Swordsmanship

"Mosen, the swordsmanship I learned in the Navy is the most common Iaido on the high seas, also called Iaido Slash, and known as Quick Draw Slash by civilians.

The core of this swordsmanship is to kill with a single blow. Simply put, it's about defeating the enemy the moment you draw your sword.

Therefore, this sword technique demands very high speed and Observation Haki.

It is said that Iaido Slash originated from the samurai of Wano Country 800 years ago and is known as the simplest yet most powerful swordsmanship.

My sword instructor once told me that Iaido Slash has no upper limit. As long as you are strong enough, the slashes you can unleash will become increasingly powerful.

However, this swordsmanship also has its drawbacks. Iaido Slash's one-hit kill requires intense concentration, gathering all your spirit, energy, and mind into that single strike. Once you miss, it greatly affects your own state.

Next, I'll demonstrate Iaido Slash for you. Paddy, I'll trouble you."

Paddy nodded and walked in front of Michael.

Michael was seen fastening a standard Navy longsword to his waist, assuming a lunge stance, his right hand gripping the hilt tightly.

The next second, Michael's entire demeanor changed. The previously decadent uncle transformed in the blink of an eye into a sharp, exposed blade.

Mosen's Observation Haki could clearly sense Michael's life force growing bit by bit, while his spirit, energy, and mind were all converging towards his right hand—no, towards the sword itself.

"Iaido Slash: Instant Kill!"

With a roar from Michael, a white slash tore through the wind and snow, flying directly towards Paddy.

Mosen, standing not far away, suddenly felt a stinging sensation on his face. He reached up and touched it, discovering a small cut.

Mosen was shocked. He was at least 10 meters away from Michael and Paddy, observing from the side. Michael's attack wasn't aimed at him at all, yet his face was still cut.

Is the sheer sharpness emanating from Michael's slash capable of cutting my face from this distance? Is swordsmanship this terrifying? Mosen wondered to himself.

However, the next second, Mosen was dumbfounded. The attack, which seemed unstoppable to him, was met by Paddy with no intention of dodging.

Paddy coated her fist with Armament Haki and slammed it into Michael's slash.

With a "clang" sound, like metal colliding, Michael's slash was directly scattered by Paddy.

"Hiss~" Mosen gasped in shock at the scene before him.

"That stings a little," Paddy said, releasing her Armament Haki and slowly loosening her fist.

Mosen quickly looked at Paddy's fist. He believed that with the power of Michael's attack, Paddy couldn't have taken it without injury.

Indeed, Mosen found a bloodstain on the back of Paddy's hand.

But before Mosen could get a clear look, the bloodstain healed completely at a visible speed.

It was then that Mosen finally understood what Paddy meant when she said the prisoners couldn't hurt her.

Michael was different from those prisoners. Michael had been staying in the small house and didn't have to worry about food. Although he didn't eat much, he didn't suffer from the cold, so his stamina should have recovered considerably.

Michael now possessed at least half of his full strength.

And Michael's slash had gathered all his strength. Mosen admitted he couldn't have taken that blow, yet Paddy faced it head-on without dodging, only to receive a shallow cut on her hand that healed in the blink of an eye.

This clearly showed the vast difference between Michael and Paddy.

Mosen had been quite pleased with his own progress recently, thinking that with his current strength, pirates with bounties below 100 million were just fodder.

Even against someone like Michael or Ian, he felt he could put up a fight. As for Mia, without Observation Haki, wouldn't Mia be easy to defeat?

But after witnessing Michael's attack, Mosen realized there was still a gap between him and Michael, let alone Paddy, who was infinitely stronger than Michael.

Actually, it made sense. Paddy could fight Kuzan to a standstill. While Kuzan at this time was certainly not as strong as when he became a Marine Admiral, he was still far beyond the level of an ordinary Vice Admiral.

Saulo, being a Giant, possessed strength far exceeding that of ordinary humans, yet Kuzan at this period had the power to instantly kill Saulo.

By that logic, Paddy should be able to do the same.

Michael's strength was roughly at the level of a Rear Admiral nearing Vice Admiral in Marine Headquarters. Thinking about it this way, it wasn't unreasonable for his full-powered strike to be easily blocked by Paddy.

Mosen wasn't the only one shocked by Paddy; Michael, who had just unleashed the slash, was also questioning reality.

"Paddy, how old are you this year?" Michael asked after a long silence.

"Me? 32!"

"32? I'm 27 this year. We're about the same age. I know you're very strong, but I didn't expect you to be this much stronger than me," Michael said with a wry smile.

"Paddy, you truly are a monster. The Navy should be grateful you were captured. Otherwise, with your potential, you might be able to fight Admirals to a standstill in 20 years," Ian said from the side.

"Hehe!" Paddy chuckled sheepishly at the praise. "Lord Shiki also said I have great potential and might become the pillar of the Flying Pirate Group in the future.

However, Lord Shiki said my Devil Fruit ability isn't that great and will limit my growth. If it's not a Mythical Zoan, then a Zoan is just tough and durable."

"A Zoan Ancient Zoan isn't good enough? A single Ancient Zoan fruit would fetch at least 300 million gold coins at auction. These big shots really have high standards!" Mia couldn't help but complain.

"Alright, alright! Enough about that. Mosen, did you see my demonstration clearly just now?" Michael asked.

Mosen nodded.

"Good. Now, Mosen, you will imitate my stance and practice drawing and sheathing your sword a thousand times every day for a month. After a month, we'll see how proficient you are."

"I understand. Oh, right, Paddy, I'll also be relying on you for the follow-up training of my Armament Haki. Currently, I've only mastered hardening. I've just touched the threshold of emission. I want to master Armament Haki emission in the shortest possible time."

"Will learning Armament Haki and swordsmanship at the same time be too much?" Paddy hesitated slightly.

"Don't worry! It'll be fine. What I need most right now is high-intensity training to improve my physical condition and stamina."

"Alright! I will also teach you Armament Haki diligently," Paddy promised.

There are many Iaido swordsmen in the world of pirates. Zoro mainly uses Iaido as well, so the protagonist chose this relatively common sword technique.