I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Moreover, this step needs to be used twice in a row, for a total of three stabs.

Only exceptionally gifted individuals like Souji, whose physical explosiveness far surpasses that of ordinary people, and "overpowered" individuals like Aoto, can master this profound skill.

Even Qing Deng only recently managed to learn this move, albeit with some difficulty.

Because he had only recently learned it, its power was naturally inferior to that of Souji, who was the "original master." He still needed some time to get used to it before he could catch up with Souji's level.

The two sword tips colliding heavily in mid-air resemble two bulls with bloodshot eyes, sharp horns raised, charging at each other.

Even the most daring and skilled bullfighters dare not interfere.

The two swords, which were originally perfectly straight and smooth, were now bent into exaggerated arcs, emitting a miserable "squeak, squeak, squeak" sound.

There is no power struggle where "if you exert a bit of force, I will exert a bit of force back."

Both of them were giving it their all! They poured all the strength in their bodies into this one strike, and they couldn't squeeze out any more power from their bodies!

"Drink ahh ...

A furious roar, like an eruption of lava, burst from Daishi Jin's throat.

"Haa ...

At the same time, a roar that seemed to pierce the sky spread outwards from Qingdeng.

A shout emanating from their diaphragm can unleash even greater power—this is the last resort they can employ.

Squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak—!

The groans and cries of the bamboo sword intensified and escalated in an instant.

In that instant, everyone on the field, including the two sides in the battle, experienced a strange sense of time.

They felt that a long time had passed.

In reality, it all happened in just a few seconds.

Seconds later, with a series of crisp cracking sounds, the two bamboo swords shattered simultaneously! They broke into countless fragments like glass, scattering like petals in the air!

Both Qing Deng and Da Shi Jin only had bare sword hilts left in their hands.

"..."

"..."

The two looked at each other, their gazes fixed straight ahead, their faces expressionless, and remained silent.

"Quick! Get them new bamboo swords!"

One of the apprentices hurriedly said to his classmate beside him, and then the two of them frantically took two brand-new bamboo swords from the sword rack not far away.

However, before they could hand the new bamboo swords to the field, Sakakibara Kenkichi, who was sitting in front of them, gestured for them to "not move."

"There's no need to hand over the sword."

He spoke calmly and indifferently.

The outcome is decided.

"Huh? The outcome is already decided?"

Many of the apprentices looked puzzled, glancing at Sakakibara Kenkichi, who had spoken those words, and then at the two people on the field.

Qingdeng and Dashi Jin only had broken bamboo swords. Judging from the battle, they only fought to a draw. How can it be said that the outcome was already decided?

However, Otani Seiichiro, Kuboda Kiyone, Iba Hideaki, and others all had the same calm and collected expression as Sakakibara Kenkichi, as if they too had already concluded that the battle between Aoto and Oishi Susumu was over.

The two players on the field remained silent.

The instructors and their deputies, led by Ootani Seiichiro and Kubota Kiyone, remained silent. Influenced by this atmosphere, the apprentices dared not even breathe, let alone speak.

In this silence, the first words were uttered by the giant whose expression of regret slowly crept across his face:

"...I lost."

After saying this, Daishi straightened up and bowed to Qingdeng.

The instant he finished speaking, as expected, a cold system voice rang in Qing Deng's mind:

[Ding! Talent detected]

Successfully copied the talent: "Nine Oxen and Two Tigers +2"

[Talent Introduction: Greater strength than the average person]

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

[“Nine Oxen and Two Tigers” Ability Upgrade – “Nine Oxen and Two Tigers +3”]

—Indeed, it was a case of "nine oxen and two tigers".

After the battle with Susumu Oishi began, Aoto kept guessing that he would most likely copy the talent related to height and strength from his opponent.

Oishi's strength goes without saying. He was able to go toe-to-toe with Qing Deng, who is now a "mutant," without being at a disadvantage. He must possess a power-type talent with a numerical suffix.

As for his height... Qingdeng is so envious of his height!

To grow to 2.1 meters tall in the Edo period, a time of genetic defects and unhealthy diets, what kind of terrifying genes could that be?

With such genetic advantages, if they receive sufficient nutrition from a young age and are supplemented with scientific training methods, growing to 2.2 or 2.3 meters tall is not a problem.

Although his current height of 1.75 meters is already enough to make him stand out from the crowd, if possible, Qing Deng still hopes that he can grow taller, preferably to at least 1.8 meters like Saito Hajime.

Well, although we couldn't replicate the talent related to height, it's not bad that it can help "Nine Bulls and Two Tigers" level up.

Thinking of this, Qingdeng gathered his thoughts, straightened up, and returned Oishi Jin's salute with utmost care:

"Mr. Oishi, thank you for your guidance."

At this moment, one of the apprentices in the audience finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked Sakakibara Kenkichi:

"Mr. Sakakibara, why did Mr. Oishi concede defeat? The exchange just now only ended in a draw; he should still have the strength to fight back, shouldn't he?"

This man's question immediately drew countless questioning gazes to Sakakibara Kenkichi.

Kenjiro Sakakibara answered calmly:

"It was because the exchange just now ended in a draw that Oishi conceded defeat."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Hideaki Iba, who was not far away, chimed in:

"You all saw it before, didn't you? Oishi-kun's proud heavy slash and consecutive thrusts were no match for Niou."

"In other words, he simply cannot defeat his opponent using conventional methods."

“Oishi-kun’s physical strength is not as good as Ni-ou’s.”

"When Niou broke his consecutive thrusts, one side's breathing became disordered, while the other side's breathing remained steady and long, which is the best evidence that 'the physical strength of the two sides is not equal'."

"With physical strength inferior to the opponent and no power to change the course of the battle, defeat was inevitable, it was only a matter of time."

When Hideaki Iba reached this point, Kenji Sakakibara picked up the conversation again:

"Therefore, Oishi Susumu's secret technique, 'One-Handed Thrust,' is his only hope of winning."

"If we can defeat Mr. Tachibana with this move, then everything will be fine."

"But if even this trick fails, then there's no hope left."

"Then... as you can see, Oishi Susumu's 'one-handed thrust' and Tachibana-sensei's Tennen Rishin-ryu secret technique were evenly matched."

"He unleashed his last trump card, but it still ended in disappointment. Oishi-kun has no chance of winning."

"Continuing to fight would only be a struggle. Rather than that, it's better to just admit that we are not as good as others."

After listening to the explanations from Kenkichi Sakakibara and Hideaki Itba, all the apprentices looked enlightened.

"Oishi-kun has grown old too..."

At this moment, Kubota Kiyone, sitting in the main seat, raised her hand to stroke her aged face, revealing an expression of mixed emotions.

"If it were him in his youth, the outcome would have been uncertain."

While the crowd below was buzzing with discussion, Qing Deng on the field was also sighing to himself.

As the actual combatant, he knew better than anyone that his victory was rather clever.

Whether it's swordsmanship or physical abilities, he and Oishi Susumu are roughly equal.

I defeated my opponent by virtue of my superior physical strength... or rather, by virtue of being in the prime of my life.

If Oishi Susumu were the same age as him... then their battle would undoubtedly be an unprecedentedly fierce clash.

Of course, there's no point in talking about these things afterward.

"If only it were like this," "If only we had won that way"... these statements are ultimately just excuses.

A defeat is a defeat; in the face of the fact of "defeat," any explanation is pale and powerless.

Judging from the frank expression on Oishi Susumu's face at this moment, he, like Chiba Sadakichi, is not the kind of person who would use "advanced age" as an excuse for his defeat.

Daishi Jin was considered the third-in-command of the Military Academy.

Now, their third-in-command business has failed.

The only opponents facing Qing Deng now are the second-in-command and the first-in-command!

Qingdeng turned around, raised his head, and looked directly at the two elders in the main seat.

"Your Majesty, don't be anxious."

Kuroda Kiyone smiled slightly, her expression kind.

"You've been relentlessly battling Oishi and the others, you must be exhausted by now, right?"

Ootani Seiichiro smiled and replied:

"Tachibana-kun, take a short rest."

At this point, Otani Seiichiro paused, then adopted a meaningful tone and continued:

"If you don't maintain your best condition... you won't be able to defeat the 'Sword Saint'."

……

……

Aoto, who is decisive and efficient, naturally wants the fight to start quickly so that he can settle the score with Otani Seiichiro and Kuboda Kiyone.