"Then, excuse !" Tony didn't hesitate. He knew exactly what he was worth. Even if he had been a dojo master before, that didn't an he could afford to look down on a veteran of the Elite Camp.
With a powerful push off the ground, Tony accelerated toward Minde, who was standing there with careless abandon. Minde's lack of a defensive stance ignited Tony's anger. He gripped his hilt tightly, his voice dropping to a low growl: "You dare to be so arrogant!"
Shing!
An arc of light flashed. Tony's figure vanished instantly, leaving only a moon-like trajectory as his blade swept across Minde's chest. A second later, Tony reappeared in front of Minde, still holding his forward-lunge pose, slowly sheathing his blade.
Clang!
"One-Sword Style: Arc Light!"
This speed… Loya watched Tony, who was busy striking a pose, with a hint of surprise. For a mont, it looked like Tony had used Soru (Shave), but Loya imdiately shook his head. No, that's not speed… is it a unique acceleration technique or footwork movent? Very impressive, but… you were careless!
Loya sighed. Why do you have to strike a pose when you're not even done yet?
Feeling the sensation on his blade, Tony assud his attack had succeeded. He turned his back on Minde, but before he could even utter a syllable, a sharp whistling sound ripped through the air—a heavy spiked club ca swinging in a brutal surprise attack.
"What?!"
BOOM!
The attack was so sudden that Tony barely had ti to brace his sheath against his shoulder. Before he could adjust his stance, the blow slamd into him, sending him flying.
"What just happened?" Minnie and Simon exchanged horrified looks. Didn't Tony just land a hit on him? Why was the counterattack so fast?!
Pfft! Tony coughed up a mouthful of stagnant blood. He scrambled to get up, his clean face stained with dirt. He felt like he had been ramd head-on by a Stone-Drum Bull. The irresistible, monstrous force smashing into his shoulder had instantly shattered his shoulder blade. If his sheath hadn't blocked a fraction of the impact, he would be on the verge of death right now.
He was stunned: Is every single person in the Elite Camp this strong?
Minde dragged his club back and hoisted it onto his shoulder again. "I know you're the top recruit of this batch, called a 'monster' by all the others. But don't forget! Here, in this Elite Camp, every one of us used to be a monster!"
"A fledgling like you, who hasn't been properly trained and hasn't experienced real slaughter—how could you ever be my opponent?"
Minde laughed dismissively. He wiped his chest; the white mark left by Tony's blade simply vanished. Even with Tony's strength, a full-power strike hadn't even broken the skin.
As Tony moved, Loya had keenly spotted sothing wrong. Swordsmanship in the One Piece world was common, but its destructive power was top-tier. In a head-on clash, even if you were stronger, you had to be careful of an opponent's sharp attacks. Minde hadn't defended at all. Why? Loya couldn't think of any answer other than him having an ace up his sleeve. A guy who was truly reckless wouldn't have been voted into the Elite Camp.
As Loya suspected, his sharp eyes had caught it: the mont Tony struck, his blade had stopped less than two milliters from Minde's skin. It was as if an invisible armor encased his body, and Tony had only managed to "cut" that layer.
Aldo explained from the side: "Minde uses a rare form of Qi (energy) ability. He can form an invisible film of energy on his body for protection, and he can also apply it to his attacks to boost their power."
Loya nodded, understanding. The world of One Piece was dominated by Devil Fruits, Swordsmanship, and Haki, but those weren't the only powers. And so of these niche abilities were just as formidable. The Happo Sai's Hasshoken and the Fish-n's Fish-man Karate were pri examples. Minde's Qi cultivation fell into this category. It was impressive enough that he could tank a sword slash; even Loya was moved by the effect.
Still, if you didn't strike a pose, you could have dodged that… tsk tsk.
Loya felt little sympathy. Tony deserved this beating for his complacency. If Minde had been a pirate, he would have aid for the head, leaving Tony to go down in the Elite Camp's "History of Morons" as a textbook example of what not to do.
"Wuh…"
Tony coughed up more blood, staggering to his feet. His sheath was smashed, but his sword remained unhard. It wasn't a "nad" sword, just a piece forged by an ordinary blacksmith, but after twenty years by Tony's side, it had developed a character beyond common steel.
He braced his sword in front of him, his face pale, gasping for breath. The intense fighting spirit gathered in his eyes once more. "I… I admit you're… strong. But you say I'm a fledgling who hasn't experienced real slaughter? Are you sure about that?"
"Oh? You can still stand?" Minde raised an eyebrow mockingly, his expression darkening. "I admire your willpower, really! But this is making lose face, kid!"
Minde exploded into motion. Almost before he finished speaking, he was behind Tony, raising his heavy club high and bringing it down with lethal force.
DING!
A piercing sound of clashing tal rang out. Tony's eyes darted to the figure standing beside him. It was an extrely gaunt man, skin and bones, with dark circles under his eyes and sunken cheeks—he looked like a chronic invalid.
No, he probably IS a chronic invalid.
Blocking Minde's attack, the man coughed a few tis, hacking up actual blood! But despite his fragile appearance, he used a thin, slender sword to stop Minde's heavy club dead in its tracks. Minde's veins bulged as he poured on the force, but the sword didn't budge an inch.
Minde sneered. "What's this? Our Lord Hansa, you're actually going to help this newcor? This isn't the you I know."
Bibb Hansa coughed again and said nonchalantly, "Well… we're all swordsn. Naturally, I couldn't bear to watch you cripple him. Besides, aren't you afraid of Teacher Zephyr punishing you if he finds out?"
Zephyr's reputation still held weight in the Elite Camp. Seeing Hansa bring up the big boss, Minde clicked his tongue and retracted his weapon. "I wouldn't dare! I'll give you face this ti and let the brat go. Later… there will be plenty of chances to handle him."
Cough… Cough! "Then, thank you."
Aldo was just about to fulfill his role as the "narrator" when Loya waved him off. "I know who he is. Bibb Hansa, the current Chief of the Elite Camp. It's said he officially stepped into the realm of a Sword Master a few months ago."
"Yes… that's true." Aldo scratched his head. "But Loya, what do you an by 'current'? He's always been the Chief of the Elite Camp."
Talking to smart people is easy; talking to idiots is exhausting. Loya sighed. "Idiot. Since I'm here, do you think he's still going to be the Chief for long?"
Aldo blinked blankly, processed this for two seconds, then slapped his palm in realization. "Oh! Right! Your strength is so great, you're definitely going to challenge Hansa!"
"But… Loya, can you really beat Hansa? He's killed several pirates with bounties over 100 million berries!" In the blink of an eye, Aldo was back to agonizing over it.
Loya: "... As far as the edge of the sea goes, go roll off to it."
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