The air crackled, not just with the clash of steel, but with something deeper, a resonance that spoke of honed skill and unspoken history. "Boom!" Dirt erupted as two blades met, a shockwave rippling outwards, scattering leaves like startled birds. For a moment, they ground against each other, a fierce ballet of power, before canceling out.
"Yohohohoho… you did it," a voice rumbled, laced with a dry amusement. It was Ryuma, the legendary swordsman, his laughter a distinct, almost skeletal sound. "You've crossed over, young swordmaster."
Ain, her twin blades now humming with a different energy, exhaled. "Sha, sha, sha!" The air sliced with a new weight, a new presence. "It feels… completely different now." She tightened her grip, a glint in her eye. "In that case, round two—be careful, Ryuma-senpai."
"Yohohohoho… i wouldn't have it any other way." Ryuma charged, a flying slash preceding him. This time, Ain's blades darkened, imbued with armament haki. Clang! She cleanly bisected his attack. Ding! In the next instant, her crossed swords met Shusui head-on.
"Yohohohoho… so you weren't using armament before," Ryuma observed, a hint of surprise in his tone. "You were holding back just to break through?"
"Pretty much," Ain admitted, shoving his blade away and lunging back. Her attacks were a blur now, a relentless pattern that even Ryuma had to work to parry. Watching from the sidelines, Jin, a knowing smile playing on his lips, remarked to Moria, "See now, Moria? Told you not to jump to conclusions."
Moria, his face a mask of sour frustration, grumbled, "Damn it… she wasn't even using haki just now?"
"Yeah. I told her to avoid using it if she could," Jin said, flicking ash from his cigarette. "Pressure works better that way. And it seems it worked quite well."
"If your subordinate's already broken through, why aren't you leaving?" Moria snapped, his gaze fixed on Jin.
"Because I haven't gotten what I came for yet." Jin's eyes drifted to the sword in Ryuma's hand – Shusui. Moria's face flushed crimson. "You… you want that sword? Dream on, White. Try it and I'll report you to Sengoku right now!"
He could stomach being beaten, even having his prized zombie used as a whetstone. But Shusui? "Go ahead," Jin said, unimpressed. "That sword's wasted in your hands."
Out in the clearing, Ryuma and Ain separated, circling each other. "Yohohohoho… though this body can't use armament haki, the blade itself is already a black blade," Ryuma mused. "The difference isn't that big."
"Nose Song Three Verse—Swallowtail Barrage!" Three slashes fanned out in a deadly cross. "Two-Sword Style—Gale Split!" Ain't twin blades unleashed two spiraling arcs that chewed straight through the incoming attacks. She landed lightly, her expression calm. "Ryuma-senpai, you're incredible."
"Oh? Is that praise?" he chuckled.
"Yes." Ain tightened her grip. "You can't use armament, but the blade is a black blade. It's not far off. And you can't use observation either, can you?"
"You noticed," Ryuma laughed. "Well done, girl."
"You weren't hiding it," Ain continued, a newfound respect in her voice. "You've been relying entirely on experience and fundamentals this whole time. Just like White-bro said—a sword god."
"In that case, please keep going." Ryuma's laughter echoed. "I still need to familiarize myself with this new realm."
"Yohohohoho… then come," Ryuma replied happily. "Beat me, and you may take Shusui. Help me find it a worthy owner."
"Deal." Ain drew both blades back, crossing them. "Two-Sword Style—Iaido."
Whoosh! A massive slash ripped forward, so fast it left afterimages. "Yohohohoho… Iaido, huh? Then…" "Nose Song Three Verse—Arrow War!" Boom—rrrrrumble! The clash was immense, the shockwave flattening trees. Ain kicked off into the air, her blades carving a spiraling column of sword aura. Ryuma skated backward, letting the tornado shred the earth. He sensed something and looked up. Ain was already diving, both blades descending. "Nose Song Three Verse—Draw Slash!" "Two-Sword Style—Swallow Flow Slash!" Clang! Sparks flew as their weapons met, sword aura exploding, carving new scars into the ground.
"Growing fast, aren't you," Jin murmured, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Those blades weren't wasted. Give it a few years, and 'Grandmaster' won't just be a dream."
Moria, however, was plotting. He flicked a glance at Perona, nodding. "Roger!" One of her negative hollows drifted towards Jin. But before it could reach him, Jin spoke without looking back, "I wouldn't do that if I were you, little miss." Perona froze. He noticed?! Jin turned his head, golden eyes lidded. "Moria," he said, voice almost bored. "Trying to sneak attack someone with observation haki… using a girl who doesn't even have haki? Was your brain scrambled by Kaido that badly?"
"Don't you dare mention Kaido!" Moria roared, his body swelling, veins popping.
