opening his mouth wide and breathing deeply doesn’t satisfy his body’s demand for oxygen.

Sweat pours out like a waterfall, dissolving the clotted and semi-clotted bloodstains on his clothes.

The pale red liquid, a mix of sweat and blood, runs down the corners of his upper garment and the hem of his lower hakama, forming strange-colored small puddles on the bridge surface.

In contrast, Shinno on the opposite side seemed in much better physical condition than Aoto. After all, unlike Aoto, he hadn’t been fighting continuously for almost an entire night.

However, even though his current physical state was visibly better than Aoto’s, Shinno’s face didn’t show much joy.

Because the fierce battles just now had aroused a sense of... powerlessness in Shinno.

——How exactly can this villains’ enemy be brought down! Why does he still have the strength to wield his sword!

No matter how he attacks, Aoto can either block or dodge.

Even though the fatigue on his body is visibly heavy, why doesn’t he fall? Why can he still hold the sword steadily?

Staring at Aoto, who was also trying to adjust his breathing rhythm, Shinno transformed all the complex words and emotions in his heart into a long exhale.

——Use that move!

Shinno’s tightly furrowed brow relaxed slightly.

Even though he hadn’t yet mastered this move... it’s the most powerful move Shinno currently knows, and in his opinion, it offers the best hope of injuring or even killing Aoto!

Shinno let out a long breath again, then leaned slightly, took a side stance, extended his left shoulder, obliquely facing the young man across, and with a stance in the lower right rank, hid his sword in the shadow behind him.

Immediately afterward, he shouted loudly, slid forward, and charged at Aoto.

Aoto squinted slightly... this action by Shinno is quite a classic move in swordsmanship.

By using a lower rank stance to hide the sword behind, it becomes difficult for the opponent to discern the direction, motion, and range of the attack.

Aoto is also able to use this move; he had used it before when dealing with Niitsuma Kan in the finals of the Swordsmanship Competition, albeit not very proficiently.

Since this move makes it difficult to discern attack direction and range, Aoto adopted a cautious approach, not taking the initiative to face it, but instead spreading his feet and lowering his stance, waiting for Shinno to approach.

The distance between him and Shinno was about seven steps; such a short distance would be covered in an instant for Shinno, who was sprinting.

But just at that moment, something bizarre happened.

Swoosh...!

Just when Shinno was about three steps away from Aoto, he drew his sword, the sharp blade slicing through the air, creating a piercing whistling sound, cutting from the lower right to upper left straight at Aoto’s chest!

Aoto, and Mukiwa watching from not far away, both showed astonished expressions at the same time.

Shinno’s attack range... far exceeded what Aoto and Mukiwa had anticipated!

Given his arm length and the length of his sword, his sword shouldn’t be able to reach this far!

Mr. Tachibana!—— Mukiwa almost shouted anxiously.

Whether or not Mukiwa shouted, it didn’t make a difference—the sound wouldn’t reach Aoto’s ears.

Because Aoto, who was fully absorbed in the battle he was in, could no longer hear any sounds unrelated to this dueling ground.

Shinno’s unexpected strike indeed left Aoto momentarily at a loss due to a misjudgment.

But fortunately... Aoto was now in a state of ”bodily reaction faster than the brain”!

While his brain was still immersed in shock, Aoto’s body automatically reacted one step ahead!

Exerting force with both feet, Aoto sprang backward like a spring.

Aoto’s timely reaction saved his life.