At the start of the first round, the character controlled by Eriri launched a fierce assault, and the fight looked almost completely one-sided. (Continued)

"Exactly! Busujima Senpai is the strongest!"

"The strongest!"

"Invincible!"

The other members of the Kendo Club unanimously agreed.

Only those who had always lived in the shadow of her strength knew just how unfathomable the Club President's swordsmanship was!

The prestige of winning the national tournament was absolutely unshakable!

"Clang."

The doors opened, and people began filing in from outside. There weren't many of them—just over thirty—but they were all well-known upperclassmen at Shuchiin.

"I hope the Kendo Club doesn't lose too badly. That would be embarrassing."

A short-haired girl in a beret walked past Kojima Hideo and took the opportunity to taunt him.

She was his archenemy, Ryuzou Momoko, daughter of the leader of the Dragon Ball Gang, a wide-reaching gang of violent thugs.

"How annoying!"

Kojima Hideo clicked his tongue.

Was no one rooting for the Kendo Club?

How ridiculous!

Did these people really think that just because they'd beaten the previous few clubs, they were guaranteed to beat them too?

They didn't understand what it meant to be a true expert!

Nor did they understand what true martial arts were!

"Let me guess what you're thinking, Kojima. You're sure that as long as Busujima Senpai steps in, victory is guaranteed, right? After all, even if she were defeated in her greatest strength, swordsmanship, she could still secure an easy win by using that restricted 'technique'... All I can say is, you're oversimplifying things. That man might be even more formidable than we imagine."

Ryuzou Momoko passed Kojima Hideo and stopped by a wall outside the combat area, her eyes flashing with thought.

That was precisely why today's match wasn't open to the public. It was a closed-door challenge. Everyone else would only learn the result; only those of them present would know how the fight had gone.

About three more minutes passed.

"Are they here?"

The sound of footsteps at the entrance suddenly caught everyone's attention.

Silhouetted against the light, Takanashi Rikka, Dekomori Sanae, Fujiwara Chika, and Nibuya Morika entered one after another and took their places on either side.

"What's with this grand entrance?"

Kojima Hideo said, his expression dark.

"You've kept everyone waiting this long, Hasegawa. Don't you think you're being a little too arrogant? Apologize to everyone, now!"

"Don't think you can keep acting so high and mighty forever! This is the Kendo Club!"

Several members of the Kendo Club immediately voiced their displeasure.

As the most favored club at Shuchiin, they were all proud and full of themselves!

How could they tolerate a challenger who showed them such disrespect?

"Whoosh~"

A gust of wind swept in from outside, stirring up a faint cloud of dust.

"Ten years I've honed my sword; its frosted edge remains untested. Today I present it to you... Who has a grievance to settle?"

A figure with both hands clasped behind his back strode forward with his head held high. His features gradually came into focus. He looked calm, yet carried an imposing air without needing to show anger. A sharp glint shone in his icy blue eyes.

"Everyone, what displeases you?"

"Then... come and test your swords!"

Hasegawa Izumi recited the poem all the way into the dueling area. Then he drew his right hand back, and the bandages on the sword behind him fell away in an instant, revealing the Sword of Seeking Defeat to the world.

"Let this be a little entertainment. Show me your swordsmanship!"

His stance, his manner, his words—"arrogant" was no longer enough to describe him.

The Kendo Club members were struck speechless.

"W-what's he doing? Why did he suddenly start reciting poetry?"

"I don't get it either, but he seems pretty impressive. He really is as cool as everyone said."

"I heard some works from the ancient Eastern country use poetry to embellish a character's entrance. Hasegawa probably thought he'd do the same."

"Whatever. The point is, doesn't doing this make the Kendo Club hate him even more? Does he not care at all?"

"You're only noticing now? He's always been this arrogant... But what can you do when he has the skill to back it up? As for his connections, they say he has a secret relationship with Sawamura-san. Apparently, they're Childhood Friends..."

"Now it all makes sense. So he's an excellent childhood fiancé!"

The spectators chatted among themselves in small groups.

"Who's gossiping about me behind my back?"

Eriri's face flushed red as she muttered under her breath.

"Hasegawa, what do you mean by that?"

Kojima Hideo looked puzzled.

"Isn't it obvious? If any of you have a problem with me, I welcome you to challenge me. You can even come at me all at once."

Hasegawa Izumi gave a faint smile and nodded to the others behind him.

Takanashi Rikka and the others stood together as their own group. After closing the doors, they went to the side to watch.

"So he wants to take on the entire Kendo Club by himself? What an idiot!"

"If he's looking to get himself killed, let's grant his wish!"

"I've never met anyone who made a request like that."

Kojima Hideo turned to consult with the club members, and they soon came to a decision.

There was no need to talk about honor when dealing with such an arrogant fool. They would all attack together!

Even if they lost, they could wear down their opponent and gather enough information to improve the Club President's chances.

"Fine. Since that's what you want, we'll grant your wish."

Kojima Hideo gritted his teeth, raised his bamboo sword, and pointed it at his opponent.

"As for the rules, there's no need to complicate things. We don't need to wear that... whatever it's called. The first to fall loses. Anyone who gives up loses. That's all."

Hasegawa Izumi couldn't be bothered to go through all those formal match rules. He kept things simple.

That way, even people who knew nothing about kendo could tell who was winning and losing.

But this also meant the fight would become even more intense.

"Then we'll do it your way."

Kojima Hideo made his decision at once.

Hasegawa Izumi stepped into the center of the dojo. The Kendo Club sent out its ten most elite members, who formed a circle around him.

Since it was a group brawl, they might as well use their advantage. Attacks from all directions would be far more difficult to handle.

"Come!"

Hasegawa Izumi's eyes gleamed. He reached his left hand behind him and tapped the bottom of the scabbard. The Sword of Seeking Defeat shot out.

He raised his right hand and caught the flying sword. He even spun it once around his wrist, demonstrating his exquisite control, before gripping its hilt and pointing it steadily ahead.

Where the blade pointed, none could stand against it!

He hadn't even truly struck yet, and his display had already left everyone astounded!

"What a fierce aura...! What kind of sword does he use?"

Kojima Hideo, standing at the very front, felt his heart tighten. He knew the result of this fight might go beyond anything he'd imagined.

"Phew..."

Steadying himself, he gave the others a look to signal them to attack. He had no intention of joining them. Instead, he planned to wait for his opponent to reveal an opening and then win with a single strike!

"Hyah...!"

The ten members of the Kendo Club followed the order without hesitation. Gripping their wooden swords, they charged toward the center from different stances.

"Good."

Hasegawa Izumi slowly opened his eyes. His entire bearing changed in an instant, and an indescribable aura radiated from him as his sword hand turned slightly.

His opening move was—

"Nine Solitary Swords: Sweeping Sword Style!"

The man was wild, but his sword was wilder.

Surrounded by opponents whose blades all pointed at him, Hasegawa Izumi fixed his gaze on one spot and drove off with his feet. His figure vanished in an instant.

"Slash!"

Several Kendo Club members immediately swung their swords with textbook form, showing just how solid their foundations were.

But in the blur of movement, a wooden sword struck first, tapping one man's blade and instantly robbing him of control over it.

A strange, vibrating force redirected his wooden sword to the side.

"What!?"

The nearby Kendo Club members were horrified. They couldn't dodge the redirected strike. The moment the wooden sword touched them, a wave of numbness spread through their bodies. They staggered backward several steps, then fell to the ground.

"I... I didn't mean to!"

The member who had swung the sword was stunned. He dropped his wooden sword as if it had frightened him.

"May Heaven Never Have Birthed Me, Hasegawa"

The scene before them was unimaginable, but the remaining Kendo Club members charging in didn't stop. They swung their wooden swords, weaving a dense net of blades.

Hasegawa Izumi had anticipated this. He pushed off with one foot, his figure light as if taking flight. After several midair spins, he landed and launched another sword technique.

"Nine Solitary Swords: Lifting Sword Style."

This was the fastest move in the Nine Solitary Swords.

Holding the sword at an angle toward the ground, Hasegawa Izumi burst forward, his figure vanishing like a shadow. He was already closing in on the nearest opponent.

"Smack."

The man had just turned and raised his sword to block, never expecting the strike to come so fast. It slammed into his abdomen, driving him backward with a powerful force.

The person behind him was standing very close, so naturally, he was thrown off balance too. As he instinctively reached out to catch the man, a wooden sword followed right after.

"Ah..."

Several strikes landed in the blink of an eye. No one could block even a single one. They fell one after another, their cries of pain rising and falling.

"Such a fast sword! Such an exquisite style. I've never seen a sword like that..."

Kojima Hideo, watching from the side as he searched for an opening, was stunned. Cold sweat streamed down his forehead.

In less than a minute, the fight had turned into a one-sided rout. Even working together, the ten hadn't managed to touch their opponent, and Kojima Hideo couldn't see a single opening.

"You're the only one left. Are you still not going to come at me?"

Hasegawa Izumi surveyed the fallen Kendo Club members, all groaning in pain, then pointed his blade at the only person still standing.

His cool eyes pressed down on Kojima Hideo with an unbearable weight.

I absolutely can't let him win this easily! At the very least, I have to wear down his strength before he faces the Club President.

Kojima Hideo forcibly suppressed the fear rising in his heart, gripped his bamboo sword with both hands, and advanced with the blade trailing behind him.