"He committed such a serious foul, yet you're not disqualifying him and still letting him stay on the field?!" "You're a 'black whistle'! I'm going to report you to the tournament committee!"
After Takamachi Kyouya was carried off the field, the members of Soubu Middle School were in an uproar. A referee stepped forward and announced the official decision regarding the incident. "After review, it was determined that Yoyogi's fall during the thrust was an accident, which unfortunately injured Takamachi. I now declare that the match will continue."
To the angry kendo club members, these words were like adding fuel to the fire. However, Hiratsuka Ryosuke's heart was as still as calm water. It wasn't that he was being heartless; he had entered a combat state. Anger only makes a person lose their reason and reveal more weaknesses to their opponent. Hiratsuka Ryosuke had only one thought: to completely crush Yoyogi. He slowly walked to the center of the arena. The members of Soubu Middle School, seeing Ryosuke enter, stopped their verbal attacks on the referees.
"Hiratsuka, teach that despicable guy a lesson!" "Vice President, it's all up to you!" "Ryosuke, do your best~"
Ryosuke didn't need to turn around to know who said that last line. This was his childhood friend, the girl who had always quietly supported him from behind.
Hiratsuka Ryosuke held his bamboo sword and looked impassively at Yoyogi. His voice was devoid of emotion. "Hey, the referee said the match is continuing. You heard that, right?"
Hearing this, Yoyogi tightened his grip on his bamboo sword and took his starting stance. The coach from Kyushu Academy could no longer hide the joy in his eyes, as he saw victory within his grasp. All Yoyogi had to do was deal with this unknown student the same way he dealt with the first three. He was even more excited to see the opposing team leave the arena in tears after a miserable defeat.
Come on, Yoyogi, crush this nobody in front of you!
The match started again. Hiratsuka Ryosuke stood still, like a solid pine tree. Yoyogi chose to attack, his sword body beginning to vibrate. This was a unique skill he developed himself, combining the principles of his ancient sword style, a move that had knocked countless opponents' swords from their hands.
Wham!
The bamboo swords clashed, making a crisp sound. When Yoyogi saw Hiratsuka Ryosuke's sword fly out of his hand, joy appeared on his face. He raised his sword high, ready to deliver a direct strike.
I'm sorry, I've won this match.
Hiratsuka Ryosuke wasn't flustered. This was all by design. He believes in belittling his enemies strategically but respecting them tactically. The words were slow, but the action was fast. Ryosuke caught his sword with his left hand as it flew backward, stepped forward, and used his right hand to launch a counterattack at Yoyogi's body with lightning speed.
Bang!
He and Yoyogi passed each other. The sword collided with the guard, making a dull thud. The two stood back-to-back. Yoyogi felt a sudden jolt in his stomach. He propped himself up with his bamboo sword, kneeling on the ground. The face under his guard was filled with shock. Even with the guard, how could this person's attack be so powerful? If that was a real sword, I might have been cut in half.
Ryosuke calmly shouted, "Do!"
Because Hiratsuka Ryosuke's movements were too fast, many spectators didn't even see how Yoyogi lost. But what they did see was that the moment the two switched places, victory was decided. It was like a scene from the Bakumatsu era, where two swordsmen, after a final duel, stand back-to-back before one of them slowly kneels down. The vast arena fell into a momentary silence.
"Point for the red side!"
As the referee announced the result, the arena erupted in an uproar. Most of the spectators never expected that a national-level competitor like Yoyogi would be defeated so quickly by an unknown with a single counterattack. No, perhaps this unknown youth will become famous at this year's Gyokuryu Flag tournament.
In a far-off city in Tokyo, a certain chef watching the live broadcast on TV looked surprised. Has Ryosuke's understanding of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu reached this level? He didn't stick to a fixed move. In that last attack, I saw the shadows of both the Soryusen (Twin Dragon Flash) and the Ryoshosen (Dragon Soar Flash).My student has such great comprehension, yet he still hasn't learned the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki. It seems I need to find time for him to cut more vegetables in the restaurant to deepen his understanding of kendo.
Yoyogi's chest rose and fell as he tried to regain his breath. He held back the urge to vomit, picked up his bamboo sword, and faced Ryosuke again. But this time, his hands trembled slightly.
The second round began. This time, Ryosuke took the offensive. Wham! Wham! Wham! Hiratsuka Ryosuke used a continuous Karadake (straight-down strike), constantly attacking his opponent's face guard. The powerful, continuous, and rapid strikes left Yoyogi scrambling to defend, only able to block with his sword held horizontally. He felt like his opponent wasn't a person at all, but a never-ending waterfall. He was standing under the waterfall, enduring a relentless barrage.
Wham!
A bamboo sword flew out, but this time, it was Yoyogi's. Yoyogi's entire body was now exposed. Without his sword, despair filled his eyes.
"Men!"
He finally took the direct blow from Hiratsuka Ryosuke. A wave of dizziness washed over his mind, and he stumbled backward, falling to the ground. "Did... I lose?"
"Point for the red side!" the referee announced.
"Hiratsuka! Take out their whole team!" "Vice President, go!" "Ryosuke is so cool!"
After four members of their team were defeated, the Soubu Middle School students finally felt triumphant now that their General had stepped up. Hiratsuka Ryosuke didn't look at the defeated Yoyogi. Instead, he turned his gaze to the Kyushu Academy team's bench. His voice was flat, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him. "Next."
Yoyogi was dragged off the field, and a bald man from Kyushu Academy walked into the arena, holding his sword. The bald man had a powerful and awe-inspiring presence, looking like an ancient god of war. Perhaps because of his aura, the arena became quiet again. Given that Yoyogi had defeated four people in a row, Ryosuke didn't underestimate anyone from this school and focused all his attention on his opponent's movements.
At the referee's command, the bald man let out a strange cry. "Wryyyyy!" The powerful aura didn't faze Ryosuke, but the bizarre cry startled him. Hiratsuka Ryosuke didn't hold back and delivered a powerful, straight-down strike. "Men!"
As soon as Hiratsuka Ryosuke's voice faded, the bald man fell.
Clang.
His bamboo sword bounced a few times on the floor. The bald man was unable to get up. Two more players from Kyushu Academy came up, and Ryosuke defeated them both with a single strike. He stood alone in the arena, his cold face without joy or sorrow. His entire being radiated loneliness and a deadly intent.
From this red-clad General, some people could faintly see the shadow of Battousai the Manslayer from the Bakumatsu era: equally powerful, equally lethal with a single strike, and equally... ruthless and indifferent to his enemies.