Supernatural/Anime Crossover: Where Did My Romantic Comedy Go?

Ebony, known for its hardness and density, does not possess the same resilience as cherry wood. The impact force rebounded relentlessly along the blade onto the two men's hands.

It feels a little numb.

Unlike Toudou Shura, Kujo Toru actually held back a lot of his strength, only ensuring that his power was roughly equal to Toudou Shura's.

After all, it's a kendo competition, a contest of mind and skill.

If he were to use super strength, he was genuinely afraid that he would demolish the entire clubhouse.

Dongtang Xiuluo's eyes are very bright.

Kujo Toru's ability to block the attack was entirely within his expectations.

Therefore, he had already planned his next offensive from the very beginning of the surprise attack.

Without the slightest hesitation, he rolled forward and pressed himself directly against Kujo Toru.

The two were very close, less than a meter apart.

From this position, you can hit your opponent with any swing of your knife.

In most kendo styles, this distance is a prime example that would absolutely be met with a stern rebuke from the master.

From the very beginning of their kendo training, everyone is constantly reminded that the core of kendo is to kill with a single strike.

If you miss your attack, you must maintain your composure, create distance, and keep your form in place for the next attack.

Therefore, in kendo competitions, victory is decided in an instant, and the situation of continuous exchanges as seen in sword and spear films is rare.

If the distance is too close, it will be difficult to escape the opponent's pursuit, whether the attempt succeeds or fails.

It's either pure luck to see who can hit the opponent first, or it's a fight to the death with a wakizashi or a hidden sword.

However, there is one exception!

In the blink of an eye, Dongtang Xiuluo had already unleashed several sword strikes in quick succession.

He didn't even blink.

Is it a natural calming flow?

Kujo Toru immediately recognized the origin of Toudou Shura's technique.

The most distinctive feature of the Natural Rishin-ryu style, besides its unique flat-eyed eyes, is its uninhibited close-quarters combat.

The uninhibited and adaptable philosophy led to the Tennen Rishin-ryu being criticized as a rural sword style, but it also made it the most aggressive and survivable sword style in the late Edo period.

Not bound by the sword, everything is for killing.

It is an absolute killing technique.

In the blink of an eye, Kujo Toru had already parried all of Toudou Shura's attacks.

The continuous sounds of gunfire echoed through the air, like firecrackers going off.

During the slashing attack, Toudou Shura's left hand was also busy, attempting several times to use grappling and judo techniques to lock down Kujo Toru's movements.

However, he failed completely and was almost struck by Kujo Toru's sword, which gave him a fright.

He quickly did a backflip to create distance and returned to his original state of being unable to move.

In a normal game, his earlier offensive move would have been ruled a foul long ago.

Unfortunately, the two are now engaged in an unrestricted duel.

They can disregard the cumbersome rules and unleash the full potential of the ancient swordsmanship without restraint.

The series of offensive and defensive exchanges that just happened could only be seen as probing by the two players, but to the audience, it was extremely intense.

Yokota Tsuyoshi, sitting in the audience, had a very serious expression on his face.

Kazama Souto and Sakamoto Heisan didn't look much better than him.

"Did you see clearly?"

"A little bit."

"Specifically?"

Sakamoto Heisan's face fell.

People from Osaka are so annoying. They can't read the room at all and always have to dig into everything.

However, he ultimately answered honestly:

"Dongtang Shura's backflip."

Kazama Hayato rolled his eyes:

"Doesn't that mean you didn't see it at all?"

"None of your business! What did you actually see clearly?!"

Sakamoto Heisan was enraged, and Kazama Hayato immediately fell silent.

Yokota Tsuyoshi sighed softly:

Is the difference really that big?

After all, in modern kendo competitions, there are clear requirements for the position and posture of holding the sword, and when attacking, one must first step forward and shout out the striking position.

Furthermore, there are limitations on where to strike, as well as rules such as not being allowed to attack the lower body.

He had only sensed a gap between himself and Dongtang Xiuluo, but he hadn't expected the gap to be this large.

It's just like when you first start learning kendo and face the instructor who grants you permission to enter the dojo.

It was only after Toudou Shura's initial sneak attack that Kujo Toru realized what was happening.

If he were in that position, he would have been knocked off the stage the moment Dongtang Xiuluo made his move.

As for the subsequent close-quarters sword fight between the two, he could only see two dark figures entangled together from beginning to end; his eyes simply couldn't keep up with the movements.

Meanwhile, the students at Kumiyama High School didn't seem to have the same feelings as the three of them.

As someone who was on the same team as Toudou Shura, and had formally trained with him, even though he was completely humiliated, he still had a general idea of ​​Toudou Shura's true strength.

So now they are simply concerned with the outcome of this match.

"It seems like Dongtang is outmatched."

They hadn't clearly seen the specific details of the previous exchange, but the fact that Dongtang Xiuluo took the initiative to attack and then retreated without achieving anything was enough to explain something.

The head of the kendo club didn't speak, but stared intently at his trusted and beloved subordinate who had his back to him, his eyes narrowing.

For some reason, he sensed a lighthearted feeling from Dongtang Xiuluo's back.

This guy seems to be in a very good mood.

And that is indeed the case.

Beneath the grille of his mask, Dongtang Xiuluo revealed a sunny smile, which was caught on camera in a close-up shot.

Coupled with his handsome face, he truly lived up to his nickname, as if the swordsmanship genius of the late Edo period had been reborn.

Based on their exchange just now, he was certain of it.

Kujo Toru's purification Shinto style is indeed related to the origin he learned from his master.

Because the principles of swordsmanship are completely interconnected.

That swordsmanship wasn't developed for killing; rather, it was a swordsmanship for living people.

It is the way of the sword, meant to exorcise evil spirits and protect peace.

If that's the case, then...

"Let's end this match, Kujo-kun."

Dongtang Xiuluo spoke loudly, his eyes bright:

"Next, I'm going to use the ultimate technique of the Origin Stream."

He took a deep breath, and his meager spiritual energy surged within him.

He made a gesture as if he were sheathing the ebony sword in mid-air, then inserted it back into his left waistband.

Slightly bend your knees and lower your center of gravity.

Hold the hilt with your left hand and grip the handle tightly with your right.

"This is... iaido? Why does this posture look so strange?"

In the audience, some people from Jiuyushan High School were puzzled.

This was also the first time they had ever seen Dongtang Shura use this move.

But this posture just looks really strange.

This completely violates normal sword principles.

Not only them, but any spectator who had practiced kendo couldn't help but frown.

It is clearly incomprehensible that this sword shape is so different.

Instead, Yoshino's eyes lit up.

"Hey, isn't this..."

Kurokawa Kirizuki also perked up.

After all, the Kurokawa family was once a branch of the Asabu family, and swordsmanship was a compulsory subject for them.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have transformed Kagura Rin into Hoko Saki Rin and unleashed that earth-shattering sword strike.

To them, the pose that Dongtang Xiuluo struck was not strange at all; on the contrary, it had a rather familiar feel to it.

Because I've seen it in someone before.

My gaze involuntarily drifted to Kujo Toru.

His brows furrowed slightly.

Although the posture and details are different, and the sword in hand is also a wooden sword, the move that Toudou Shura is about to use is undoubtedly the [Bunto].

From the very beginning, this was a technique prepared for the sword priest of the Seipu Daisha Shrine.

What seems unbelievable to ordinary people without spiritual power is actually quite normal.

But then a problem arises.

If it were any other technique, he could understand it as the Qingfu Shinto school having communicated with others over the years, leading to its transmission to outsiders.

This situation is not uncommon in history. Since ancient times, Kendo has always been a process of mutual learning and integration of the concepts and techniques of various schools.

However, the only thing that is impossible is [抜讨].

Because this sword technique has a prerequisite, it must be used in conjunction with the sacred sword, the Nine-Character Mijima Kanesada, and can be considered a secret technique unique to the Seifu Taisha Shrine.

Where did Dongtang Xiulu learn this from?

As his thoughts flowed, Kujo Toru directly asked:

"Is this what your kendo master taught you?"

"Correct."

Dongtang Xiuluo made no attempt to hide anything and spoke frankly:

“My master said that this move was taught to her by a friend, but she said that she can no longer use the original form, and can only teach me the modified version.”

Kujo Toru nodded.

It's normal that I can't use the original form of [Bunto], since the Divine Blade is currently in my hands.

This simply means that his master used to be able to use it.

That means that there was a period of time in the past when the Divine Sword was in the hands of his master.

Is it a sword priest who is still alive from the Qingfu Grand Shrine? But in my memory, the sword priest before that was an old man from the countryside.

Surely Master Dongtang Shura can't be older than the old man, right?

"May I visit your master?"

By this time, Kujo Toru had come to understand why Toudou Shura was so determined to fight him with his real sword.

It must be said that he is now genuinely interested in the connection between Toudou Shura's master and the Seifu Taisha Shrine.