"Continuing this any further is meaningless." As he spoke, Mihawk walked over, ready to call it off. "It's time to rest."
Suddenly, Junichi unleashed a fierce slash, his entire body freezing in place.
Whoosh!!
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[You have practiced Basic Swordsmanship. Proficiency +1]
[Your Basic Swordsmanship proficiency has met the requirement. It has advanced automatically.]
[Basic Swordsmanship: Special (Max Level at Beginner)]
[You have practiced Cutting Steel. Proficiency +1]
[Your Cutting Steel proficiency has met the requirement. It has advanced automatically.]
[Cutting Steel: Special (Max Level at Beginner)]
---
Whoosh!
A flood of insight and understanding surged like a clear spring.
Basic Swordsmanship! Cutting Steel!
In an instant, Junichi had mastered both of these special techniques—at their peak level.
His aura also changed. It became more refined, steadier, more profound!
"Huh?" Mihawk was slightly taken aback, he could sense the change in Junichi's presence.
But… This kind of transformation usually only happened when a swordsman had long prepared and finally achieved a breakthrough.
Junichi was a total novice, with no talent to speak of.
Where would such a breakthrough come from?
Where would the insight come from?
"An illusion…?" Mihawk preferred to believe he was imagining things.
However, Junichi slowly raised his head, smiled at him, and said, "I've understood Cutting Steel."
The moment he said this, Mihawk's eyes widened as he stared at Junichi in disbelief. "What kind of joke is that?"
"I'm not joking," Junichi shook his head calmly. "Just now, I grasped the essence of Cutting Steel."
"You…" Mihawk's expression froze, staring at Junichi in utter disbelief.
He wanted to ask, Do you even know what you're saying?
A clumsy swordsman with no heart for the blade, no talent, and not even a basic foundation—after barely an hour of training, dared to say he had comprehended Cutting Steel?
Even prodigies wouldn't dare say that!
Even Mihawk himself had spent over a decade of rigorous training from childhood before he grasped Cutting Steel.
You must be crazy!
He wanted to snap back at him like that, but then he recalled the change in Junichi's aura that he'd thought was just an illusion, and also remembered how Shakky had praised Junichi's potential endlessly.
For a moment, he hesitated. After a pause, he said, "Then show me."
"Alright." Junichi walked about ten meters away.
There stood an abandoned iron griddle frame—a kind of kitchen equipment usually used for teppanyaki.
No one knew who had left it there. But it was still intact. Perfect for a blade test.
He stood before the frame, raised his ninja sword, and brought it down steadily.
Mihawk's eyes locked onto the moment.
Whoosh!
The ninja sword sliced through the iron frame effortlessly, without the slightest resistance, as if cutting through a sheet of paper.
"!?"
He looked down at the sliced iron frame. The cut surface was smooth as a mirror, without a single flaw.
This isn't just Cutting Steel… it's Cutting Steel taken to the extreme. Mihawk's pupils contracted in disbelief.
Ordinary Cutting Steel wouldn't leave such a smooth, flawless cut. Only Cutting Steel performed with power refined to the extreme could be this silky—leaving behind a mirror-smooth surface.
"You actually did comprehend it."
He had considered the possibility that this boy might have already known Cutting Steel beforehand. But he quickly dismissed that idea.
The clumsy, stiff movements during the basic swordsmanship practice just now weren't something that could be faked.
This boy had truly been a complete novice when he first began training under him. And yet, this total beginner, after just over an hour of practice, had suddenly leapt to the summit and directly grasped the ultimate form of Cutting Steel.
"Incredible…" He stared at Junichi in disbelief, as if trying to figure out whether this boy's physiological structure was different from normal humans.
Otherwise, how could someone be this monstrous?
Mihawk looked at Junichi and shook his head. "Your physical talents may be poor, but your comprehension is terrifying—you can forcibly grasp knowledge and make it your own."
"You truly have a monster's level of insight."
Hearing this, Junichi was momentarily stunned.
He didn't expect his cheat system to be interpreted as "talent" by others. But that was actually perfect. It gave him a reasonable explanation on the surface, saving him the trouble of making up an excuse.
"No matter how great one's talent, guidance is still essential. It's all thanks to your instruction, that I was able to grasp Cutting Steel so smoothly."
"What instruction?" Mihawk chuckled bitterly and shook his head.
He regretted it now. When Junichi had called him Master earlier, why did he refuse? Having a monster like this as a student—how glorious would that be?
Just imagine, one day this boy made a name for himself across the seas, known for his exceptional swordsmanship at a young age, famous throughout the Grand Line. And when people asked who taught him—it turned out, he was Mihawk's student.
Not only would he be a top-tier swordsman himself, but he would also be the master of another great swordmaster.
How amazing would that sound?
Being able to personally raise a powerful rival would make the future a lot less boring, he thought to himself.
He'd spent years challenging sword masters across the seas to hone his craft.
After becoming the World's Strongest Swordsman, only Shanks and Shiki were even worthy of his attention. But while those two had powerful swordsmanship, they weren't pure swordsmen and wouldn't casually accept his challenges.
As for the rest? They didn't interest him at all.
They were merely sword users, like Rayleigh, Whitebeard, or Roger.
But now, things were different.
He looked at Junichi with burning eyes. Finally, another rival to look forward to.
"Ahem, it's already noon… let's head back and eat," Junichi finally spoke up, goosebumps rising under Mihawk's intense stare.
"Alright." Mihawk nodded, the fire in his eyes slowly dimming.
It wasn't time yet. The boy still wasn't ready for a real duel with him. He needed patience.
"Let's head back," he said, his tone now warm and friendly, completely different from the aloofness of earlier. "After lunch, shall we continue training?"
"Is there any sword technique you want to learn? Or, I could help you improve that third-rate style of yours."
Junichi maintained a smile as he casually followed Mihawk back to the bar.
He knew exactly what Mihawk was thinking.
Mihawk was always challenging swordsmen across the seas to hone his blade. He even trained up young swordsmen just to mold future rivals for himself.
Damn, I've been targeted by him...
He secretly wiped a bit of sweat. He had zero interest in constantly fighting to "refine his swordsmanship."
To him, if a battle didn't offer some kind of benefit, it was utterly meaningless. He had no desire to lift a finger.
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50 advance chapters!
[email protected]/Malphegor