My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 734 -25: Talent Fused Again! [Strong Muscle +1

No time to ponder why Aoto would use their Beichen One-Sword Style moves.

Seeing through Aoto’s attempt to use their classic strategy against Chiba Domon Shiro, he hastily stopped his bamboo sword, which had almost instinctively been raised. Then, with both feet pressing hard against the ground, he leaped backward, trying to widen the distance from Aoto.

“… Alas, Shiro still lacks real combat experience.” At this moment, “in the audience,” Chiba Dingji murmured.

While still suspended in mid-air from the backward jump, Chiba Domon Shiro noticed that Aoto suddenly displayed a rather bizarre smirk in his eyes.

At the same time as a sense of foreboding boiled in his heart… he saw Aoto change tactics!

Aoto changed his stance to the Kasumi Stance with lightning speed.

Both feet pressed to the ground, waist storing power, force transmitted to the sword, then erupted outward along the blade’s tip!

Natural Reasoning Heart Stream: Ignorance!

If this were a life-and-death showdown… then Chiba Domon Shiro would already be dead by now.

Even with a bamboo sword, piercing the throat or crown of the head can instantly be lethal.

But since it’s merely a “friendship match,” it wouldn’t be appropriate or reasonable for Aoto to use overly deadly moves or attack vital areas.

Thus, Aoto held back some strength in this strike, aiming for the meaty shoulder pit.

The tip of the bamboo sword jabbed into Chiba Domon Shiro’s shoulder pit, directly flipping his entire body backward.

After landing on the ground, Chiba Domon Shiro’s back skidded against the dirt, gliding about 2 steps away before he managed to stop.

Feeling intense pain in his left shoulder pit and back, Chiba Domon Shiro barely opened his eyes to see a bamboo sword raised high, blocking the sunlight.

The slender sword shadow cast over Chiba Domon Shiro’s bewildered pupils and the bowl on his forehead.

After sending Chiba Domon Shiro flying with a stroke, Aoto followed by “flying” up as well.

He leaped and landed beside Chiba Domon Shiro.

Raised his sword, swung down—shattering the porcelain bowl!

Chiba Domon Shiro, defeated!

[Successfully copied talent: “Strong Muscle”]

[Talent Description: Muscles are not easily fatigued]

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

[Ding! Initiating Talent Fusion]

…

[Ding! Talent Fusion Successful]

[“Strong Muscle” ability upgraded to “Strong Muscle+1”]

[“Strong Muscle+1” Talent Description: The talent effect is enhanced on the original basis. “+9” is the highest level]

—Whoa… hit the jackpot.

Aoto lightly raised his eyebrows, a faint smile on his face.

This was his second talent fusion since obtaining “Sword Genius”.

Thanks to this, Aoto gained more understanding of the system residing in him.

It appears that “body transformation type” talents like “Strong Muscle” and “talent amplification type” talents like “Sword Genius” have different fusion processes.

For the latter, it’s just adding numbers—the swordsmanship talent of Aoto increased from the original 50 times to over a hundred times now.

For the former, a “+X” title was added, “+1” being the lowest and “+9” the highest.

Aoto couldn’t help but wonder: In terms of “Strong Muscle,” once it’s fused all the way to the highest level: “Strong Muscle+9,” what changes will occur in his body?

Even if he were to do 1,000 push-ups in one go, would he not feel any muscle fatigue or soreness?

Chiba Shigetarou and Chiba Domon Shiro, the two brothers, both possess the “Strong Muscle” talent… Clearly, the Chiba family has a genetic predisposition for muscles not easily fatiguing.

Sazanoko might also be the kind of person whose body doesn’t easily tire and wouldn’t feel fatigued by continuous activity for hours… Out of nowhere, this thought popped into Aoto’s mind.

Detailed as such, Aoto successfully achieved another talent fusion, tracing his mental journey, seemingly standing idly, lost in thought.

But in reality, after defeating Chiba Domon Shiro, Aoto’s hands and feet never stopped—he engaged in successive bouts with the Xuanwu Hall swordsmen rushing in.

“Why the panic?!”

Kawashima Yasuzō, known as “Ghost Hachizou,” shouted at his fellow members, who panicked after Chiba Domon Shiro was defeated.

“If you’ve got guts, come with me!”

“If not, just smash the bowl on your head yourself and step aside to rest!”

Kawashima, carrying his bamboo sword, charged toward Aoto with great might.

—Nine left, huh…

Aoto swept his gaze around, counting the number of remaining Xuanwu Hall swordsmen on the field, excluding Chiba Daisaburo. He then flipped his right hand forcefully, sending the bamboo sword spinning 720 degrees around his wrist before catching it firmly back in his right palm.

He swung the sword twice with force, ensuring that most of the bloodstains on the blade would be flung off—if there were any on the blade.

Since starting his Iaido training under Kiryu, witnessing Kiryu’s habitual move of twirling a sword before sheathing it, it was like something awakened in Aoto. Now he’s infatuated with the sword-twirling flair and Blood Vibration Technique that others might find overly showy, but he himself finds just right.

Unconsciously, Aoto now thoroughly embraced the habit of loving to twirl his sword and perform those flashy sword movements.

Although the “remaining enemy count” is still a bit high… the last thing Aoto fears is group battle!