Chapter 535

Shame and disbelief surged and churned.

He had just told the other party to be careful, and in the blink of an eye, he was taken for the first point?

Embarrassing!

Really too embarrassing!

"Interesting..." Arai Kotaro took a deep breath, trying to boost his momentum, "Come again!"

Natsume Chikage did not say a word and set up his stance again.

Kojima Yoshinobu's mood was solemn to the extreme.

If Arai Kotaro loses again... then Natsume-kun's talent might really have reached a terrifying level that is beyond common sense and difficult to estimate.

"Start!"

The second round of the duel suddenly started again!

Arai Kotaro did not wait this time!

He learned his lesson and decided to seize the initiative, not giving A-kun any chance to capture the "moment."

He shouted in a low voice, exerted force under his feet, and launched a fierce attack with his most proficient, swift-as-wind speed!

The bamboo sword turned into a dazzling afterimage, taking Natsume Chikage's middle path!

However, his intent was again exposed in Natsume Chikage's "field of vision."

Natsume Chikage's movements were so smooth that it was as if he had predicted everything.

He saw him step back slightly, and at the same time, the bamboo sword in his hand flicked upward lightly at an angle that was precise to the extreme.

"Clack!"

A crisp collision.

Arai Kotaro's thunderous offensive was actually deflected just right by this seemingly casual flick!

The old force had just gone, and the flaw of the new force not yet born appeared again!

Natsume Chikage did not hesitate at all; his bound feet showed astonishing agility, a swift side-step, and the bamboo sword swung down!

"Do—!"

In the shout, the bamboo sword slashed precisely at the side of Arai Kotaro's chest armor!

"Bang!"

In the dull impact sound, Arai Kotaro only felt a great force coming, staggered back a few steps, and finally stabilized in place.

Under the mask, his face was full of trance and extreme shock.

I... actually lost?

And lost so thoroughly?

At this moment, he finally completely understood Horie Kenichi's mood just now.

That was not "going easy" or "not in a good state."

It was the deep sense of powerlessness and collapse of belief when facing an opponent who seemed to be able to see through all intentions, moved with unimaginable speed, and had a terrifyingly solid foundation!

Kenichi... really had tried his best.

Kojima Yoshinobu's face looked extremely ugly.

He never expected that his strongest six-dan disciple would also be defeated so quickly.

And defeated just as cleanly.

Until this moment.

He finally realized completely that the boy named "A-kun" in front of him was by no means a "genius" in the ordinary sense.

His talent might have reached the monster level, not even inferior to the rumored favorite disciple of the contemporary Sword Saint—Okada Yuma!

But!

As his master, he must personally find back the face lost by his disciples!

"A-kun, you won this round too."

Kojima Yoshinobu's voice was low and complex.

"Your talent is indeed surprising. Winning against my two disciples is enough to prove your extraordinary nature."

He slowly untied his cuffs, his eyes as sharp as a knife.

"Then next, let me, this master, personally 'guide' you."

Natsume Chikage was stunned; he had originally thought that he could declare the end after fighting Kotaro.

But after thinking about it, he nodded seriously:

"Master Kojima, please enlighten me."

Kojima Yoshinobu did not say more, solemnly put on his face mask, held a heavier bamboo sword, and set up an extremely steady, flawless frame.

A heavy momentum belonging to a seven-dan swordsman permeated the air.

Arai Kotaro struggled to stand up and retreated to the sidelines, hope reigniting in his eyes.

He knew that his master's strength was unfathomable.

With his master taking action, he would definitely be able to steadily suppress A-kun!

You have to know, even though he was only one rank away from his master, in all past sparring sessions, he had never won against his master once.

His master was now thirty-five years old, in the peak period where physical strength, technology, and experience were combined most perfectly!

Even the contemporary Sword Saint once evaluated his master: below eight-dan, there are few opponents. If he continues to practice for a few more years, he will definitely have the posture to win the eight-dan, or even peek at the Sword Saint like him!

As long as his master gets serious, defeating A-kun is undoubtedly!

After a while.

The dojo was silent.

The heavy bamboo sword in Kojima Yoshinobu's hand had already flown out of his hand and fallen far away in the corner.

He himself was kneeling on one knee, one hand supporting his knee, and the other hand hanging weakly.

His face mask was slightly crooked, and the half of his face revealed was full of trance, shock, and a trace of bewilderment.

He looked up slowly, looking at Natsume Chikage, who was still standing with his sword, breathing steadily.

I... actually lost?

And was defeated in a posture of being insighted into everything and completely suppressed?

Not long ago, he firmly believed that it was a daydream for a novice to win the Tamaryu Flag championship in two weeks.

Which contestant hasn't practiced hard for years?

Among them, there are even geniuses who have been polished since childhood, and they are like this.

And two weeks?

In such a short time, being able to touch the threshold of the first dan is considered a gifted talent.

But looking at the calm boy in front of him, Kojima Yoshinobu's deep-rooted cognition had its first earth-shaking violent wavering.

This incredible learning speed, this terrifying understanding of the instantaneous battle situation, this monster-like talent that can turn the most basic moves into invincible actual combat ability...

Had completely exceeded the scope that "genius" can define.

This is simply a ghost born for the sword!

And Arai Kotaro on the side, as well as Horie Kenichi, who had quietly returned and was peeking from the shadows in the corner, were also completely collapsed in belief at this moment, stunned like wooden chickens.

In the past, the absolutely invincible master was actually defeated?

And because of this.

They were even more collapsed.

You have to know that they were usually regarded as absolute leaders among their peers, "geniuses" in the eyes of others.

But until today, when facing the truly desperate "talent" gap, they realized very clearly—whether it was the master or themselves, in front of such a terrifying existence, they might really just be stepping stones on the side of the road...

Natsume Chikage watched Kojima Yoshinobu, who was kneeling on the ground and seemed to have aged a few years in an instant, and was silent for a moment.

Then, he walked up, bowed solemnly, picked up the bamboo sword belonging to the master that had fallen to the ground with both hands, and placed it back in front of Kojima Yoshinobu steadily and respectfully.

He nodded slightly to signal, his voice calm and sincere:

"In the actual combat just now, and under your careful guidance and that of the two seniors before, I have indeed learned and realized a lot."

"Thank you very much!"

After speaking, he stood up and took a step back, waiting quietly.

Kojima Yoshinobu was still in great shock and trance, his mouth moved, but he found that he didn't know how to respond at all.

His throat seemed to be blocked by something, and he couldn't say a word.

Natsume Chikage fell into a brief silence again.