"Comrade Koshiro, your swordsmanship is strong, but it still has some shortcomings."
Athena put away her two swords and spoke earnestly, her eyes revealing her focus and enthusiasm for discussing swordsmanship.
She frowned slightly, seemingly replaying the battle they had just fought over and over in her mind.
"Your sword lacks offensive power. I feel it shouldn't be this way.
"With your foundation in swordsmanship, there should still be considerable room for improvement."
Athena spoke slowly as she thought, her voice carrying conviction.
Koshiro nodded thoughtfully, a glimmer of agreement flashing in his eyes as he said:
"Thank you, Comrade Athena. That battle gave me some insights as well.
"But I'm still missing that one crucial bit of understanding, and I haven't been able to break through this bottleneck."
Nearby, Kakarot, Lilith, Lina, and the others also fell deep in thought.
Although they were not proficient in swordsmanship, each had their own insights into cultivating "intent."
Vian and Yingyue focused entirely on reviewing the sword duel between the two, trying to learn something from it.
For a time, silence settled over the scene. Only the sea breeze brushed gently past, making everyone's clothes flutter.
Koshiro slowly sat cross-legged on the ground, closed his eyes, and entered a meditative state.
He reflected on what he had gained from the battle while recovering his spent stamina. After all, he still had a fight with Yingyue coming up.
Watching Koshiro deep in thought, Kakarot wore a gentle smile as he said:
"Comrade Koshiro, although swordsmanship isn't my specialty,
"To my mind, whether swords, sabers, or other weapons, they are all, at their core, tools for killing.
"Your swordsmanship and Sword Intent focus on protection, but one thing you mustn't overlook is this:
"The killing power inherent in blades is their strongest quality.
"Besides,