I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Although they belonged to different camps, one being the Shinsengumi and the other the Aizu Domain, their heroic bearing had completely won them over.

Even when they were exhausted and covered in wounds, they still wanted to fight alongside Niou!

Looking at Sanako and the others who were eagerly volunteering for the battle, Aoto's expression remained calm.

But if you look closely, you can see that the corners of his mouth are slightly curved, forming a faint arc... It's as if he had expected Sanako and the others to say that.

Before he could finish, he stopped smiling and said loudly:

"If you're not just talking big, then keep following me!"

"We'll rest for 20 minutes, which means when the longer needle points here, we'll continue the pursuit!"

Qing Deng took out his pocket watch and showed the Aizu cavalry how long 20 minutes was.

Then, he dismounted and walked towards the flat open space.

He found a big tree, sat casually in its shade, leaned his head back against the trunk, closed his eyes—his innate "sleep god" ability activated—and fell asleep instantly.

As the saying goes, "A horse won't get fat without night grass."

Horses are very voracious animals and need to eat constantly to maintain their strength.

Before resting, Sanako and the others led their warhorses toward a place with dense grass.

As for that big black bull, Qingdeng doesn't need to worry about it.

Radish walked into the nearby bushes on its own, munching away happily with squeaks, while the cow swished its tail, looking very pleased.

Both cows and horses can "use what's available," finding food as soon as they lower their heads.

In contrast, Qing Deng and others did not have such "benefits".

After a whole day of intense work, I haven't eaten a single grain of rice or drunk a drop of water.

Everyone, including Qingdeng, was starving, their stomachs aching, and their dry lips cracked with fine lines.

This place is an unnamed forest. As far as the eye can see, there is nothing but grass, trees, and mud. There is nothing to put in your mouth.

However, to be honest, they didn't have the energy to eat or drink.

The moment Sanako and the others' buttocks touched the ground and their minds relaxed, they immediately lost consciousness—literally lost consciousness.

In an instant, a flood of weariness engulfed their consciousness.

As expected of a model of the samurai family, even though she was exhausted, she still maintained the composure of Miss Chiba.

She closed her legs, folded her hands on her lap, and sat gracefully beside Qingdeng—only then did she finally close her eyes.

As for others, they are not so particular.

After leading their warhorses to graze, the Aizu cavalrymen immediately collapsed in disarray.

Some leaned against tree trunks, while others lay sprawled on the ground in a "big" shape.

Let alone a flat open space, even if they were only given a simple sandpit, they would crawl in like maggots, eager and impatient to sleep.

Twenty minutes passed in the blink of an eye.

As soon as the minute hand had traversed a third of the distance on the clock face, Qingdeng immediately opened his eyes, skipping the "sleepy" stage entirely, just like a robot.

With the blessing of the talents "Sleep God" and "Strong Essence +4", Qingdeng's stamina recovery speed is far beyond that of ordinary people.

For him, a 20-minute break is equivalent to about 2 hours for an average person.

"It's time! Let's go!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Sanako and the others stood up.

While it can't compare to the Qingdeng which can enter "fast charging mode" at any time, being able to get a short rest is better than nothing.

I'm still physically and mentally exhausted, but at least I've regained some energy.

Qingdeng mounted the ox and pulled out the long spear stuck in the ground.

Sanako and the others leaped onto the saddle without any distinction between them.

"Let's go! Our target—Renjuro Shibasaki's head."

After roaring, Qingdeng lightly tapped the ox's belly.

With a "moo," the radish galloped off.

Immediately afterwards, the group kicked up a cloud of dust once more.

Keep the pursuit going!

……

……

Eastern Front —

"Ha...ha...ha...ha...ha..."

Shimazaki Kai opened his mouth wide and greedily inhaled the air.

The moment the air entered his lungs, he felt both pleasure and pain.

The cool sensation that spread throughout my lungs slightly soothed my aching chest.

However, when the air passed through his parched throat, he almost thought that what was flowing into his throat was not air, but a sharp knife! He couldn't help but cough up blood.

As soon as the order for "general attack" was given, Shimazaki Kai was so excited he almost jumped up.

Like most of the members of the First, Second, and Third Divisions, he had long been itching to join in while his comrades in other divisions were making great achievements, while he remained motionless in the main camp.

They couldn't wait to join the war.

I can't wait to go into battle!

And so, as soon as the "command flag" was raised, Shimazaki Kai roared, ran, and fought! He displayed the results of his daily training in one fell swoop!

A sumptuous feast and relentless training—these two things basically encompass the daily lives of the Shinsengumi members.

The rice and pork we eat at the dinner table, and the blood and sweat we shed on the training field, will ultimately not be in vain.

Without a doubt, every member of the Shinsengumi, including Shimazaki Kai, became stronger after joining the Shinsengumi!

The force with which he swung the knife far surpassed that of the past.

To be honest, this was Shimazaki Kai's first time killing someone.

Although it was a chaotic time with raging seas, not everyone would have the opportunity to kill.

When Shimazaki Kai swung his sword and felled his first enemy—a short, unremarkable young man around 20 years old—his eyes widened, his face filled with fear, pain, and hatred as he stared intently at Shimazaki Kai.

Seeing his fellow human being die before his very eyes, and being the murderer himself... This strange feeling, which he had never experienced before, made Shimazaki Kai feel fearful and his hands break out in a cold sweat.

However, his fear was quickly overshadowed by his intense desire—the thirst for fame and fortune.

With bloodshot eyes, he turned and charged at the next enemy.

At first, Shimada Kai had the leisure to count his kills.

But gradually, he fell into a state of near numbness.

There are too many enemies ahead.

Too many enemies have fallen to his blade.

As soon as the two armies clashed, the battle became one-sided.

The exhausted and weary enemy forces were no match for the First, Second, and Third Divisions, who were poised to attack, as well as the five "humanoid Gundams" led by Souji.

And so, in no time, the Shinsengumi's mission changed from "defeating the enemy army" to "pursuing the fleeing enemy army".

Looking around, what comes into view are rows of bobbing heads and swaying backs.

No matter how many enemies you kill, there will always be new enemies to fill the gaps.

There was neither time nor the inclination to count.

All he knew was to swing his knife, swing his knife, and swing his knife again.

With a swift stroke, the knife fell; with a swift stroke, the knife fell; with a swift stroke, the knife fell…

Without even a moment to catch his breath, he kept swinging his sword and advancing, killing any enemy he encountered and chasing any thief he saw.

Using two legs to chase down enemies, fighting while running... that takes a tremendous toll on one's physical strength.

As the battle progressed, Shimazaki Kainao felt excruciating pain in his chest, as if his lungs were about to explode.

My throat was also in a lot of pain.

Just inhaling air causes intense pain, as if swallowing razor blades.

My mouth was dry, without a trace of moisture.

All the water in her body was absorbed by her inner garment.

The inner garment was repeatedly soaked by a torrent of sweat, and the outer light blue haori was also repeatedly soaked, except that it was not soaked by sweat, but by a massive amount of bloodstains.

In terms of physical ability, Shimazaki Kai is already considered one of the better ones in the Shinsengumi.

If even he is like this, then it goes without saying that it is others.

Shimazaki Kai had already seen many of his comrades stop and halt due to exhaustion.

Just then, Shimazaki Kai suddenly heard Hijikata Toshizo's loud shout from ahead:

"Attack! Attack! Don't stop! Keep attacking! Beat them until they don't even dare to turn their heads!"

As the shout rang out, Shimazaki Kai instinctively raised his eyes and looked in the direction of the sound.

It's one thing to not look at it, but once you do, it leaves you speechless.

Shimazaki Kai thought that the image he had carved was already a blood-soaked mess.

But to everyone's surprise, the first five "humanoid Gundams" were all incredibly exaggerated!

Compared to them, the blood on Shimazaki Kai's body is nothing.

Whether it was Souji, Kondo Isami, and Nagakura Shinpachi who preferred to use brute force, or Hijikata Toshizo and Saito Hajime who preferred to win through skill, they all became truly bloodied.

Not to mention their clothes, even their hair and skin were dyed red and brown patches.

Especially the general manager.