My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 633: Chapter 3: Aoto vs. Inoue Genzaburō, Copying the Talent [Strong Essence]! [8500]_5

Aoto firmly planted his feet on the ground, gathering strength at his waist, relying on his significantly enhanced waist power to unleash the ”New Year Swordsmanship” with an upper stance, launching a flurry of slashes like a torrential rain at Inoue.

Inoue also noticed that if it came down to a contest of strength, he was absolutely no match for Aoto, whose waist power was currently astounding. Therefore, he stopped competing with Aoto in swordplay and instead used the step technique he excelled at to engage Aoto in a tangled fight.

Inoue quickly dodged Aoto’s first two strikes, and just as Aoto was about to swing the third, Inoue’s feet shifted, changing retreat into advance! Moving swiftly toward Aoto, the potential threat in his steps left no room for complacency.

In the blink of an eye, Inoue’s bamboo sword was already in front of Aoto’s eyes. The timing and angle of Inoue’s strike were extremely tricky, yet Aoto easily deflected it with his sword.

As soon as he deflected Inoue’s sword, Inoue had already returned to his original position using his step technique, still maintaining a steady and faultless stance.

Perhaps not wanting Aoto to seize control of this sparring session, Inoue seldom chose to passively endure Aoto’s fierce attacks. He changed his stance from the middle rank to the Flat Cyan Eye, swinging a horizontal slash straight toward Aoto’s eyes, marking the beginning of a counterattack.

Aoto’s field of vision was suddenly filled with the rapidly approaching blade of the bamboo sword.

In that lightning-quick moment, Aoto tilted his head, and the shrill, tearing sound of Inoue’s sword slicing through the air echoed past his ears.

Inoue initially intended to pursue Aoto... but Aoto’s counterattack came!

Just at the instant Aoto dodged Inoue’s previous slash by tilting his head, Aoto’s bamboo sword suddenly swept upward from below, targeting a direct slash at Inoue’s waist!

Due to his formidable waist power, the sword carried an unstoppable momentum!

Inoue hastily gathered his sword in front of him, using an awkward motion to fend off Aoto’s strike. Like being bounced away, the two quickly parted.

At this moment, Inoue looked at Aoto with eyes full of amazement.

——His speed has increased... his strength has also grown...!

As Aoto’s opponent in battle, Inoue was more acutely aware than anyone present: As the fight heated up, Aoto’s strength and speed did not weaken with exhaustion but instead continued to strengthen!

Actually, Inoue misunderstood.

It was not that Aoto’s strength had increased or his speed had heightened.

Rather, Aoto’s body, which had been dormant for about two months, was gradually regaining its former energy!

The muscles in Aoto’s limbs were rapidly recalling the sensation of battle!

Aware that he was outclassed by Aoto in both strength and speed, Inoue’s expression darkened slightly.

In a situation where he held no advantage in strength or speed, the longer the battle dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for him.

Thus, Inoue gripped the bamboo sword in his hand tightly, deciding to end the fight quickly!

”Ha—!”

Invoking his inner strength with a cry of Qi Union, Inoue’s shadow on the floor once again overlapped with Aoto’s shadow.

Inoue, seemingly tireless and as if he was pinning the outcome of this duel on the upcoming assault, launched a ferocious attack like a violent storm toward Aoto.

The tips and edges of the bamboo sword rained down like raindrops over Aoto’s body.

Aoto did not dodge to escape from this perilous ”curtain of rain,” instead, he stood his ground, fearlessly raising his sword to engage!

The dense clatter of bamboo swords colliding drowned out the breathing of everyone in the arena, as well as the chirping of crickets and other insects outdoors.

Aoto, desperately defending against Inoue’s assaults, appeared unsteady, as if at any moment he might collapse under the relentless onslaught of Inoue’s fierce attack.

But a closer look would reveal—since he began defending against Inoue’s attacks, Aoto’s feet had not retreated even a single step.

Gathering strength, deflecting, rebounding... Aoto, who took all of Inoue’s attacks, gradually adapted to Inoue’s strength and attack rhythm.

One could see the robust aura emanating from Aoto’s waist... Under the synergistic effect of the two great talents of ”Iron Waist” and ”Bear’s Waist,” waves of power accumulated in Aoto’s spine.

Inoue’s attack and Aoto’s defense seemed endless.

But humans are not robots; there’s no way they can perform perfect, error-free actions every time.

The following scene... truly unfolded in an instant.

As his slash was once again deflected by Aoto, Inoue adjusted the direction and angle of his sword in response to the recoil.

But perhaps due to a momentary lapse in concentration or the onset of muscle fatigue, in any case—Inoue failed to maintain his posture in holding the sword properly.

Since the start of the battle, his stable stance, steady as a rock, revealed a fleeting flaw at this moment!

Having waited long for this rare opportunity... It was unreasonable to let it go to waste!

Aoto’s eyes sparkled with a keen light, and he struck at Inoue’s chest with a powerful slash. Inoue, unable to maintain an ideal sword posture, struggled to raise his sword defensively.

Though he successfully deflected Aoto’s strike... his flaw now became even more pronounced!

Failing to perfectly neutralize Aoto’s slash, Inoue staggered backward, his body tilting significantly.

In the next instant, the power Aoto had silently accumulated at his waist suddenly erupted!

Aoto leaped into the air, raising his bamboo sword high above his head, and the blade descended with the force of a hanging river straight toward the top of Inoue’s head!

With an unstable posture, unable to dodge, Inoue could only lift his bamboo sword, attempting to forcibly parry Aoto’s attack.

However... without a steady stance, there was no way to perfectly repel Aoto’s attack.

Inoue’s bamboo sword was still half a beat too slow.

Smack!

Aoto’s bamboo sword struck precisely at the center of Inoue’s faceguard.

With a ”forehead” hit by the sword, Inoue staggered three steps back, then fell heavily to the ground.

[Ding! Talent detected]

[Successfully copied talent: ”Strong Essence”]

[Talent description: Fast recovery speed of mental and physical energy]

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Didn’t reach the monthly ticket target yesterday, how unfortunate... (Leopard crying.jpg) & (Leopard belly hit.jpg)

But to thank everyone for their enthusiastic voting support, the author still put in extra effort to make this Chapter a bit longer today!

Today is the last day of the month, if you still have monthly tickets, please be sure to vote for this book! (Leopard crying.jpg)