Heavenly Wheel: Circle Sword

Zoro's words, "soulless toys," deeply wounded Erza's pride.

She acknowledged his strength, but she also had absolute confidence in her own swords and magic!

"Words are useless!" Erza's gaze turned razor-sharp. "I'll use my sword to make you take back what you just said!"

She stopped hesitating and took the initiative to attack!

She did not choose any wide-ranging, destructive techniques, because she did not want to further damage the guild. Instead, she chose the sword technique that demanded the greatest skill and embodied the essence of the Heavenly Wheel Armor!

"Heavenly Wheel: Circle Sword!"

With her sharp cry, the dozens of flying swords hovering around her seemed to come alive. They transformed into streaks of silver light, tearing through the air with piercing whistles as they came from every direction. From all manner of unimaginable, vicious angles, they formed a loose yet inescapable net of blades that completely engulfed Zoro!

Some of the flying swords thrust directly at vital points, some slashed at his joints, some blocked off his retreat, while others anticipated his evasion routes. They worked together flawlessly. This was no longer mere swordsmanship, but an art that perfectly combined magical control with a swordsman's combat wisdom!

The mages present were all astonished by the move's beauty and lethality. In their eyes, no one could possibly survive this silver storm of death.

Yet Zoro's response to this sword dance, enough to overwhelm any opponent, was terrifyingly calm.

He remained standing in that crater, as though his feet had taken root.

Only when the first flying sword was about to pierce his brow did he finally move.

He moved.

But it was not his body that moved. It was the Wado Ichimonji at his waist, which everyone had assumed was merely an ornament.

"Clang!"

In an instant, his left hand gripped the snow-white scabbard and hilt. He did not even fully draw the blade, pulling out only half of it!

Then began a "swordsmanship lesson" that everyone would remember for the rest of their lives.

"Clang!"

Holding the blade in his left hand, he flicked his wrist and precisely deflected a flying sword attacking from his left with the exposed half of the blade. The tremendous force sent the magical sword flying backward, crashing into another sword.

"Ting!"

He slightly shifted his body, and the blade rose as though it had eyes, flicking upward from an incredible angle to perfectly knock aside a short sword slicing toward his neck.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

His movements were unbelievably fast, yet unbelievably simple. There was not a trace of unnecessary flourish. Every swing served only one purpose—blocking, deflecting, cutting.

He was like a master chess player. Erza's dozens of flying swords were his opponent, while the half-drawn blade in his hand was his only piece. Yet he could always neutralize the deadliest attack at the smallest cost.

Erza's Circle Sword emphasized quantity, variation, and coverage.

Zoro's sword, however, possessed only the purest—strength, speed, and precision.

Erza's expression grew increasingly grave.

She could feel that he was not taking this seriously at all. He had not even moved a single step, had not used his right hand, and had not used his full strength. Merely holding a half-drawn blade in reverse with his left hand, he had completely suppressed the sword dance she took such pride in.

This was no longer a battle. It was a crushing defeat.

"Not enough! Still not enough!" Erza refused to yield. She poured more magic into the flying swords, trying to break through his defense with greater speed and power.

The flying swords abruptly accelerated, leaving silver afterimages in the air as their assault became a raging tempest!

Zoro's brow rose slightly, as though he had finally felt a little pressure.

"Now this is getting interesting."

He murmured, and his left hand began to move faster as well!

For a time, the entire guild hall was filled with dense clashes of steel, like rain beating against banana leaves! All anyone could see was a silver storm of sword light completely enveloping that green figure. Yet at the heart of the storm, a point of snow-bright blade light stood like a lighthouse amid towering waves. No matter how the wind and rain battered it, it remained unshaken, firmly keeping every attack at bay!