Malphegor
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UTBW: Ch. 20
🕑 Added 2025-04-16 20:02:59 +0000 UTC"I think I roughly understand now."
Junichi pondered, thinking to himself: "To master the Cutting Steel Slash, a swordsman must walk their own path to the utmost limit, honing their power to a razor's edge."
"But the Flying Slash..."
"...requires going beyond personal style even at the peak!"
"You have to find the essence hidden within complex sword techniques, and fuse your will, strength, and skill into one!"
---
[You are learning Flying Slash. Proficiency +1]
[You are learning Flying Slash. Proficiency +1]
[You are learning Flying Slash. Proficiency +1]
---
The notifications popped up again. Clearly, his line of thought was on the right track.
"The realization of Flying Slash shouldn't be rushed," Mihawk said. "The key lies in opportunity."
"Opportunity?"
"That's right. When the moment comes, everything will fall into place. But if the timing isn't right, no matter what you do, you'll hit a wall."
At this point, Mihawk looked at Junichi.
"Rich experiences can help you find that opportunity. So, from here on, you can journey across the seas like other swordsmen, fighting powerful enemies. When you've honed your swordsmanship in battle to the point there's nothing more to improve—that is when the moment will come."
[You are learning Flying Slash. Proficiency +1]
The panel popped up again.
Junichi nodded. "I understand completely."
He now understood the path of a Great Swordsman.
Of course, understanding was one thing. He didn't plan on actually doing it. He had no need to walk that long and winding path of training through travel.
That was something only pure swordsmen would choose. But he was a cheater.
"Let's start with your sword style," Mihawk said. "See if any details need tweaking. Almost forgot—what's it called again?"
"Uchiha-style Swordsmanship," Junichi answered casually.
"Uchiha-style, huh..." Mihawk echoed the name, eyes thoughtful.
Junichi's surname was Uchiha. So, it must be a family-passed style, probably with roots in Wano's traditions.
He might be from Wano?
Mihawk briefly considered it, then set the thought aside. The sea didn't care where you came from.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Junichi began his training. Swinging his sword while refining the technique's finer details.
Mihawk occasionally offered advice.
Gradually, the new Uchiha-style Swordsmanship was polished until there were no flaws. But Junichi didn't stop there. He went straight into the Great Swordsman's path—infusing his insights and realizations into his swordsmanship.
It was like giving his sword style a soul.
When a technique comes alive and expresses a deeply personal touch, that was when one had reached the end of the Great Swordsman's road.
"In such a rush?" Mihawk naturally saw what Junichi was doing and couldn't help but frown. "I already told you, forcing the opportunity will only make you hit a wall… experience is the true path."
He shook his head. The boy was being far too hasty. But Mihawk didn't stop him. He just watched from the side.
Young people were always a bit impatient. And he could sense that quiet urgency in Junichi's eyes. He seemed to have something important to do. That was why he was in such a hurry to get stronger.
In this case, there's no use trying to talk him out of it, Mihawk thought. He'll have to hit that wall himself, and cool down on his own.
With that in mind, he walked off a ways, and calmly began tending to his black sword. At his level, ordinary training no longer held much meaning—what truly mattered now was insight and progress in one's state of mind.
---
The sun slanted lower in the sky. Unknowingly, it had begun to set in the west.
Swish!
Junichi was still swinging his sword. His clothes were soaked through, as if he'd been pulled out of water.
---
[You have practiced Flying Slash Haki. Proficiency +1]
[You have practiced Flying Slash Haki. Proficiency +1]
[You have practiced Flying Slash Haki. Proficiency +1]
---
The panel would only pop up after long intervals now.
Clearly, understanding was one thing. Mastering it was another.
He still had a lot of gaps.
Most swordsmen had to journey for at least three years, and experience a deadly life-or-death battle, only then might they find the opportunity they needed.
But like always—
Junichi was a cheat-code player.
Huff!
With another swing, the panel popped up faithfully once again.
[You have practiced Flying Slash. Proficiency +1]
He was gradually getting the feel for it. The frequency of the prompts was increasing.
"Probably by tomorrow, I'll max out the proficiency," he calculated inwardly.
"Time to head back." Mihawk wrapped up his own training and walked over from a distance. Seeing Junichi, he shook his head and said, "You've exhausted your stamina. Pushing further now is pointless."
"Got it." Junichi also understood and stopped swinging his sword.
After a short rest, he and Mihawk made their way back to the bar.
---
Ding-a-ling!
Accompanied by the sound of wind chimes, Junichi and Mihawk pushed open the bar's door.
As soon as they entered, a rich, mouthwatering aroma of meat washed over them. Plates of steaming, hearty food filled every table in the bar.
Gurgle...
Junichi's stomach growled instantly in protest.
"Welcome back," Shakky said with a cigarette in her mouth, smiling. "Go take a shower first, then come eat."
"Okay." Junichi immediately went upstairs to wash off all the sweat.
That dinner, he ate more than ever, easily consuming 100 times what he used to eat back in the Naruto world!
After filling up, he went to rest.
Mihawk stayed downstairs, sipping wine and casually chatting with Rayleigh and the others.
"How did it go this afternoon?" Rayleigh asked curiously.
"No progress," Mihawk shook his head.
Rayleigh, Shakky, and even Hancock all looked surprised at his answer.
"Why do you all look so surprised?" Mihawk was confused. "He already grasped Cutting Steel. The next step is the far harder Flying Slash. That's the Great Swordsman realm. You think that's easy? Countless swordsmen get stuck at that very step for life."
The three of them looked at each other.
A challenge that stopped most geniuses might not necessarily stop Junichi…
"Sorry, it's just…" Rayleigh scratched his head awkwardly. "Earlier, he awakened both Armament and Observation Haki in one day, so…"
"So you think he can comprehend both Cutting Steel and Flying Slash in a single day too?" Mihawk looked at him like he'd lost his mind.
All three nodded in unison.
He was speechless. What did they think the Great Swordsman realm was that easy to achieve?
"It doesn't happen that fast," Mihawk shook his head. "To become a Great Swordsman, you need a defining moment. Training alone won't get you there."
"Do you think Junichi can't master the Flying Slash?" Hancock raised her small hand and asked. She was very concerned about him.
Every meal, instead of eating with her sister and the rest of the Kuja tribe, she'd run over to be with Junichi's group.
"That's not it."
Mihawk glanced at the young girl, thought for a moment, and said, "I just think that, in a short time, he won't be able to master it… It usually takes at least three years of training to find that opportunity."
