Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
Matsukawa Chisato looked at the silent scene, feeling quite surprised. Undeniably, what Kimura Kazuki said before was right. He was the one who caused the kendo competition to be more interesting.
Even without the dazzling silvery lighting indoors and any fancy moves.
With the afterimages which were in bamboo yellow color and the powerful whops, it was enough to amaze those homebodies at the comic con. They wondered how fast they were the moment the bamboo swords in their hands were turned into afterimages. They also wondered how powerful they were when the bamboo swords collided, making a dull noise.
Even someone who knew nothing about kendo competitions could imagine the brilliance of their speed and strength even without the fancy moves and dazzling colors. It was nothing less than spectacular. After watching the magnificence for a long time, such ordinary excellence would be incredible. What they were witnessing was a battle without any fraud, it was a real battle for Kendo.
Some fans of The Sword Saga were even more fanatical and their breathing became more rapid. It was evident that such a scene had led them to their high spirits. Undeniably, they would not see such events in other comic cons.
Although those who came to the comic con were mostly shut-ins, but they were not stupid at all. Most of them knew that the Kendo performance just now was most probably one of the events organised by the organisers. It was nearly impossible for anyone to obtain the 150,000 yen. Although they were criticising internally, they did not say much. This was because there were plenty of events which were similar to this.
And the “competition” just now was only a Kendo performance, only now was the real battle of Kendo. At this moment, they only hoped that the battle could last longer. Muramasa was clearly suppressed by Thunder Master, but that was the exciting part of the Kendo battle, wasn’t it?
It was a shame that this battle would not last for too long.
Kimura Kazuki did not mind to see that his attacks were hindered by Ono Nakamura again. This was because he did that intentionally. Similar to Ono Nakamura who guided the other participants earlier, he was doing the same.
The skills that he was demonstrating at that moment was the toned down version of Rainstorm Style. It originated from the ‘Ten Thousand Flash’ as part of the elementary moves of the Yagyu Flying Sword Style. The Rainstorm Style was created by Isshin Yagyu as the primary move for his only student. It was commonly used for standard training.
After all, interior reiki was required to cast the ‘Ten Thousand Flash’, unlike the Rainstorm Style. The Rainstorm Style did not need any reiki, it only trained his physique and the coordination of his body. Although the Rainstorm Style was not as speedy as the ‘Ten Thousand Flash’, it was well equipped with swiftness, accuracy and ruthlessness.
Only three seconds passed, but Kimura Kazuki had already chopped and hacked for about seven to eight times. He even slowed down his speed and strength intentionally due to his consideration that Ono Nakamura might not be able to cope with it.
The real Rainstorm Style could chop five times per second, but this was the maximum speed for Isshin Yagyu. Although its speed was incomparable with that of the ‘Ten Thousand Flash’, its ability to chop five times in one second without using reiki was enough to amaze the others.
Every knife of the Rainstorm Style struck either the waist, elbows, or the legs of the opponent. No attack to the enemy’s skull and heart was made as these two positions were being protected rigorously and it was difficult to find any flaw to break the protection.
Certainly, Kimura Kazuki only casted the Rainstorm Style half-heartedly, it was like it was concessed to Ono Nakamura. He did not find his flaw specifically or else Ono Nakamura would be defeated by him from the first attack.
Squeak! ——
There was a squeaking noise from the bamboo sword, the previous dull but sharp sound was gone. Bamboo chips flew everywhere as a small wound appeared on the body of the bamboo sword all of a sudden, the bamboo pieces that were tied tightly loosened. Apparently, even the quality-assured bamboo sword could not sustain such a strike.
After blocking another attack successfully, Ono Nakamura was being driven off a few steps backward. He felt that he could not hold on anymore, few seconds felt like forever to him. His arms were aching with extreme pain, and getting numb. Every strike from the opponent was too strong for him to defend.
Due to him paying full attention, Ono Nakamura’s back was drenched with sweat. His breathing was rapid, and lots of sweat came out from his forehead. The salty sweat flowed down along the hair at his temples, some of them flowed passed his eyes, but he did not have the nerve to blink his eyes.
Hold on! Ono Nakamura bit the bullet as he held the bamboo sword with both of his hands tight. He knew that the battle would be over as soon as the bamboo sword left his hands.
Ono’s One Knife Stroke was about judgement, skill and speed. Ono Nakamura was at the level of Inner Eye, but he knew that that was not the reason for him to defend every attack of Kimura Kazuki. The bamboo sword of opponent was already laid on him whenever he realised the surge of airflow in the air. The speed of his opponent was much faster than his and the reason he was able to resist it was because every strike of Kimura Kazuki was just right.
Every time he raised his elbows or slightly turned his body, he would be able to oppose it. It was too easy for him so he knew that it was done intentionally by Kimura Kazuki. Kimura Kazuki was guiding him, that was why he would not let the bamboo sword to be away from him, he must hold on for at least 10 seconds.
He would undoubtedly have gained benefit from that 10 seconds.
Ono Nakamura was accumulating his strength every time he defended himself from Kimura Kazuki’s attacks. He knew that he could not only defend during the ten seconds, it would be a shame for his family. He needed to return with one strong and powerful counterattack.
Ono Nakamura realised that the Kimura Kazuki’s flaw was obvious, or it could be said that... his opponent was trying to help him. His speed was fast, but each strike was traceable, that was his flaw. He felt ashamed, the flaw was not discovered by himself, it was shown above board by his opponent. Perhaps the Thunder Master in front of him was waiting for him to fight back.
It would be disappointing if he did not dare to fight back.
Every strike Kimura Kazuki made with his bamboo sword came along with an afterimage. The bamboo sword in his hands seemed like a bamboo yellow colored whip, the sound of both swords had changed because the bamboo swords were abraded.
Ono Nakamura stepped back even more. When he felt the voidness behind him, his heart trembled. He could not move backward anymore or he would fall down from the stage...
Creak! –––
A cringing noise came from the bamboo sword in his hand. This time, Ono Nakamura forced himself to maintain his position and stopped moving backward as he defended. His arms were completely numb, he was holding on by his will. The next moment, with a loud yell, making good use of the interval after a strike from Kimura Kazuki, he held the bamboo sword with both hands and made it into a half circle. He then struck toward the direction of Kimura Kazuki in front of him.
If... If I can touch the end-ridge of his clothes, I will win!
Ono Nakamura stared at Kimura Kazuki with both his eyes intently. He utilised all of his strength as he knew that this strike would be decisive. He did not expect to hit Kimura Kazuki, he only wished that it could touch the end-ridge of his clothes.
However, the moment the bamboo sword was waved, he saw Kimura Kazuki hold the abraded bamboo sword and pointed lightly on the ground before his body started to float. Ono Nakamura’s sight became blurred, the bamboo sword in his hand was waved in the air, and he staggered suddenly... The next second, he felt that his back was being touched by someone. Since he exceeded his utmost limit, he stumbled to the ground with a thump.
Behind me...
He fell into an endless darkness the moment he was alerted. Ono Nakamura stumbled on the stage as he reached his limit, his whole body was numb. He moved his lips slightly before he fainted.
“Thank...”
Kimura Kazuki heard it clearly although the voice was soft and the sentence was not completed.
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