Chaton let out a hearty laugh, "Seems like that kid sure holds a grudge against you for something."
"Shut up!" Momonga's face darkened like coal. "Don't bring up that kid. If I'd known he was this vengeful, I wouldn't have taught him, even if Zephyr himself asked me to."
At the mention of Zephyr, a somber look passed over the group.
"Is it true that Zephyr has resigned from all his posts?" asked Hina, covering her mouth to stifle a chuckle.
"Yes," she muttered after a pause. "Where is he now?"
Chaton, puffing out a cloud of smoke, replied, "I heard that some scientists from the Mechanics Department might've gone to him, probably to set him up with a mechanical arm."
"I see..." Hina's voice softened. As a Marine School of Justice graduate, she, too, had once been mentored by Zephyr. It was hard to believe that a man with such steadfast dedication to justice would voluntarily step down...
"Don't mention tonight's events to anyone," Momonga suddenly stated.
Chaton glanced over, shrugging. "Doesn't really matter. The higher-ups probably already know."
"Huh? Then why haven't they called Momonga in for a talk? Didn't Vice Admiral Tsuru strictly forbid anyone from mentoring that kid?" asked Chaton, clearly puzzled.
"Maybe it's because of... Zephyr," Hina speculated.
"Possibly," Momonga mused, scratching his head. "What I meant was, don't tell them that kid managed to pull off a swordsman's slash."
"Even though he unleashed several swordsman-level strikes on me tonight, his actual skill hasn't fully reached that level," Momonga replied, lighting a cigarette and exhaling a plume of smoke.
Hina's eyes sparkled. "So, he's just touched upon it—is that what you mean?"
"Exactly. Truthfully, he still has a long way to go to reach true swordsman proficiency." Momonga continued, "But with a monster like him, who knows if he might just wake up tomorrow and step over that threshold."
"In any case, from here on, I'm done sparring with him. Whatever he does, it's none of my business," Momonga added resolutely.
Chaton scratched his head, clearly troubled. "We already have three monsters up top, and now there's another one..."
Chaton chuckled. "Isn't it good to see the new generation rising up?"
"Sure, but he's still just a Marine intern, not a full-fledged Marine. If he strays from the path of justice..." Chaton sighed, "I can see why Vice Admiral Tsuru's concerned. This kid really could be a troublesome force."
The four of them continued walking along the dimly lit path.
Meanwhile, Ron, finally free from his frustrations, returned to his quarters with a lightness in his step. Immersed in a hot bath, he felt the exhaustion of the past two months ease away.
"I've already glimpsed the Iron Cutting Realm; now, it's about fully mastering and internalizing that feeling," he thought to himself.
Ron's mind lingered on the word—spirit. When he faced Momonga, his strikes at the swordsman's level were fueled by the pent-up anger he'd been holding back. But this wasn't the true path.
To reach the Iron-Cutting level, a swordsman needed an inner wellspring of spirit.
"A heart full of boundless spirit, a will as firm as iron; no obstacle can withstand it. Nothing is uncuttable!" Ron mused, closing his eyes.
His master Koushirou's words echoed in his mind: "Ron, as a swordsman, you must have something to hold dear in your heart. When your mind is pure and unshaken, the spirit of a true swordsman will flow within you, as solid as a rock amidst the rapids. Only then will your strikes be unbreakable!"
Ron now understood Koushirou's advice. "With unwavering resolve, like a rock in a river, facing all without fear, enduring all trials without bitterness, and never retreating."
"The strongest strikes are born from within!"
"This is the path to the Iron-Cutting Realm!" Ron's gaze grew clearer and more determined.
As his understanding of swordsmanship deepened, his entire presence seemed to radiate with sharp intent.
He envisioned the breathing styles emerging from his Sun Breathing technique, their various sword forms taking shape within his mind. Water Breathing—flowing from the First Form all the way to the Tenth. Moon Breathing...
When he finally opened his eyes, Ron had mastered all but the final ultimate sword moves of each breathing style.
"System, show me my current stats."
Swordsmanship: Realm of Intent (Mastered)
Sun Breathing Mastery: 98%
Weapon: Great Grade Sword - Raikiri
Permanent Buff: True Intent of Ten Thousand Temperings (Binding in Progress…)
Observation Haki: Lv 1
Conqueror's Haki: Lv 0
Special Skill: Mechanical Proficiency]
"Sun Breathing's mastery is at 98%, huh?" Ron's eyes lit up.
For the next few days, he resolved to focus on perfecting the Sun Breathing technique, aiming to push it to a full 100%.
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