"Die, little girl!" A burly assassin gripped an enormous Horse-Cutting Saber in both hands and, using the momentum of his charge, brought it crashing down toward Kuina's head. Before the blade reached her, the fierce wind it raised had already blown up her short hair with a howling sound.
Facing a strike powerful enough to cleave mountains and split stone, Kuina did not retreat or even dodge.
The scenes of Lorne training her on the Island of Misfortune suddenly surfaced in her mind.
Back then, waves had battered the rocks as Lorne stood in the gale and told her, "Kuina, your swordsmanship is already refined enough, but why can you still never cut down truly powerful opponents? Because your sword has no will. Haki is an extension of your will. When your will is strong enough, there will be nothing in this world you cannot cut through. Remember the rhythm of Haki's flow. Don't let it remain on the surface. Make it flow and destroy your enemy from within."
"Will... Haki..."
Kuina drew a deep breath and slowly closed her eyes.
In that instant, the surrounding clamor of battle cries, the clash of weapons, and even the sound of wind moving through the air became incredibly slow in her perception.
She could clearly feel a warm power surging from within her, traveling along her arms and slowly flowing into the Wado Ichimonji in her hands.
"Enough of your tricks! Die!" Seeing Kuina close her eyes, the assassin wielding the Horse-Cutting Saber thought she had given up resisting. A cruel smile spread across his face, and he put even more force into his hands.
Yet, the instant the blade came within three inches of Kuina's forehead, she opened her eyes.
An unprecedented light of resolve flashed in her eyes.
"Ryuo."
Kuina