"Hey, hey, old man, at least remember my name..."
Bogard, standing nearby, said quietly, "Vice Admiral, Era Xiu!"
"Oh! Right! Era Xiu!"
"I just saw your attack and wanted to come over and meet you."
Xiu nodded slightly. He had guessed right.
"Hmm? You're a swordsman too?"
Garp asked, his gaze fixed on Ryūjin Jakka at Xiu's waist.
"Well... my swordsmanship is just so-so."
Hearing that, Gion immediately wanted to protest.
So-so?!
You could beat Akainu with so-so swordsmanship?!
And thrash me for over half a month?!
There was so much to complain about that she did not know where to begin...
"That sword of yours is quite extraordinary..."
As a fellow swordsman, Bogard recognized Ryūjin Jakka's extraordinary nature at a glance.
Xiu looked at Bogard.
The latter's eyes were filled with fighting spirit.
Apparently, he was very eager to test his swordsmanship against Xiu!
"Commodore Xiu, might I spar with you?"
Just as I thought... Xiu said inwardly.
Xiu readily agreed. Actual combat was a great help in understanding the way of the sword.
With that, Gion and Garp stepped aside.
They left the field to Xiu and Bogard.
"Xiu, don't underestimate Adjutant Bogard!"
Gion said to Xiu.
He smiled and nodded.
"Of course I won't... I might even go all out!"
With that, Xiu slowly drew Ryūjin Jakka from his waist.
He looked at Bogard across from him.
By then, Bogard had also gripped his sword's gray hilt.
He said calmly:
"This blade is one of the 50 Skillful Grade Blades: Kin'enju!"
"Please show me your skill!"
With that, Bogard pushed off with his right foot.
The next second, the blade in his hand was already above Xiu's head!
Clang!
For the first strike, Xiu naturally chose to block it head-on!
Quickly deflecting Bogard's blade,
Xiu slashed horizontally at Bogard's abdomen!
Bogard followed the momentum and leaned backward, dodging Xiu's attack!
The two passed each other with swords in hand, ending up several meters apart.
Xiu casually twirled his sword, watching Bogard with an impassive expression.
"Adjutant, my turn..."
Whoosh! Shunpo!
In the blink of an eye, Xiu was already in front of Bogard.
His swing was faster than Bogard's!
And more powerful!
Bogard moved to raise his blade to block.
But the force transmitted in that instant made his pupils contract!
This is bad! Too much force!
Bang!
Accompanied by the sound of the floor cracking,
it shattered in an instant!
But Bogard did not fall!
At the last moment, Bogard immediately switched to a two-handed grip!
He used all his strength to resist Xiu's force!
After barely managing to block the strike,
Bogard did not choose to retreat!
Instead, he charged resolutely at Xiu, gripping his blade with both hands!
The two traded blows.
"Oh? This kid's swordsmanship is impressive..."
A gleam flashed through Garp's eyes as he watched from the sidelines.
Gion nodded in agreement.
"Vice Admiral Garp, Xiu's swordsmanship really is impressive!"
"I challenged him dozens of times over half a month, and every attempt ended in defeat!"
Garp paused at her words. Gion was one of the Navy's few swordsmanship experts.
To think he could defeat Gion...
Garp said with a smile:
"Looks like the kid was being modest earlier..."
"Bogard's breathing is disrupted. Looks like the outcome has been decided!"
Just as Garp said, Bogard's breathing was already in complete disarray!
For a swordsman, this was a sign of impending defeat!
Because an opponent would seize that opportunity
to attack relentlessly!
Just as Bogard expected,
a scarlet gleam flashed through Xiu's eyes,
like a demon from hell!
Ryūjin Jakka swung faster and faster in his hand!
Bogard found it increasingly difficult to block!
Finally, after blocking several strikes,
Bogard's blade was knocked aside!
Xiu naturally would not let this opportunity slip!
Whoosh!
The next second, Ryūjin Jakka was already poised before Bogard's neck!
Only a fraction of a centimeter away!
A bead of cold sweat formed on Bogard's forehead.
Recalling Xiu's eyes just now,
it had seemed as though he really intended to kill him!
Swallowing with difficulty, he lowered Kin'enju.
"I... I lost!"
Hearing this, Xiu sheathed Ryūjin Jakka.
He chuckled. "As expected of the adjutant. You're certainly strong."
Bogard wiped the sweat from his forehead and shook his head.
"I still have a long way to go..."
Garp, standing in the distance, nodded slightly in agreement.
Indeed, he still had a long way to go...
After all, Xiu had not shed a single drop of sweat!
As though, to him, this battle
had not even counted as a warm-up...
He turned his head and asked Gion beside him:
"Gion, does he always finish this quickly?"
Gion nodded in response. "Mm... he's always quick. He never goes easy on a woman."
"I thought so... this kid is still a little green!"
"Gion, you need to take the initiative!"
Xiu, standing nearby: "???"
Weren't we talking about swordsmanship?!
Why do I get the feeling there's something wrong with you, old man?!
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