Chapter 235: The Beauty Deserves To Be With The Strong Man
The second game of the day began 15 minutes later. It was a game between Sakura Kyu High School and Gyokutoku High School. Before the game started, the audience was already pumped up. They were cheering for the players they favored which were either Kimura Kazuki or Tomoya Saito.
The remaining players from the two schools did not stand out as much and were barely noticed by the audience. However, none of them were sulking as Kimura Kazuki and Tomoya Saito's performances were extremely distinctive.
A few minutes later, after Kimura Kazuki defeated the Fukushou of Gyokutoku High School in a blink of an eye, the exuberant crowd suddenly turned quiet.
"Let's welcome Tomoya Saito from Gyokutoku High School!"
Wearing his Kendo attire, Tomoya Saito looked rather well-groomed and was emitting an impeccable aura. Just like the ancient warrior, he exhibited an air of bravery.
One's appearance greatly affected the others' impression of that person. Kimura Kazuki's look proved no match for that of Tomoya Saito, for Tomoya Saito had a perfect physique and was able to buttress all types of attire. He always looked attractive regardless of his outfits. Therefore, Tomoya Saito had a countless number of female supporters on the internet.
When Tomoya Saito entered the arena, he gave Kimura Kazuki a frigid piercing stare under his mask while his intimidating aura swamped the entire arena.
According to hearsay, the Saito family was adept with the Shinto Munen-Ryu and was able to kill merely with their aura.
At the moment, the realization hit Kimura Kazuki hard. This explained how Tomoya Saito could vanquish all his previous opponents deftly. Tomoya Saito's chilling aura was certainly more than sufficient to subdue his rivals. Before the referee started the game, Tomoya Saito had already struck an attack before either of them was able to carry out a bow.
Kimura Kazuki was hardly affected by the unannounced attack. However, for the others, this was threatening enough to deflate their morale before the match even began.
"Game starts!" the referee yelled. The crowd of 20,000 held their breaths as they fixed their eyes on the arena, afraid that they would miss out on any astonishing moment. Who will emerge as the final winner when the One Hit Man fights against the Dragon of Destruction? They feared to miss even a small part of the game as the only way to compensate was to watch a replay later. However, spectating a live competition was very different from watching a recorded video.
The referee's command quieted the herd down. None of the people were talking, neither were they blinking. Even their breath was much softer than before.
The stunning scene took everyone's breath away. However, Tomoya Saito was not distracted at all. He focused solely on his opponent, Kimura Kazuki, as he breathed slowly and steadily. While he and Kimura Kazuki bowed to each other, his mind was flooded with vivid images that contained the scenes he collected as he observed Kimura Kazuki from the previous games.
The Yagyu Flying Sword Style needed to be practised with extreme speed while the Shinto Munen-Ryu relied on the power of one's aura, together with his or her personal strength. The nickname Tomoya Saito's supporters crowned him was perfect. His aura was as magnificent as a dragon's, so overwhelming that it could suffocate any common man. However, he knew that when he faced opponents on an equal footing, his power would not work as efficiently. Evidently, Kimura Kazuki was at the second stage of sword power as well.
A majority of people thought that they could overcome the force with their speed. Unfortunately, Kimura Kazuki shared the same idea. Hence, Kimura Kazuki intended to end the match within half a second. To fight with an equally skilled rival within a close quarter, the result would usually be decided within a second. In such a brutal fight, life and death would be concluded in an instant. Kimura Kazuki was rather certain that he would be able to overcome his opponent's force with his speed and was confident that he could defeat Tomoya Saito within half a second.
However, unbeknownst to many, speed and force were corresponding. When the speed accelerated to a certain extent, it would create a powerful force. Similarly, when the force was massive, the sword would naturally move rapidly. In fact, it could even inflict damage to a specified area.
Tomoya Saito exhaled gently and steadily. He knew that he had to unleash all of his might to annihilate his opponent as immediately as he could. His opponent should not have any chance to react and counter the attack. Just like Kimura Kazuki, he vowed to crush his opponent within a second. I'm doing this for the money... cough... for Katsuki, then for the money! I have to win this!
When they were bowing, Tomoya Saito manoeuvred his reiki and dispersed it to his entire body. There were bulges on both Tomoya Saito's biceps on his arms that were holding the shinai. Despite hiding under Tomoya Saito's Kendo uniform, Kimura Kazuki was able to detect the abnormal changes Tomoya Saito's body was going through.
During the Tokyo District Qualifiers, Ikioi Ito demonstrated the Return of the Swallow Sword Drawing Skill and put the National Kendo Association in an awkward position. Subsequently, participants from families with extravagant sword style who could easily expose their supernatural identities were at disadvantages because they were banned from using reiki. If they were to disobey the rule, they would be mercilessly punished by their respective families.
However, the rule did not quite apply on Tomoya Saito as he was wearing his Kendo uniform and the changes his body was going through was almost unnoticeable to the audience. Therefore, Tomoya Saito was able to release all of his strength during the match.
After he finished mulling over the situation, Kimura Kazuki held his shinai and put on a faint grin. Seemingly, the winner of the match would be decided in a split second.
However, for the 8.4 million dollars, he had to end the game within half a second. It should be a quick and succinct game. Although Ikioi Ito had stated that he would watch the recording of the competition to verify the duration of that match, Kimura Kazuki still thought it would be troublesome to do so.
Right after the obeisance, the spectators noticed that Tomoya Saito from Gyokutoku High School had undergone an abrupt transformation. He now carried a chilling yet imposing aura, causing the audiences at the front row to experience palpitations. They also felt an upsurge in their energy, consequently putting them in the air of malaise.
Of course, Kimura Kazuki, who was at a closer distance to Tomoya Saito, could not escape from it. His energy was stronger than before. Apparently, Tomoya Saito did not apply his full strength during the curtsy. Did he plan to catch me off guard?
He won!
Tomoya Saito struck his sword with his utmost power. As it lashed across the atmosphere, a loud buzzing sound resonated.
"The winner is Kimura Kazuki, Taishou of Sakura Kyu High School!"
Huh? What's happening? Tomoya Saito was stupefied and the sword in his hand paused in the middle of the air. He stopped dead when he heard the announcement from the referee.
He turned to look at the three judges who were sitting at the side. All of them raised their respective red flags, signifying Kimura Kazuki's victory.
Why?
Before long, he found out the reason. The shinai in his hands... was gone. Once he recomposed himself, he heard a thud echoed across the atmosphere as his shinai fell on the floor.
When did that happen? Puzzled, Tomoya Saito stared blankly at Kimura Kazuki, who was standing before him. He did not even catch a glimpse of Kimura Kazuki striking an attack before he lost the match.
In a Kendo competition, a participant was considered lost the moment the participant was disarmed. After all, if one failed to grip the shinai properly and protect his or her shinai during a real life battle, the person would definitely be killed instantly.
Therefore, many instructors of Kendo Gyms would relentlessly remind their students to never let go of their shinai during the competition. They had to hold on to their shinai even if they were losing the game.
Tomoya Saito's stiff body slowly loosened up after his shinai hit the floor.
I lost... I was defeated within a second.
In fact, it was possible that he was actually beaten within half a second. As he dwelled in his thoughts, he put on a grimace underneath his mask. However, the next instant, his mind went through an abrupt change. Without any hesitation, he took off his mask and approached Kimura Kazuki. He extended his hand as he heaved a sigh. "I admit my defeat and will pass Katsuki over to you. The beauty deserves to be with the strong man. Please take good care of her."
What's happening?
This time, Kimura Kazuki was the confused one.