I teach judo in Tokyo.

wonderful!

The cheers from the audience suddenly became more enthusiastic.

"Tsk, Yagyu, whose swordsmanship is even worse, defeated that Okita~" Sousuke chuckled.

Wu Fang Suzi paused for a second, then nodded: "Those who are sincere in their swordsmanship should win."

On the stage, Yagyu Tsukumo returned to his starting position, still maintaining his imposing aura: "Okita, if it were a real sword duel, you would already be dead! Even if you have talent that surpasses everyone else, it would all just vanish into thin air."

Okita Souji didn't seem to have recovered from the defeat. He seemed a little dazed and stood by the sideline without making a move.

Seeing that the guy was not moving, the referee said in a serious voice, "Okita Souji, if you don't get into position soon, I'm going to call a foul on you!"

Okita Souji shuddered, looked up at Yagyu Tsukumo, and his blank expression returned to a smile.

"Interesting!" he chuckled, then strode quickly to his starting position.

“Interesting, I was just a frog in a well.” Okita Souji’s confidence soared. “I actually thought I was invincible among my peers.”

Then he stood in his position and struck a pose that Sousuke seemed to recognize, his aura growing even more intense, as if he had transformed into a sharp divine sword.

“Master… his posture…” Motoko immediately turned to look at Sosuke, her eyes filled with surprise.

“Hmm…” Atobe Sousuke grinned. “This kid’s blue-eyed expression is just like mine!”

Sosuke's感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of deep emotion) was not limited to this.

In his eyes, Okita Souji was not just putting on a show of having a blue eye.

Above this guy's head, the dust-covered "Heavenly Sword" inscription was rapidly peeling away, revealing golden characters, and a faint flame was burning on the background of the inscription.

He said with a smile, "Motoko, you'll see soon enough. This guy's thrusting technique is probably quite different from mine."

Even without him saying it, Motoko Gofuku was already staring intently at the stage.

On the stage, Yagyu and Okita faced each other, and in each other's eyes, it seemed as if they saw each other transformed into "Tengu" and "Tenken" respectively.

Okita Souji maintained his stance with his blue eyes, a glint of light in them, and chuckled, "Yagyu, I haven't used this move in front of anyone else yet. You'll be the first to see it."

Yagyu Tsukumo, still assuming his signature blue cliff stance, asked with interest, "What, are you going to use the divine technique invented by your ancestor on me next? The Triple Thrust?"

“Hehe... not a three-stage thrust..." Okita Souji drawled.

Just then, the referee announced the start of the second round.

"Yes—a five-stage thrust!"

Okita Souji pushed off with his feet, and his whole body seemed to turn into a phantom in everyone's eyes, rushing in front of Yagyu Tsukumo in an instant.

"Buzz!"

A strong sixth sense alarm resounded in Yagyu Tsukumo's heart. His eyes widened as he stared intently at Okita's hands gripping the sword.

Then, he watched in disbelief as the bamboo sword in Okita's hand seemed to transform into five sword shadows in that instant!

"Clap clap clap!"

Shocked, Yagyu Tsukumo swiftly swung his sword, using all his strength to block the three attacks.

But that's not enough!

"Da da!"

Two sharp sounds rang out as his throat and face were struck by swords almost simultaneously!

"Thrust!"

Okita Souji's shout of "Ki-ga!" rang out, and Yagyu Tsukumo was uncontrollably pushed back two steps by the force of the thrust.

His face was full of surprise. Ignoring his lost points, he blurted out in a hurried voice, "Fifth dan!? Not a three-dan thrust? It's a five-dan thrust!?"

Okita Souji chuckled, hoisting the bamboo sword onto his shoulder with one hand: "If you're fast enough, you could add two more thrusts within the three-stage attack, it wouldn't be so bad~"

He returned to the starting point, staring at Yagyu Tsukumo, his eyes filled with fighting spirit: "It's a tie now! Let's settle this in this final round!"

At that moment, the replay of the match above the field had just ended, and the referee, who had clearly seen the moment of the duel between the two, excitedly raised his flag to confirm that Okita Souji had scored a point.

The entire audience was stunned by Okita Souji's incredibly fast five-stage thrust.

Five-stage thrust!

It actually has two more segments than the legendary three-stage thrust!

Could it be that Okita's talent surpasses even that of his ancestor?

Motoko Itsuka couldn't help but turn to look at Sousuke: "Teacher! That's...!"

“That’s right, it was a five-stage thrust.” Sousuke stroked his chin. “That’s really impressive, to be able to thrust five times in such a short time.”

Motoko Gofuku's voice trembled slightly: "Could it be that Okita's five-stage thrust is even more powerful than your three-stage thrust, Master?"

“Maybe…” Atobe Sousuke’s smile remained unchanged. He glanced at the kendo girl beside him who had inexplicably become dejected, and couldn’t help but chuckle and pat her head.

"The premise is that he has to be faster than me."

***

Chapter 188 Ignorance and the Tengu

"The premise is that he has to be faster than me."

Sousuke's words carried a faint confidence that inexplicably reassured Motoko.

Even though it had nothing to do with her whether Sosuke won or lost, she still didn't want Sosuke to lose.

Even if the opponent is Okita, she would still hope that Atobe Sousuke's three-stage thrust is more powerful.

......

On the stage, Yagyu Tsukumo and Okita Souji had already assumed their respective stances.

Okita Souji still had that same blue-eyed look as Sosuke.

He stood upright with his body turned to the side, holding the bamboo sword horizontally at his waist in a cross shape with his body. He held the hilt of the bamboo sword with his hands, one in front of the other, and the tip of the bamboo sword pointed straight ahead.

Beneath the mask, Okita Souji's expression remained relaxed, but his eyes gleamed with a sharp light.

The Heavenly Sword, now covered in dust, has wiped itself clean and is ready to face its opponent in its full glory.

Opposite to Okita Souji.

Yagyu Tsukumo's face was serious, his mind replaying the five fleeting sword shadows from just moments before.

The first time, he was caught off guard by his opponent's unexpected new moves, which made it impossible for him to intercept all the sword strikes.

This time, he still didn't know if he could intercept it.

However, he continued to give himself positive self-talk.

'I can do it! With my swordsmanship honed over many years, breaking a move I've already seen should be a piece of cake, even the legendary three-stage thrust...'

His gaze grew increasingly firm, and his previously chaotic emotions completely subsided into calm.

Then, Yagyu Tsukumo displayed the Seigan-go, a formation he had used countless times.

The more critical the moment, the more you should use the stance you are most familiar with.

Last-minute cramming techniques are unlikely to be effective against strong opponents.

The two remained silent, and even after the referee announced the start of the match, they still did not take any immediate action.

The atmosphere grew increasingly heavy, to the point that the audience felt a strange sense of unease, and the deafening shouts gradually subsided until they became somewhat quiet.

"Shifan, who will win?" Wufang Suzi stared intently at the two people facing off silently on the stage and couldn't help but ask.

Atobe Sousuke watched the arena quietly. Hearing Motoko's question, he said softly, "It's hard to say now. Both swordsmen are fully in form; let's see how they perform..."

In his eyes, the words above Yagyu and Okita's heads were blazing with fire, and at the same time, they had a significant "++" boost to their swordsmanship.

Of course, based on Sousuke's judgment, given that the increase in the number of entries is similar, Okita, who is now serious, should have a better chance of winning.

After all, his basic swordsmanship level was already 20, which was higher than Yagyu's.

After a long time, just as the referee was about to warn the two players that a prolonged inactivity would result in a foul.

Two figures suddenly moved.

One charged forward, the other retreated.

Okita Souji pushed off with his feet, his whole body turning into a blur as he rushed forward, his bamboo sword thrusting out at a speed beyond human comprehension!

Unknown Sword - Five-Stage Thrust!

Yagyu Tsukumo retreated swiftly, yet his body remained steady. Facing Okita's attack, he quickly swung his sword, precisely raised his hand to parry, and at the moment their weapons clashed, he used a seemingly effortless force to firmly adhere to Okita's bamboo sword!

Yagyu Shinkage-ryu - Secret Sword: Yin!

"Whoosh! Tap tap tap tap!"

First came the sharp sound of a bamboo sword slicing through the air, followed by five muffled sounds of weapons colliding.

Between the two, a five-fold afterimage of bamboo swords clashing erupted.

The hearts of the entire audience were in their throats.

Did you manage to block it?!

It was blocked!!!

Off the field, some sharp-eyed competitors clearly saw the process of the two swords clashing. Yagyu Tsukumo, taking advantage of the space he gained by taking two steps back, combined with his unique secret sword technique, successfully stuck to Okita's bamboo sword and deflected all of his five thrusts!

Won!

Many people immediately had the same thought.

Including Yagyu Tsukumo.

His eyes were calm. With a final strike, he deflected Okita Souji's assassination attempt, then gripped his bamboo sword tightly and slashed out!

The next moment, his vision blurred, and he saw that Okita Souji's figure, after taking the last step, did not take another step, but instead tilted forward and spun rapidly.

The strange movement completely avoided Yagyu's slash.

Immediately afterwards, the bamboo sword that had been deflected from Okita's hand somehow transformed into a reverse grip.

The bamboo sword, held in reverse, was swiftly slashed upwards from below!

Ignorance is the current!

"noodle!"

"Snapped!"

With a loud shout, Okita Souji fell to the ground after his slash hit Yagyu Tsukumo. He then quickly rolled several meters away and stood up.

Yagyu Tsukumo stood there blankly, without making a move.

The entire stadium fell silent. Most people, including the referees, didn't see what happened in that instant.

The organizers reacted quickly, showing the final moments of the duel in slow motion on the big screen.

Okita Souji's five thrusts were all blocked!

Yagyu swung his sword, unleashing a decisive blow!

However, Okita Souji dodged the attack with a strange falling posture and then swung his hand back, striking the mask in one blow!

Yagyu has been stabbed!

The audience gasped in amazement.

What a thrilling and exciting attack and defense!

However, amidst the cheers of the entire audience...

However, the referee and two assistant referees hesitated and discussed for a moment.

Then, they waved to indicate that the result was invalid.

The reason is very valid - Okita Souji's kendo movements do not conform to the rules of kendo competition, his sword-drawing posture is strange, and his Zanshin posture is awkward, so no points are awarded!

Many people sighed in regret, and some even booed.

Unfortunately, that's how the rules are; even with such a thrilling match, the referee had no choice but to grit his teeth and ask the two swordsmen to return to their positions.

Okita Souji shrugged and calmly returned to his starting position.