With a powerful push off the ground using her strong legs, Gion's figure leapt high into the air. In midair, she assumed the stance of a rapid-draw attack, and as she lunged toward Wood, the sword light burst forth from her sheath in an instant!
Due to her incredible speed, there were multiple images of Gion appearing before Wood, but he knew that only one of them was real; the others were merely afterimages created by her extreme speed.
In front of Wood, several Gions simultaneously assumed the stance of drawing their swords. This dazzling display of swordsmanship left the onlookers in awe, some even thinking that Wood might be defeated by this move.
"Clang——————!"
However, in the next moment, the two long swords collided once again. Not only were the onlookers surprised, but even the Gion in front of Wood had a look of disbelief on her face.
Had her technique been seen through?
But how could that be? This was her first time formally crossing swords with Wood, and it was also the first time she used this technique in front of him. How could he have seen through it?
The essence of rapid-draw swordsmanship lies in the speed at which the blade is drawn to strike down the enemy. If the draw is blocked and the blade can't return to the sheath, the move is effectively countered.
Using Tenku's guard, Wood easily deflected Gion's Kinpira, and then, without a hint of mercy, he kicked Gion in the abdomen, sending her flying several meters away.
As she was sent flying, Gion plunged Kinpira into the ground to slow herself, bracing herself with one hand on the ground. Just as she was about to launch another attack on Wood, she realized that he had already disappeared from her sight.
"One-Sword Style: Moon Dance!"
Just as Gion managed to stand up, a sense of alarm went off in her mind. As she turned her head, she saw Wood's figure suddenly appear before her, performing a downward slash.
Wood, who initially thought he could end the fight, was visibly shocked by Gion's astounding reaction speed.
The long sword in his hand, which was meant to stop just before hitting her, accelerated once more, and with a sound of the air being torn apart, a crescent-shaped slash shot out from Tenku!
The close-range slash, unleashed with explosive power, was quickly blocked by Gion's horizontally-held sword.
However, the impact of the crescent-shaped slash was so strong that even though Gion managed to defend against it, her body was still pushed back nearly ten meters, leaving deep furrows in the ground from her feet.
"Chaotic Blade Dance: Devious Rabbit!"
As she stopped herself from being pushed back, Gion felt her arms go slightly numb. She finally realized that she was not only outmatched in strength but also in speed.
She swung Kinpira in a continuous dance, the sword light tracing afterimages in the air, and multiple small slashes were fired at Wood in rapid succession.
However, faced with these scattered slashes, Wood remained calm. With high-frequency footwork, he suddenly vanished from his spot, just as he had earlier.
"Wood, you've hidden your abilities better than I imagined. I see you've already mastered the 'Shave' technique from the Six Powers!
But... this time, I've won! Even though I haven't mastered 'Shave', I'm not unfamiliar with the technique, and I know you'll definitely try to approach me again like you just did.
And unlike a traditional swordsman, you'll choose to attack me from behind!"
Seeing Wood use "Shave" to dodge her slashes, Gion wasn't surprised at all. Watching him quickly move and disappear, she seemed to have seen through Wood's thoughts, remaining still as she stood in place.
As Wood reached Gion's back, intending to launch another backstab, he heard Gion's murmurs and realized something was wrong. The next moment, Tenku pierced through an afterimage of Gion.
At the same time, Wood's "Observation Haki" keenly sensed the danger coming from above.
Having foreseen the danger, Wood was fully capable of dodging the attack and even countering to win.
However, as he instinctively prepared to counterattack, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
What would happen if he defeated Gion in this sparring match?
It would undoubtedly cause a lot of trouble! Previously, he had barely edged out a victory over her in shooting, and she had held onto that grudge ever since.
If he defeated her in swordsmanship, her strongest skill, he would probably never know peace again, constantly challenged to duels.
Realizing the consequences of winning, Wood suppressed his urge to counterattack and looked up at Gion, who had leapt down from above with Kinpira pointed at his throat.
"Do you know what they say about a cunning rabbit having three burrows? Those previous slashes were just a distraction.
Even though I may be weaker in speed, strength, and swordsmanship, there's more to a duel between swordsmen than just those factors.
Determination, willpower, and insight are equally crucial in deciding victory. Because I know you well, I knew that someone like you would disregard the honor of a swordsman and attempt a backstab."
Having won the sparring match, Gion felt as refreshed as drinking an ice-cold soda on a sweltering summer day.
Since meeting Wood, she had been outdone time and time again. This was the first time she had the opportunity to lecture him so openly.
"What do you mean, 'disregarding the honor and dignity of a swordsman'... I'm an assassin-type swordsman, okay? Don't make me sound so despicable," Wood retorted, feeling a bit speechless as he tried to argue that his approach was cautious, not dishonorable.
And who said a swordsman always has to fight honorably face-to-face? As long as the enemy is defeated, does it really matter how it's done?
"That's just making excuses. What kind of 'swordsman' wins by backstabbing? Besides, I won the sparring match, so that means I'm right!" Gion declared triumphantly.
"Fine, fine. You're right, you win," Wood conceded, giving up on the idea of arguing with Gion. He knew that trying to reason with a woman was an exercise in futility.
He had already decided to avoid provoking Gion any further, and now that he had been soundly defeated, he hoped she would leave him alone from now on.
"You're just going to admit defeat like that? Don't you feel any frustration from losing narrowly? No desire to seek revenge?
You should know that in terms of speed, strength, and other physical abilities, you had the upper hand just now."
Initially, Gion was in a great mood after winning the sparring match. But seeing Wood's indifferent attitude made her feel as if she hadn't truly won at all...
Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 95 at patreon.com/Betek.