Silence.
A suffocating stillness swallowed the entire dojo.
Every disciple stood frozen, eyes widened, all staring blankly toward the center of the training hall.
Kuina's wooden sword lay on the floor not far behind her, where it had been struck out of her grasp.
And in a duel between swordsmen—
Being disarmed meant certain defeat.
"I… I lost…"
Kuina's small body trembled.
Her youthful face was filled with shock, disbelief, and confusion.
She had never imagined—never even dreamed—that she might lose.
Lose to someone her age.
For so long, Kuina had believed that no one among her peers could match her swordsmanship.
But today—
She was defeated.
Not just defeated.
Crushed.
Overwhelmed to the point of helplessness.
From the very first exchange, she hadn't possessed even the slightest chance to strike back.
"I… I lost to Senior Brother…"
Kuina stood like a hollow shell, stunned and lifeless.
Just like—
Zoro had three days ago.
Their expressions were identical, as if carved from the same mold.
Around them, the disciples gaped in sheer disbelief.
None had expected this outcome.
Or rather—
They could imagine Kuina losing.
But they never imagined her being slaughtered in a single move.
Just like Zoro.
"W-What… what is this…?"
"No way… Kuina actually lost like that…"
"It can't be real! She was completely overwhelmed!"
"Losing is one thing, but being one-shotted like Zoro?! How is that possible?!"
"This is Kuina we're talking about! Our dojo's top prodigy!"
Their voices trembled.
Their faces paled.
Kuina—their undefeated genius—
Defeated so easily?
In the exact same manner as Zoro?
One sword.
Only one sword.
"Senior Brother… he only used one attack from start to finish."
"Kuina couldn't even block that single strike…"
"Just… how far has Senior Brother's swordsmanship reached?!"
The disciples' hearts pounded frantically.
What shook them wasn't the result—
It was the process.
That overwhelming, absolute suppression.
Never, not once, had anyone predicted Kuina would be instantly defeated.
Crushed without suspense.
Just like Zoro.
"It feels… familiar…"
A few disciples glanced toward Zoro.
Yes.
It was exactly like three days ago.
Same doer of violence.
Same result.
Same helpless defeat.
Zoro swallowed hard, his throat bobbing.
Only now did he truly understand—
The gap between him and Ryukawa was beyond imagination.
If even Kuina—whom he could never defeat—
Was instantly killed in a duel with Ryukawa…
Then what chance did he have?
"Kuina, who defeated me so easily…
was crushed by him just like that…"
"How strong is he really…?!"
Zoro clenched his fists so tightly they trembled.
He could no longer pretend.
Ryukawa's strength had become something terrifying.
Something monstrous.
There was no way—
Absolutely no way—that this was simply three days of training.
He had definitely been hiding his true power long before.
"Even now… he hasn't gotten serious, has he?"
Zoro's gaze locked onto Ryukawa's calm expression.
Not panting.
Not strained.
He had defeated Kuina without even using a fraction of his strength.
This realization shook Zoro to his core.
Meanwhile, Koushirou sighed deeply, watching Kuina in silence.
"Suffering defeat is part of growing stronger…
But Ryukawa's swordsmanship has already passed a point where even I may not have anything left to teach."
It was no surprise to him.
From the moment he saw Ryukawa earlier, he already knew the outcome.
Kuina would lose.
And badly.
Now, standing before him, the truth was undeniable—
The throne of Isshin Dojo's number one swordsman had been taken.
And it wasn't even close.
"Senior Brother defeated Kuina this easily…
Does that mean—"
"—From now on, Senior Brother is our dojo's strongest?!"
Excitement spread through the disciples.
Their gazes filled with awe, reverence, even worship.
Kuina, their long-time number one, had been toppled.
And the one who took her throne did it with a single effortless strike.
Ryukawa lowered his wooden sword and smiled kindly at his dazed junior sister.
"Kuina, this is a free lesson from your Senior Brother."
"The lesson is: learn to accept defeat calmly."
"Because…"
He shrugged lightly.
"With your first loss behind you, you'll experience many, many more."
"And eventually—
you'll get used to it."
The disciples:
"???"
Senior Brother!!
Is this how you comfort a girl?!
Truly worthy of being our Senior Brother—
Unique.
Unpredictable.
Utterly unmatched.
A role model for the entire dojo.
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