He Was Still Too Weak!

He Was Still Too Weak!

"Mist Breathing—Still Water Slash!"

This strike from Tsugikuni Yoriichi could effortlessly take the head of any Upper Rank. Even Muzan Kibutsuji, the Demon King, would have no choice but to await execution.

The bamboo sword carried terrifying force as it slashed toward Zephyr.

"Smack!"

The bamboo swords collided with a crisp sound.

With a flick of his bamboo sword, Zephyr effortlessly blocked Yoriichi's horizontal slash.

"Heh!"

"Kid, that was quite an interesting attack!"

Having easily stopped Yoriichi's strike, Zephyr curled his lips into a bright smile.

Although Yoriichi had used a sword technique from Mist Breathing, his slash could still dominate the Demon Slayer World. Yet Zephyr had blocked it with ease. Seeing how casual Zephyr looked, Yoriichi understood that there was an enormous gap in strength between them.

It seems probing attacks are meaningless against an opponent of this level.

I have to go all out from the very start!

"Whew..."

With their bamboo swords pressed together, Yoriichi maintained his stance and took a deep breath. Every muscle in his body suddenly tightened. He tilted his bamboo sword, shedding Zephyr's force, then pushed off the floor with both legs and rapidly closed in.

Sun Breathing—Third Form—Crimson Sun Mirror!

The instant he closed the distance, Yoriichi raised his sword in a reverse grip and slashed again. Though it was clearly a bamboo sword, it was now wreathed in blazing flames.

"What a murderous sword technique!"

Watching the bamboo sword slash toward his neck, Zephyr could not help but praise it. He suddenly extended his left hand and grabbed Yoriichi's bamboo sword.

"Hmm?!!!"

Yoriichi froze at the sight. He had expected Zephyr to dodge, or perhaps withdraw his sword to block, but he had never expected him to reach out and seize the bamboo sword with his bare hand.

And Zephyr had moved so quickly that he had been unable to evade him at all.

Although it was a bamboo sword, empowered by Yoriichi's swordsmanship, its attack power was still terrifying. Flesh and blood should have been unable to withstand it, yet Zephyr had caught it with his hand?!

Through the Transparent World, Yoriichi could see a mass of "energy" gathered in Zephyr's hand. If he was not mistaken, that energy should have been Haki.

"Kid, you lost focus!"

At that moment, Zephyr let out a roar. His right hand, still holding the bamboo sword, shot toward Yoriichi. Though he held a sword, Zephyr attacked Yoriichi with his fist instead.

A fist as large as a sandbag hurtled toward Yoriichi's face. Left with no choice, Yoriichi lightly leaped up, dodging Zephyr's punch while using the force of Zephyr's grip on the sword to launch a midair kick back at Zephyr's face.

"Hehehehe!"

Zephyr suddenly chuckled. Without even trying to dodge, he took Yoriichi's attack squarely on the face. Yoriichi promptly released his sword and used the recoil to fly backward several meters.

After landing, Yoriichi braced himself against the floor with one hand and stared silently at Zephyr, who was holding his bamboo sword.

In a single exchange, he had been disarmed.

Though Zephyr's move had been rather underhanded, it had to be said that Zephyr was far stronger than every swordsman and demon Yoriichi had ever encountered.

They were on completely different levels!

"Yoriichi, how much strength did you use in that last slash?"

As he spoke, Zephyr casually tossed the bamboo sword back to Yoriichi and crooked a finger at him, signaling for him to continue.

"All of it."

Yoriichi caught the sword and answered. Then he rushed toward Zephyr, sword in hand. This time, Yoriichi did not use any special sword technique. He simply swung, slashed, and thrust his bamboo sword at high speed, pushing this body's capabilities to their limit.

In an instant, sword shadows filled the space before Zephyr.

Yoriichi's attacks were not disorderly. Through the Transparent World, he saw Zephyr's "weak points" and aimed every strike at them.

Yet a spot that had been a weakness a moment ago would always be precisely blocked by Zephyr's bamboo sword the moment Yoriichi's slash arrived, erasing the weakness Yoriichi had seen.

For a time, rapid clacking echoes filled the empty dojo.

Under Yoriichi's storm-like assault, Zephyr remained utterly relaxed and even had the leisure to comment:

"Hmm! Not bad."

"The angles of your strikes are quite tricky too. In terms of swordsmanship alone, I might not even be your match."

"Of course, your flaws are obvious too. You're too weak and too slow. You should be fine dealing with ordinary little pirates."

"But against anyone slightly stronger, you probably won't manage."

As he spoke, Zephyr, who had been blocking all along, suddenly exerted force. With a fierce swing, he struck Yoriichi's sword precisely. Terrifying power poured into the bamboo sword, jolting Yoriichi's wrist. Unable to maintain his grip, the bamboo sword was sent flying from his hand.

The bamboo sword spun several times through the air before smashing into the distant wall. With a "Bang!", it blasted through the wall, leaving a large hole.

Yoriichi turned his head to look at the basin-sized hole in the wall, speechless.

He had heard Zephyr's assessment. Not only had he heard it, he had heard it clearly.

He did not know what Zephyr meant by "slow" and "weak," but Yoriichi knew that Zephyr's so-called weak strength could effortlessly lift the leg of a giant tiger. As for speed, Yoriichi had just swung hundreds of times in the span of a single breath.

Seeing Yoriichi standing there in a daze, Zephyr's smile widened. He strolled over, patted Yoriichi on the shoulder, and said with a chuckle:

"Kid, you still have a long road ahead of you."

"You're too weak. Far too weak."

"For the time to come, you'd better train properly. Don't you dare slack off!"

Zephyr suddenly burst into loud laughter.

Just then, the dojo doors were pulled open. A young Marine in uniform rushed into the training hall. Seeing Zephyr inside, he hurriedly asked:

"Teacher Zephyr, what... what just happened here?!"

"Why did a bamboo sword suddenly—"

Before he could finish, Zephyr waved his hand and smiled.

"Oh, Victor!"

"It's nothing, nothing."

"I was just having a little fun with my disciple."

"Let me introduce you. This kid is Tsugikuni Yoriichi, my disciple!"

"Yoriichi, that kid is Victor. He's the swordsmanship instructor at our Marine Academy."

Zephyr introduced the two with a smile. Hearing this, Yoriichi politely nodded at Victor.

However, Victor's expression tightened at those words. His brow twitched as his gaze moved toward the large hole in the wall.

Zephyr might not have known that the bamboo sword that had flown out had passed right in front of Victor's eyes before smashing into a huge bluestone. The stone had cracked, and the bamboo sword had already shattered to pieces.

Victor had nearly been "played" to death by Zephyr!

Even now, Victor still felt lingering fear. Just a little closer—just a little closer—and his family would have been collecting a pension!

"Teacher Zephyr! In the future, please don't just casually play around..." Victor could not help muttering, though his eyes had settled on Yoriichi beside Zephyr.

He did not know Yoriichi. Only the upper ranks knew that Garp had brought Yoriichi back. As a swordsmanship instructor at the Marine Academy, Victor was busy and had no time to concern himself with such matters.

However, the bamboo sword that had just flown out made Victor realize that Teacher Zephyr's new disciple was no ordinary person!

Unlike Yoriichi, Victor knew Zephyr's strength very well. If mere play could cause such a commotion, then this Tsugikuni Yoriichi was probably incredibly strong!

"Teacher, is your disciple planning to study at the Marine Academy?"

Victor sized up Yoriichi before asking Zephyr.

"Study? Ah! No need, you can't teach him—uh, I mean, I'll teach him myself!"

"He's still too young, and his strength is still too weak. Maybe later! Hahahaha!"

Zephyr laughed as he patted Yoriichi's shoulder.

When Victor heard Zephyr say, "his strength is still too weak," his cheek twitched uncontrollably. His gaze once again drifted to the large hole in the wall. He could more or less guess what had happened in the dojo just now.

Since Zephyr had said so, Victor merely nodded. After confirming that Zephyr had no further instructions, he turned and left the dojo.

"Come on, Yoriichi. I'll take you to test your Doriki."

"Once I have a general idea of your level, I can make you a training plan!"

After Victor left, Zephyr did not remain in the dojo either. He led Yoriichi directly out of the training hall.