The facts proved that Aoto's judgment was correct.
The narrow bridge, only wide enough for three adults to walk side by side, was just enough for Aoto to move freely alone.
After exchanging more than a dozen blows, Aoto and Shinno, as if by prior agreement, both leaped back to widen the space between them.
—This guy's strength is nowhere near what it was just now!
The excitement of the moment made Shinno grip his sword even tighter.
The high-speed exchanges allowed both parties to gain a certain understanding of each other's current state.
Shinno could clearly feel—Aoto's power and speed were far less than when he had fought alone against Shinno and 66 other Samurai not long ago.
The grueling one-against-67 battle had significantly drained his physical energy... Shinno internally concluded.
In fact, Aoto's strength was indeed quite diminished from earlier.
But this wasn't solely because of physical exhaustion and fatigue.
