Hanbei wanted to make a final struggle and called Ogata back who was already on the field.
But before he could say anything, a loud shout enveloped the entire competition ground:
"The God Sacrifice Competition begins now! Unrelated people are not allowed to make any noise! They are not allowed to come on stage to disturb the competition between Ogata and Toyama!"
This is Kuronaga's cry.
When Kuronaga shouted these words, he glanced at Hanbei specifically.
Kuranaga's loud shout left Hanbei completely helpless and could only stand anxiously outside the competition venue, looking at Ogata on the court.
After making this loud shout, Kuronaga sat down in the auditorium on the north side of the competition ground.
After Kurunaga came to the auditorium, there was an endless stream of people who came to greet Kurunaga and flatter him.
Towards these people, Kuranagi always smiled politely and used "politeness" to form a solid wall to protect himself firmly and isolate everyone from them.
After sitting down on his little stool, Kuranaga stared intently at Ogata and Toyama, who were already in the middle of the competition arena.
The other people in the audience saw that Kurunaga seemed to be only watching the god-sacrifice competition seriously, so they wisely did not disturb Kurunaga anymore, and went to look at the competition field with Kurunaga, either seriously or in vain.
After walking to the center of the competition arena, Ogata and Toyama first followed the rules and bowed respectfully to the dignitaries in the audience, and then faced each other.
"... Ogata Yoshi, I didn't expect that the start time of the God Sacrifice Competition is actually advanced."
"...Yes." Ogata said in a cold tone that was neither salty nor indifferent, "It's really... people are not as good as God."
"The God Sacrifice Competition is held in advance...just what I want!" A daunting shadow of terror appeared on Yuanshan's face, "I must...kill you!"
"Before we start the competition, let me ask you a question -" Ogata asked expressionlessly, "Why did you bring a large group of people to my sword hall to look for me? What did I do?
Something that offends you?"
Toyama did not answer Ogata's question.
In other words, he didn't bother to answer Ogata's answer.
He just silently tied his sleeves tighter, making final preparations, and continued to cast a hateful look at Ogata.
"...Forget it, you don't want to tell me, so I'm too lazy to ask any more questions. Anyway, I'm not interested in the truth or anything like that."
After saying that, Ogata raised the wooden sword in his hand and took the middle stance.
However - Toyama did not pick up the wooden sword in his hand like Ogata did.
Instead, he glanced at the wooden sword in Ogata's hand and threw it aside.
"I went to the arena with the determination to kill you here."
"So - just throw this kind of toy aside."
"Sato!"
Following Toyama's loud shout, Sato, one of the disciples at the Ishikawa Sword Hall in the west of the competition field, immediately stepped out of the line, walked quickly to the center of the competition field, and then put the sword in his hand
Things are delivered to distant mountains.
And such a thing is exactly that - a knife in a distant mountain.
"Yuanshan! What are you going to do!" From the westernmost side of the competition ground, Ishikawa soldiers and horses shouted in fear, "It is forbidden to use real swords in the competition to sacrifice the gods!"
However - Yuanshan didn't pay attention to the master's shout.
His eyes were still fixed on Ogata in front of him.
"Come on, Ogata." Toyama said as he took Sato's sword from his hand, "Let's just skip this game of wooden sword competition."
"Today either you die or I die."
"Someone is bound to die anyway, so it would be more convenient to use a real knife. It will be much easier to kill people."
Seeing that Toyama ignored him at all, Ishikawa Hyōma gritted his teeth angrily, turned his head and looked at the audience.
"My lord! It is forbidden to use real swords in the God Sacrifice Competition! Please send someone to stop Toyama Renichiro!"
Ishikawa Hyōma originally thought Kurunaga would help him.
After all, competing with a wooden sword or competing with a real sword are two completely different competitions.
If a real sword fight were used, the two people on the field would definitely be dead or injured.
As soon as Ishikawa Hyōma finished speaking, Sakakihara Hanbei, who was located on the easternmost side of the competition ground, also hurriedly agreed and asked Kuranagi to come forward and stop this extremely ridiculous behavior of Toyama Renichiro.
However - Kuranaga did not come forward to stop Toyama from using the real sword as Hanbei and Hyōma expected.
Instead, he said in a loud voice with an expressionless face:
"Let them both use real swords!"
As soon as Kuronaga said these words, not only the people at Sakakihara Kenkan and Ishikawa Kenkan were shocked, the nobles in the audience also looked at Kuronaga with astonishment on their faces.
"Ogata-kun!" Kuronaga shouted to Ogata Issei in the arena, "Go and take out your saber!"
"My lord!" Hanbei said with horror on his face, "Why..."
"You all should stop talking nonsense!" Kuranagi interrupted Hanbei's words in a much harsher tone than before, "Let the two of them fight with real swords! No one is allowed to say anything anymore!"
…
…
Ogata looked at Kuranagi who ordered him to take out his sword.
Then he looked at the distant mountains in front of him with his sword inserted back into his waist.
Then——
"Makino!"
Ogata shouted the name of Makino, who was responsible for keeping the sword for him.
"Here!" Of course Makino knew why Ogata suddenly shouted his name.
Makino held Ogata's sword and looked left and right, his eyes full of anxiety, not knowing what to do.
Makino actually longed for someone to stop him from sending Ogata's sword up.
Because he didn't want Ogata to get injured and die on the fighting field.
However, whether it was the master or the other brothers, the expressions on their faces were surprisingly the same - heavy.
They were all the same as Makino - they didn't want Ogata to fight Toyama with a real sword in a battle that was destined to cause casualties.
But... Kurunaga has given the order, and they have to follow...
Kuranagi in the audience saw Makino's hesitation, so he shouted with a slightly impatient tone:
"What are you doing standing there?! Why don't you quickly bring Ogata-kun's sword up to you!"
"Yes Yes!"
Makino was frightened by Kurunaga's extremely oppressive roar, holding Ogata's saber in his hand, and quickly walked onto the fighting field.
After handing the sword back to Ogata and saying "Ogata-senpai, please be careful", Makino quickly ran away from the competition ground as if running away.
"...Yuanshan, I'm going to say something ugly first."
Ogata said calmly while inserting his sword back into his left waist.
"I'm not a very kind person."
"If someone wants to take my life, no matter what the reason is, I will not sit still and wait for death."
"So - since you want to kill me, then I can only ask you to be prepared to be killed by me."
"Ha!" Yuan Shan sneered, "Just what I wanted!"
bass!
Yuan Shan pulled out the knife from his waist in one breath.
Ogata followed closely behind and pulled out his sword.
The two people were in a mid-level stance, and the swords in their hands reflected dazzling light in the bright sunlight.
The sunlight is obviously so warm, but the light reflected by the snow-white blade is so cold and chilling.
Both of them were too lazy to play the trick of announcing their family status anymore, and decided to start a fight to the death where only one person could survive.
Under the clear blue sky, there was not a single cloud, and even the wind had stopped.
Both the competition arena and the auditorium next to the competition arena were completely immersed in complete silence, and not even the slightest cough could be heard.
Then--
Snap!
Snap!
The sound of two footsteps on the ground sounded almost at the same time, breaking the silence.
Ogata and Toyama rush towards each other.
clang--!
The two swords collided in mid-air, making a deafening sound of gold and iron clashing.