"Clang, clang, clang..."
Soon, a rapid series of "hammering" sounds rang out inside Isshin Dojo.
Sparring with Shimotsuki Koshiro naturally meant they could not use wooden swords like the young students, but they did not go outside either, instead beginning their bout right inside the dojo.
Since they were indoors, despite all the lively exchanges of slashes, the fight was not actually intense at all.
Never mind Armament Haki-Xie Wen barely even used Spirit Blade, and Koshiro did not use any sword techniques either. Both simply relied on their respective swordsmanship experience to counter each other's moves.
Even so, Xie Wen sensed something in Koshiro's sword, though he could not figure out exactly what it was right away. He instinctively activated Observation Haki, but rather than using it to sense danger or anticipate Koshiro's moves, he focused all his attention on the other man's blade.
Koshiro had already given Wado Ichimonji to Zoro, so the sword he currently held was no famous sword, and its quality could only be called passable. Forget a Skillful Grade Sword-even the Nodachi Cody had given Xie Wen back then was sharper and tougher.
Yet this utterly unremarkable long sword gave Xie Wen a sense of "power." Even the Great Grade Sword called Kentaur had not given him that feeling back then.
Moreover, Xie Wen clearly knew that this feeling actually had little to do with the blade's own quality. This strange situation made him focus even harder on sensing the aura of that sword.
As Xie Wen's attention wandered, his sword moves naturally became disorganized. Koshiro did not seize the opportunity to gain an advantage, instead continuing to parry Xie Wen's attacks, which were riddled with openings.
With Koshiro deliberately accommodating him, Xie Wen soon noticed the key...
In his perception, this long sword