I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Although he didn't completely dodge the knife, which grazed his cheek and left a long, bloody gash, he at least survived.

The situation was similar for Shuten-dōji on the other side.

After Chiba Eijiro drew his sword, he nimbly twisted his body, and the blade of Zhen Yue Chang Guang grazed his side of the neck, only making a shallow wound, failing to take his life.

In this round, the two sides were evenly matched.

—Just a little bit more!

Although he couldn't quite put his finger on why, Chiba Eijiro had a strong premonition: it was just a little short!

He's just a little short of breaking through his limitations and reaching a higher realm!

At this moment, both sides jumped backward simultaneously with perfect coordination, creating a gap of about ten meters.

The fight had been so intense just moments before, but now, an eerie silence had fallen over the scene.

Neither of them moved, and they just stared intently at each other.

In fact, this was just the calm before the storm.

Battles of this caliber either drag on for an extremely long time or are decided very quickly—the duel between Chiba Eijiro and Shuten-dōji belongs to the latter.

Based on their own experience and intuition, both sides made the same judgment at this moment: the time to decide the winner has come!

Four more... no, three more rounds! Then this duel will come to an end!

The silence at the scene lasted only 5 seconds—after 5 seconds, a violent "force" stirred up the surrounding air!

In the first round, Chiba Eijiro took the initiative.

With a loud thud, he kicked off with his hind legs and pounced on Shuten-dōji like a cannonball.

He raised the tip of his sword and thrust it towards Shuten-dōji's chest with the force of a kasumi sword.

His strike was powerful and heavy, like a cavalryman charging with a long spear.

If it hits, even a mere great armor cannot withstand it.

Shuten-dōji sensed a great threat from this move and solemnly raised his sword to meet it.

He nimbly shifted his feet, retreating to create more space to parry, and then used his superb deflection technique to deflect the Zhenyue Longguang to the side.

The first round ended in a draw.

In the second round, it was Shuten-dōji's turn to launch the attack.

"Haaaaaaaahhhhhh...!"

A deep shout burst from Shuten-dōji's throat.

He raised his sword overhead, adopted a right-upper stance, slid forward, instantly closing the distance, and used the momentum of his forward lunge to slash the sword down heavily!

Chiba Eijiro dared not take the hit head-on.

He could tell at a glance that this was a move he couldn't block.

At this critical moment, a resolute look appeared on his face.

In an instant, he stepped forward as well!

Although it was a risky move, he had made up his mind—to replace defense with offense! To fight offense with offense!

As he sprinted forward, he lowered the blade and gathered strength at his waist.

One swung his sword downwards, the other swung it upwards—two streaks of silver light suddenly appeared.

Their sleeves brushed together as they passed each other.

Shuten-dōji's blade sliced ​​across Chiba Eijiro's left shoulder, and blood spurted out.

Chiba Eijiro's sharp blade slashed at Shuten-dōji's unarmored right thigh, drawing blood.

In the second round, the two sides remained evenly matched.

Finally... the third round has arrived!

After passing each other, the two immediately steadied themselves, their bodies so close that they were practically back to back.

In the blink of an eye, they turned around abruptly, using the centrifugal force of their spinning bodies to fiercely swing the knives in their palms at each other!

This time, the moves were reversed – Chiba Eijiro was the one slashing downwards, while Shuten-dōji was the one fiercely slashing upwards.

Whether it was due to the intensity of the battle or some other reason... at this moment, Chiba Eijiro's mind went blank, he had no thoughts, and even his obsession with "becoming stronger through this battle" vanished.

With a mind free of distractions... he simply and mechanically wields the knife in his palm!

At that moment, his will was transmitted to the tip of the knife.

At this moment, just like Shuten-dōji opposite him, Chiba Eijiro's eyes also shone with a strange light, much like the morning star in the dark night!

At that very moment, as if someone were using his strength, his blade suddenly accelerated!

Everything happened in an instant—

Pfft!

Pfft!

The sound of two sharp blades slicing through skin rang out simultaneously.

Shuten-dōji stood still, his face expressionless, showing neither joy nor sorrow.

Chiba Eijiro also stood calmly.

but……

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock...

A massive amount of blood flowed from his chest, first staining his clothes red, then flowing straight down, staining his groin red, and then continuing to drip onto the ground, more and more, faster and faster.

In the previous exchange, Shuten-dōji's blade struck his chest.

The huge wound opened up like a seashell, hence the scene of "blood gushing out".

Before long, he could no longer stand up, his body swaying back and forth and side to side, like a roly-poly toy that had been pushed over.

He instinctively tried to steady himself.

However, the harder he tried, the more counterproductive it became.

Due to his loss of balance, he staggered forward several steps, supporting his upper body with his lower body.

Unfortunately... he was ultimately not a roly-poly toy.

Before he could fall, he used his last bit of strength to sit down against the wall next to him, leaning against it with his head drooping down listlessly.

Strangely, despite suffering such severe injuries, he did not feel any pain.

—I need to remember this quickly…

At that moment, he felt as if he was about to grasp something.

He tried hard to recall every detail of the exchange, trying to find the "feeling" he had just experienced.

He felt as if he had just woken up from a dream, trying hard to recall the scene, but he couldn't remember it clearly.

Although his memory was hazy, he was certain that as long as he could regain and firmly grasp the "feeling" he had just experienced, he would be able to reach a higher level!

Unfortunately... his body could no longer support him until the moment he recalled it.

He could only helplessly watch as his vision was engulfed by the deep darkness, letting his consciousness drift away...

"..."

Even after Chiba Eijiro fell, Shuten-dōji did not relax for a moment.

He adopted a fierce stance, staring intently at his opponent as if facing a formidable enemy.

Then, belatedly, he felt a sharp pain on the left side of his neck.

He freed his left hand and wiped it across the left side of his neck—his hand felt warm and sticky.

Upon closer inspection, his left palm was covered in warm blood.

It turns out he was also slashed.

In the very moment of their exchange, Chiba Eijiro's sword swept across his neck.

If his knife had cut any deeper, it could have damaged his carotid artery.

At that time, no matter how capable he is, he will not be able to escape death.

Being chopped down is not a terrible thing.

What's terrifying is that Shuten-dōji had absolutely no recollection of when he was slashed!

No matter how hard he tried to recall, he couldn't remember at what moment Chiba Eijiro's knife had swept across his neck.

He stared intently at the bloodstains on his palm, then raised his gaze and looked back at Chiba Eijiro across from him.

"……Wonderful."

After leaving this brief comment, Shuten-dōji stopped looking at Chiba Eijiro, regardless of whether he was alive or dead, and resolutely turned around to look deeper into Edo Castle.

……

……

Edo Castle, Honmaru, Tenshukaku—

Elodie and his group originally intended to retreat to the Great Hall.

Judging from the current situation, even if we retreat to Da Guangjian, it may not be safe!

Left with no other choice, they had to retreat to the castle tower in one go.

This is the highest point in Edo Castle, and also its last stronghold!

Now that we've retreated to the castle tower, it means there's no other way out!

"Huff...huff...huff...huff...huff..."

After running non-stop all the way to the castle tower, Elodie couldn't help but feel a soreness in her lungs and swelling in her legs.

Ignoring her exhaustion, she quickly mustered her strength, leaned over the railing at the edge of the castle tower, and looked around.

Since it is a castle tower, its visibility is naturally very good.