My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 448: Chapter 161: Fierce Battle with Chiba Eijiro! Copying the Talent [Gathering Spirit][7600]

So fast!

Just as Aoto barely steadied his footing, he saw Zhouzhu Chiba’s bamboo sword at the lower rank coming toward his shoulder from a completely different direction.

Both the speed of his footwork and blade were unbelievably quick.

No time to marvel at Zhouzhu Chiba’s speed,

Aoto stepped back about half a foot with his right foot, holding the sword in both hands, positioning it diagonally in front of him with the tip pointing towards his right front.

The bamboo swords clashed again in midair.

In the next instant after the bamboo swords collided, Aoto let out a muffled grunt, and with a shake of his hands, Zhouzhu Chiba’s bamboo sword slid off as if on a slide, following the blade’s body to one side.

Aoto’s body and hands slanted to the right. After deflecting Zhouzhu Chiba’s strike, his bamboo sword swung back with a "swish" towards Zhouzhu Chiba’s faceguard.

This was the first counterattack Aoto had launched in this duel.

Such a meaningful strike seemed to be anticipated by Zhouzhu Chiba in advance.

Zhouzhu Chiba appeared to have expected Aoto’s counter, nonchalantly leaning back to dodge Aoto’s sword.

Using the momentum of his backward leaning, Zhouzhu Chiba swiftly retreated, pointing his sword at Aoto while stepping back—

Whoosh!

The sword tip stabbed through the air towards Aoto.

Aoto had been guarding against Zhouzhu Chiba’s counterattack.

He chose not to meet Zhouzhu Chiba’s direct thrust head-on, stepping back to his right so that Zhouzhu Chiba’s sword tip pierced only air.

Although Zhouzhu Chiba’s counter did not hit Aoto, it served another purpose — forcing Aoto not to pursue, allowing Zhouzhu Chiba to calmly widen the distance between them while retreating.

Zhouzhu Chiba stopped five steps away from Aoto, adopting the Middle Rank stance, with the sword tip slightly shaking in the Beichen One-Sword Style manner, making it difficult for the opponent to discern his intent.

"Huff... huff... huff... huff..." Aoto looked gravely at Zhouzhu Chiba across from him.

Even though he had only exchanged a few strikes with Zhouzhu Chiba, Aoto already felt his breathing becoming heavy.

Zhouzhu Chiba’s sword speed was incredibly fast, forcing Aoto to hold his breath, gather all his energy, and focus entirely just to barely dodge or block Zhouzhu Chiba’s attacks.

This immense psychological pressure and mental strain were depleting Aoto’s stamina at several times the normal rate.

Aoto dared not blink, carefully observing the suddenly still and non-attacking Zhouzhu Chiba, trying to find any flaws.

However, the more Aoto observed, the more shocked he felt.

Zhouzhu Chiba’s sword stance was extraordinarily standard - which was not particularly remarkable.

Anyone with a certain level of swordsmanship could refine their stance to perfection.

For example, Aoto had already mastered all the basic sword stances to an impeccable degree.

But Zhouzhu Chiba was different.

Zhouzhu Chiba’s stance was not just standard.

Alongside its standard nature, his stance exuded a unique "aura".

This "aura" made Zhouzhu Chiba look like an unshakeable, indestructible rock!

In a sudden moment, this "rock" moved.

While Aoto was observing Zhouzhu Chiba, Zhouzhu Chiba was also observing Aoto.

Lowering his eyes slightly to glance at Aoto’s eyes hidden behind the mask, Zhouzhu Chiba charged forward like a raging tide, launching another attack on Aoto.

In the blink of an eye, Zhouzhu Chiba was already in front of Aoto, rapidly swinging his bamboo sword horizontally as if to decapitate Aoto.

Zhouzhu Chiba’s bamboo sword halted when it was merely two fingers’ width away from Aoto’s neck — Aoto’s bamboo sword had moved in time to the defensive position, blocking Zhouzhu Chiba’s attack.

When Zhouzhu Chiba’s bamboo sword reached in front of Aoto, the wind from his lunge had just blown onto Aoto’s face.

Their sword guards clashed, neither yielding an inch.

"Your reflexes are quick..." A faint compliment came from behind Zhouzhu Chiba’s mask.

Aoto grinned behind his mask and the clashing swords: "Thank you for the praise..."

Zhouzhu Chiba’s remark wasn’t entirely accurate.

Aoto wasn’t exceedingly fast in reflexes; he hadn’t yet acquired talents related to reflex speed. It’s just that his vision was exceptional.

With the "Eagle Eye" copied from Zhouzhu, Aoto could discern Zhouzhu Chiba’s sword path with his remarkable dynamic vision, allowing him to act swiftly.

After simply giving Aoto a compliment, Zhouzhu Chiba slightly smiled before voluntarily withdrawing from the sword guard standoff with Aoto.

He lightly leaped sideways to the right like a swallow, creating some distance, and assumed a right Upper Rank stance, with his sword swinging like a falling star towards Aoto’s left shoulder.

This strike was immensely powerful; without armor, enduring Zhouzhu Chiba’s strike would bruise one’s shoulder extensively, even if it didn’t shatter the shoulder bone.

This attack by Zhouzhu Chiba was substantially quicker than his previous ones.

Aoto’s eyes could still follow the sword’s speed... but his body couldn’t keep up!

Without time to dodge, Aoto could only grit his teeth, raise his sword, and prepare to take Zhouzhu Chiba’s downward slash head-on.