Dunn leaped through the air as well, landing on the beach by the small island.
Standing on the soft sand, Dunn fixed his gaze on Koshiro, who stood some distance away.
"Let's go all out this time. I want to test my limits."
Dunn stressed it once more. When he finished speaking, he opened his Observation Haki to its fullest.
He had fought Koshiro many times. Though Koshiro had never truly gone all out in those bouts, Dunn knew his swordsmanship.
The Shimotsuki Family's inherited sword style, which Dunn often practiced, was something he was good at—but a top swordsman was far from simple.
"I had the same thing in mind."
Koshiro pushed up his glasses. His eyes, visible behind the lenses, rested calmly on Dunn.
"This will be your graduation test, too. You may be the most talented student I've ever taught."
Koshiro knew full well that Dunn had been holding back as well.
Dunn had never used that fiery power in their previous bouts. Perhaps this time, Koshiro would finally see him use it.
With that thought, Koshiro reached for Wado Ichimonji and drew it. Black Haki wrapped around his arm and hand, then coiled around the blade.
The flowing Haki rippled like water.
Dunn did the same. He gripped Flame's hilt with his left hand and slowly drew the unusually long sword. Haki appeared, wrapping around the blade.
In the next instant, the sand beneath them exploded.
Clang!
A piercing metallic crash rang out. The two stood locked together, blades crossed. A violent shockwave surged outward, sending ripples across the beach and the sea.
The trees in the distance bent beneath the force.
"You haven't forgotten what I'm good at, have you?"
Dunn's expression hardened. His right arm surged with strength, swinging Koshiro away. Dunn followed close behind, the blade of Flame tracing a wide arc as he slashed at Koshiro, who was flying backward.
Wado Ichimonji, wrapped in Armament Haki, met the oncoming blade and lifted Koshiro a little higher. The black slash passed beneath him.
Boom!
The slash tore through the island's forest, leaving an enormously long scar.
"I once told you that a swordsman had to learn to control his strength."
After landing, Koshiro sensed the force of Dunn's attack with Observation Haki. He looked at Dunn, who had landed as well, and spoke.
"Right, you did. But that doesn't really suit me."
Dunn held his sword before him. A streak of orange-red appeared on his hand, and several spirals of flame coiled around the blade.
"Flames should be fierce and blazing. They don't stay calm."
As Dunn finished speaking, the fire streaked through the air, leaving a trail behind it. His long blade, wreathed in blazing flames, came crashing down toward Koshiro.
Koshiro slipped aside. Wado Ichimonji flashed dimly as he thrust straight at Dunn's wrist.
The flaming sword came down with tremendous force. But before the blow could fully land, Dunn abruptly changed course, turning the downward slash into a horizontal one. It met Wado Ichimonji as Koshiro shifted his attack.
Koshiro used the impact to retreat again, but the flaming sword stayed close behind.
Fierce waves of flaming sword energy shot out one after another. Koshiro retreated, repeatedly twisting aside to evade each slash.
The searing attacks rapidly raised the temperature around them.
"Those are some impressive slashes!"
Koshiro spoke as he backed away, but he couldn't put any distance between himself and Dunn.
Compared to Koshiro's skillful techniques, Dunn's attacks were simple and direct, driven by overwhelming force.
Koshiro had warned Dunn that the seas were full of powerful fighters with monstrous physiques, and that relying on sheer strength might one day cost him dearly.
Even so, Dunn had continued down that path.
It was a clash between strength and skill.
As Dunn charged at him, Koshiro lightly tapped the ground with his foot. His body glided soundlessly toward Dunn, and his sword thrust forward, leaving several afterimages.
His target was Dunn's eyes.
But Wado Ichimonji collided with Dunn's Armament Haki-coated hand.
The sharp blade failed to harm Dunn in the slightest.
Again!
Koshiro sighed inwardly. He withdrew Wado Ichimonji and met Flame as it came down. Then he spun, using the impact to propel himself into another midair flip, and thrust his sword again.
He knew Dunn's body was unusual. In their previous bouts, he had realized countless times how difficult it was to hurt him.
But even a monster-level talent like this had to have its limits.
Faced with the sword thrusting toward his chest and abdomen, Dunn instinctively retreated, avoiding the oncoming blade.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Koshiro unleashed several dark slashes. His body followed right behind them, seeming to become a slash itself as he streaked toward Dunn, trailing afterimages.
"You should know this move."
Dunn sheathed his sword. Facing the incoming slashes, he rested his right hand on the hilt.
"Flame—Nadeshigiri!"
Whoosh! His blade seemed to cleave through space, cutting every incoming slash apart. In the next instant, before Koshiro could react, the sword was already in front of him.
Boom!
Koshiro's figure was sent flying.
He spun through the air and crashed into the distant woods.
Dunn pointed his long sword diagonally at the ground and looked toward the spot where Koshiro had landed. Then he lowered his gaze to his abdomen.
His shirt had been sliced open.
"That was incredible!"
Dunn hadn't even realized when he'd been hit. His Observation Haki hadn't detected the attack, either.
"Looks like I'll have to go all out."
Koshiro's voice came from far away. In the next instant, he leaped out of the woods, flowing Haki filling Wado Ichimonji in his hand.
Then he plunged down from the air.
A smile spread across Dunn's face. He bent his legs sharply, and flowing Haki wrapped around the blade in his hand. More and more Haki gathered over the sword as flames blazed along it.
In the next instant, the sand beneath Dunn's feet exploded.
A long trail of fire streamed behind him, like an enormous orange-red cape. His swinging blade carved an orange-red circle through the air.
Clang!
The sword rising from below collided with the sword coming from the opposite direction. They locked together in midair.
The clash lasted only an instant before the blades slid past each other.
Dunn's expression tightened. From the corner of his eye, he saw a figure and a sword sweep past his side.
[Health: 87%]
Dunn, who had soared into the sky, turned to look at Koshiro as he fell.
Koshiro didn't hesitate as he descended. In an instant, he turned and shot upward again, pursuing Dunn. Wado Ichimonji radiated danger as he slashed at him.
Dunn swung around and punched. His fist collided with the oncoming sword. With no leverage in midair, he actually lost the contest of strength and was sent flying by the blow.
The tides had turned.
As Dunn fell, sword blades and slashes assailed him from every direction. Koshiro's body left countless afterimages.
Dunn swung his sword, blocking the incoming slashes, but many still struck him.
Boom!
Dunn collided head-on with a slash meant to force him back into the sky, then slammed down from the air onto the ground.
Riiip!
Dunn tore off his tattered shirt, revealing his muscular upper body. There wasn't a single mark on it.
But his health had already fallen below half.
Koshiro landed, panting. He looked at Dunn, who hadn't suffered a single injury, and a trace of helplessness crossed his face.
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