I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

When it comes to close combat, the Shinsengumi has never been afraid of anyone!

Before transforming into "Japan's strongest field army," the Shinsengumi was a notorious killer group that was famous throughout the world!

Beneath the gleaming white blades, one after another, vibrant flowers of blood bloomed.

On one side, a gun pierces the chest; on the other, a knife splits open the skull… Overall, the Shinsengumi, skilled in close combat, have the advantage!

Looking at his bloodthirsty followers around him, Qingdeng couldn't help but remind them:

"Don't just focus on killing the enemy! Go and destroy the enemy ships!"

Upon hearing Qingdeng's order, the soldiers snapped out of their daze and began to rush toward the cabin.

"Stop dawdling! Go and destroy this ship's steam engine! Without the steam engine, this big guy won't move!"

Where is the steam engine?

"Follow me! I'm a sailor! I know where the steam engines are on a warship!"

At this time, the members of the Eighth Division who had been on the deck of the Hamrinmaru began to board the ship one after another.

With the added firepower support of the Eighth Division, the Second Division was even more formidable! They routed the enemy troops!

After killing another enemy soldier, Qingdeng adjusted his breathing and turned his gaze to inspect the battlefield.

The enemy ship's deck has been completely suppressed... It seems the situation is settled. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it's a foregone conclusion that this enemy ship will be severely damaged or even sunk.

Suddenly, a frantic shout rang out from behind Qingdeng:

"General Tachibana! The situation of Fujiyama Maru is not good!"

Upon hearing this, Qing Deng reflexively turned his head and looked in the direction of Fujiyama Maru.

The talents "Night Vision" and "Sharp Eyes +7" are activated!

Although it's not as good as a telescope, it's enough; it allows you to vaguely see the battle situation on the Fujiyama Maru side.

The person in charge of that battlefield was Todo Heisuke.

Heisuke Todo successfully led his men onto the enemy ship's deck and launched a fierce attack.

However, Todo Heisuke was not Aoto after all, and could not suppress most of the enemy soldiers on his own.

Due to their limited strength, their progress was quite limited, and they were unable to suppress the deck for a long time, showing signs of defeat.

If reinforcements aren't sent out quickly, they could very well be driven into the sea!

Qing Deng made up his mind, forcefully swung his sword, and shook off the remaining bloodstains on the blade.

The soldier who came to report the battle situation was very quick-witted. He saw through Qingdeng's intention at a glance and said quickly:

"My lord, rowing across is too slow; I'm afraid we won't make it in time!"

Qingdeng didn't speak—he knew perfectly well that swimming or rowing across wouldn't be fast enough—he had to find another way.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he paused for a moment, then turned his head and stared intently at the mainmast of the enemy ship not far away.

"...If there's no way forward, then build one!"

After saying that, he turned and ran toward the enemy ship's mainmast.

"Follow me! Cover me! I need some time to gather my strength!"

"Yes! Cover King Niou! Don't let any enemy soldiers get close!"

In the blink of an eye, Qing Deng flashed to the side of the mainmast, where several soldiers protected him in a fan-shaped formation.

Qingdeng raised his head and looked up expressionlessly at the huge mast, which was more than ten meters high and required two adults to hug.

He had heard before that Kiryu had once accomplished the feat of "severing a mast with a single stroke".

Upon seeing the enemy ship's massive mainmast, he suddenly recalled Kiryu's great achievement.

Thus, a battle plan so audacious it was almost outrageous took shape in his mind.

He took a deep breath, flipped his right wrist, changed from an inverted grip to an upright grip, sheathed the sword, then spread his feet apart, left hand on the sheath and right hand on the hilt.

So far, every time he has activated "The Wandering Eight Banners," it has been out of necessity.

Now, he will try to activate the "Boundless Eight Banners" to sever the main mast in front of him and build a bridge to the Fuji Maru!

Regarding how to activate "The Wandering Eight Banners", he only had one piece of advice: be determined to "sever it completely"!

He squinted, staring intently at the mainmast before him, and an astonishing surge of spiritual power welled up within him.

At this moment, nothing else remained in his eyes but the target before him; nothing else was in his mind but the thought of "cutting it in two"!

The next instant... truly in an instant, a black blade flashed—a destructive force like a thunderbolt was released from its edge!

Eternal Talent: Hachiman of Boundless Struggle, activate!

His strike was incredibly fast.

Before anyone could react, he had already completed his strike and was still in the stance of drawing his sword.

After the blade flashed... the mainmast remained unchanged.

However, in the very next moment—

Click.

With a crisp sound of wood breaking, the massive mainmast began to tilt westward, revealing a smooth cut!

The tilted mainmast crashed heavily toward the enemy ship under the command of Todo Heisuke.

Even from a distance, you could hear screams of "Watch out!" and "A mast is falling over!" coming from the other side.

In no time—bang—the mainmast fell onto the enemy ship with a loud crash, creating a bridge connecting the two ships!

"Master... I really want to show you this strike of mine...!"

Qing Deng smiled, and then—

"Shinsengumi! Follow me!"

The moment he finished roaring, he leaped out and stood on the broken mast leading directly to the Fujiyama Maru, charging towards the battlefield where a fierce battle was raging without the slightest hesitation!

*******

*******

Today is another day of 6K+ chapters for Leopard! Please vote with monthly tickets! Please recommend! (Leopard crying.jpg)

P.S.: Tomorrow is the annual "520" (May 20th), so Leopard wants to take a day off. Don't get me wrong, I just want to go to the aquarium to visit my mother leopard. (Leopard Hi.jpg)

Chapter 1068 Confronting the "Immortal"! A Great Victory in the Night Raid on Hakodate Bay! [5500]

A single strike severed the mast... This astonishing strike not only shocked the enemy but also shocked our own side!

Instantly, both sides stopped fighting and stared blankly at the severed mainmast that was beginning to tilt.

Our side's reaction was relatively calm, consisting mainly of shock and admiration.

On the other hand, the changes in the enemy's expressions were much more interesting and complex! A variety of emotions, such as astonishment, horror, and panic, dominated their facial expressions.

Generally speaking, being able to cut a wooden pillar as thick as a bowl in one stroke is already quite an achievement.

This mast is the mainmast of an enemy ship; it can no longer be called a 'pillar'! It's practically a towering tree reaching into the clouds!

Even if you use a saw, it will take at least ten minutes to saw.

Qing Deng, with just a single sword strike, severed this "big tree" in two... How could anyone not be horrified?

To achieve such destructive power, one must have an extremely straight blade, extremely strong force, and an extremely sharp blade. If any one of these three is missing, failure will result!

In other words, this is a divine skill that is difficult to replicate!

Just as the Shinsengumi soldiers were still in a daze, Aoto shouted, "Shinsengumi, follow me!"—pulling them back to reality.

Whenever and wherever Seito shouts "Shinsengumi, follow me!", it boosts the morale of the Shinsengumi!

Accompanied by deafening shouts, team members followed closely behind Qing Deng, rushing toward the mast that had become a "bridge".

The length of the mainmast was just right, enough to hitch a ride on the enemy ship under the command of Todo Heisuke.

If you just run along this mast, you can easily reach Todo Heisuke and the others—of course, it sounds easy, but in reality, it's not that simple; this "bridge" is extremely dangerous.

Because the mast is cylindrical, the ground beneath your feet is a paste-like, uneven surface, making it easy to slip.

Below the "bridge" lies a deep, dark sea; if you fall in, you will be instantly swallowed by the waves.

Such a haunted bridge is enough to deter most people from venturing across it.

However, inspired by Qingdeng, the team members who followed him all became hot-headed, completely forgetting their fear, and each one of them became incredibly brave.

However, they were clever enough to take off their straw sandals to increase friction on their feet and maintain their stability.

Qingdeng doesn't need such "traditional methods".

The moment he stepped onto the mast, his talent "Cat Turn +4" immediately went into action!

But after swaying slightly twice, he immediately regained his balance and stood firmly on the mast, as if there were hooks on the ground beneath his feet.

And so, led by Aoto, the Shinsengumi soldiers crossed the "bridge" quickly and without disorder, heading straight for the other side!

As the distance closed, Qingdeng heard an anxious shout from the other side:

"Quick! Push that mast into the sea!"

"Are you kidding me? How could you possibly move such a long and heavy mast!"

"Then open fire! Shoot them all into the sea!"

Before long, muskets were set up one after another, aimed at Qingdeng and the others on the "bridge".

Qingdeng and the others stood on the narrow mast, lined up in a straight line, just like "grasshoppers on the same rope." There was nowhere to avoid them or hide from them. Logically speaking, this was an excellent target. No matter how many people rushed in, they would only be doomed!

However, although their plan was brilliant, they overlooked one thing—the one leading the charge was Qing Deng.

As Qing Deng held his knife in front of him, the moment the gun fired, his arms holding the knife snapped open!

The constantly flashing purplish-black blade light formed a tight "defense network," and any bullet that approached this "defense network" was intercepted and shattered.

One man and one sword transformed into a shield, protecting the soldiers behind him from the barrage of bullets.

The enemy soldiers on this ship have never witnessed Qing Deng's abilities.