The protagonists of this dialogue are two swordsmen from a small Sword Dojo, sitting not far behind Niitsuma Kan.

Even though they intentionally lowered their voices, Niitsuma Kan, with his keen hearing, heard their conversation in its entirety.

Already hanging his head, Niitsuma Kan lowered it even further.

Around 2 seconds passed... No one knew what Niitsuma Kan thought during these brief 2 seconds.

After 2 seconds, Niitsuma Kan suddenly clenched his teeth, then took out the medicine box from his chest, poured out the pill inside, and, pretending to cheer himself on, slapped his face hard and stuffed the white pill into his mouth...

...

...

As Chokata and the others cheered, Aoto tightened his grip on his bamboo sword, donned his protective gear, and returned to the arena.

Almost simultaneously entering the arena with Niitsuma Kan, the two stood on the left and right sides of the central area, formally placing their bamboo swords at their left waists, squatting down, and bowing to each other.

After they finished bowing, the two judges standing on either side of Aoto and Niitsuma Kan immediately raised their hands: "Begin!"

With the judges’ shout of "Begin," the excitement on the viewing seats reached a new peak.

The spectators perked up and eagerly watched the unfolding final showdown!

Sigh... Aoto took a deep breath, then half-squinted his eyes, and began to observe Niitsuma Kan carefully.

—Hmm?

As soon as his gaze landed on Niitsuma Kan, Aoto’s eyebrows involuntarily twitched in surprise.

Both Niitsuma Kan and he now assumed a middle stance that balanced attack and defense.

Observing Niitsuma Kan’s posture and sword holding technique, it’s not hard to see his solid foundation.

At first glance, Niitsuma Kan’s movements seem proper, neither lacking nor exceptional.

Yet somehow, Aoto felt that Niitsuma Kan at that moment gave him a... very peculiar feeling.

While Aoto was still puzzled by the "peculiar feeling" emanating from Niitsuma Kan, Niitsuma Kan moved.

Over the past two days, while watching Niitsuma Kan’s matches, Aoto noticed that Niitsuma Kan has a very aggressive fighting style.

In every match, he would always be the first to launch an attack.

Even though now it was the final, Niitsuma Kan still hadn’t changed his aggressive approach.

Swish!

Niitsuma Kan fiercely stomped the ground, kicking up a cloud of white fine sand, and lunged at Aoto like a carnivorous beast! With the momentum of his charge, his bamboo sword slashed downwards directly at Aoto’s head.

For the past two days, Aoto had been seriously watching each contestant’s match—and none of these matches had been watched in vain by Aoto.

Having carefully watched all of Niitsuma Kan’s matches over the past two days, and knowing Niitsuma Kan’s extremely aggressive fighting style, Aoto had prepared himself mentally for the high probability that Niitsuma Kan would launch a fierce attack first.

Aoto’s eyes flicked upwards, quickly discerning Niitsuma Kan’s sword path, then lowered his waist, and shifted sideways almost as if sliding on the ground, calmly dodging Niitsuma Kan’s strike, and smoothly counterattacking by swinging his sword toward Niitsuma Kan’s newly stabilized head.

Aoto’s strike was very tricky in both timing and angle.

Even those seasoned swordsmen who have practiced for years might not necessarily be able to fend off Aoto’s strike.

But just as the bamboo sword was about to hit Niitsuma Kan’s helmet on his head—

Smack!

The two bamboo swords collided, emitting a sharp noise nearly painful enough to pierce one’s eardrums.

Niitsuma Kan promptly retracted the bamboo sword he had just slashed out, raised it vertically, and blocked Aoto’s attack.

Looking at Niitsuma Kan who surprisingly blocked his strike, Aoto’s eyes involuntarily widened slightly.

"Hah—!"

Niitsuma Kan opened his mouth wide, letting out an impressive Qi Union shout, using it to enhance his strength, vigorously parried Aoto’s sword, and then took a half step forward towards Aoto, closing the distance between them again.

Following closely were slashes that stirred up sharp wind pressure, with the trajectory of the bamboo sword curving towards Aoto’s chest.

Suddenly realizing a heavy pressure closing in on his chest, Aoto retreated two steps backward, but Niitsuma Kan persistently pressed forward, emitting another loud Qi Union, keeping the retreating Aoto in reach.

One strike, two strikes, three strikes...

The dark yellow bamboo sword blade was swung by Niitsuma Kan, leaving behind dark yellow afterimages.

The Shindo Mononoke Stream emphasizes power and aggressive swordsmanship, which Niitsuma Kan executed excellently. Each of his attacks driven by wind pressure made the surrounding spectators feel their scalps tingle just by listening.

Their feet continuously sliding, the ground sounded, and the noise of the white sand on the ground being kicked and scraped resounded persistently.

After dodging another attack from Niitsuma Kan, Aoto seized the opportunity to suddenly lower his body’s center of gravity, crouch down, and while holding the sword with his left hand, drew an arc over the air, aiming at Niitsuma Kan’s right wrist wielding the sword.

Gifted with "Left-Handedness," Aoto’s sword power and speed were unaffected whether wielding with his left or right hand.

Facing Aoto’s sudden strike, Niitsuma Kan’s pupils slightly contracted, quickly retracting his sword-holding hands, causing Aoto’s bamboo sword to graze past Niitsuma Kan’s wrist guard.