Tadomaru swung his sword horizontally, slashing towards Aoto, who was only a step away and almost touching him.
Aoto almost simultaneously thrust his sword forward, intercepting Tadomaru's arc-like strike in mid-air.
The next instant, as the swords clashed, Aoto's bamboo sword scraped against Tadomaru's bamboo sword with a series of shrill noises, striking towards Tadomaru's chest.
Tadomaru chose not to meet it head-on but instead stepped back with his right foot to the right rear, dodging the sword tip that was barely missing him.
No wonder he's a renowned apprentice of the Little Chiba Sword Dojo, holder of the Beichen One-Sword Style Master of All Techniques.
Combat experience, swordsmanship strength, the sense of oppression he gives... none of these can be compared by the previous nine challengers.
Obtaining the Master of All Techniques means graduation, allowing one to establish their own dojo.
