Their attacks were difficult to inflict any real damage with.
But the wooden sword and katana still wore down their Armament Haki through the constant exchanges of attack and defense.
Their stamina was also steadily draining as they chased that group of slippery "mud loaches."
Especially the natural perm's wooden sword—the blue airflow it whipped up struck their bodies with exceptional pain.
As one side waned and the other gained, the scales of battle subtly tilted with the passage of time.
"Now!"
After one fierce clash after another.
Major Debes's Armament Haki could no longer cover his entire body.
His Observation Haki senses had also grown hazy as his concentration declined.
Then, just as his old strength gave out and his new strength had yet to emerge, his body stiffened for a brief instant.
It lasted less than a second.
But for Gintoki and the other three, that was enough.
A sharp glint flashed through Gintoki's eyes. Seizing that fleeting opening, he pushed off the ground and shot forward like a cannonball.
He gripped Toyako with both hands, violent blue airflow spiraling around the blade like a deep-sea whirlpool.
It was the technique he had used to defeat Hosen, the "Night King."
It carried an unstoppable momentum.
"This is my ultimate move!"
"JUMP-BOY-SPIRAL STRIKE!"
[BANG----]
The upward blow struck Major Debes squarely beneath the jaw.
The centrifugal force of the powerful spiraling airflow combined with Gintoki's own strength, erupting with astonishing force.
"Urgh!"
Major Debes let out a pained roar. His black bear head snapped back, several bloodied fangs flying from his muzzle.
His massive body could no longer maintain its balance.
The tremendous force lifted him entirely off the ground.
He crashed heavily onto the road ten meters away.
[BOOM----]
In an instant, the ground seemed to have been