Chapter 537: Chapter 358 Fierce Battle_2
Jiang Teng Qiyan thought: "At this age, it should be the third rank, right."
"Probably."
"By the way, does the move Ishibashi used at the end have a name? It looked pretty cool."
"Yes, the Eight Heavens Cut of the Police Style Wooden Sword." Miyata Kazuhiko had memorized the names of such moves over the years.
These types of techniques are mostly recorded in military books and belong to ancient swordsmanship.
Jiang Teng Qiyan: "Then what do you think of this title, [Eight Heavens Cut!—— Desperate Counterattack]?"
Miyata Kazuhiko thought for a moment and nodded: "Well... not bad, the more exaggerated the better, anyway, everyone likes titles that are a bit edgy, but the result hasn’t been decided yet."
The senior brothers sitting behind the judge also didn’t expect the junior brother to be so impressive.
Although they were caught up in the second mini-round, the strength displayed was enough to amaze people.
You need to understand, the opponent is someone from the Police Headquarters,
Usually in the dojo, the senior brothers can only see Uesugi Sakura practicing basic moves.
Unexpectedly, once on the field, there’s actually so much foundation.
The third mini-round.
Ishibashi Kesuke and Uesugi Sakura bowed again.
After two rounds of probing, both had understood a bit about each other.
The referee signaled, and the match started again.
Uesugi turned right, Ishibashi moved left.
The two turned back their stances, with the bamboo sword stretched forward, probing each other.
In seme, Ishibashi Kesuke saw the opportunity, made a mid-level thrust forward, Uesugi Sakura reacted quickly, and made an upward defense.
Ishibashi’s thrust was suddenly pressured halfway, chopping downwards, very dangerous!
In a split second, Uesugi Sakura horizontally placed the bamboo sword for defense, blocking it.
Due to the slashing action, Ishibashi spun around completely, with his back facing Uesugi Sakura.
Revealing the back in a match!?
In a match, this is a big taboo.
The audience who understood the match were stunned for a moment.
Of course, Uesugi Sakura wouldn’t miss this opportunity, sliding to chase, thrusting out both hands, leaning forward, slashing towards the target.
Strangely, Ishibashi Kesuke’s bamboo sword actually appeared behind him, he defended the sword above his head with only his right hand, with the tip pointing down to block the attack.
Due to this sudden defense, Uesugi Sakura missed the best angle and failed to suppress Ishibashi from getting up again.
Ishibashi slickly turned around, positioning himself away from Uesugi Sakura’s failed bamboo sword attack, apart from the attacking range, holding the sword mid-level, facing Uesugi Sakura again.
This...
Miyata Kazuhiko didn’t quite understand.
Alright, let’s just say Ishibashi reacts quickly.
The audience seating was far, so it wasn’t easy to see clearly.
But the team members sitting behind the referee could see it distinctly.
If Ishibashi hadn’t done so just then, he might have been pressed by Uesugi Sakura again.
This was only the third mini-round.
If he must endure another round of Jigen Style’s ’Greeting Swordsmanship’, he wouldn’t be able to handle it physically.
To be honest, with the thick protective gear of Kendo, frequent and cautious steps, concentration... to think about how the opponent might move and how to respond—it’s no wonder it’s tiring.
Ishibashi is now the face of their team, although losing means just losing the status of top seed team in the Kantou region—it concerns their dignity, losing to a young freshman... it wouldn’t sound good if it spread out.
The people in their team, all colleagues from the Police Headquarters, include criminal police from the Investigation First Division, Police Protection from the Security Class, and classmates from the police academy.
All of them hold significant positions, having undergone countless Kendo assessments in school.
In terms of popularity, their team is considered one of the favorites for the championship this year.
But it’s strange, Ishibashi felt very strange.
He actually felt a bit overwhelmed by this young man in front of him.
In the last encounter, he was just a newcomer, using dual swords learned from somewhere unknown.
One must focus in matches, and in a moment of absentmindedness, Uesugi Sakura bypassed his defense, with a flying strike gained another point.
"This flying hit...?" Ishibashi was astonished, but a hit is a hit, he could not question the established fact.
The fourth mini-round.
The score in the general match is now 2:1.
Uesugi Sakura has a clear advantage.
This time, just as he interfered, he didn’t give an opportunity, stepping forward, with both hands dropping the bamboo sword.
Relying on his strength, he kept slashing with kasaya cuts, using all his energy to pressure.
The explosive sound of clashing bamboo swords was thrilling just to listen to.
"Doesn’t this guy get tired?"
Ishibashi Kesuke cautiously returned the defensive strike, trying to maintain the structure of his own frame from being broken.
He continuously retreated, circling along the edge of the square arena while striking back.
Uesugi Sakura struck with each step, pressing in step by step, attacking the target, attacking the hands, using the simplest techniques without restraint.
The bamboo swords clashed together, the next moment, collided again.
Without stopping, in whirlwind speed.
Ishibashi had no choice, continuing to receive the strikes wasn’t a solution, he chose to endure one hit, gritting his teeth, then pushed the bamboo sword forward with both hands, letting the bamboo swords intertwine, pressing them close to his body.
This tactic was obviously effective, with the swords intertwined, Uesugi Sakura’s attack was interrupted, he too got a chance to catch a breath.
Must complain again.
This kid’s strength is just too much, too excessive.
With the bamboo swords intertwined, the two compared techniques, testing again.
After probing for a while, the referee signaled for them to separate, or else it would be considered a foul.
But in separating, Uesugi Sakura immediately pressed forward again, using an all-out aggressive sword style.
"Damn it!"
Ishibashi had no choice but to retreat to avoid.
With this retreat, Uesugi Sakura’s attack became much stronger again, difficult to withstand, he could only choose to stick closely with intertwined blades...
After long entanglement, the referee separated them again on the second call.
It seemed they had fallen into a cycle.
Frustrating! Like a feeling of having strength but unable to use it!
He hadn’t even used much of the Police Style Wooden Sword, and he was about to lose!
Ishibashi Kesuke felt he was going to lose, there was a bitter expression on his face.
Such was indeed the case.
After entering the third cycle, Ishibashi lacked the strength to parry, his defense slightly relaxed, and he was instantly struck on the body by Uesugi Sakura with a sword swing.
Score, 3:1
The general match, Uesugi Sakura had won.
As they left the arena, the two performed the final Kendo salute.
Ishibashi took off his helmet, revealing a forehead full of sweat, and smiled wryly:
"I didn’t expect to lose like this, really a case of strength not being used!"
Uesugi Sakura humbly said: "By luck."
To say luck, it indeed was luck, after all, the opponent hadn’t used all their strength.
The audience seating.
"Didn’t think it could be fought like this!?"
Miyata Kazuhiko was truly amazed, it was the first time he saw someone using stamina to suppress the opponent.
Jiang Teng Qiyan asked: "Is it some kind of strategy from his Kyudo applied to Kendo?"
Miyata Kazuhiko shook his head: "I don’t understand Kyudo, not clear... but after watching a wonderful match, the youngest contestant... I wonder if he will win the championship..."
"Experts are not just one, the Police Headquarters people haven’t been eliminated, next time they might have a strategy to counter him."
Miyata Kazuhiko looked at Uesugi Sakura’s back as he exited the match venue and nodded: "Yes, wait for the national championship."
"Let’s go, have lunch." Jiang Teng Qiyan stood up.
"Okay." Reporter Miyata Kazuhiko packed his stuff, and followed him out of the audience seats.
——————
"Awesome! Junior Brother, your Jigen Style really strikes hard!"
"What benefit is there in coming out first?" Uesugi Sakura took off his helmet, holding it at his waist and asked.
Kusunoki Kubomaru rubbed his chin, pondering for a moment: "Seems like there’s no benefit."
No benefit?
Then why did I try so hard to advance, might as well slack off and relax?
He thought he could get some kind of priority benefit.
Unexpectedly, it only gave the team a reputation.
Forget it, forget it, the match is over, let’s go home for dinner.
Uesugi Sakura wiped the sweat off his forehead with a towel, tidying up the bamboo sword placed aside.
Upon closer inspection.
The bamboo sword seemed broken from his strikes, full of cracks...
The structure was somewhat loose.
At this moment, Kusunoki Kubomaru curiously asked: "By the way, Junior Brother, the Ten Forms of One-Mind One-Sword Style, do you know them?"