Chapter 18: Nami: My Opponent Doesn't Seem Strong

Nami remembered how Rosen had mentioned preparing a "swordsman shadow" for her to challenge during their training in the gym. Considering Nami's strength, the prepared swordsman shadow wasn't as formidable as Rosen's previous opponent, Rengoku Kyojuro. With her rapid progress in strength, Nami began to entertain the idea of becoming stronger by challenging this swordsman shadow.

Nojiko looked over curiously. Although she had heard about the swordsman shadow from Nami before, she was still quite curious since she hadn't seen it yet.

"Do you want to challenge the swordsman shadow?" Rosen asked with a smile. "If so, then first take a look at your opponent before making a decision." Rosen activated the "Novice Swordsman Challenge Authorization" observation function.

Soon, in the center of the Enlightening Sword Room's arena, a young man with golden hair, wearing a black Demon Slayer Corps uniform with a golden feather woven around it, appeared.

"Is that Zenitsu Agatsuma?" Rosen thought to himself. "Well, if Nami can defeat this guy..."

As the young man began to demonstrate his swordsmanship in the arena, Rosen opened his own attribute panel to observe.

[Name: Zenitsu Agatsuma]

[Health: 300]

[Weapon: Nichirin Blade]

[Special Ability: None]

[Swordsmanship Level: Iron-Cutting Realm (Novice)]

[Sword Style: Thunder Breathing First Form]

"His health is at 300," Rosen noted to himself. "Nami doesn't have the ability to challenge him now. Looks like the challenge needs to be postponed."

Observing Zenitsu Agatsuma's personal attributes, Rosen thought to himself.

"Is this... my opponent? He doesn't seem very strong."

Nami blinked curiously, looking at Zenitsu Agatsuma standing in the center of the arena.

"Hehe, Nami, you might be saying that too early," Rosen said with a smile. "Wait until you've seen his swordsmanship before making a judgment." Rosen placed his hand on Nami's shoulder and activated the observation permission.

In the next moment, Zenitsu Agatsuma in the center of the arena closed his eyes tightly and assumed a stance as if preparing to draw his sword.

"That stance... could it be 'Thunderclap Flash'?" Nami widened her eyes.

Having specifically learned 'Thunderclap Flash' from Rosen, Nami immediately recognized Zenitsu Agatsuma's current posture.

Sure enough, as if in response to Nami's question, Zenitsu Agatsuma took a deep breath, and golden lightning began to shine on his body.

"Thunder Breathing - First Form - Thunderclap Flash!"

Boom!

Lightning flashed, and in the eyes of Nami and Nojiko, Zenitsu Agatsuma's figure turned into a blur.

When he appeared again, he was already on the other side of the arena.

"So... so fast! It's completely different from the 'Thunderclap Flash' I used!" Nami covered her mouth in astonishment, watching Zenitsu Agatsuma's figure.

"So strong! Nami, do you have the confidence to defeat him?" Nojiko asked, looking over.

"No, no, he's too strong!" Nami shook her head repeatedly.

At first, Zenitsu Agatsuma seemed timid when he appeared. Nami never expected that he would completely change when he wielded his sword.

"Oh right, Captain Rosen," Nami said. "You told me before that Thunder Breathing has six basic sword forms. The one in the arena should still know the other five forms, right?"

Nami looked to Rosen for confirmation.

"Indeed, Thunder Breathing has six basic sword forms," Rosen replied. "But that young man actually only mastered the most basic and difficult-to-train first form, 'Thunderclap Flash'!"

"Even so, he has taken this single flash to its pinnacle."

"Moreover, based on this, he created the seventh form of Thunder Breathing."

"That's a very powerful sword form."

"However, the swordsman shadow you see before you hasn't mastered the seventh form of Thunder Breathing, 'Flaming Thunder God'."

"This is also to lower the difficulty of the challenge."

Rosen chuckled.

If the Zenitsu Agatsuma in the center of the arena had mastered the 'Flaming Thunder God' version, Rosen felt that Nami might need even more time to qualify for a challenge.

After hearing Rosen's words, Nami's eyes widened. At the same time, Zenitsu Agatsuma in the center of the arena moved again.

In the eyes of Nami and Nojiko, he lowered his posture, and intense golden thunder burst forth from his body.

"Thunder Breathing - First Form - Thunderclap Flash - Sixfold!"

Swish!

The lightning flashed!

In the eyes of Nami and Nojiko, Zenitsu Agatsuma's figure disappeared, replaced by six flashes of lightning flashing through the center of the arena.

"Six... six consecutive! 'Thunderclap Flash' can be used like this?!" Nami's eyes widened, thinking of how using 'Thunderclap Flash' once would result in a momentary stiffness, while Zenitsu Agatsuma in front of her executed it continuously without pause.

Nami couldn't help but feel how ridiculous her previous idea of challenging the swordsman shadow was. She simply didn't have the ability to challenge the opponent Rosen had prepared for her.

"As long as you train hard, you'll be able to do the same things as him in the future, Nami," Rosen said, placing his hands on Nami and Nojiko's shoulders. "Watch carefully, observe his movements and speed."

"Once you're confident in your abilities, then come challenge him."

Upon hearing Rosen's words, Nami nodded firmly and widened her eyes to watch Zenitsu Agatsuma's movements as closely as possible.

"Thunderclap Flash - Eightfold!"

After a brief pause, Zenitsu Agatsuma executed 'Thunderclap Flash' again, but this time, he used it eight times in a row.

"Thunderclap Flash - Godspeed!"

Boom!

In the center of the arena, Zenitsu Agatsuma's figure disappeared before the eyes of Nami and Nojiko. In less than a second, he had moved from one end of the arena to the other.

Throughout, only Rosen was able to follow Zenitsu Agatsuma's movements.

"Godspeed! If I could master this move, I could definitely defeat Arlong, right?"

"No, I might even be able to defeat the entire Arlong Pirates by myself."

Nami clasped her hands together, her eyes shining brightly.

"Such a powerful swordsman... can I become as strong as him in the future?" Nojiko looked at her own hands, unable to imagine herself wielding a sword in battle.

"As long as you train hard, whether it's you or Nami, your achievements in the future will not be inferior to the Zenitsu Agatsuma who demonstrated swordsmanship just now," Rosen said, placing his hands on Nami and Nojiko's shoulders. "Nami, I look forward to you defeating the swordsman shadow of Zenitsu Agatsuma and gaining his knowledge of swordsmanship."

Upon hearing Rosen's words, Nami nodded heavily. "Captain Rosen, I will do my best."

"I don't have the ability to challenge him now, but I will catch up to him soon!"