Flying Slash, Learned in Just a Few Minutes?

Ares's heart began to pound wildly, and a powerful yearning and desire suddenly surged within him.

Suddenly.

There was only one thought in his mind: he felt that he ought to train in swordsmanship!

He would definitely become the strongest swordsman on these seas!

It was a powerful confidence born into his very nature.

Ares's voice was so excited that it had turned slightly hoarse. "Golden Lion, I want to learn swordsmanship!"

That sword strike had been incredibly cool and effortless!

Its power had been beyond imagination.

It filled Ares with longing.

At that moment, his mind once again replayed the scene of Golden Lion unleashing that slash. Frame by frame, the images played through his head.

From the moment Golden Lion gripped his sword until the golden slash sliced off the mountaintop.

Again and again.

The angle and speed of the swing, the movement of his arm as he exerted force, and everything else were absorbed bit by bit by Ares's mind.

After slowing the scene down, Ares also understood the strength of Shiki the Golden Lion—and the power of that slash!

It had been merely a casual strike, yet it contained all kinds of techniques as well as tremendous and ferocious force.

Seeing Ares's impatient, eager expression, Golden Lion could not help throwing his head back and laughing. "Gyahahaha... Now you know how powerful swordsmanship is, right?"

"Ares, one day you will feel fortunate for what you did today!"

"Having a great swordsman of Dual Sword Style personally guide you in swordsmanship will be the blessing of your entire life!"

Ochoku patted his shoulder, his eyes filled with high hopes, and said earnestly, "Learn well from Shiki. If you master all of his swordsmanship..."

"Your name, Ares, will resound throughout these seas!"

He then looked toward Shiki the Golden Lion and said with a smile, "Heheh, I'll leave Ares to you for now. I'll head back first."

Golden Lion was going to teach Ares swordsmanship, so Ochoku tactfully chose to leave.

But just as he turned around, a blue light stabbed at his eyes.

A sharp whoosh rang beside his ears!

A fierce gust of wind slammed into him. He could not help turning his head, and cried out in shock, "Flying... sl... slash?!"

A blue slash several meters wide shot through the air.

With a boom, it struck a large tree, producing an explosive sound and knocking the tree down.

"Wh—what?!" Golden Lion also widened his eyes, his voice stretching out in astonishment!

"This kid has already learned how to slash?!"

At that moment, Golden Lion was deeply shaken. Ares had actually used "his own arm" to unleash a—Flying Slash—in just a few minutes!!!

The two of them were completely dumbfounded!

Gulp.

Ochoku swallowed, then asked Golden Lion with an unnatural expression, "Shiki, how long did it take you to learn Flying Slash back then?!"

His question plunged Golden Lion into recollection. After all, it had happened a long time ago, but his impression of comprehending Flying Slash remained extremely vivid.

He immediately answered Ochoku's question. "About two or three years!"

Golden Lion then asked Ochoku, "How long did it take you?"

"Four years!" Ochoku replied solemnly.

His heart was filled with deep shock. It had taken him four years to comprehend and learn Flying Slash from being an ordinary swordsman who wielded a sword, whereas Ares had needed only a few minutes. It had completely overturned their understanding.

At that moment, Ares's brows drew together slightly, and he said with some dissatisfaction, "No, it's far too different from the slash you just unleashed."

"Could it be because my body can't compare to a Famous Sword?"

Golden Lion's slash had been powerful enough to level a mountain peak, and its cut had been smooth and even, just like a mirror.

His own slash, meanwhile, had been extremely violent and savage, like a "cannonball." It had not cut through anything—it had exploded.

Ares then continued observing and replaying the brilliance of Golden Lion's sword strike in his mind while once again using his own arm to imitate it.

He treated his thick, sturdy arm as a sword. As he swung it, powerful streams of air whipped up, forming fierce winds that scattered in every direction.

Accompanied by a series of whooshing sounds.

It sounded just like the noise made when a huge iron rod was swung rapidly.

As Ares's arm bent and rose and fell, dazzling blue sword lights shot from it one after another, landing on the distant ground with booming crashes.

This also forced Golden Lion and Ochoku to retreat slightly. Ochoku could not help exclaiming, "Shiki, don't you think this guy's slashes look a lot like the Navy's Six Powers?!"

Hearing this, Shiki the Golden Lion nodded in agreement. "However, Ares's slashes aren't the Six Powers technique Tempest Kick. His slashes still aren't sharp enough!"

"That causes the power of his slashes to lack concentration, which is why they explode like bombs!"

He then praised him with some emotion. "But this is already astonishing. Ares has only just come into contact with slashes, yet he already has such incredible talent. It's truly enviable!"

"This talent is terrifying. I still underestimated Ares somewhat. Moreover, his path in swordsmanship is destined to be filled with thorns." Ochoku's eyes remained fixed on Ares.

His expression also changed. The slashes had already begun to grow even more powerful, and after Ares's repeated attempts and adjustments, their might was rapidly increasing!!

A great storm surged through his heart. He exclaimed in amazement, "If this guy keeps growing, his body will transform into an exceptionally terrifying weapon!!"

Nearby, Golden Lion was overjoyed. His eyes shone brightly as he threw his head back and laughed. "Gyahahaha... I told you, he's a man born for the sword!!"

"In Ares's hands, swordsmanship will definitely bloom with light that shocks the world!"

His domineering eyes held intense anticipation and a hint of pride in his achievement. A new star of swordsmanship was rising before him, and one day it would surely illuminate the entire sea.

Ochoku nodded in agreement. Stroking his beard as he calmed the shock in his heart, he assessed, "Ares's talent is unprecedented. His joining the Rocks Pirates may well be the guidance of fate!!"

"The Rocks Pirates will be the most suitable soil for his growth!"

He turned to Golden Lion and said enviously, "If I had known Ares's talent in swordsmanship was this strong, I should have taught him swordsmanship first."

"I'm leaving now. I won't disturb you while you teach him swordsmanship."

After Ochoku left.

Golden Lion strode over to Ares. Because of their difference in height, he had to tilt his head up slightly. "Ares, now you know how powerful swordsmanship is, right? And training in swordsmanship has even more benefits."

"Training in swordsmanship can improve your body's agility and dexterity. It can also cultivate and hone your instantaneous reaction speed, endurance, and more."

"Training in swordsmanship isn't merely physical tempering. It also has powerful effects on the mind, strengthening concentration and decisiveness."

He felt it necessary to tell Ares about the benefits of practicing swordsmanship, so that he could spur this fellow to train hard and seriously.

Swordsmanship truly had many benefits.

On this point, Shiki the Golden Lion had considerable authority. He had practiced swordsmanship for more than ten years, and the benefits it had brought him were immense.

After listening to Golden Lion's earnest explanation, Ares's expression also became solemn. His tone firm, he said, "I'll train seriously in swordsmanship!"

Then, filled with heroic spirit and confidence, he declared forcefully:

"I will become a swordsman stronger than everyone else!!"