Chapter 175: Formation, Sense, Mind!

Kimura Kazuki could feel the great confidence in Ikioi Ito as he stood in the arena.

Without a doubt, he was definitely eligible to be this confident since he reached the first stage of sword power, which is the First Foundation State at the age of 17 in this Dharma Ending Age.

He believed that there were not many people in Japan who were able to reach the First Foundation State at the age of 17.

Unfortunately... "Kimura-Kun, don't worry. I will make this match exciting, and it will not end so soon..."

When the judge announced to start the match, and both the parties bowed to each other, Ikioi Ito was mumbling under his face shield... His soft murmurs passed into Kimura Kazuki's ears. Ikioi Ito could make use of the Kageyama Kiai Style brilliantly.

Kimura Kazuki took a glance at Ikioi Ito while keeping his silence. He guessed that Ikioi Ito's thought was the same as his.

He wanted to prolong the match as he wanted to perform the power of the Yagyu Flying Sword Style to the audience. As for Ikioi Ito, Kimura Kazuki guessed that he did that intending to attract fans. This dude was hoping to be an idol after all.

However, Kimura Kazuki did not notice Ikioi Ito's dignified expression under his face shield after he stopped murmuring.

His true intention for the murmurs was to relax Kimura Kazuki's vigilance. Others were not clear of how tremendous Kimura Kazuki's strength was, but he could sense it. Thus, he did not intend to have a dogfight with him.

The only way to prove that his potential was higher than that of Kimura Kazuki, was by ending the match as soon as he could. He could also create a favorable impression for the audience effectively from that.

In the world of Kendo, regardless of the Ancient Kendo Community or competitive Kendo, strength would always be the key leading to the greatest success.

One can only gain respect from everyone when one is strong enough. This is the culture widely practiced in Japan.

Therefore, Ikioi Ito had never thought of having a tough fight with Kimura Kazuki. He would be a fool if he lost the match due to carelessness. After the end of the bowing ceremony, Ikioi Ito squinted his eyes and shouted, "Men!" He held his shinai with both his hands and slashed horizontally at his opponent at the next moment.

His slash was fast, fierce, and completely unexpected.

Kimura Kazuki was slightly astonished as the shinai was slashed toward his Do point instead of his Men.

Wham!

Ikioi Ito was not surprised that Kimura Kazuki managed to block his shinai. Again, he shouted, "Kote!" Yet the direction he hit was Kimura Kazuki's face.

"Men!"

"Do!"

"Tsuki!!"

Wham! Wham! Wham! Wham!

Ikioi Ito's shouts were lingering all over in his ears. He could not help but divert all his attention to Ikioi Ito's yelling. Each of Ikioi Ito's slash of shinai was extremely fast and totally inconsistent with his image as a child.

While defending Ikioi Ito's attacks, Kimura Kazuki praised, "It seems that you have studied the Kageyama Kiai Style thoroughly!"

These words could be heard by Ikioi Ito only because Kimura Kazuki had used the

Kageyama Kiai Style as well. However, Ikioi Ito remained silent with a serious and dignified expression. In reality, the defense was much harder than offense. In spite of that, Kimura Kazuki was able to block all of his attacks. That ability alone could already prove that Kimura Kazuki was strong.

He did not guess wrongly. He must make an all-out effort if he wants to defeat Kimura Kazuki.

In fact, the reason for Kimura Kazuki's compliment was because Ikioi Ito had done what Kageyama Kuro did not. In other words, Kageyama Kuro was not conscious of making any changes in the Kageyama Kiai Style.

Ikioi Ito did not use the Kageyama Kiai Style like Kageyama Kuro. It is based on one's breath. In brief, it was about playing with noises. Ikioi Ito knew that the ordinary Kageyama Kiai Style would not have any effect,he made a change.

Every breath was used to confuse Kimura Kazuki.

One sound after another would generate a deafening effect. Once there was a louder noise, Kimura Kazuki's attention would be drawn away by his words. He did not do that on purpose - it was just human instinct. Humans would be alert to loud sounds automatically. That really impressed Kimura Kazuki.

The five brothers from the Kageyama family intended to use the Kageyama Kiai Style to defeat him. On the other hand, Ikioi Ito made good use of the skill to confuse him while he was preparing for the next attack.

Kimura Kazuki did not know that Ikioi Ito was known as the second genius in his family's history.

He only knew that the first genius was Aoyagi Ito, the founder of the Ito family.

The main concept of the Ito Replication Style was having acute insight and high flexibility in thinking.

There were three realms in the Ito Replication

Style.

Formation, sense, and mind.

The Ito family's strong ability in observing helped them in replicating the sword styles of other Kendo families and perform their opponent's sword style skillfully and completely before they achieved the first realm, the realm of formation.

Secondly, the realm of sense was achieved when one had studied and mastered the sword style of his opponent to the fullest.

As for the realm of mind, it was reached when one had achieved mastery through comprehensive understanding: One must have studied, digested, and understood all the sword styles he mastered before refining them into a new Kendo derived from the Ito Replication Style. Hence, every single disciple who practiced the Ito Replication Style would have their own sword style.

Meanwhile, the reason Ikioi Ito was known as the second genius in the Ito family history was that he had comprehended the three realms completely as he was naturally talented.

He started practicing Kendo when he was a child. He could imitate the other sword styles by just a few looks. Moreover, his mind was flexible, and he asked questions whenever he did not understand. He was able to digest sword styles thoroughly in a short period... With his talent for Kendo, he could combine all the sword styles he mastered together within a short time frame.

His father was amazed by his talent. Therefore, he was trained by his father since young. He was finally liberated last year during his freshman year of high school because his father had nothing else to teach him anymore.

He met Kotone Mikami when he was a freshman last year and fell in love with her.

Kotone Mikami was a celebrity agent in the entertainment industry, and her client was a pretty girl from Aoe High School. Ikioi Ito fell in love with Kotone Mikami at first sight when she came to the school. Additionally, the Ito family had their own share in the entertainment industry. Thus he could connect with her easily through his relations.

When he found out that she wanted to form a boy band, he volunteered as he wished to help her out. Then, he found out that Kimura Kazuki was very popular on the internet, and coincidentally he joined the Jade Dragon Flag Competition, which his family asked him to join as well. The Ito family had faith in him regarding his participation in the tournament, as this opportunity could help him to observe the sword styles of the other Kendo families.

Ikioi Ito promised to join the tournament, and he then went to Tachibana Budo Gym to invite Kimura Kazuki. But Kimura Kazuki treated him like a fool, and he wasn't bothered with entertaining him.

The audience was stunned at that moment... They were still able to track Ikioi Ito's attack at the beginning of the match. However, his attack speed eventually increased, and the shinai turned into an afterimage gradually.

The audience could only see a blur.

"Are all high school students this talented nowadays?"