Dozens of stunned, disbelieving eyes were fixed on the two figures in the center of the dojo—Ryukawa and Zoro.
Every disciple in the crowd was utterly dumbfounded.
What…
What was happening?!
This wasn't scientific!
This wasn't logical!
This wasn't ANYTHING they expected!
From the very beginning of the fight, Zoro had gone all out—full three-sword ferocity, maximum speed, maximum aggression.
And yet—
He hadn't been able to secure the advantage.
In fact—
It looked like Zoro was the one being suppressed.
How was that possible?!
"Senior Brother… is actually strong?!"
"Be more confident—remove 'actually' and replace it with 'ridiculously.' He's ridiculously strong!"
"Zoro's already fighting at full power, but he still can't beat Senior Brother. And Senior Brother looks like he's not even breaking a sweat!"
The whispering disciples felt their worldviews collapsing.
From the moment the duel began, every exchange had completely shattered their expectations.
Not one of them had imagined that the one being pushed back…
Would be Zoro—
Not the "ordinary," "unremarkable," practically invisible Senior Brother Ryukawa.
"Senior Brother, he…"
Kuina opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Her mind was a tangled mess, filled with disbelief and questions she didn't know how to process.
But now—finally—
She understood.
She understood why her father arranged this duel.
Because Senior Brother…
Was strong.
Stronger than any of them had ever imagined.
Crack! Crack!
Wooden swords clashed again and again, the crisp impact echoing across the dojo.
Zoro's three-sword style unleashed a storm of attacks, every strike faster and fiercer than the last. His silhouette blurred, blades forming a relentless torrent.
But Ryukawa didn't move from his position.
One hand on his wooden sword—
Blocking.
Deflecting.
Redirecting.
Neutralizing.
Before today, Zoro's storm-like strikes would have overwhelmed Ryukawa instantly. He wouldn't even have been able to see the attacks coming.
But that was before.
After half an hour of insane growth, Ryukawa was a completely different person.
Now, he not only saw every one of Zoro's strikes—
He understood them, predicted them, dismantled them.
This was the difference.
This was his progress.
A monstrous leap in just thirty minutes.
So far, only Koushirou had fully realized just how absurd this growth was.
My strength… has increased far too much.
I've already surpassed Zoro—at least at his current age. He's still young; his true potential hasn't bloomed yet. But at the same time, I'm only at the beginning of my path.
Judging by his movements, Zoro's swordsmanship is probably around… Lv6.
And I'm an entire level above him.
Through this exchange, Ryukawa gained a clear understanding of Zoro's current abilities—and his own.
And with that understanding came certainty.
Since I know everything I need…
It's time to end this.
Ryukawa smiled slightly as he watched Zoro's increasingly flustered attacks.
Across from him—
Zoro suddenly felt it.
A chilling, beast-like gaze fixed directly on him.
That terrifying surge of pressure hit him like a tidal wave, sending goosebumps up his arms.
His attacks stopped abruptly.
Instinct screamed at him to retreat.
And he did.
He leapt back, eyes wide and full of shock.
For the first time in his life—
He felt genuine danger coming from Ryukawa.
I can't beat him…?
No… NO! That's impossible!
Zoro sucked in a trembling breath, staring at Ryukawa as if trying to force the world to make sense.
He couldn't accept it.
He absolutely refused to accept it.
Before the fight began, he was certain—
Positive—
That he would win easily.
But once the fight actually started…
He felt it immediately.
The fight was never in his control.
From the first clash—
The battle's flow had always been dictated by Ryukawa.
"Again!"
Zoro roared, clenching the wooden sword in his teeth and launching himself forward with everything he had left.
Bang!
His legs exploded with strength, propelling him like an arrow toward his opponent.
Three swords tore through the air—
Sharp.
Fast.
Deadly.
But with three swords came three openings.
And with speed came instability.
To Ryukawa, every flaw stood out clearly—
More than twenty.
"You've been attacking nonstop from the beginning," Ryukawa said calmly. "While I've only been defending."
"Now… it's my turn."
His smile was calm.
And terrifying.
A wave of pressure surged from him—
A sharp, overwhelming aura that felt like a blade pressing directly against Zoro's throat.
That's… sword pressure?!
Zoro froze for a split second.
It was enough.
Ryukawa moved.
His body blurred like wind over still water.
In the next moment—
He was already at Zoro's side.
This is bad!
Zoro felt a shadow engulf him.
His instincts shrieked.
He twisted his head, eyes widening—
And the wooden sword filled his vision.
I can't dodge…?!
The realization struck him like lightning.
The strike came too fast.
Too precise.
Too dominant.
Pa!
The wooden sword tapped Zoro squarely on the forehead.
The crisp sound echoed through the silent dojo.
Ryukawa stood beside him, sword resting gently against Zoro's head.
Zoro froze.
The entire dojo froze.
No one breathed.
Ryukawa smiled faintly.
"Zoro… you lost."
One strike.
Just one.
And Zoro was instantly defeated.