I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Without a doubt, this is a manifestation of a mental breakdown.

Just then, Shibasaki Renjuro suddenly heard the noisy sounds abruptly amplify and approach, like dark clouds suddenly expanding during a rainstorm.

He instinctively turned his gaze—amidst the smoke and blood, there were hoarse roars, painful howls, desperate screams, and mournful wails everywhere.

The surging crowds fleeing were truly overwhelming, filling mountains and seas, and were absolutely terrifying.

At the very back of the crowd, a giant shadow was galloping.

Countless bandits were unable to escape and crashed onto the edge of the giant shadow.

In an instant, accompanied by a scream that sounded inhuman, jets of blood shot up several feet high, blooming into a bright red plum blossom in mid-air before falling to the ground and becoming part of the red swamp.

Suddenly, the bandits who had been fleeing in panic scattered to the left and right—a giant shadow full of murderous intent leaped in front of Shibasaki Renjuro.

Like clouds rising!

Like a dragon soaring!

Upon seeing this giant shadow, half of the bandit army paled and retreated; the remaining half stood there dumbfounded, mouths agape, as if they had lost their souls.

Renjuro Shibasaki belongs to the latter category.

His gaze was fixed, his head hunched between his arched shoulders, and even his breath was timidly hidden deep in his throat, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. He completely forgot about time and space, just like a rabbit that had run into a tiger.

"You must be Shibasaki Renjuro?"

As the giant shadow spoke, it raised its right arm—the blood-stained spear tip pointing directly at Shibasaki Renjuro's chest.

……

……

Shinsengumi's base, main camp—

Hijikata Toshizo stood on the mud-brick watchtower, holding a telescope in his hand, staring intently at the distant enemy camp.

Following the command order of "first Tachibana, second Hijikata, third Kinkata, fourth Yamanami," with Aoto's departure, the command of the Shinsengumi fell on Hijikata Toshizo's shoulders.

After Aoto left with Sanako and the Aizu cavalry, Hijikata Toshizo stood on this watchtower like a statue, motionless, constantly monitoring the movements of the enemy camp.

Although they were far apart, the scene at the enemy camp... the billowing dust and the fleeing bandits were clearly reflected in the lens and then into Hijikata Toshizo's eyes.

Hijikata Toshizo squinted his eyes, then turned and jumped off the watchtower, flashing back to the main camp.

In the main camp, Kondo Isami, Yamanami Keisuke, Kiyokawa Hachiro, Kinoshita Mai, Nagakura Shinpachi, Saito Hajime, and the members of the first, second, and third divisions were all on high alert.

Souji also returned from the northern front and stood beside Kinoshita Mai, also awaiting Hijikata Toshizo's orders.

Although she had just killed about thirty good-for-nothings, this amount of exercise was not even enough to make Souji feel breathless.

No sooner had Hijikata Toshizo returned to his base than he loudly announced:

"Ms. Tachibana and Ms. Chiba have successfully stormed the enemy camp! The enemy camp is in complete chaos!"

"Now is the moment for our decisive battle!"

"The battle that follows will determine the outcome of this battle for Iga!"

"I urge everyone to spare no effort! Fight to the death!"

"Squad members of the First, Second, and Third Divisions! Listen up!"

"You are the three strongest units in the Shinsengumi!"

"The best and strongest team members are all gathered here."

"It is precisely because I believe in your strength that I have designated you as the 'General Reserve Team' and placed you in the main camp."

"The purpose is to unleash a tiger that has been gathering strength during the final attack, and tear the enemy apart in one fell swoop!"

"Don't let Ju down... no, don't let us down!"

"The command structure of the troops will be arranged according to the pre-planned arrangement!"

"If I die, Ah Sheng will take over command of the troops!"

“If Asheng dies, Shannan will take over command.”

Having said that, Hijikata Toshizo drew Izumi no Kami Kanesada from his waist—the chilling glint of his sword pierced the eyes of everyone present.

At the same time, Souji, Kondo Isami, and others all drew their swords.

Kaga Kiyomitsu, Nagasone Kotetsu, Izumi no Kami Kanesada... these top-quality swords were drawn together, their gleaming blades creating a magnificent sight.

"Ozeki-kun, raise the battle flag!"

Masajiro Ozeki nodded vigorously, then suddenly raised a large flag beside him.

To die is an honor, to live is no disgrace.

"Shinsengumi, move out!"

*******

*******

Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets! (Leopard crying.jpg)

Chapter 659 Pursuing the Dead! Bloodshed Abounds!

Eastern Front —

Inoue Genzaburo raised his head, opened his throat, and shouted at the loudest volume he could muster:

"Your camp has been breached! If you don't believe me, turn around and see for yourselves! You have no chance of winning! Surrender now! Do not put up any resistance!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the members of the Fourth and Sixth Divisions shouted in unison:

"Surrender! If you don't want to die, surrender now!"

"Surrender now! Stop dawdling!"

"Your main camp is gone, continuing to fight is just a waste of time and lives!"

"The Shinsengumi will never mistreat prisoners! We will never harm a single prisoner's life!"

……

At first, the bandits dismissed Inoue Genzaburo and his men's words as utter nonsense, thinking to themselves:

They actually resorted to such a low tactic to undermine our morale! Do they think we're fools?!

However... when some curious children turned around and looked back, they were immediately dumbfounded: the camp behind them was indeed billowing with dust!

Even from a distance, one could barely make out the broken fence, the overturned tents, the equipment scattered all over the ground, and the comrades fleeing out of the camp.

Some sharp-eyed people even noticed that the commander's flag, which symbolized the soul of the entire army, had disappeared!

"Hey! It seems like something's really happened at our camp!"

"What did you say?!"

"Stop talking nonsense!"

"Impossible! There are at least 1000 troops left to guard the main camp!"

……

Next came the classic "mass imitation".

More and more people are turning their heads to look back.

More and more people are discovering the camp

More and more people looked terrified.

Panic and horror spread rapidly among the enemy ranks like a plague.

The raid on their hometown—for any military force, whether elite or ragtag, this would have an immeasurable and serious impact, even a fatal blow!

Throughout history, there have been very few troops that have managed to fight back and return after their home base was raided!

In the blink of an eye, the once orderly enemy formation was quickly dominated by chaos.

Uneasy voices were heard throughout the entire eastern front.

No matter how the commanders tried to control and suppress the army, they couldn't bring it back to its original state.

Seeing this, Serizawa Kamo couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth.

He knew: Victory was within his grasp!

But that's not enough!

Simply making them panic is far from enough!

We must further intensify their fear! We must completely destroy their morale and fighting spirit!

So he immediately decided to press his advantage and add fuel to the fire for these guys!

"Follow me!"

He gritted his teeth, forcibly energizing his already exhausted body, gripped the knife in his hand, and led his men in a new attack on the already chaotic enemy ranks.

Just then, he suddenly heard a flurry of footsteps and deafening shouts of battle behind him.

"kill!"

"Crush them!"

"Fight them until they are powerless to resist!"

……

Then, the commander and others personally led the main reserve force, namely the soldiers of the first, second and third squads, to charge down from the main camp!

Things in this world are often relative.

The spacious and flat eastern side became an excellent starting point for the rebel army's attack.

Conversely, this place naturally became an excellent starting point for the Shinsengumi's counterattack!

The three strongest units of the Shinsengumi—the First, Second, and Third Divisions—have been stationed at their headquarters since the start of the war, doing nothing but sitting idly and waiting.

Seeing their comrades in other units constantly killing enemies and making meritorious contributions, they had long been envious.