Ryuma was completely confused. What exactly did Zoro want him to feel? Zoro looked at Ryuma's bewildered expression, then simply shook his head. He did not explain what he meant when he kept asking, "Did you feel it?"
Instead, he dashed forward and attacked.
Ryuma instantly raised all three swords to defend himself. The moment their blades collided, his hands trembled violently, and his feet were dragged several inches across the ground. Gritting his teeth, he resisted with every ounce of strength he could muster.
If this goes on, I'll fall immediately, Ryuma thought to himself. Zoro's physical strength is far higher than mine, so I only have one choice. I have to use this clash to retreat.
With that thought, he pushed against Zoro's sword. Using the force of the stalemate as recoil, he instantly launched himself backward and created distance between them. The moment the gap was formed, Ryuma moved again.
"Two-Sword Style: Rashomon."
His figure blurred and appeared on Zoro's left side. Both swords slashed out simultaneously, one aimed at Zoro's ribs and the other at his stomach. The attack was swift and precise, cutting through the air with sharp momentum. But just as Ryuma's blades were about to graze Zoro's body, Zoro casually sidestepped. The attack missed completely.
At the same time, Zoro counterattacked with a simple swing of his sword. A sharp cut instantly appeared across Ryuma's back.
Ryuma grimaced as pain rushed through his body, but he knew he couldn't stay there. If he stayed even a moment longer, he would undoubtedly face another attack from Zoro. Without hesitation and without regard for the burning pain, he retreated once more, increasing the distance between them.
Ryuma had clearly been forced into a defensive position. He was no longer willing to confront Zoro head on. He knew Zoro was extremely powerful, far more powerful than him, and he couldn't win in a frontal clash. Despite fighting defensively, he was constantly injured by Zoro. This was already the second cut Zoro had delivered since the battle began.
Zoro looked at Ryuma and once again asked, "Did you feel it?"
Hearing the question for the second time, Ryuma's confusion only deepened. What does he mean? What exactly am I supposed to feel? What am I missing here?
His grip on his swords tightened. Although I don't know what Zoro means or what I'm supposed to feel, one thing is clear. I have to stay focused and try to understand what is happening whenever Zoro's attack lands on me.
…
Ryuma steadied his breathing and fixed his gaze on Zoro, refusing to let his concentration waver despite the throbbing pain in his wounds. Of course, Ryuma had no expectation that he would suddenly be able to fight Zoro on an equal footing, start effortlessly dodging Zoro's attacks, or anything similar. Zoro was clearly stronger than him, which Ryuma understood better than anyone else. However, he had come into this battle with one goal in mind: to master the Breath of All Things. As a result, he had no choice but to continue fighting Zoro until he was able to feel it.
So he attacked. He dashed toward Zoro without hesitation. Zoro easily defended, countered, and left another cut on Ryuma's body. Ryuma retreated, created distance, and attacked again.
The cycle repeated itself over and over. Again, and again, and again.
The battlefield was gradually stained with blood. Red droplets could be seen scattered across the ground, and more blood continued to seep from Ryuma's numerous wounds. His arms, chest, shoulders, and back were all marked with varying depths of cuts. Nonetheless, he continued forward.
After enduring such a one-sided battle for so long, most people would have had their spirits broken. They would have lost hope and surrendered. Ryuma did neither; he continued to fight.
His mind remained focused on only a few things:
What exactly did Zoro mean? What was I supposed to feel? And how can I enter the state where I can hear the Breath of All Things, listen to the spirit of everything around me, and feel the existence of all things?
As the battle dragged on, Ryuma's concentration became sharper and sharper. The pain of his wounds gradually faded from his awareness. The sound of clashing swords, the wind brushing past him, the grass swaying under the breeze, the faint rustling of leaves, everything seemed clearer than before.
And finally, Ryuma, whose body was covered in cuts and blood, suddenly stopped. Despite his injuries, there was no grimace on his face, no frustration, and no despair. Instead, excitement shone in his eyes.
With that excitement, he looked at Zoro and said, "Well, I felt it. I felt it just now, not only from your sword, but also from my surroundings."
The moment he finished speaking, he instantly assumed the stance for Three-Sword Style: Onigiri. His fighting spirit had not diminished in the slightest.
Looking at Ryuma's current state, Zoro's lips curled into a grin. Without saying anything further, he extended his sword outward and pointed it toward Ryuma. At the same time, he casually placed his left hand behind his back, appearing completely relaxed.
Ryuma clenched his teeth.
"Three-Sword Style: Onigiri!"
The instant the words left his mouth, he exploded forward. Boom! The ground cracked beneath his feet. His figure vanished.
In the next moment, he appeared behind Zoro. Silence followed. Ryuma's back faced Zoro's back.
He then coughed up a mouthful of blood. Blood dripped from his lips and splattered on the ground before him. The sword clenched in his mouth fell to the ground. His body swayed before collapsing face-first to the ground.
His breathing was faint, barely noticeable. Clearly, he was dying. Yet even then, there was no regret on his face, only a satisfied smile.
Zoro remained standing exactly where he was, his sword still extended outward. "You did it."
As soon as those words left his mouth, a metallic sound echoed through the area. Cling. The sword in Zoro's hand split apart. One cut appeared near the middle of the blade and another near the upper section. The broken pieces fell onto the ground, leaving only about one-third of the blade attached to the hilt in Zoro's hand.
Hearing Zoro's acknowledgment, a faint laugh escaped Ryuma's lips. It was so quiet that it was almost inaudible, but the satisfaction within it was unmistakable. He had finally done it. He had felt the Breath of All Things. He had finally mastered it.
On the other side, in the real world, Ryuma was sitting straight beneath a tree in a meditative posture. Then, without warning, his body slumped against the trunk. Clearly, he had become completely unconscious.
The area remained silent. Several seconds passed. Then, right beside him, three swords suddenly appeared.
There was no one else around, only the unconscious Ryuma lying beneath the tree as the gentle wind rustled the leaves overhead.
----
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