Santoryu threw himself into the new training with everything he had. Days blurred into one another, each one packed with grueling practice that left him sore but hungry for more.
After a solid month of sparring with Kuina every single day, he started to get the hang of the one-sword style. It wasn't just about swinging a blade anymore—it was about feeling it, like the sword was part of him. He stopped overthinking every move; his strikes flowed naturally, almost instinctively. Kuina was a tough teacher, and the system's constant pointers—sharp, precise feedback after every duel—helped him hone not just his technique but his mindset. Each clash with her was a lesson, and he soaked it all up.
Still, Santoryu wasn't one to rest on his laurels. Even as he got comfortable with one sword, he set his sights on something tougher: the two-sword drawing technique, the kind of bold, aggressive style Zoro had made legendary. The system stepped in, conjuring a vivid illusion of Zoro himself—every detail perfect, from the way he stood to the exact angle of his draws. Santoryu watched, studied, and tried to mimic it. It was brutal. His arms ached, his timing was off, and more than once, he wanted to chuck both swords across the room. But he kept at it, grinding through the frustration. Slowly, the movements started to click. The twin blades began to feel less like tools and more like extensions of his will, moving smoother with every practice.
His daily bouts with Kuina never let up. Week after week, he could feel his confidence with the two-sword style growing. No more hesitation, no second-guessing his strikes. By the fifth month, it was like the blades had always belonged in his hands. That's when he knew it was time to push further.
Enter the three-sword style—Santoryu's biggest challenge yet. It was a beast. Wielding three swords at once demanded everything: strength, balance, focus, and a kind of mental sharpness he hadn't tapped into before. His body fought him every step of the way. His footing slipped, his arms burned, and mistakes piled up faster than he could count. Kuina didn't go easy on him either—she came at him full force, every spar a trial by fire. But Santoryu wasn't about to back down. Day after day, he chipped away at it, each failure teaching him something new.
Beyond the swordplay, he never slacked on conditioning. Weight training, sprints, stretches—his routine was relentless. Exhaustion was just part of the deal, not an excuse. He showed up every day, no matter how much his muscles screamed.
A full year passed like that. A year of sweat, focus, and transformation. Santoryu wasn't the same swordsman he'd been twelve months ago—he was something sharper, stronger, and ready for whatever came next.
…
Santoryu stood tall, his left eye closed, his bare torso a map of muscle carved by a year of relentless training. His abs were sharply defined, his body coiled with strength. In his right hand, he held one sword. Another rested in his left. The third was gripped between his teeth.
Across from him stood Kuina, her gaze locked onto his. Neither flinched. The air between them was thick with tension.
Santoryu exhaled slowly. He bent slightly, sliding both wooden swords into their sheaths at his waist—one on either side. His hands rested firmly on the hilts.
Then, he spoke in a low, focused voice:
"Nitoryu Iai: Rashomon."
In a flash, he vanished forward, blades singing from their sheaths. The wooden swords lashed out in a single fluid motion. Kuina blocked just in time—her blade meeting his in a loud crack of impact. She staggered back a few steps under the force.
But Santoryu didn't relent. He pressed in, adding the sword from his mouth to the attack, slashing in a fierce arc. Kuina recovered quickly, her instincts sharp. She shifted her stance and parried the mouth-blade with precision, wood striking wood again.
Then she countered—brute strength behind her swing—pushing back both Santoryu and his sword. He skidded backward, boots scraping the dirt.
Kuina lunged forward, closing the gap. But Santoryu had anticipated this. He had fought her too many times not to know her next move. He caught her assault with the twin swords in his hands, blocking cleanly.
They clashed again and again, exchanging blows, neither giving an inch. The rhythm of the fight was relentless—strike, block, feint, counter. The duel stretched on for thirty long minutes, each moment charged with intensity.
Finally, they stood apart, breathing hard, swords raised.
Neither had won.
Then, a voice echoed from the system:
"Congratulations, Host. You have finally fought Kuina to a draw."
Santoryu gave a simple nod and said,
"Alright, System. Let's move on to Observation Haki training."
Without hesitation, he tied a black cloth over his eyes—just as he did every day. This was routine now, part of the daily drill.
As soon as his vision was gone, Kuina began her assault. She struck from all directions, her sword slicing through the air with precision and speed. Yet Santoryu moved effortlessly, dodging each attack at the last possible moment. His movements were fluid, almost elegant—a silent dance of instinct and awareness. Even without sight, he seemed to glide around the strikes as if he could feel them coming.
Fifteen minutes passed before the system's voice rang out:
"Congratulations, Host. You have mastered Observation Haki (Beginner Level)."
Santoryu calmly removed the cloth from his eyes. He looked up at the sky, the weight of progress settling in. His thoughts echoed inward:
"After a year of relentless training, I'm finally starting to see results. Drawing with Kuina wasn't luck—it was the product of real growth. Mastering Observation Haki, even at the beginner level, changes everything. I can now sense the direction of an attack before it lands. That's no small feat."
"What surprises me most," he continued silently, "is how the system can simulate even this. Kuina isn't real—just an illusion. I used to think Haki required a real presence to detect. But somehow, the system manipulates my senses so effectively, it tricks my mind into using Observation Haki on something that doesn't even exist. That alone speaks to how powerful and immersive this training truly is."
----
Want to get daily updates and read chapters on a daily basis? Then join my Patreon!
Patreon Link: https://[email protected]/Hkj822
Join Discord Link: https://discord.gg/FUnTzyS9