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"Oden Two-Sword Style: Togen Totsuka!!!"
The violent cross slash shattered all the giant stone spikes behind Shutenmaru, opening a path down the mountain!
Immediately after, a black-clad figure, with only his eyes visible, descended from the sky, landing beside Shutenmaru, and once again brandished his twin swords.
"Oden Two-Sword Style: Togen Shirataki!"
A massive slash, powerful enough to cleave a warship, swept forth!
"Boom!!!"
Smoke and dust shot into the sky, and nearly a hundred samurai screamed as they were sent flying.
At the center of the smoke, Yamato held her spiked club diagonally, shielding Daichi from the incoming slash.
"So strong!"
Yamato's eyes widened in surprise.
Although they hadn't formally engaged in battle, she could feel the opponent's formidable strength from the slash, so much so that even she had to take it seriously.
"Daichi, are you alright?"
The girl quickly turned her head, wanting to ask about Daichi's condition, but she saw a strange smile on Daichi's face.
What's going on?
Yamato felt a chill in her heart.
Every time Daichi smiled like that, it meant someone was about to have bad luck.
"Daichi, what are you smiling about?"
"Nothing."
Daichi smiled and shook his head.
After a long wait, the main character finally appeared!
"Yamato, I have a task for you."
"Hm?"
The smoke and dust slowly dispersed, and the black-clad figure and Shutenmaru had vanished, but their brief appearance earlier still revealed clues.
Daikoku's face was grim. He was very familiar with the black-clad figure.
"That guy is Ushimitsu Kozo!"
Ushimitsu Kozo, a righteous thief who specializes in robbing the rich and helping the poor during the Hour of the Ox, is the Flower Capital's most wanted criminal, having been at large for fifteen years.
To capture Ushimitsu Kozo, the Oniwabanshu had gone to great lengths, yet each time they returned empty-handed, losing face completely.
He had also pursued Ushimitsu Kozo before!
In previous attempts to capture him, Ushimitsu Kozo never lingered in battle. Each time he was discovered, he would escape with extreme speed. He never expected Ushimitsu Kozo's swordsmanship to be so powerful!
"Strange, why would Ushimitsu Kozo save Shutenmaru?"
Daikoku wondered.
Ushimitsu Kozo is a righteous thief, and his actions are admirable. Logically, Ushimitsu Kozo should hate bullies like Shutenmaru the most.
No time to think too much.
Daichi ordered coldly, "Shutenmaru is heavily injured. Even with Ushimitsu Kozo's help, he can't escape too quickly."
"Chase!"
"Yes, Daichi!"
Halfway up the mountain.
Ushimitsu Kozo supported Shutenmaru, moving swiftly through the dense jungle. "Hold on, I've prepared horses at the foot of the mountain. Once we're down there, we can escape!"
"Cough, cough."
Shutenmaru coughed up large mouthfuls of blood, his body growing weaker from excessive blood loss, but he had no time to worry about his injuries. His mind was entirely focused on the man beside him.
Tougen Totsuka, Tougen Shirataki!
These are Oden's unique techniques!
Oden is dead, and the only people in this world who still possess these techniques are those who were Oden's retainers.
"Who... exactly are you?"
"My identity isn't important."
Ushimitsu Kozo had no intention of revealing his true identity. He had endured for fifteen years, and until the day of the decisive battle arrived, even comrades could not recognize each other.
Even a tiny flaw could lead to complete defeat.
Shutenmaru remained silent.
Even if the black-clad man didn't say it, he knew the other party was one of the Nine Red Scabbards, deliberately using Oden's techniques to gain his trust.
He just didn't know who exactly it was.
"Quickly, chase!"
"They're right below!"
"We absolutely cannot let Shutenmaru escape!"
The shouts of the pursuers came from behind.
Ushimitsu Kozo took a deep breath.
"We need to speed up!"
"Let go of me, I can walk on my own!"
Shutenmaru pushed the other away, enduring the pain as he ran.
He didn't want to hold his comrade back.
At the critical moment, he would rather sacrifice himself!
The two got closer and closer to the foot of the mountain, and the pursuers behind them also got closer and closer, even able to see each other.
"Shutenmaru is up ahead!"
"Don't look back, we're almost at the foot of the mountain!"
Ushimitsu Kozo reminded him in a low voice.
The mountain environment was complex, affecting their escape speed, but once they reached the foot of the mountain, they could mount their horses and escape the pursuers.
Just a little more distance!
10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute...
Suddenly, the view opened up!
They're here!
However, the enemies before them made the two stop in their tracks.
An ambush!
Fujin and Chome stood in the center, flanked by samurai standing ready, forming a semi-circle that blocked all escape routes for Shutenmaru and the other.
Behind them, there were also pursuers!
No escape!
Shutenmaru's eyes were filled with gloom. In his current terrible state, it was impossible for him to escape the enemy's pursuit.
"You run, I'll handle this!"
"What foolishness are you talking about!"
Ushimitsu Kozo roared in anger.
He would never abandon his comrade and flee until the very last moment. Abandoning Oden and fleeing back then was his greatest pain.
He didn't want to experience it again.
"Rustle!"
The bushes behind them rustled, and soon a large number of pursuers appeared.
Daichi walked towards Shutenmaru and the other.
"Surrender, and Orochi might spare your lives."
"...."
The two didn't respond, drawing their swords as they stood back to back.
"What a shame."
Daichi's smile bloomed, and he leisurely took half a step back.
"Kill them!"
"Whoever kills one will be rewarded with ten thousand gold!"
"Awoooo!!!"
The samurai's eyes turned red, and they roared as they swarmed forward.
"Die!"
Shutenmaru roared and swung his sword, splitting the samurai at the very front in half, but more samurai charged forward fearlessly.
Bloodthirsty, insane.
The samurai were like madmen.
As long as they could kill one person, it meant wealth and glory!
"Puff!"
A blade pierced his waist!
Shutenmaru coughed up blood, his left hand reaching out to firmly grasp the blade at his waist, while his right hand swung his sword, killing the attacker.
But the next moment, he was stabbed in the back again!
Enemies were everywhere!
And his black-clad comrade who came to save him was entangled by a silver-haired girl. Not to mention supporting him, he couldn't even protect himself.
"Where is that guy!"
Shutenmaru swung his sword to force back the samurai, his blurred vision searching for something. The moment he saw Daichi, his eyes instantly became bloodshot.
"I'm going to kill you!"
Shutenmaru roared in fury, completely ignoring the surrounding samurai, allowing their blades to cut into him, as he charged madly towards Daichi.
"Are you coming to die?"
Daichi stared at Shutenmaru, raising his hand to grasp the greatsword on his back.
"Clang!"
The longsword and the greatsword collided, and a powerful shockwave swept out!
Behind them, Daikoku's eyes narrowed.
"Good opportunity!"
Taking advantage of the stalemate between the two, if he attacked from behind, he could complete the task Orochi had assigned.
But...
Daikoku gripped his sword hilt, his eyes showing struggle.
Orochi was just an ordinary shogun, while Kaido was the guardian deity of this country. Orochi was definitely not Kaido's opponent, so it was clear which side to choose.
But for a ninja, betrayal was an absolute taboo!
The blade slowly emerged!
At the center of the battlefield.
Shutenmaru and Daichi clashed violently.
Both were power-type warriors. The sheer impact generated by the collision of their blades alone prevented the surrounding samurai from approaching.
Shutenmaru was covered in blood, his hands gripping his sword, pressing down hard on Daichi's greatsword, his eyes filled with the most primal hatred.
All his brothers were dead!
"You can't kill me like this."
Daichi spoke calmly.
Continuous injuries and fighting had already reduced the opponent's stamina to a very low level, posing no threat to him at all.
Shutenmaru's eyes were bloodshot with rage.
"Only you—"
"Puff!"
A sharp blade emerged from his chest!
Shutenmaru coughed up blood, struggling to look back.
Ninja!
Daikoku pulled out his blood-stained longsword, silently retreating without a word. He was merely completing the task assigned by Orochi.
Suppressing bandits!
"Well done."
Daichi nodded in approval, walked to Shutenmaru, who was kneeling on the ground, and slowly raised the greatsword in his hand.
"Any last words?"
"Cough, cough, don't underestimate a samurai!"
Shutenmaru struggled to raise his head, pulling a red tubular object from his chest, its fuse already lit.
Dynamite!
Daichi's pupils contracted slightly.
Shutenmaru laughed loudly.
"Die with me, pirate!"
"Boom!!!"
The explosion roared, and waves of fire like a tsunami covered the sky!
"Shutenmaru!!!"
Ushimitsu Kozo's face changed drastically, and he cried out as he looked at the explosion, his brief distraction bringing a fatal threat.
Yamato's eyes narrowed, and her Haki erupted.
"Thunder Bagua!!!"
The violent spiked club swept past Ushimitsu Kozo's scalp.
Ushimitsu Kozo leaped back in horror, quickly creating distance, his headscarf slowly falling, revealing his blue long hair to everyone.
Knowing that the situation was beyond salvage, he immediately turned and dove into the jungle.
"No need to chase."
Yamato hoisted her spiked club, stopping the samurai who wanted to pursue the black-clad man, then looked at the explosion site.
She wasn't worried about Daichi. Her Observation Haki could clearly sense Daichi's presence, which meant Daichi was fine.
As the fire dispersed, a giant rock appeared in everyone's sight, then it cracked in half with a "click," revealing Daichi's figure.
"Phew, that was close!"
Daichi let out a long breath.
If he had been killed by a bomb, he would have lost face. He had never heard of explosives in this world being able to kill people.
"Huh!"
His toe touched a corpse.
From its appearance, it should be Shutenmaru.
"Really dead?"
Daichi was a bit surprised.
No matter what, this guy was Oden's top general. To die like this, what kind of script was he following!
Alright, alright, the bandit suppression was successful!