Hanbei was about to make a final struggle and call back Ogata who had already played.

But before he could speak, a loud shout enveloped the entire arena:

"The god worship contest starts now! It is forbidden to make noise without any people, etc.! It is forbidden to disturb the competition between Ogata and Toyama! ”

This is Kuranaga's shout.

Kuranaga deliberately glanced at the half-guards when he shouted these words.

Kuranaga's shout made the half-guards completely helpless, so they could only stand anxiously outside the arena and look at Ogata on the field.

After this loud shout, Kuranaga took a seat in the audience on the north side of the arena.

After Kuraga came to the audience, there was an endless stream of people who came to be polite and stammering with Kuranaga.

For these people, Kuranaga always smiles politely, and uses "politeness" to form a solid wall, firmly protecting himself and isolating everyone.

After settling down on his small stool, Kuranaga stared intently at Ogata and Toyama, who were already in the middle of the arena.

The other people in the audience saw that Kurunaga seemed to be able to watch the god sacrifice competition seriously, so they didn't bother Kuraga anymore with great understanding, and went to Kuraga to look at the martial arts arena seriously or meaninglessly.

After walking up to the center of the arena, Ogata and Toyama first saluted the nobles in the audience according to the rules, and then faced each other.

“…… Ogata Yise, I didn't expect that the start time of the god sacrifice competition would be advanced. ”

“…… Oh, yes. Ogata said in a cold, non-salty tone, "Really...... People are not as good as heaven. ”

"The festival is held in advance...... Just what the doctor ordered! A daunting shadow of terror appeared on the face of the distant mountain, "I must ...... Kill you! ”

"Before you start the competition, let me ask—" Xu asked expressionlessly, "Why did you rush to my sword hall with a large group of people to find me?" Have I done anything to offend you? ”

Toyama did not answer Ogata's question.

Or rather- disdain to answer this answer from Ogata.

He silently tightened the cuff tighter and made his final preparations, and continued to cast hateful glances at Ogata.

“…… Forget it, you don't want to say it, and I don't bother to ask any more. Anyway, I wasn't interested in the truth or anything. ”

With that, Ogata raised the wooden knife in his hand and set up a mid-section stance.

However - Toyama didn't pick up the wooden knife in his hand like Ogata did.

Instead, after glancing at the wooden knife in Ogata's hand, he threw the wooden knife in his hand aside.

"I'm determined to kill you here."

"So—just throw this toy aside."

"Sato!"

With Yuanshan's shout, the disciple named Sato, one of the listed disciples of the Ishikawa Sword Pavilion standing in the westernmost part of the martial arts arena, immediately stepped out of the ranks, walked quickly to the center of the martial arts arena, and then handed the things in his hand towards Yuanshan.

And this kind of thing is exactly - the knife of the distant mountains.

"Far mountains! What are you doing! On the westernmost side of the tournament field, Ishikawa's terracotta shouted in horror, "It is forbidden to use real swords in the god competition!" ”

However, Yuanshan did not pay attention to the master's shout.

His eyes were still fixed on Ogata in front of him.

"Come on, Ogata." Toyama took his saber from Sato's hand and said, "Let's skip a game like the Wooden Knife Competition." ”

"Today is either you die or I die."

"Someone is going to die anyway, so it's easier to use a real knife, and it's much easier to kill someone."

Seeing that Toyama ignored him at all, Ishikawa Bingma gritted his teeth angrily, turned his head, and looked at the audience.

"My lord! The use of real swords is forbidden in the god worship competition! Please send someone to stop Toyama Renichiro! ”

Ishikawa Bingma thought that Kuranaga would help him.

After all, the competition with a wooden knife or the competition with a real knife is two completely different competitions.

If a real knife is used to compete, the two people on the competition field will definitely be killed or injured.

As soon as Ishikawa Hyoma's words fell, Sakakiwara Hanbei, who was located on the easternmost side of the tournament field, hurriedly echoed and asked Kuranaga to come forward and stop Toyama Renichiro's extremely ridiculous behavior.

However, Kuranaga did not intervene to stop Toyama from using the real sword, as the Hanbei and the soldiers had expected.

Instead, he said in a loud voice with a blank face:

"Let the two of them use real knives!"

As soon as Kuronaga's words came out, not only the people of the Sakakihara Sword Hall and the Ishikawa Sword Hall were surprised, but the nobles in the audience also looked at Kuranaga with stunned faces at this time.

"Ogata-kun!" Kuranaga yelled at Ogata Yoshisei in the arena, "Go get your saber out!" ”

"My lord!" The half-soldier was full of horror, "for ......"

"You all stop talking nonsense!" Kuranaga interrupted Hanbei's words in a much harsher tone than just now, "Just let the two of them duel with real knives!" No one is allowed to say anything more! ”

……

……

Ogata looked at Kuranaga, who ordered him to take out his saber.

Then he looked at the distant mountain in front of him, where he had put his saber back into his waist.

Subsequently—

"Makino!"

Ogata shouted the name of Makino, who was in charge of keeping his saber.

"In!" Makino certainly knew what was wrong with Ogata suddenly shouting his name.

Makino held Ogata's saber and looked left and right, his eyes full of anxiety, not knowing what to do.

Makino was actually eager for someone to stop him from sending Ogata's knife up.

Because he didn't want Ogata to get hurt or die in the ring.

However, whether it was the master or the other senior brothers, the expressions on their faces were surprisingly unanimous - heavy.

They're all like Makino - they don't want Ogata to use a real sword to fight Toyama in a battle that is destined to result in death.

But...... Kuranaga has already ordered, and they also have to take ......

Kuranaga in the audience saw Makino's hesitation, so he shouted in a slightly impatient tone:

"What are you doing?! Why don't you send Ogata-kun's saber yet! ”

"Yes, yes!"

Frightened by Kuranaga's oppressive roar, Makino walked quickly to the arena with Ogata's saber in his hand.

After handing the saber back to Ogata and leaving the phrase "Ogata-senpai, please be careful", Makino quickly escaped from the tournament as if he were running away.

“…… Far mountains, I'm talking ugly ahead. ”

Ogata said calmly as he thrust his saber back into his left waist.

"I'm not a very kind person."

"If someone wants to take my life, then I will not sit idly by, no matter what his reason is."

"So—if you want to kill me, then you can only trouble me to prepare for me to be killed."

"Huh!" Yuan Shan sneered, "Just what I want!" ”

Scold!

Toyama pulled out the knife from his waist in one gulp.

Ogata followed suit, drawing his saber.

The two of them were in a mid-section posture, and the knives in their hands reflected dazzling light in the bright sunlight.

The sunlight was so warm, but the light reflected by the snow-white blade was so cold and terrifying.

The two of them didn't bother to play the kind of trick of reporting their homes anymore, and decided to start a deathmatch where only one person could live.

Under the blue sky, there were no clouds, not even the wind was still.

Both the arena and the audience next to the arena fell into complete silence, and not even the slightest cough could be heard.

And then—

Smack!

Smack!

The sound of two rear feet stomping on the ground sounded almost at the same time, breaking the silence.

Ogata and Toyama rush towards each other.

Bell ——!

The knives of the two collided in mid-air, making a deafening sound of gold and iron clashing.