Chapter 534: Chapter 357: In Short, It Means Very Impressive_2
Gathering the strengths of various schools, it cannot be said to be weak.
As for what Ishibashi Kesuke is using now, it should be the first and second sword of the Police Style, the standard form of the Jigen Style.
Although the One-Mind One-Sword Style has ten fundamentals and is a basic technique, Uesugi Sakura does not intend to use it at this moment.
He also slowly raised his bamboo sword, assuming the standard posture of the Jigen Style.
In the audience, reporter Miyata Kazuhiko showed a slight look of surprise:
"Jigen Style? Or Police Style?"
After years of work, having covered dozens of Sword Dao matches big and small, he is well acquainted with the characteristics of various schools.
According to currently known information,
Uesugi Sakura should be practicing the One-Mind One-Sword Style, but he suddenly took up the Right Upper Hand position of the Jigen Style as his opening move in the General’s match.
Very strange and unexpected.
There’s a hint of anticipation in Miyata Kazuhiko’s heart, wondering what effect the youngest competitor’s Jigen Style in this match would have against the Police Style from the Police Headquarters.
One must know that Police Style also uses the form of Jigen Style as one of its wooden sword fundamentals.
The two are similar, yet not entirely the same.
Now the Police Style is facing off against the original, and Uesugi Sakura is an untested, mysterious skill level competitor.
Last time, the General from the Kasumi Shinto Style conceded directly upon seeing him, it would be abnormal not to be curious.
By the side of the competition ground, a group of senior students sat in seiza watching Uesugi Sakura in the center of the arena.
Kusunoki Kubomaru murmured, "Why does it feel like junior apprentice is very serious today?"
Koshin Kagami did not follow up, instead taunting him: "You were the first to lose, if you didn’t lose, how would the pressure fall on the junior apprentice?"
"Ha! Kagami, mine was a decisive match, how could a guy like you understand?"
Koshin Kagami chuckled disdainfully: "Can’t understand? Let me break it down for you. In the first match, after Tsuchiya Yuuki exchanged salutes with you, in the mere fraction of a second after rising, didn’t he strike you down in one single move?"
"You were down before the referee even stood up straight, estimate the commentator had just started speaking, only managed two words. The opponent relaxed deliberately and you didn’t notice, where was your rhythm?"
"Is this my fault? Let me explain it to you."
Kusunoki Kubomaru gestured with his hand.
"Firstly, that Tsuchiya got up slowly, his body totally relaxed, I thought he was going to make a mid-level guard, who knew he raised his hand and suddenly switched to an upper-level, a sudden change in speed, his entire body took flight, that speed! Kagami, you couldn’t see clearly as well, as he flew, his bamboo sword flew too, too fast, how could I react!"
"Who could’ve thought, Kagami could you? Of course not, if you were up against Tsuchiya Yuuki you would lose too, he’s the Deputy General after all!"
Koshin Kagami clearly remembered how hard it was to react then, after all, Tsuchiya Yuuki had a great rhythm, grasping Kusunoki Kubomaru since the salute.
But he paid no heed to Kusunoki Kubomaru’s explanation, purposely mocking: "You lost so badly even against a Deputy General, whereas Uesugi is facing the General, still making excuses, you’re a lousy senior, oh, really lousy!"
"Against a Deputy General? You go?" Kusunoki Kubomaru waved it off, "Come on, focus on the match, stop bothering me."
Various schools are models of Ancient Sword Skills.
Ancient Sword Skills are only suited for actual combat, not for competition.
——This rule places more importance on who uses it, even if using killing swordsmanship in competition, as long as controlled properly, still can score points.
The emphasis is on understanding and integration.
Ishibashi Kesuke also didn’t expect that Uesugi Sakura on the other side would greet his move with Jigen Style.
Taught by Chief of Police Hanamaru?
Ishibashi Kesuke pondered, raising the bamboo sword with both right hands, his steps sliding cautiously to the right.
His gait was very vigilant, like a mantis ready to strike, yet always on guard.
As for Uesugi Sakura.
Following the opponent, when his foe stepped right, he moved left.
Both held their swords in the same posture, eyes locked onto each other’s subtle movements.
Suddenly,
Uesugi Sakura leaped up with a strike, shouting loudly: "Ha!!"
Ishibashi Kesuke didn’t underestimate him due to his youth, yet even so, he was startled by his sudden burst of speed, quickly tilting his head, simultaneously raising his sword to block.
’Adaptation and quick application?’
The head-turn was subconscious, his reaction was swift enough, striking the other’s attacking bamboo sword with his countering bamboo sword.
The synthetic leather of the bamboo swords collided, the impact was multiplied for the high-speed moving objects.
The ears were immediately filled with the resonant sound of the bamboo clashing.
Tsuchiya Yuuki, who was kneeled in rest behind the referee, noticed Uesugi Sakura’s move, clearly had a reaction.
Kusunoki Kubomaru also laughed from behind: "Ha, junior’s quick learning and application."
Higuchi Yoshiaki commented: "The speed is very fast, not at all inferior to Tsuchiya, but still blocked by Ishibashi, seems they’ve sparred frequently."
Blocked.
Uesugi Sakura did not expect this mimicry of his opponent’s comrade to have any real effect, hence, it wasn’t merely a simple imitation.
He immediately shifted his weight sideways, swinging the sword down with both hands, seamlessly stepping back, leaving the opponent’s bamboo sword the very moment, then a direct advance, pressing his body forward, bamboo sword rising from below, sharply counterattacking!
What a bizarre angle?... Ishibashi Kesuke had never seen it, his heart slightly froze, immediately choosing to retreat a step.
Strange technique.
Yet it indeed had a devastating effect.
Ishibashi Kesuke’s position was forced back, Uesugi Sakura, decisively, switched his footwork to Jigen Style’s dragonfly steps, the entire bamboo sword from below, to above, forming a rotation, and quickly held the sword handle firmly with both hands.