Want more chapters?
There are over 20 Chapters available on my Patreon at [patreon.com/kurato6180].
And you can read an Extra 5 Chapters if you join for FREE!
---
Chapter 107. Chariot Duel
---
— Chariot Duel.
A type of duel whose origins are lost to history, from some unknown era or country. Only a special race like the Pillar Men, who possess nearly infinite lifespans and can observe and record all of human history, could have dug out such a retro and violent method of dueling from the annals of time.
Yes, violent!
Just as the word "duel" in "Chariot Duel" implies.
Although the competition involves each participant driving a chariot around an oval track that resembles a modern sports field, this race has only a starting line—no finish line!
And there's only one way to win—
If either Joseph or Wamuu falls from their chariot and gets crushed into pulp by the other, or if one kills the other during the race, then the last person standing will be the victor of this duel!
A duel to the death, in the truest sense!
Therefore, gaining the lead quickly to seize the weapons placed along the way becomes the key to winning this duel.
... This was the conclusion Joseph came to after learning the rules of the Chariot Duel and realizing that the first weapon placed on the stone pillar in the first round was a large, long-handled iron hammer.
Understanding this, Joseph's dilemma became how to take the lead.
Or rather, how to ensure he was in the leading position to grab that only weapon before reaching the stone pillar?
Thinking in normal terms, the way to take the lead is to make a quick start.
At the beginning of the race, start ahead of the opponent!
But that's a normal person's way of thinking.
It's also the way Wamuu and the others, who are focused on when the moon will appear, are thinking.
As someone who's always scheming and cheating, Joseph could be quite certain that even if he could use the Ripple to control these two vampire horses, which could reach speeds of up to 60 km/h...
In the 20th century, where not only horseback riding but even horse-drawn carriages have long since disappeared, replaced by cars, how could his riding skills compare to those of the ancient Pillar Man Wamuu?
They can't be compared at all!
This was Joseph's accurate self-assessment.
In a normal contest, he certainly couldn't outrun Wamuu.
And since he couldn't increase his own speed, why not slow Wamuu down?
So, seeing that Wamuu ignored his small actions, focusing only on watching and waiting for the moon to appear, Joseph smiled smugly and, at the moment the moon appeared, quickly mounted his chariot and galloped away.
Leaving Wamuu alone, who also wanted to ride away...
But his chariot's wheel was stuck on a rock, and now he couldn't move at all, remaining stalled at the starting line!?
Yes, this was his battle plan!
After all, compared to the unrealistic idea of temporarily improving his riding skills...
Delaying and hindering his opponent, making sure they couldn't go fast, was much simpler!
Especially when his opponent was a proud and arrogant Pillar Man!
"Despicable scoundrel!"
"Too despicable!!"
"..."
Hearing the vampire spectators shout out the word "despicable" as "praise," Joseph, who had already gained a significant lead over Wamuu, accepted it with pleasure, saying, "Hmph, I never thought I'd hear the word 'despicable' from your mouths!"
"But this is a life-or-death duel, with no rules! To stay alive, I'll use any means necessary!"
…
"..."
"Gintoki, that guy, is truly shameless..."
Watching the full-dive device transmit the image of Joseph easily taking the lead, and even though Wamuu had broken free of the wheel's hold with brute force and finally started running to catch up, the time had already been enough for Joseph to grab the weapon. Shinbo Akiyuki commented with mixed feelings.
But this isn't enough!
Sakata Gintoki still isn't shameless enough!
Indeed, in this special Chariot Duel...
Because Wamuu had to hold the reins with both hands, it was very difficult for him to use the Divine Sandstorm.
Without his special move and without any weapons, Wamuu facing Joseph with his Ripple-infused iron hammer was almost like meat on a chopping block... if Wamuu truly had no weapons and couldn't attack...
Just like the dilemma of choosing between "Fish, which I desire, and bear's paw, which I also desire" that even our ancestors found difficult to solve—there's a third option—
Why not have both?
It seemed like there was only one weapon on the stone pillar, but in fact, the pillar itself could also be used as a weapon!
In other words...
"In terms of imagination and weaponry, Gintoki is completely outmatched by Wamuu!"
Seeing the same scene, Caesar anxiously said, "And with the size and shape of the pillar, even if Wamuu is several chariot lengths behind Gintoki, he can smash Gintoki's chariot with one strike, while Gintoki won't be able to counterattack!"
And that's not even the most important part.
After seeing the pillar as a weapon, Sakata Gintoki would certainly jump off his chariot to avoid the first strike.
But what then?
A human on two legs cannot outrun a horse with four legs, especially these vampire horses, whose stamina, speed, and strength have been significantly enhanced!
Running backwards is impossible.
So dodging to the sides?
That would just cause Wamuu to halt the chariot and hit him with a Divine Sandstorm.
What about moving forward?
Jumping onto Wamuu's chariot to attack him while his hands are temporarily occupied?
Don't forget, the Pillar Men can completely ignore the Pauli exclusion principle between objects and enter any living being's body at will.
Therefore, if Sakata Gintoki tries to jump onto the horse, he'll only encounter Wamuu, who's lying in wait inside the horse, ready to grab him or fully release his hands to hit him with a Divine Sandstorm!
This is a battle with no solution.
Kars chose the Chariot Duel to settle the score because no matter what Joseph did, his only outcome was defeat and death.
All the choices given are just those offered by the script, and Sakata Gintoki is powerless to change anything.
"To face Wamuu, who has already broken free from the script, you must show the corresponding determination to grasp that slim chance of victory! Gintoki!"
Caesar prayed in his heart.