So fast!
Just as Aoto barely steadied his footing, he saw Zhouzhu Chiba's bamboo sword at the lower rank coming toward his shoulder from a completely different direction.
Both the speed of his footwork and blade were unbelievably quick.
No time to marvel at Zhouzhu Chiba's speed,
Aoto stepped back about half a foot with his right foot, holding the sword in both hands, positioning it diagonally in front of him with the tip pointing towards his right front.
The bamboo swords clashed again in midair.
In the next instant after the bamboo swords collided, Aoto let out a muffled grunt, and with a shake of his hands, Zhouzhu Chiba's bamboo sword slid off as if on a slide, following the blade's body to one side.
Aoto's body and hands slanted to the right. After deflecting Zhouzhu Chiba's strike, his bamboo sword swung back with a "swish" towards Zhouzhu Chiba's faceguard.
This was the first counterattack Aoto had launched in this duel.
