Using the momentum from his landing, Kaito touched down lightly on the ground.
The instant his feet settled—
Koshiro was already charging from the opposite side.
A sharp slash cut through the air and came straight at him.
Clang!
Kaito raised the golden saber in his right hand and blocked the attack.
Sparks exploded everywhere.
The aftermath of the collision surged outward, tearing two enormous trenches across the battlefield that stretched nearly a hundred meters in opposite directions.
A golden blade flashed upward.
After stopping Koshiro's attack, Kaito immediately swung the golden saber in his left hand in a rising slash aimed at Koshiro's body.
A crimson light flashed in his eyes.
Koshiro possessed not only Armament Haki but also Observation Haki at the Grandmaster level.
He sensed Kaito's movement in advance and retreated rapidly.
But as he moved back—
Kaito pressed forward even faster.
The distance Koshiro had created vanished almost instantly.
Unable to widen the gap, he could only raise his sword and defend.
The Wado Ichimonji scraped violently against the back of Kaito's golden saber.
Sparks scattered.
Steel screamed.
Yet despite his efforts—
Koshiro failed to completely stop the attack.
Slash!
The golden blade cut across his ribs.
A deep bloody wound instantly appeared along his waist.
The sudden pain surged through his nerves.
Every hair on his body stood on end.
Koshiro immediately swung his sword again, forcing Kaito back just enough to create an opportunity to retreat.
The battle continued.
The distance he managed to open lasted only a moment.
Soon afterward—
Kaito closed it again.
The two fighters transformed into afterimages.
To ordinary spectators, their movements had become impossible to follow.
While moving at incredible speeds, their blades collided again and again.
Sparks erupted continuously.
Violent winds howled across the battlefield.
Under such a fierce confrontation, the coastline suffered catastrophic damage.
Some areas were torn apart by enormous cracks.
Others collapsed into giant craters.
As spectators—
Not only the disciples of Isshin Dojo—
Even Robin, Lafitte, and the others were shocked.
"This Koshiro is actually this strong?"
"Those flying slashes are incredible."
"With swordsmanship at this level, he's probably not far from becoming a Great Swordsman."
"Isn't East Blue supposed to be the weakest sea?"
"How could someone this powerful be hiding here?"
The group couldn't help discussing the battle.
Lafitte, as a swordsman himself, paid particular attention to Koshiro's swordsmanship.
The more he watched—
The more surprised he became.
The power behind Koshiro's flying slashes clearly showed that this wasn't an ordinary swordsman.
He was standing right on the threshold of becoming a Great Swordsman.
Unable to help himself, Lafitte glanced toward Zoro.
"Zoro."
"What exactly is your teacher's background?"
"With swordsmanship like that, he shouldn't be an unknown figure."
Robin and the others immediately looked over as well.
They were equally curious.
"Uh..."
Zoro scratched his head.
"I don't know."
"My teacher was already running the dojo when I was little."
"And he rarely leaves the village."
He shook his head honestly.
He genuinely didn't know.
In fact—
If he hadn't witnessed this battle with his own eyes—
He never would have imagined that his teacher was this powerful.
Seeing Zoro's completely clueless expression, Robin and the others could only give up and return their attention to the battle.
"What do you think?"
Law suddenly spoke.
"Do you think the captain might recruit Koshiro too?"
Sandy immediately nodded.
"It's possible."
"With strength like this, anyone would want him."
Law analyzed calmly.
"I think so too."
"The captain has always valued talented people."
Lafitte considered the idea for a moment before shaking his head.
"Not necessarily."
"If the captain could find information about Zoro, then there's no way he wouldn't know about Koshiro."
"If he wanted to recruit him, he probably would've brought it up from the beginning."
Mangu and Neferpit remained silent as usual.
They simply continued watching the battle.
Boom!!!
Another violent collision erupted.
After a brief struggle, Koshiro once again lost out in a direct clash of strength.
Kaito's slash forced him backward.
Koshiro flew dozens of meters through the air.
While spinning to disperse the impact, he slammed both feet into the ground.
A long trench stretched several meters behind him before he finally stabilized himself.
His breathing had become rough.
Sweat poured down his face.
The coastline now resembled the surface of the moon.
Cracks.
Craters.
Destroyed earth everywhere.
Standing amid the devastation, Koshiro tightened his grip on the Wado Ichimonji.
There were now seven or eight sword wounds across his body.
Taking advantage of the brief pause, he tried to calm his breathing while staring at Kaito.
Too strong...
His swordsmanship is already comparable to mine...
Yet physically, he's far superior.
And that's without even using his full strength.
A bitter smile appeared inside Koshiro's heart.
The difference between them wasn't reflected only in their injuries.
It was reflected in their condition.
Koshiro was covered in wounds.
Exhausted.
Sweating heavily.
Meanwhile—
Kaito looked almost exactly as he had at the start of the battle.
Not a single injury.
No visible fatigue.
"Mr. Kaito!"
Koshiro suddenly called out.
"Let's decide this with one final exchange!"
"Very well."
Kaito nodded calmly.
Lowering his center of gravity, Koshiro slowly sheathed the Wado Ichimonji.
His entire body assumed a sword-drawing stance.
"One Sword Style..."
"Lion Song!"
Powerful Armament Haki flowed into the sheathed blade.
Koshiro's breathing suddenly ceased.
The next instant—
He disappeared.
Like a bolt of lightning, he rushed forward.
In the blink of an eye, he crossed the distance between them.
Draw.
Slash.
Everything happened in a single motion.
The slash was so fast that even the blade's light could not be seen.
Whoosh!
The attack passed directly through Kaito's body.
But—
The figure dissolved into an afterimage.
Koshiro's eyes widened.
Before he could react—
The real Kaito had already appeared behind him.
Slash!
Blood sprayed through the air.
A deep wound appeared across Koshiro's chest.
The momentum from his own attack carried him forward several more steps.
Then—
With astonishment written across his face—
He stumbled and collapsed to the ground.
"MASTER!!!"
In the distance, Zoro and the others from Isshin Dojo cried out in alarm.
They immediately rushed forward.
Robin, Law, Lafitte, and the others also followed.
As soon as they arrived, everyone quickly checked Koshiro's condition.
"Cough..."
Koshiro coughed lightly.
"I'm fine."
"Mr. Kaito showed mercy."
Supported by Zoro and the other disciples, Koshiro slowly stood up.
One hand held the Wado Ichimonji.
The other pressed against the wound on his chest.
Although he had lost—
There was no resentment in his eyes.
Only admiration for the strength Kaito had displayed.
The duel between the two swordsmen had ended.
And the victor—
Was Kaito.
-------------------------
For advanced chapters, visit patreon.com/Varnok