I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"It's finally over."

As Goto spoke, he lowered his arms, which were wrapped around his chest.

"...Judging from your tone, it seems you've been waiting for your companions to all die?"

Qingdeng asked.

"companion?"

Goto grinned.

“Niou, you seem to have misunderstood something.”

“I’m not a comrade with Kitahara and the others at all.”

"I have absolutely no interest in Kitahara and his group's so-called 'revenge plan'."

"I was only hired by them for a large sum of money to come and lend them a hand."

Qingdeng remained silent for a moment.

"...Fine, whatever."

"I don't care what kind of relationship you have with Kitahara Konosuke."

"However, since you are not loyal to Kitahara Kōnosuke, can you tell me: why are Kitahara Kōnosuke and the others so persistent in pursuing me? Why do they want to take revenge on the Tachibana family?"

"Well... I'm not really sure about that."

Goto shrugged.

“As I just said, I have absolutely no interest in their so-called ‘revenge plan.’ I’m just doing my job for money, acting as their henchman.”

"...Well, you're quite the professional."

A mocking smile appeared on Qing Deng's lips.

“I took their money but did nothing, watching helplessly as my employer and his companions fell one by one under my sword.”

How could Goto not hear the mockery hidden in Aoto's words?

Goto, his brow furrowed with displeasure, let out a cold snort.

"Practicing professional ethics is certainly important."

"But compared to 'realizing ambitions,' mere 'professional ethics' are utterly insignificant!"

"I left my hometown so that I could compete with more skilled opponents!"

"When I arrived in Edo, all I encountered were either cowards who refused to draw their swords or boring idiots!"

"I've always looked forward to having a proper fight with a strong opponent like you!"

As he said this, Goto's eyes gleamed with excitement and a fierce look, like a snake flicking its tongue.

"A gang fight is not what I want!"

"With so many of us attacking together, even if we defeat you, there will be no sense of accomplishment!"

"I've been standing by and waiting patiently until now just so I can have a one-on-one fight with you!"

bass!

Goto drew his sword from his waist.

"Come on, Niou! Let's fight!"

Goto let out a long breath, then raised his sword above his head, adopting the upper stance.

"Shinto Muken-ryu, Goto Guntaro!"

Aoto remained silent and stared at Goto for a moment.

"...Although I have no interest in people with moral flaws, I don't dislike your 'martial arts fanatic' personality."

After saying that, he forcefully flung the sword in his hand, Richi no Kami Kaneshige, shaking off most of the bloodstains and fat remaining on the blade, and then held the sword up in front of him.

"Natural soothing flow, orange green ascends!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Qing Deng launched his attack!

He swiftly approached Goto with the blade, his feet scraping the floor as if gliding.

The upper part of the sword, Echizen Sumi, Tsutachi no Kami, and Kanetsugu, swung diagonally downwards, drawing a beautiful arc in the air that headed straight for Goto. The speed of the sword was terrifying.

Goto declared that he wanted to have a good fight with all sorts of heroes—and he certainly had the right to say such a thing.

Without retreating an inch, he swung his knife and forcefully deflected Qing Deng's slash.

Upon seeing this, Qing Deng raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise appearing between his upright brows.

It wasn't that I was surprised by Goto's skills.

Instead, they were surprised by their current physical condition.

—Strange…that strange feeling is gone…

The feeling of exceptional agility in my limbs and the sense of boundless inner strength suddenly vanished.

His bodily functions suddenly returned to normal... The stark contrast made Qing Deng feel slightly uncomfortable for a moment.

Just then, Goto launched his counterattack.

He suddenly spread his elbows wide, his toes brushing the ground, and with the force of a cascading waterfall, he struck Qing Deng's face with his knife.

The dazzling display of swords and shadows pulled Qing Deng back to reality.

Qing Deng calmly took a half step back, deflecting Goto's attack with a steady stance.

The next moment, Qing Deng took a deep breath and then suddenly slashed the knife in his hand from the lower right to the upper left.

Natural Rinpoche - Swallow's Slant!

A string of blood droplets splattered from the tip of the knife.

Goto coughed up blood and staggered back several steps.

His neck was sliced ​​across by a cold, straight line.

When Qing Deng drew his sword, he unconsciously pulled his head back slightly. In that split second, it was this subconscious action that saved him from the brink of death.

Qing Deng's knife only grazed his throat, not his vital organs.

Even an ordinary person who doesn't know martial arts should be able to see at this moment that there is no comparison between Goto and Aoto in terms of strength, speed, awareness, experience, and skills.

However, Goto showed no fear or hesitation whatsoever.

"laugh……"

He chuckled softly, then suddenly shouted, and the knife in his hand made a soft "whoosh" sound as it swept horizontally towards where Qing Deng was standing.

Because of his injured throat, the shouts he made were particularly harsh and unpleasant, sounding exactly like fingernails rubbing against a blackboard.

Qing Deng used a blade-sweeping technique, and the two swords clashed together with a clang.

When the first attack failed, Goto immediately followed up with a second, a third, and so on...

Goto's offensive was undeniably fierce.

However, Qingdeng's "defense circle" is flexible and stable, without the slightest flaw.

No matter how Goto swung his sword or attacked, his blade never managed to touch a single hair on Aoto's head.

In an instant, Aoto abruptly pulled Echizen-no-kami Kaneshige to his chest.

Seeing an opportunity, Goto gritted his teeth, raised his sword overhead, and slashed down at Aoto's forehead.

Goto's strike carried an extremely terrifying force, but Qing Deng lowered his body even faster, slicing open the opponent's side with his sword.

The sword is swift and deadly.

Goto's momentary carelessness made the outcome of the duel instantly clear.

"Well……!"

Goto staggered back a few steps, trying to cover the gushing blood.

Fresh blood gushed from his palm and dripped onto the tatami mat.

The internal organs inside the abdomen were all cut off... This kind of injury is beyond medical help.

Knowing that he was beyond saving, Goto simply let go of the hand covering his wound.

He first glanced at his palm, which was stained red with blood, then raised his gaze and stared directly into Qing Deng's eyes.

"pretty……"

After saying that, he grinned, revealing two rows of teeth covered in blood and foam.

Clang.

The blade slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.

His strong body also fell to the ground.

He lay on his back, twitched a few times, and then stopped moving.

[Ding! Talent detected]

[Successfully Replicating the Talent: "Physical Fitness"]

[Talent Introduction: Possesses outstanding injury recovery speed]

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

[Ding! Initiating talent fusion]

[Ding! "Fitness +1" and "Fitness" are merging.]

[Please wait, host... Please wait, host...]

[Ding! Talent fusion successful]

["Fitness +1" Ability Upgrade]

[Upgrade from "Fitness +1" to "Fitness +2"]

[“Fitness +2” Talent Description: The talent effect is enhanced on top of its original effect. “+9” is the highest level.]