Chapter 41: Duel: Blade Works Edition

After accepting Rean challenge the two of us boarded the Black Pearl and took up positions on its deck.

Since it is where we will have our duel.

As we did this the other members of my crew took up positions on the deck out of the way to watch.

I even saw Weisz handing out popcorn.

Turning my attention away from the others I focused on Rean.

Who looks ready for some action.

"Are you ready pirate, for you are about to taste the steel of my blade and partner Yakou." Rean told me. "As well as the taste of defeat." He added.

When he did so I had to do my best not to laugh at the cringe-worthy lines he just spoke.

I also noted Rean had some arrogance in Reans' voice.

'So, looking down on me are you?' I thought.

Well we can't have that.

"Yeah, I'm ready. Let's do this." I spoke.

I then charged in and delivered a downward slash with Dragon Fang.

Bringing his nodachi Yakou up Rean blocked the attack with ease.

After doing so he jumped back.

He then swung his blade in a powerful horizontal slash in my direction, aiming for my chest.

Jumping back at the last second I dodged it.

I then rushed in and started delivering slashes from all directions at Rean. A fierce look in his eyes and a determined expression on his face he blocked my slashes.

But unfortunately for him he couldn't block them all. I managed to deliver several cuts to Rean body.

As I continued to press my attack and managed to deliver even more cuts to Rean body he jumped back and put some distance between us.

I smirked at him when he did. "So, how am I doing so far for a mere pirate?" I asked him.

Not answering my question Rean took Yakou and swung it in an upward slash in my direction, releasing a flying slash when he do.

[Arc Slash]

He cried.

Seeing the flying slash well flying towards me I moved and dodged it. But just as I did so Rean sent another [Arc Slash] in my direction. Forcing me to dodge again.

Once I did Rean began unleashing a barrage of [Arc Slash] at me, forcing me to dodge each and ever one of them, since I myself cannot perform a flying slash yet.

I have been working on doing so by learning Rankyaku and then applying it to my swordplay which I have been making steady progress at, but it's not something one can accomplish overnight. Even for me who has been learning swordplay for several years now.

But it seems compared to me Rean can unleash a flying slash attack with no issues. Which speaks to the training and hard work he's put in and undergone under Yun Ka-Fai.

As I dodged yet another [Arc slash] I was starting to get annoyed and frustrated. Mainly because Rean is keeping his distance now and simply sending flying slash attacks in my direction.

It looks like his strategy has become to take me out from a distance or whittle me down slowly.

A good strategy, but I will not let him do as he pleases.

Meaning I will need to get up close, and that means throwing flying slash attacks of my own to counter his.

Even though I haven't perfected the technique.

Well as the saying goes, there is no time like the present.

As if responding to my resolve and determination Dragon Fang started to emanate a low hum like earlier. Then the craziest thing happened.

'Let's do it, partner.' A voice whispered in my head.

Widening my eyes I looked down at Dragon Fang. Who seemingly just spoke to me.

"What the!" I muttered.

'Let's go, partner.' The voice whispered in my head again.

This time for sure I knew it was Dragon Fang.

Smiling I nodded. "Yeah." I said.

Time for us to evolve.

Gripping Dragon Fang handle with my both hands I began concentrating. Inhaling and exhaling I focused both my mind and body on the task I wanted to accomplish.

While doing so Rean sent another [Arc Slash] in my direction. As it started hurdling towards me I focused on it. Studied it, analyzed it. Not moving a muscle even as the slash got closer and closer to hitting me.

Then just as it was right on top of me I swung my blade in a downward motion, unleashing a flying slash attack of my very own.

Which brought a smile to my face.

Mine and Rean attacks collided in mid-air.

Pushing against each other they battled for supremacy, but neither of them won. Then eventually they cancelled each other out.

As they did so Rean looked at me, a shocked expression on his face.

Ignoring it I quickly rushed forward and closed thed distance between us.

I then performed a powerful vertical slash, creating a wound on Reans' chest.

As his blood splattered across the deck he jumped back. He then sent another [Arc Slash] in my direction, but this time I simply countered with a flying slash attack of my own.

Quite easily I might add.

Which just shows all the training I am doing is getting results.

That's why I will never stop the grind.

In no time at all I closed the distance to Rean once again. We then ended up exchanging several blows. Me managing to slash him, while Rean also opened up several wounds on me. Despite this neither of us stopped our attacks.

As our blows clashed against each other and the sound of metal hitting metal rang out through the air I found myself with a smile on my face, and Rean grinning as well. The two of us having a blast.

But eventually I sword clash came to an end.

Jumping back Rean broke it. He then got into a low stance, placing Yakou in an imaginary sheathe.

When he did so my danger senses and my observation haki started going off. I prepared to dodge, but before I could Rean unleashed his attack.

He drew Yakou from its imaginary sheathe and performed a super flash slash attack, nailing me in the chest and creating a massive gash across it.

[Autumn Leaf Cutter]

Rean muttered behind me, since he crossed the distance in only a few seconds thanks to his technique.

As my blood splattered on the deck of the Black Pearl I turned in Rean direction. While he also turned in mine.

Looking at me he frowned.

He probably assumed that attack would've finished me off. Too bad for me I'm made of strong stuff and I'm pretty sure I used observation haki there for a second and dodged the worst of it.

Which I did not want to do. I want this duel to be pure swordsmanship. Since I am trying to improve that skill right now and nothing else.

That just shows me I need to work to discipline myself even more. So I won't end up having a similar issue in the future.

The frown on Rean face only lasted for a few seconds before it vanished.

Once it did so he prepared for another [Arch Slash] but before he could launch it I sent a flying slash attack of my own in his direction.

As Rean launched one of his own to counter it I ran behind my flying slash. Then as it collided with Rean I jumped over them and started crashing down at Rean from above, doing a powerful downward slash as I did so.

Looking up and seeing me Rean knew he didn't have time to dodge. So instead he raised Yakou to block my attack.

Grinning I landed at his position and delivered my attack, the force of which knocked him on his ass and knocked Yakou out of his hands.

The blade went spiraling through the air before it landed tip down on the deck of the Black Pearl.

Just as it did so I put the tip of Dragon Fang at Rean neck.

"Looks like it's my win." I said.

Having just won our little duel.