Koushirou, gripping his real sword, smiled at the black-haired boy across from him. "Ron, shall we begin?"

Ron didn't respond verbally, but his eyes suddenly snapped open.

With a powerful step, he vanished from sight!

"V-vanished?!" Zoro was startled.

"No, it's just his speed!" Kuina's expression grew serious as she focused on the arena.

Ron reappeared in front of Koushirou, still in his forward-charging stance.

His black hair fluttered, eyes locked on Koushirou, his face showing nothing but concentration.

Whoosh!

Raikiri unsheathed, tracing a brilliant arc as it slashed toward Koushirou.

Crackle!

Flames swirled around the blade, crackling with lightning.

Koushirou's sword flashed out in response, parrying the strike.

Clang!

A gust of wind exploded from the collision, sweeping across the arena.

Both Kuina and Zoro felt their hearts tighten.

After the initial clash, Ron, holding his long sword—Raikiri—launched a relentless barrage of strikes at Koushirou.

The flames and lightning on the blade grew more intense.

Koushirou, wielding both sword and scabbard, defended seamlessly.

"It's like a waterfall crashing against a boulder..." Kuina murmured.

Zoro, meanwhile, was completely stunned, staring at the duel with wide eyes.

Ron's sword was surrounded by flames and lightning?!

Ron spun in the air, bringing his long sword crashing down toward Koushirou.

The blow was heavy, and though Koushirou blocked it, the sheer force pushed him back several steps.

As soon as Ron landed, he launched himself forward again, moving with incredible speed toward Koushirou:

"Flame Dance!"

His long sword burned like a blade of fire, engulfed in fierce flames.

Wherever the blade moved, flames trailed like flowing crimson ribbons, spiraling around Ron as he charged Koushirou.

"This... is slash-based swordsmanship?" Koushirou's eyes gleamed with admiration. Then, his gaze sharpened, and a blue aura surrounded his sword.

"One-Hearted Slash, Flowing Water!"

He slashed out.

Fire clashed fiercely against water.

Violent winds erupted, shaking the nearby trees.

Kuina and Zoro had to raise their arms to shield their faces from the intense gusts.

When the wind subsided, they immediately looked toward the arena.

Ron was kneeling on the ground, breathing heavily, with Raikiri planted in the earth nearby.

Koushirou's sword, however, was broken in half, with only half the blade remaining.

Kuina and Zoro's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Ron... he cut Father's sword in half?!!"

"That was a beautiful slash," Koushirou praised, looking at Ron with pride.

"In terms of swordsmanship, I don't think there's much more I can teach you."

Ron, who had quickly regained his energy using the Sun Breathing Technique, scratched his head awkwardly.

"That's mostly because you held back, and also because of my sword..."

Koushirou shook his head, smiling. "No, my sword broke because you hit the same spot every time."

He looked at Ron and stroked his chin, chuckling. "I'm guessing that wasn't just luck."

Ron, embarrassed, averted his gaze.

Koushirou gazed at the young black-haired boy before him, marveling inwardly, "To force me to use a Momentum Realm slash after only five months of training... what a little monster."

"How long will it take for him to reach the level of a Swordsman?" Koushirou mused.

After Ron retrieved Raikiri and sheathed it, Koushirou asked, "Ron, would you like to see a Swordsman's slash?"

Ron was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. "Really?"

Koushirou nodded.

"Follow me."

The two of them walked off into the forest.

It was only then that Kuina and Zoro snapped out of their amazement.

"So that's Ron's true strength..." Kuina looked down at her trembling hands.

"So powerful..." Zoro's whole body trembled. "A swordsman can become this strong?"

"Kuina, the master and Ron... they aren't the strongest swordsmen in the world, are they?"

"Of course not," Kuina clenched her fists. "This isn't the pinnacle of a swordsman's strength. The top is much higher—higher than the sky itself!"

"Higher than the sky... that's the peak of swordsmanship..." At that moment, Zoro felt something stir inside him.

He looked at Kuina, his gaze resolute.

"Kuina, I will surpass you! I'll surpass Ron! I'll surpass the master! I'll surpass everyone and reach that peak!!"

"No, I'll be the one to reach that peak!" Kuina's eyes were equally determined.

Their gazes locked.

Looking at Zoro's serious expression, Kuina suddenly smiled. Then, to his surprise, she raised her fist.

"Then let's make a promise. No matter what, one of us will surpass Ron and reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship! If one of us doesn't make it, the other will carry on the dream."

Zoro grinned and raised his fist without hesitation, bumping it against hers.

"Deal!"

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T/N:

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