"Now then... Segawa, did you understand?"
Yokoi asked slowly, a smug smile spreading across his face.
As he finished speaking, more people began to wear peculiar grins.
Another person standing nearby chuckled, "Genius, don't say we're deliberately making things hard for you. You should know, we initially planned for thirty people to participate together. Too bad the teachers shot it down."
Hearing this, one of the sixth-year teachers gave Shigure a wry smile.
In a one-on-one scenario, the grappling game could be considered relatively fair.
But now, with ten attackers, the rules were excessively harsh.
This was an almost impossible challenge.
However, the teachers had little choice; after all, this was the academy's decision, and the final say lay with the students.
This was their inherent right, one that no one could take away.
Facing the mocking smiles of the crowd, Shigure suddenly asked, "Are you saying ten people will attack together?"
Yokoi grinned widely. "That's right. What's the matter, Segawa? Feeling overwhelmed?"
The crowd of students immediately burst into laughter.
But Shigure smiled instead.
"If this is the rule you've decided on, then as long as I defeat all ten of you without breaking any rules, I'll pass the test, correct?"
Yokoi was momentarily stunned before a disdainful smile appeared on his face. "Hahaha, do you really think you stand a chance, Segawa?"
"Looks like he really doesn't understand how difficult this is! Hahaha..."
Someone laughed unrestrainedly.
Shigure raised his gaze slightly. "Can we start now? I'm in a hurry."
"Fine, as you wish!" Yokoi sneered.
Then, he called out the names of nine others, "Yanagi-en, Toyoshima, Igarashi, Kageyama, Hyuga..."
Nine students stepped forward. Each held a wooden sword, with one handing a sword to Yokoi, while another tossed one to Shigure. He caught it deftly.
In the grappling game, using Asauchi was prohibited, so if sword techniques were to be employed, wooden swords were used instead.
Yokoi swung his wooden sword, tilting his head as he smirked at the others. "Remember, you guys shouldn't change your moves too often. That would be too unfair for dear Segawa, wouldn't it?"
Hearing this, many displayed teasing expressions.
Yokoi was clearly hinting for them to frequently change their moves to force Shigure into breaking the rules.
Shigure gripped his wooden sword and chuckled lightly. "Clear the area. We don't want to accidentally injure the spectators."
Under the teacher's guidance, the crowd quickly cleared a circular area.
Shigure shook his head. "Too small."
"Huh?" Yokoi exclaimed, his voice sharp. "You sure are demanding!"
With that, he had the onlookers move to the sidelines, leaving the entire dojo empty.
"Teacher, may I trouble you to act as the referee?" Shigure politely bowed to a teacher in the distance. "To avoid disputes."
"Of course, Segawa. Do your best!" The teacher responded earnestly.
As an instructor at the Shinō Academy, he naturally hoped to see more talented individuals emerge.
Shigure held the wooden sword in one hand, closing his eyes to steady his mind. Then, he opened them.
Around him stood ten sixth-year students.
The teacher raised his hand, then swung it down sharply, shouting, "The grappling game begins!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, three students charged forward.
Though they moved in sync, their attacks were completely different!
The one on the left lunged with his sword, employing Zanjutsu.
The one on the right, shrouded in spiritual energy, delivered a kick—clearly utilizing Hakuda.
Meanwhile, the one behind began chanting an incantation, preparing to use Kido.
"Oh Ruler! Mask of flesh and bone, all creation, fluttering wings, bearer of the name of man! Inferno and pandemonium..."
Shigure's eyes glinted. From the moment he heard the rules, he had anticipated such tactics.
But their level... was mediocre.
Shigure smirked effortlessly, his intent clear. In an instant, he disappeared from his original position and reappeared behind the chanting student.
"Shunpo!"
The group immediately realized what had happened, their hearts filled with shock.
What kind of speed was this?!
Was this really a novice who had just started learning Shunpo?!
Yokoi instantly sensed something was wrong and shouted, "Attack now! Kageyama! Hyuga!"
He was calling to the two closest to Shigure.
Hearing Yokoi's voice, they snapped out of their daze and instinctively swung their swords in a slashing motion.
But Shigure simply stepped back, then smiled and extended a single finger forward, softly saying:
"Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō."
Thunk!
As his words fell, six rods of white light materialized instantly, binding the chanting student firmly in place!
The incantation hadn't even been completed before it was forcibly interrupted.
They couldn't possibly fail to recognize this Kido.
It was Rikujōkōrō!
But they hadn't heard Shigure chant the spell!
In truth, Shigure hadn't had time to chant. He had simply unleashed the binding spell immediately after performing Shunpo.
Realizing this, their gazes toward Shigure filled with fear.
He had forsaken the incantation to shorten the casting time... This was Forsaking Incantation!
How was this possible?!
Such a feat required exceptional mastery over Kido.
Among their cohort of sixth-year students, only a handful could perform Forsaking Incantation, and even then, only for low-level spells!
Rikujōkōrō was Bakudō #61, already considered mid-tier.
A freshman who had only been enrolled for two weeks—how could he achieve this?!
As they looked at Shigure, their gazes began to change.
They started to realize... perhaps the rumors were true.
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