Nami recalled how Ikki had mentioned during her training that he had prepared a 'Swordsman Shadow' for her to challenge. Considering Nami's strength at that time, the prepared shadow wasn't as powerful as Rengoku that Ikki had fought before.
Now, with her rapidly improving strength, Nami was eager to become even stronger by challenging the Swordsman Shadow.
Nojiko looked on curiously. Although she had heard about these Swordsman Shadows from Nami, she had never seen one herself and was quite intrigued.
"Want to challenge a Swordsman Shadow?" Ikki asked with a smile. "In that case, you should first see your opponent before making any judgments."
Ikki activated the viewing function of the 'Iron-cutting Realm Swordsman Challenge Permission.' Soon, in the center of the arena in the Sword Training Room, a young man with blond hair appeared, wearing a black Demon Slayer uniform with a golden haori over it.
'Zenitsu is a perfect match,' Ikki thought to himself. 'If Nami could defeat him, she would directly master the Thunder Breathing "Thunderclap and Flash" technique that she hasn't fully grasped yet.'
As the boy demonstrated his swordsmanship in the arena, Ikki examined his attribute panel:
[Name: Zenitsu Agatsuma]
[Life Force: 300]
[Weapon: Nichirin Sword]
[Special Ability: None]
[Sword Realm: Iron-cutting Realm]
[Swordsmanship School: Thunder Breathing]
'His Life Force is at 300,' Ikki noted silently. 'Nami has no way of challenging him yet. It seems this challenge needs to be postponed.'
"Is this... my opponent?" Nami asked, blinking with curiosity at Zenitsu standing in the center of the arena. "He doesn't look very strong."
"Haha, you may have spoken too soon, Nami," Ikki replied, placing his hand on her shoulder while activating the observation permission. "Wait until you see his swordsmanship before making your assessment."
The next moment, Zenitsu's expression grew solemn. His eyes tightly closed as he took a sword-drawing stance.
"Is that the 'Thunderclap and Flash' pose?!" Nami's eyes widened slightly.
Having studied the "Thunderclap and Flash" from the Thunder Breathing techniques with Ikki, Nami immediately recognized Zenitsu's posture.
As if responding to Nami's question, Zenitsu took a deep breath, and bursts of golden lightning began to illuminate his body.
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
BOOM!
Lightning flashed, and in the eyes of Nami and Nojiko, Zenitsu's figure transformed into a mere afterimage. When he reappeared, he was already on the other side of the arena.
"So... so fast! It's completely different from the 'Thunderclap and Flash' I've been using!" Nami exclaimed, covering her mouth in astonishment.
"He's incredible! Nami, are you confident you can defeat him?" Nojiko asked, turning to her sister.
"No way! He's too strong!" Nami shook her head repeatedly.
When Zenitsu first appeared, he had looked timid, but Nami never imagined that when he wielded his sword, his demeanor would transform completely.
"By the way, Captain Ikki," Nami said, "you told me before that Thunder Breathing has six basic forms. Shouldn't the swordsman in the arena also know the other five forms?"
"Thunder Breathing does indeed have six basic forms," Ikki confirmed. "But this young man has actually only mastered the most basic and most difficult First Form, 'Thunderclap and Flash.' Despite this limitation, he has perfected this single technique to its ultimate expression. Based on his mastery, he even created a seventh form of Thunder Breathing."
"That seventh form is extraordinarily powerful," Ikki continued. "But the Swordsman Shadow before you hasn't mastered that seventh form, Flaming Thunder God. This can be considered a reduction in the challenge difficulty."
Ikki smiled. If Zenitsu in the arena had mastered the Flaming Thunder God, Ikki believed Nami might have needed to wait much longer before being eligible to challenge him.
After hearing Ikki's explanation, Nami's mouth fell open in surprise.
At the same time, Zenitsu in the center of the arena began to move again. Before Nami and Nojiko's eyes, he lowered his stance, and an even stronger golden lightning erupted from his body.
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash - Sixfold!"
WHOOSH!
Lightning flashed!
To Nami and Nojiko, Zenitsu seemed to vanish, replaced by six streaks of lightning crisscrossing the center of the arena.
"S-Sixfold?! 'Thunderclap and Flash' can be used like that?!" Nami's eyes widened in disbelief. She could barely execute the technique once before her body would momentarily freeze, yet here was Zenitsu performing it six consecutive times without pause.
Nami realized how ridiculous it had been to think she was ready to challenge this Swordsman Shadow. Clearly, she didn't yet possess the ability to face the opponent Ikki had prepared for her.
"As long as you train diligently, you can achieve the same feats as him in the future, Nami," Ikki encouraged. "Watch carefully and observe his movements and speed. When you're confident in your abilities, you can challenge him again."
Hearing Ikki's words, Nami calmed herself and focused intently, wanting to see Zenitsu's movements as clearly as possible.
"Thunderclap and Flash - Eightfold!"
After a brief pause, Zenitsu employed the technique again, but this time executing it eight consecutive times.
"Thunderclap and Flash, what incredible speed!"
BOOM!
In the arena's center, Zenitsu's figure vanished instantly before Nami and Nojiko's eyes. In less than a second, he had traversed from one end of the arena to the other. Throughout the entire sequence, only Ikki could clearly track Zenitsu's movements.
"Such amazing speed!" Nami exclaimed, clasping her hands together as her eyes sparkled with excitement. "If I can master this technique, I'll definitely be able to defeat Arlong. No, I could even defeat the entire Arlong Pirates by myself!"
Even though Zenitsu had disappeared from the arena, the excitement in Nami's eyes remained undimmed.
"What a powerful swordsman," Nojiko murmured, looking at her own hands. "Could I ever become as powerful as him?"
"With dedicated practice, neither you nor Nami will achieve anything less than what Zenitsu just demonstrated," Ikki assured them, placing his hands on their shoulders. "Nami, although Zenitsu only knows one form of Thunder Breathing, he has developed it to the highest level. I look forward to seeing you defeat his shadow and gaining his sword knowledge."
Hearing this, Nami nodded firmly. "Captain Ikki, I'll work hard. I may not be able to challenge him now, but I will catch up to him soon!"