Strength and Skill! The Two Clash

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 Koushiro a short distance away.

"Go all out this time. I want to test my limits."

Dunn stressed it again. After speaking, he unleashed his Observation Haki.

He had crossed swords with Koushiro many times. Though Koushiro had never truly gone all out in those bouts, Dunn still knew his swordsmanship.

Koushiro had said that the Shimotsuki Family's inherited sword style was something he excelled at, but a Top-tier Swordsman was no ordinary opponent.

"I was thinking the same thing."

Koushiro raised a hand to adjust his glasses, his eyes calm behind the lenses as he watched Dunn.

"This will count as your graduation exam, too. You may be the most talented student I've ever taught."

Koushiro knew that Dunn had been holding back as well.

Dunn had never used that power of Flame in their previous bouts. Perhaps Koushiro would finally see it this time.

At the thought, Koushiro drew Wado Ichimonji. Black Haki wrapped around his arm and hand, then flowed onto the blade.

The flowing Haki rippled like water.

Dunn did the same. He reached for the hilt of Flame, which he held in his left hand, and slowly drew the exceptionally long sword. Haki appeared and coiled around the blade.

The next moment, the sand beneath them exploded.

Clang!

A piercing metallic crash rang out. The two locked blades, and a violent shockwave blasted outward, sending ripples across the beach and the sea.

The trees in the distance bent under the force of the impact.

"You do remember what my strong suit is, right?!"

Dunn's expression hardened. He swung his sword arm with all his strength, sending Koushiro flying. Dunn chased after him, Flame's blade tracing a wide arc as it came down on the airborne swordsman.

Wado Ichimonji, coated in Armament Haki, met the oncoming blade. The impact lifted Koushiro higher, and the black slash swept beneath him.

Boom!

The slash tore through the island's forest, leaving an extraordinarily long gash among the trees.

"I told you once that a swordsman had to learn to control his strength."

After landing, Koushiro used Observation Haki to sense the power of Dunn's attack. He watched Dunn touch down and spoke.

"Right, you did. But that approach doesn't really suit me."

Dunn held his sword before him. A flash of orange-red appeared around his hand, and several spirals of Flame coiled around the blade.

"Flame should be explosive and fierce. It doesn't stay calm."

As Dunn finished speaking, Flame streaked through the air. His long blade, wreathed in fierce flames, came crashing down toward Koushiro.

Koushiro sidestepped. Wado Ichimonji flashed dimly as he thrust it straight at Dunn's wrist.

The swift blade carried tremendous force, but before the strike could land, Dunn abruptly changed course. His overhead slash became a horizontal swing, clashing with Wado Ichimonji as Koushiro shifted his attack.

Koushiro used the impact to retreat again, but Flame pursued him without pause.

Violent waves of fiery sword energy shot forth one after another. Koushiro retreated, constantly twisting aside to evade each slash.

The scorching attacks sent the temperature around them soaring.

"Those are some impressive slashes!"

Koushiro spoke as he backed away, but he couldn't put any distance between himself and Dunn.

Compared to Koushiro's skillful techniques, Dunn's were simple and direct, each one carrying tremendous force.

Koushiro had warned Dunn that countless monsters with terrifying physiques roamed the seas, and that relying on strength alone could cost him dearly one day.

Yet Dunn had continued down that path.

This was a clash of strength and skill.

As Dunn charged at him, Koushiro lightly tapped the ground with his foot and slipped soundlessly within reach. His sword thrust forward, leaving several afterimages.

His target was Dunn's eyes.

But Wado Ichimonji struck Dunn's hand, wrapped in Armament Haki.

The sharp blade failed to harm Dunn in the slightest.

Again!

Koushiro sighed inwardly. He drew Wado Ichimonji back and met Flame as it came down. Then he spun with the force of the clash, flipped through the air, 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 wound him.

But even a monster's talent had to have its limits.

Faced with the sword thrusting at his chest and abdomen, Dunn instinctively retreated, evading the incoming blade.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Koushiro sent out several dark slashes. His body followed behind them, seeming to become a slash itself as he rushed at Dunn, trailing afterimages.

"You should know this move."

Dunn sheathed his sword. Facing the oncoming slashes, he rested his right hand on the hilt.

"Flame: Nadeshiko Slash!"

With a whoosh, the blade seemed to cut through space, shattering every incoming slash. The next instant, before Koushiro could react, the sword was already in front of him.

Boom!

His figure was sent flying.

Koushiro spun through the air and crashed into the distant forest.

Dunn held his long sword at an angle toward the ground and looked toward the spot where Koushiro had landed. Then he glanced down at his abdomen.

His clothes there had been cut open.

"That was impressive!"

Dunn hadn't even noticed when he'd been hit. His Observation Haki hadn't picked up the attack either.

"Looks like I'll have to go all out."

Koushiro's voice rang out from afar. The next moment, he leaped from the forest, flowing Haki filling Wado Ichimonji in his hand.

Then he dove down from the air.

A smile spread across Dunn's face. He bent his knees sharply, and flowing Haki wrapped around the blade in his hand. His Haki surged toward the sword as Flame blazed along it.

The next moment, the sand beneath Dunn's feet exploded.

A long trail of Flame streamed behind him, like an enormous orange-red cape. His swinging blade carved an orange-red circle through the air.

Clang!

The upward strike collided with the sword coming from the opposite direction. They locked in midair.

The deadlock lasted only an instant before their blades slid past one another.

Dunn's expression tightened. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Koushiro and his sword passing by.

[Health: 87%]

Dunn shot into the sky and turned to look at Koushiro as he fell.

Koushiro didn't pause as he descended. In an instant, he turned and shot skyward again, chasing after Dunn. Wado Ichimonji radiated danger as he slashed at him.

Dunn twisted and punched, meeting the oncoming sword with his fist. Unable to find purchase in midair, he somehow lost the contest of strength and was sent flying by the strike.

In an instant, the tide had turned.

As Dunn fell, blades and slashes assailed him from every direction. Koushiro's body left countless afterimages.

Dunn swung his sword, blocking the incoming slashes, but many still struck him.

Boom!

Dunn slammed head-on into a slash meant to force him back into the sky. His body crashed down from the air and hit the ground.

Rrrip!

Dunn tore off his tattered shirt, revealing a muscular torso. Not a single mark marred his skin.

But his health had already dropped below half.

Koushiro landed, panting. Seeing that Dunn hadn't suffered a scratch, a trace of helplessness crossed his face.