Chapter 493 - 171: One-on-Eighteen Duel! Aoto’s New Breakthrough

Chapter 493: Chapter 171: One-on-Eighteen Duel! Aoto’s New Breakthrough

With these abnormal talents enhanced, Aoto now resembles a highly efficient "killing machine," continuously swinging his sword to harvest the lives of every enemy around him.

Due to the effects of "Gathering Spirit" being far more powerful than anticipated, Aoto, who was not intimidated despite the numerical disadvantage of the enemies, became even bolder and fearless!

The enemies attacked from two directions, front and back, so to avoid being attacked from both sides, Aoto leaned against the east side wall of the alley, ensuring he faced the enemy from only one side.

This alley is neither too narrow nor too wide; the widest part is only wide enough for three adults to walk side by side. This somewhat cramped terrain is very beneficial to Aoto, making it difficult for the enemies to utilize their numerical advantage.

Once Aoto leaned against the wall to face the enemy, the narrow alley could only accommodate three people attacking Aoto simultaneously.

Hoo!

The enemy on Aoto’s right raised his sword to strike, the blade cutting through the air with a sharp noise.

Aoto used the Lower Rank stance to forcefully lift the Ghost-Slaying upwards, using the back of the blade to deflect the incoming sword, then lowered his waist, accumulating strength, and finally slashed down fiercely from the top.

This "defense-counterattack" was executed in one fluid motion, the blade embedding into the side of the person’s neck. The sensation of severing flesh and bone continuously flowed along the blade and hilt, reaching Aoto’s palms.

Splurt... a gush of fresh blood spurted from the severed carotid artery, soaking Aoto.

"The fourth one..."

Buzz... Aoto heard the sound of a sword moving in his visual blindspot.

"Gathering Spirit" and "Wind Sensor" created a kind of synergistic effect!

The highly concentrated attention made Aoto’s hearing more acute.

With just a sound, Aoto discerned the direction, standing half-sideways to avoid this sword strike from his blindspot, which only cut through the air beside him.

Aoto did not swing his sword to counter this person who tried to ambush him.

This guy is now standing on Aoto’s left... this stance gave Aoto a better and more rapid countermeasure.

Aoto freed his left hand, pressing down on the mouth of Ghost-Slaying’s sword sheath with force.

As the sheath mouth lowered, the bottom of the sheath rose sharply under leverage, hitting the crotch of the enemy who just ambushed Aoto.

The man felt his lower body getting hit by a speeding carriage.

His eyes bulged, head thrust forward, as the color on his face receded rapidly.

With a "clang", he couldn’t hold his sword any longer, it fell to the ground, as his freed hands reached down to his injured area.

Foam started to seep from his mouth, he kept emitting meaningless "huh huh huh" groans, throat rattling as if suffocating.

Trying to alleviate his pain as much as possible, he knelt confusedly, attempting to lay on his side to feel less uncomfortable.

"The fifth one..."

With senses unprecedentedly sharp due to "Gathering Spirit", danger was perceived again.

Confirming the arrival of danger, Aoto retreated half a step quickly, leaning his back against the alley wall, narrowly evading a sharp sword thrusting straight towards him, which tore the fabric of his kimono at the abdomen, with the cold blade felt against his stomach.

Aoto’s gaze locked, retaliating swiftly after dodging—

Clang!

Aoto struck the descending Tachi blade with a vertical chop, knocking it down.

The opponent, whose sword was knocked down by Aoto, still had a strong fighting intent.

Though weaponless, he rushed forward recklessly, screaming, and hugged Aoto’s waist.

Aoto allowed him to hold him, sinking his waist, shoving both arms under the opponent’s armpits, and with a forceful push threw him out.

The guy was very thin and lightweight, which was the fundamental reason Aoto dared to let him embrace him.

The emaciated figure was thrown two meters away, the back of his head hitting the ground, laying flat for a long time without getting up.

"The sixth one..."

Aoto, who adheres to the principle of "kill if they’re enemies", felt neither shame nor cruelty about the fact that he continued to take lives.

As long as they’re enemies, regardless of numbers, regardless of age, they all can be killed!

With each swing of the blade, each kill, Aoto was now completely drenched in blood.

His sword, his face, his clothes were all stained with blood splatters.

The blood flowing from enemy corpses mixed with the soil on the ground, turning the surface beneath Aoto’s feet into an eerie purplish-black hue.

The two "Peace Faction" members who hesitated and stood without attacking Aoto, now gazed with terror at Aoto, who was slaughtering like an incarnation of the God of Slaughter.

These two glanced at the corpses on the ground and their remaining comrades, then seemed to resolve something decisively and communicated in low voices before sprinting towards the alley’s exit...

The void created by Aoto dispatching his enemies was quickly filled by new foes.

New attacks came rushing.

This time, three swords attacked simultaneously from three directions, targeting three different areas on Aoto.

The middle-aged man on the left held his sword high, starting in the Upper Rank position, swinging with a Kasaya Slash.

The young man in the middle thrust his sword forward, aiming for Aoto’s chest.

The short man on the right adopted the Lower Rank, slashing towards Aoto’s lower body.

Swiftly scanning with his eyes, Aoto discerned the paths of these three attacks, then in an instant, formulated a strategy to overcome them.