Time passed quickly. For those past middle age, a month felt like no more than the flick of a finger.
That was even more true for Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
November, late autumn.
Yet the climate around the Boin Archipelago was like the height of summer.
Today was especially hot. Thick clouds blanketed the sky, and even the damp air drawn into one's lungs felt stiflingly hot.
A warship suddenly appeared on the vast sea, speeding toward the eastern island of the Boin Archipelago.
Then, a deep hum rang out from the distant island. A slash shot from the center of the eastern island and blasted into the sky. In the blink of an eye, it vanished into the clouds.
In an instant, the thick clouds over the island seemed to have been parted by a hand, opening a crack a thousand meters long. Blazing sunlight streamed through the clouds and poured down onto the island.
At the railing on the warship's bow, a tall young Marine in his early thirties stared at the sight with undisguised astonishment in his eyes.
After a long while, the young Marine smacked his lips and sighed softly. "That's really terrifying."
On the Boin Archipelago, Tsugikuni Yoriichi looked at the corpse of the giant bear lying before him, its body severed in two, and slowly sheathed his sword.
He raised his head and glanced at the rift in the sky, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Over the past month, his strength had surged at an unprecedented rate. The speed of his growth was exactly like when he had first begun learning Haki and the Six Powers.
At the same time, the thrill of rapidly becoming stronger had immersed Tsugikuni Yoriichi in training to the point where he could not pull himself away.
Training was