Tsuda Ryunosuke found it more and more familiar as he looked.
Chen Jinzhao was almost certain that this saber had been reforged from melted Murasame, so it was natural for Tsuda Ryunosuke to feel familiar.
Of course.
He wouldn't say it.
"No comment," he said indifferently.
Tsuda Ryunosuke had evidently guessed something and said to Number Three and the others, "Since I'm the first to appear, let's make an agreement. If I kill Chen Jinzhao, the three-edged dagger in his hand will be mine."
Number Three frowned, clearly hesitating whether to agree.
Xu Jinsong blinked a few times and ultimately did not voice his objection.
"Since none of you have any objections, it's settled then," Tsuda Ryunosuke declared.
Number Three said no more.
It was just a saber, nothing worth taking seriously.
Robinson and Isaac were not interested in the saber either, so they raised no objections.
Tsuda Ryunosuke began to get excited, licking his lips and smiling, "The thought of you dying by my hand soon fills me with excitement."
"Is that so?" Chen Jinzhao's response was flat.
"Who will emerge victorious is yet unknown."
The two walked to the center of the clearing, their distance no more than three to four meters.
Two powerful auras clashed in the void, heralding an extremely brutal battle.
Number Three carefully sensed both auras, then turned to Xu Jinsong and asked with a smile, "Number Four, who do you think will win?"
"Isn't the answer obvious?" Xu Jinsong retorted.
Number Three laughed heartily, "Indeed, you have keen insight. I also believe Tsuda Ryunosuke will lose miserably."
Their conversation was low, not allowing Tsuda Ryunosuke to hear it, otherwise, the man from the Eastern Isles would have gone mad.
"Then why did you let him go up?" Xu Jinsong asked, puzzled.
Knowing that Tsuda Ryunosuke was no match for Chen Jinzhao and letting him fight, wasn't that deliberately sending Tsuda Ryunosuke to his death?
Number Three smiled and said, "It's nothing, just a gift for you. I know that after staying in the Chinese military for so long, some of your thoughts and habits have been influenced by them. I also know you detest these Japanese men who commit evil in China, so I want to give you a great gift."
This great gift was Tsuda Ryunosuke's life.
Xu Jinsong was slightly moved and after a long pause, said, "Thank you, Number Three."
"No need to thank me, we are family. We were both orphans since childhood, and I've always treated you as a brother. Naturally, I must be sincere with my own kin."
"What do you think?" Number Three asked with a smile.
Xu Jinsong hummed, saying no more.
The two looked at Chen Jinzhao and Tsuda Ryunosuke in the arena. The great battle had not yet begun; both sides were still probing each other's strengths.
Tsuda Ryunosuke grew impatient, beckoning Chen Jinzhao with his finger and saying, "Candle Dragon, bring it on. I will surely sever your head today."
"You lack the ability," Chen Jinzhao said indifferently.
Seeing Chen Jinzhao still not making a move, Tsuda Ryunosuke's patience wore thin. He roared, "Very well, then I shall face the legendary Candle Dragon. To be able to slay you would be a fine tale!"
"Die!"
Tsuda Ryunosuke wielded his katana and lunged at Chen Jinzhao.
Those standing around held their breath, afraid to miss any detail, lest they overlook an important moment.
Chen Jinzhao was as still as a mountain, his movements like a fierce tiger!
Just as Tsuda Ryunosuke was about to reach Chen Jinzhao, Chen Jinzhao finally moved, his hand gripping the Taisui and meeting the attack head-on!
This was a clash of katana against a three-edged dagger!
Chen Jinzhao knew he could not waste too much time on Tsuda Ryunosuke, otherwise, dealing with the others would be difficult.
He wanted a swift victory!
Clang!
The two blades met, sparks flying.
Chen Jinzhao grunted, channeling half of his strength into the Taisui, making it impossible for Tsuda Ryunosuke to continue gripping his katana. The recoil was so great it numbed his arm! Chen Jinzhao immediately withdrew his blade, deflecting most of Tsuda Ryunosuke's force, almost causing him to lose his grip on the katana.
Tsuda Ryunosuke was shocked.
Why did Chen Jinzhao's speed and strength far surpass his own, despite both being S-class powerhouses?
In front of Chen Jinzhao, Tsuda Ryunosuke was clearly at a disadvantage.
"This is impossible. I must not have gone all out. I will get serious now, so be prepared!" Tsuda Ryunosuke roared.
Before he finished speaking.
A cold glint flashed before his eyes; it was the afterimage of the Taisui cutting through the air.
Tsuda Ryunosuke had no time to react and could only hurriedly raise his katana to block in front of him, gripping it with both hands.
Because a single hand's strength was no longer enough to resist.
Even so, in the face of Chen Jinzhao's all-out assault, it was futile. The immense force transmitted through the katana to Tsuda Ryunosuke's palm caused the tiger's mouth to split instantly. Tsuda Ryunosuke had no time to react, watching helplessly as his beloved katana flew backward and stuck into the ground not far away.
Defeated in one move!
Before anyone could react, a chill enveloped Tsuda Ryunosuke.
"Wait!"
"I surrender, stop immediately!" Tsuda Ryunosuke yelled.
Chen Jinzhao would not stop his attack, as both sides had agreed – not just to decide victory, but also life and death.
Seeing that Chen Jinzhao did not halt his assault, Tsuda Ryunosuke then pleaded for help from Number Three.
To his surprise, Number Three ignored him, as if he hadn't seen him.
This caused Tsuda Ryunosuke's heart to sink, realizing that Number Three and the others were unlikely to intervene and block Chen Jinzhao's attack for him. He had to rely on himself.
"I'll fight you to the death!" Tsuda Ryunosuke roared.
Chen Jinzhao gripped the Taisui in reverse, and his figure shot out like a phantom, appearing behind Tsuda Ryunosuke in an instant.
Tsuda Ryunosuke stood frozen, as Chen Jinzhao had disappeared from his sight and reappeared behind him.
They stood back to back.
Chen Jinzhao let out a breath of relief, then looked down at the Taisui that had accompanied him on countless campaigns.
Tsuda Ryunosuke, however, remained motionless.
After more than ten seconds.
Tsuda Ryunosuke finally twisted his stiff body and turned to look at Chen Jinzhao's back. Chen Jinzhao turned his head towards Tsuda Ryunosuke, "Do you have anything else to say?"
"I..."
Just as Tsuda Ryunosuke spoke, a stream of blood appeared on his neck, followed by the emergence of clear, crystalline blood beads.
He had been wounded by the Taisui!
"Defeated by you, I, Tsuda Ryunosuke, am truly convinced." All of Tsuda Ryunosuke's pride was shattered by this single strike.
After saying these words, Tsuda Ryunosuke's head fell from his neck and rolled to Xu Jinsong's feet.
Boom!
Tsuda Ryunosuke's body collapsed, thoroughly dead.
An S-class powerhouse died at Chen Jinzhao's hands, and the entire process took less than thirty seconds, leaving the others in the laboratory almost breathless.
One strike, and the head was severed!