Sword Dao Breakthrough

Whoosh!

Kenkon suddenly split into nine figures, attacking Roy from all nine directions at once.

Creating afterimages was not particularly difficult for a speed-focused swordsman like Roy. At his limit, he could produce dozens of phantoms in an instant. But against true experts, that did not mean much.

Afterimages mainly served to confuse the enemy, preventing them from locating the real body. But before a powerful fighter who had mastered Observation Haki, nothing could remain hidden. This was especially true for Roy, who had reached the second stage of Observation Haki. Using the Mind's Eye of his Sixth Sense to observe a battle was even more reliable than his naked eyes.

Yet what shocked Roy was that the nine figures Kenkon had created all seemed to be solid. Even when he sensed them with Observation Haki, he could not distinguish the real body from the phantoms at all. Cold sweat broke out on Roy's forehead.

For an instant, Roy even felt the urge to activate his Dream Domain immediately. Kenkon's mind had already reached its limit; under the impact of Roy's Dream Domain, he would surely collapse at the first touch. But Roy hesitated at once.

Hadn't he traveled everywhere in search of powerful swordsmen and challenged them again and again precisely to achieve a breakthrough in extreme battles? If he relied on his Devil Fruit Ability to defeat Kenkon, it would surely leave an indelible shadow in his heart. The sword was guided by the heart; swordsmanship was itself a reflection of one's inner self.

A heart covered in dust, no longer flawless, could never climb the peak of swordsmanship. Roy suppressed the restlessness in his heart, and his gaze became resolute once more. It was as if his soul had undergone a cleansing, as though another valve of potential had opened within him, allowing him to hear the rhythm of all things.

Roy pondered for a long time in his mind, but only an instant passed in the outside world. To ordinary people, there would naturally be no difference. Yet in Kenkon's eyes, he could sense the change in Roy's aura: first hesitation and retreat, then unwavering resolve and fearlessness.

He could not help sighing inwardly. Lord Roy truly was a real swordsman. But what a pity. Heaven had allowed him to successfully comprehend the Nine-Headed Dragon Flash today, so victory was destined to be his. After all, the Nine-Headed Dragon Flash was a mighty power capable of slaying even dragons.

"Starfall!" Roy suddenly moved. He was swift as lightning and fierce as thunder, soaring above the nine heavens with the force of a falling meteor, as if he intended to destroy the world.

Kenkon naturally sensed that invincible Sword Intent. If his sword was a fire-breathing dragon, then Roy's sword was the resplendent might of heaven itself, utterly unstoppable. He even felt as though he were challenging the power of nature, utterly helpless before it.

"How can this be? Has he truly stepped across the threshold of a Master Swordsman?" Even knowing he was outmatched, he would never take even half a step back. That was the last dignity of a swordsman.

Boom! Blinding light engulfed the land, and everyone instinctively narrowed their eyes. Then the earth began to tremble, and many people who were caught off guard fell straight to the ground.

By the time everyone came back to their senses, the terrain before them had completely collapsed. The ground itself had sunk considerably, and seawater poured into the depression, quickly filling the hollow and forming an inland lake.

Many people were so shocked that their jaws hung open without them even realizing it. A battle of this level was simply too horrifying. In their imagination, even a barrage of cannon fire could not have achieved such an effect. Was this really something human strength could accomplish?

When they finally recovered from their shock, they discovered that both Roy and Kenkon had vanished. Some of the more malicious-minded people secretly rejoiced, believing that the two had failed to control their power and perished together. Only a few sharp-eyed people noticed that the Phantom Sword Pirates' several Senior Executives had left at some point.

Roy was overjoyed. That slash had absolutely been the pinnacle of his power, already touching upon the domain of a Master Swordsman. Unfortunately, after leaving the state of Unity of Heaven and Man, he could no longer unleash that terrifying technique.

Even so, Roy was more than satisfied. Being able to experience the realm of a Master Swordsman in advance was immensely beneficial to him. He believed that the next time he used "Starfall" would be the moment he stepped into the realm of a Master Swordsman.

By then, Roy had already brought Kenkon back to the dojo. The Kenkon Dojo Master could be said to be on the verge of shattering. His entire body resembled cracked glass, as though he would break into fragments with the slightest touch.

Roy also had a headache. The technique he had just comprehended was simply too powerful, and he had been unable to hold back, severely injuring Kenkon to the brink of death. But Roy had not yet obtained the inheritance from his Dream Memory, so naturally, he could not allow him to die for nothing.

Moreover, in Kenkon's current condition, if Roy forcibly read his dream, Kenkon would likely die within moments, and the dream itself would collapse as well.

Seeing that Roy was still trying to save him, Kenkon was somewhat moved. He did not mind at all that Roy was the one who had injured him so badly. Well, perhaps that was just how men were.

Seeing Kenkon struggle to speak, Roy hurriedly stopped him. "No, don't talk. If your injuries get worse, I really won't be able to save you."

Kenkon remained calm inside and even felt like laughing. He knew his own body best. Even the world's most skilled Ship Doctor could not save him, and the people before him did not look like Ship Doctors at all.

Roy, meanwhile, sighed bitterly. "Sigh, how much Dream Source Power is an injury this severe going to cost me? Being too quick with my hands is a disease. It needs treatment. Forget it, forget it. At least I broke through in swordsmanship this time. Not a loss, not a loss."

After forcefully convincing himself that he had not lost out, Roy had Patch stand guard outside. With Patch's single-minded nature, no outsider would ever get in without Roy's orders.

After all, the ability of his Dream Origin to convert illusion into reality was also a powerful trump card. He did not know how long he could keep it hidden, but he would try his best. If he could conceal it for one day, then he would conceal it for one day. That was also why he had brought Kenkon back for treatment.

King and Kayou, on the other hand, were utterly astonished. They had never seen Roy's miraculous methods before. As for Yonji, well, sorry, but he could practically be called Roy's fanatical believer now. Even if Roy claimed to be the god who created all things in the world, Yonji would never doubt him.

"Dream Domain: Illusion-Reality Conversion." As Roy placed his right hand over Kenkon's body, a burst of seven-colored light flashed forth, and Kenkon's injuries began to fade at a visible rate.

The most astonished person was Kenkon himself. His body changed almost every second. In his own words, it was as if time had been turned back for his body. He even began to wonder whether Roy was a Devil Fruit Ability user capable of controlling time.

When he thought of how Roy had defeated him through swordsmanship alone without even using his Devil Fruit Ability, he felt both dejected and convinced. He admired not only Roy's strength, but also his spirit as a swordsman.

King and Kayou beside them also stared wide-eyed, unable to stop themselves from wondering what kind of Devil Fruit Ability their captain possessed. Wasn't this far too outrageous? King especially had always assumed Roy possessed something like a Puppet Devil Fruit. But now... heh, screw the Puppet Devil Fruit. This was practically a monstrous Devil Fruit, wasn't it?