Chapter 282: Chapter 120: Aoto, Charge!

In short, just entrust your power, everything you’ve learned in your life, and your life itself into this one strike, and swing the sword with a complete disregard for your own safety!

Because the Jigen Style’s fighting technique, which completely disregards one’s own life and death, is truly terrifying, many swordsmen feel their scalp tingle and their hearts fill with fear upon hearing that their opponent uses it.

In a face-off, the Jigen Style, which devotes a lot of time to practicing how to swing a sword powerfully and quickly, possesses overwhelming power and speed; if you block, the Jigen Style will knock your sword out in one go.

Many who died at the hands of Jigen Style swordsmen were struck on the head by their own swords that rebounded during an attempted block, which rendered them unconscious or led to defeat with the blade guard embedded directly into their skull.

There are several Jigen Style swordsmen at the Military Academy, and Katsu Rintarō, who now also serves as a Professor of Cannonry there, has seen their swordsmanship. Though he has never faced a Jigen Style swordsman in combat, he has a certain understanding of it.

Knowing he couldn’t confront a Jigen Style swordsman head-on, Katsu Rintarō quickly jumped back to avoid the strike aimed at him by the dark figure wielding the Jigen Style.

"Uyaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh——! Uyaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh——! Uyaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh——!"

The dark figure relentlessly pursued the retreating Katsu Rintarō, madly smashing down with the "Powerful Split," chasing after him with slashes.

The power of the Jigen Style is indeed great, and the "whoosh whoosh" of the slicing wind made Katsu Rintarō’s scalp tingle just from the sound. If his head were to take a hit, it might split from forehead to throat.

But can the power of the Jigen Style surpass that of a revolver?

Katsu Rintarō seized the opportunity, raised his gun, aimed at the shadow’s chest, and pulled the trigger twice. One shot missed, but the other hit directly in the center of his chest.

"Ugh...!" The person remained in a pose with the sword raised high, halted his movement, and blood spurted from his mouth and nose.

This person’s fighting spirit was incredibly strong; he clenched his teeth and attempted to continue lunging at Katsu Rintarō.

Seeing this person still had the strength to attack, Katsu Rintarō, too cautious to approach, raised the gun and aimed at his head.

Bam!

The head burst open like a watermelon smashed on the ground.

Katsu Rintarō pushed open the revolver’s chamber and reloaded while continuing to walk forward.

Urgently searching for apprentices and staff, he finally spotted a familiar figure by the corridor not far away.

"Mr. Sanada! Mr. Sanada!"

Katsu Rintarō quickly rushed to Sanada’s side to check his condition.

Sanada had endured a long slash, the cut extending from his left shoulder to his right abdomen, and now he was breathing weakly.

No matter how Katsu Rintarō called him, his eyes remained tightly shut, with no response at all.

Knowing that Sanada was beyond saving, Katsu Rintarō painfully closed his own eyes.

At that moment, footsteps echoed simultaneously from both his left and right.

"Quick! Over here! There’s a really tough guy here!"

"Be careful! This guy has a foreign short firearm!"

...

Judging by the noise, a large enemy force had arrived!

If he didn’t escape quickly, he himself might also meet his end here.

Despite his reluctance and desire to save more people, Katsu Rintarō could only bite his lip and flee toward the staircase.

Leading the pursuing force was the One-armed Warrior.

"Chase! Catch up with him!" commanded the One-armed Warrior.

As Katsu Rintarō fled towards the staircase, he turned back and fired twice at the pursuing One-armed Warrior and others.

The members of the Anti-foreigner Group, who had rarely or never seen a revolver, scrambled for cover behind obstacles when they saw Katsu Rintarō fire.

Though Katsu Rintarō’s shots hit the floor and ceiling without hitting anyone, they bought him significant escape time.

Taking advantage of the time while the One-armed Warrior and others hid behind obstacles, Katsu Rintarō charged up the staircase leading to the upper floor.

Once he reached the top floor in one breath, Katsu Rintarō saw Umegorō holding a makeshift wooden spear, looking down from the stairway landing. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Mr. Katsu! You’re finally back!"

Seeing Katsu Rintarō safe and sound, Umegorō let out a long sigh of relief, overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude.

"How many people have made it to the rooftop now?" asked Katsu Rintarō.

"Fourteen!" Umegorō replied, "Mr. Katsu, as per your instructions, I’ve made some simple spears and organized everyone to dismantle doors and tatami mats to set up defensive works on the corridor on the west side of the rooftop!"

"Fourteen..." Katsu Rintarō’s face darkened.

A total of twenty-one people were supposed to be studying or working overtime at the Foreign Language Research Institute tonight, aside from the guards.

That means as many as seven people didn’t make it to the rooftop in time.

Now wasn’t the time for grief. Quickly gathering his thoughts, Katsu Rintarō urgently asked, "How are the defense works coming along? Quickly, take me to see them!"

"Yes!"

Umegorō led Katsu Rintarō to the corridor on the west side of the rooftop.

Western military science—this was a subject Katsu Rintarō had studied for over a decade and was his specialty.

Hearing the strange noises coming from the first floor, Katsu Rintarō knew someone was attacking the institute. He immediately instructed Umegorō to dismantle the doors, tatami mats, and furniture from the rooftop rooms to construct defensive works on the corridor on the west side of the rooftop.