And Kyojuro's desire to win had not been particularly strong to begin with.
He had entered this competition to learn. Winning would be best, but losing would be fine too.
But Kyojuro could not quite agree with what Shinazugawa had just said.
Although Su Chen had said they could interfere with each other.
Kyojuro had never intended to do so.
But now, Shinazugawa seemed to be itching to act, because he knew he would have no chance if he did not make his move now.
Fortunately, Shinazugawa had come to him first.
That meant Kyojuro could stop Shinazugawa here.
Only then would the competition be fair.
Kyojuro tightened his grip on the Wooden Sword the other man had given him, his hearty voice ringing through the spacious training hall. "Hahaha, Shinazugawa! Sorry about this today, but as long as I, Kyojuro Rengoku, am here, you won't get a single step past me!"
"Oh? Is that so? Let's put that to the test!"
His fighting spirit roused as well, Shinazugawa sent a Wind Breathing Sword Technique straight toward Su Chen.
Shinazugawa had already achieved his goal of disrupting Kyojuro.
So next, he just had to deal with Su Chen's side too!
Just as Shinazugawa's Sword Technique was about to reach its target, Kyojuro moved later but arrived first, his flame-like figure streaking through the air.
At the same time, the name of his Sword Technique rang out. "Blazing Breathing, First Form: Blazing Flame!"
Whoosh!
A beautiful crimson flame swept through the air.
Kyojuro successfully intercepted Shinazugawa's strike in midair.
"How is that possible?"
Shinazugawa's eyes widened, disbelief written all over his face.
That slashing strike had come out with zero startup, its power reduced to increase the wind's speed.
Logically, from the distance Kyojuro had been standing at, he could not