The long table before both Alice, Masamune and Wolfhart was quiet. Masamune drank fine, flavorful liquor from a chalice as a reward from his training. The Apex sat at the other side, smearing duck fat across the fine porcelain dish. Alice sipped upon fizzy liquid and forked at her salad in front of her.
Almost two years on the island. And Masamune had gotten incredibly proficient in his swordsmanship and combining it with his Haki.
He'd had to perform the Paper Divination test as compared to Leroy and the Dowsing rods. The Paper was simple, incredibly more understandable than the interpretation that was left with dowsing. As a singular answer could mean something different than expected (Broad affinity having the direction of North East, and yet could also cross rods and still determine Broad)
"Here. Hold this sheet, and imbue your Haki into it using Flare." Hannibal had said. Masamune's face had been bandaged, covering fresh wounds. A Scar across his nose and lip.
The Apprentice did so. The paper crumpled on its own, before rupturing down the middle in a sudden visceral split!
"As I'd expected." Hannibal said, a smirk forming beneath his mask. "Ejection type."
"The Affinity known for those that wish to impose their power onto the world around them or allow it to leave themselves from afar. Most often held by swordsmen. As we swordsmen operate on that very logic." He held his hands behind his back.
"Sword slashes 'Eject' from us if swung hard enough. Our goals 'Leave' us and go upon the world around with a flick of our blades." He held two fingers, denoting the types.
Masamune's eyes narrowed. "What are the other effects for the seven other affinities?"
"Curious?" A tilt of the neck followed the words.
"Yes." Was the simple answer.
"Simple. In order; Augmentation stiffens the Paper like a playing card. Precision causes it to furl like a scroll. Exotic causes the Paper to combust. Modify causes it to crumple into a ball. Broad has the paper flatten thinner. Singularity makes it have two of the previous affects at once, demonstrating the two overlapping of the person. Persistent causes ripples to form in the paper as if it'd been balled up and flattened back out. And of course, as Ejection causes the paper to split." Hannibal held up three final fingers, having moved from five to count all eight affinities.
Now back within the Dinning room. Hannibal looked up from his plate. "Alice?" He perked, causing the gothic woman to do the same. "Would you be a dear and bring me the Decanter?" He pointed to the vase like glass of dark red liquid.
Alice nodded quickly and stood to her feet to deliver the glass. Hannibal continuing to talk.
"Masamune?" He queried, not waiting for a response. "Your Branch Leaning is within Armament. So for the next test, I challenge you to utilize only Armament, and relegate yourself to using only one sword style."
"Uh…Sure? When do we start?" Masamune narrowed again.
But before the answer could be heard. The large floor to ceiling window that looked out to the rest of the island from the dining room exploded into a rain of glass and shards! The billions of tiny particulates shining in the late night moon light! Wood splintered, sound broke the air, and the glass rained like a storm!
"EYAH!" Alice screamed! Dropping the decanter, only for Hannibal to snatch it and begin pouring his own cup as if nothing had happened. Masamune, and the attacker were both gone. Walls of the castle had collapsed inward, with only dust shooting out to signal its detonation.
"M-Mr. Wolfheart?! Shouldn't we-" Alice began. The sound of clashing steel echoing. But the ungloved hand of the Strongest silenced her with a mere gesture. "No. Usually I handle these intruders. But clearly they weren't expecting another person on the island, and collided with Masamune by accident."
"So he shall be the one to deal with them." He sipped deeply from the blood hued liquid. "I am however puzzled that it took so long for someone to finally show up. World must truly be in a sprawl trying to piece itself back together after Redbeard…" He casually sipped again. '
The sounds of clashing metals followed by flying sparks was at a cacophony of noise and overstimulation to the untrained fighter as Masa- No. This was no longer the man known as Masamune Kale. This was a new, refined beast that now occupied a far more refined vessel that no longer could carry the name given to him by his parents.
But a swordsman, the same one that was found in that cage nearly four years ago, but honed to an edge that needed a new foundational descrptor all of its own.
But what that would be– had yet to be decided.
THOOM! THOOM! KLANG!
Steel coated in blackened hue, the aural energy emitted and condensed to a dull paint like sheen across the blade, as if it were made of a dullen matte black.
The first stage of armament hardening. The most foundational physical close range offensive use of Haki that anyone who wanted to call them anything even slightly above 'Compotent' would have access to.
The person in front of the Swordsman had the same. But only for moments. Their androgynous form was lim and in a unitard that went up and exposed the hips, legs covered by white pants. Waist covered in three black and gold metal buckle belts. Their hair was a dark saphire braided into over seven feet of hair, with a single blade at the end that was like an ornate spear head.
The Student did just as he had been told. In fact, his belt held only one scabbard. He challenged himself beyond his mentor and used only the VII as it held no Supernatural Abilities like the others.
"Foli: Yari!" The attacker screamed, controlling their hair to a preternatural level as if it were a massive tendon wired straight to the base of their skull. It slinked around with tremendous speed, and with viper like dexterity snapped forward! Mach Cone that was ubiquitous with even decently strong fighters formed around, cracking the air like a whip!
But the swords man was far far faster. With expertise, and a two handed grip, he smashed the attack out of the way! The woman in front of him skid backwards. "What? Does the Apex now have a guard dog to protect his island?"
"I'd heard that every challenger that step foot was met with swift end by himself." But the swordsman was not listening to the pale skinned womans retorts. The Pirate grimaced at his blade…He'd lost focus. The Armament imbuement had left when he deflected the attack.
"Sloppy…"
"Sloppy?" The woman heard. "How dare you call me sloppy. The only one who is any bit a disappointment is Wolfhart. Are all the stories untrue? Is he nothing but a fraud?" She spat with venom. Venom that made the Swordsman snap back to attention; Blade blackening.
Then. His aura erupted into a dense multiheaded spiked flame of dense blue and green.
"Hah-" The woman got into position. Two blades forming in her hand. Detailed and ornate.
'Firmament.' The Black haired man thought to himself. 'But very fine and detailed…Didn't Hannibal say that say that such an ability was complex…But how? Shouldn't that be draining her?'
"How are you doing that?" He said. Pointing at the woman with his blade. "Firmament objects are supposed to be simply right?"
The woman kept a stoic look. But slowly a smile grew. She stood to her feet. "In theory. Yes. At least for someone of a skill level like you or mine. But–" She tapped the veil on her face. A large strip of material that was finely made and looked like a sleep mask.
Or a blind fold….
"I took away something very precious to myself as a Vow. My sight. See- I have a Konseki that if I look at someone they are immobilized. Stone will start to form. Was was inspired by the myth of the gorgon…But given *The Gorgon* already exists…I had to make do."
Eliza…The Gorgon.
"The Vow gives me an immense boost in my reserves of aura, and as well boosts my capabilities in the other branches. I may not be able to physically see. But my observation allows me to see the aura of things and elevations. A unique Kata I developed to compensate. But as well"
"My firmament is much stronger. Allowing for far more advanced applications of the ability. Not just blades. But daggers. Etch; The Ability to shape an object into something. And Mold; The Ability to Create an object of Firmament. Though-"
"Basic." The Man finished. 'That much I knew…'
"So you combined the two to further shape it into a precise construct? Wouldn't that be incredibly–"
"Didn't you just ask that?" She sneered. "It would. But my *Efficiency* edges that out from the vow. I have three vows active right now…"
His eyes narrowed. 'All of that. So much restriction just to get a modicum of edge in battle when you could just train….' True. However-
Vows are something everyone should learn how to do. Its like wearing gloves in boxing. Give and take. Or focusing on swarming punches instead of large destructive strikes. Every fighter. In every martial art and discipline gives and takes to gain advantages for themselves.
Jumping around on your feet wears down energy at the cost of explosiveness and quick movement. Staying still does the opposite and harder hits even if 'slower'.
'First things first…Get that mask off of her.' He thought to himself when the fight burst back into action! The woman slung the knives at the Pirate!
"Hngh! Hrm!" He smashed both constructs to nothing but shards that radiated into aura and dust! 'She's not reinforcing them with Armament…' He thought.
'Vow 2. She can only use up to two branches at once?' He lunged! Breaking the earth behind him as he raised his sword! He was aiming right for her arm!
It was met with a deflection of hardening! Her arm raised into the air as she grit her teeth. 'Faint.' Just like what Hannibal had taught him. He gave a false opening. She'd have to keep her Hardening active and either use that whip or her Construct to counter! But it'd leave her open!
'There!' he screamed! Watching as the palm of the woman began to clasp shut! A dagger forming! But before she could impale him straight in the sternum! He took the opportunity to clasp his own fist tight!
'Nanitoryu Iai: Faust!' He slammed his knuckles into the face of the woman! Blood erupting and causing her to be sent flying backwards….
Masamune suddenly took his eyes off the enemy and looked up to Hannibal who was watching from a distance. Looking for acknowledgement at the move he'd pulled off!
A simple nod was all he needed…
Nanitoryu. Or Anystyle. It is not a singular style. But a modifier to his existing moves. Much like a 'Rockin' from Calliope or 'Hyper' from Leroy. This 'Iai' or Secret technique was the sudden usage of a bare handed strike.
All sword fighting needed to best use all that they had. Just like a Fighter would use Haki. So too would a Swordsman use their hands, fists, kicks, and body to gain an edge. This is why a swordsman is anyone who wields a blade. Because they would also be augmenting themselves with other attributes to most utilize the weapon in their grasp for maximum effectiveness.
"What other vows do you got?" The man balked. Cocky grin coming over his face as the he watched the womans bondage fall from her face…Her long done up hair falling into spirals as…
"Vow Three…So long as I have my hair done, and thus restricting one of my main forms of combat through the Technique of Semei Kikan… My physical attributes will be lowered. But will allow me to utilize more physical prowess once released…." THOOM!
An Aura erupted around her! As if like millions of strands of hair flurling through the air wildly like a beasts fur in a hurricane! A Deep Purple aura extended from her body! Kale didn't need proper observation to sense that she was now at least…twice- no…three…
Five Times the strength before!
"Hngh! Damn?!" He suddenly stopped. His heat dropped in his chest! Her eyes! He was locked right on to her pale silver eyes that glowed with a bloody radiance to them! Her observation was gone. But now at the gift of visuality and such strength! Truly that must be some pay off!
"Konseki! Belladonna's Wrath!" In front of her a massive….Sigil appeared in mid air! One over the next over the next that furled and formed into petals of deep violet hue before coalescing into a massive bulb like the flower of its namesake! Them Blooming into a vibrant white pink radiance! In the womans hands…Two chain whips formed. Her hair rising up…
The only thing missing from the flower was the stems!
In a flash of speed far beyond meteoric! The woman stood up, arched back! The chains swaying before whipping her arms forward! Chains and hair each with a spear tip on them slammed into the flower! The moment they passed the threshold they exponentially got faster until it was as if they were nearing speeds a hundred fold faster than sound!
The pressure was focused, but even still exploded the ground into chunks as they zipped through the sky towards The Red Sashes Swordsman!
'But at the cost of allowing myself to utilize my Konseki to its fullest! I dont have two…I have one! My eyes freeze. And then with the boost in power I am able to summon Bellabonnas Wrath that allow me to summon chains in my hand for primary use. Anything that basses the flower is sped up and empowered a dozen fold. Including anything that passes through it!'
'Its the true reason why I made so many vows in the first place…If I couldn't be on that Isle of Women! Then I'd prove my worth that I was the real most powerful woman! Starting with the apex of blades himself!'
"GHRAH!" The Firstmate Screamed! Thirteen total projectiles impaled all across him like a pin cushion! Blood spewing, splattering and pooling in deep crimson across the ground…They had gone straight through him! One had gone for his eye! If it hadn't been for…
His hand! He'd forced his left hand to grab the arrow headed hair to stop from fully impaling into his eye socket!
"What?!" She said "How?! How could you move after all of that!" She spat. Hands and Hair Still extended.
"Heh…I'm just…better than you!" He pulled the blade from his eye. Oozing and dripping with ichor. Trailing down his face. Cheek, brow and eye cut deep. "If I go blind…I'm takin your eyes too!"
He tossed the tendril to the side where it and the rest quickly slinked back to their owner. She braced her self as they passed back through the flower with speed.
Masamune's eyes narrowing… "I see…"
'She's an Ejection Type. With an Affinity for Firmament….All of that to be wholly specialized in only this one ability for the most decisive and fast blow…But the speed is even too much for her…!'
He hand tightened around the hilt of the VII. "Then I'll have to end this in a blow that'll be too much for her to handle…"
He shifted his feet. Knuckles tightening.
"Like hell It will! Foli! Eight Fold Dagger" Her hand crossed. Chains clinking together as her eyes were covered. Dozens of more finite and ornate daggers formed! All around the ends of her hair! Slowly like a pit of serpents the slithered up into place with tension in the follicles ready to explode at any moment straight through the berth of speed and power!
A loud sound was heard! Like screech! He hadn't heard it before…But it was a sound that denoted the paralysis! She looked through her now parallel eyes! The world around darkened as tears of blood trickled. Using all of the paralysis she could muster!
"Hgnh….HRAH!" Screamed Right as the woman threw her final attack! "Belladonna Armagedon!" Dozens and dozens of Blades followed by those thirteen 'steem' went through the flower! And sped forth!
'Come….'
"ON!" He roared! Screaming with all he had! Breaking from the crippling to move his hands with immense speed! Slicing down swathes in a single slash! Then back again! And again! He was outspeeding the blade all together! It was taking all he had! His aura flared as large as it could go!
Raidare. The Woman. Looked it horror as the hair was split! She was-
She out of weapons! All of them were still in The Firstmate Swordsman of the Redsash Pirates! She watched as the lobbed of hair spilled into countless strands! The mains arms raising above him!
"Itoryu! Meirei…!" He spewed the words from deep within his soul!
'You must be an ejection type…But so am I! I'll use your own tricks against you! For that I thank you! But go…'
'And be cut down!' His throat boomed the rest of the new move! "GENBUNZA!" The blade of wind that formed from the deep violet and divine colored aura spewed forth and shaped into a massive head of a terrifying snapping tortoise! It tore through the ground! Ripping it apart! Trees dozens of meters tall uprooted and flying through the air! Trench merely dozens more wide!
Raidare attempted to block! Pull her chains back! But the attack was to momentous! It passed through her own Belladonna with enriched strength and speed she could not comprehend! Slamming and tearing through and passed her! Bone showing! Blood spraying! But it flew past and slammed into the mountain that had been looming in the distance!
FAHTHOOM!
The Rock face shattered and burst into enormous chunks that quaked the ground!
"YAHHH!" Raidare's shriek split the air. Before crumpling to the ground in defeated heap…
"Hah…Hah….Thanks…For the lesson." He said below his throat. "I'll steal it from you…Like good pirate I am…" His blade and aura were sheathed back to where the belonged. His legs wobbled. But he steadied himself.
Looking to Hannibal. He held up two finger and a thumb on each hand. "Six out of Ten. Do better next time. Now come in. You need to be patched up and get just deserts for you accomplishments"
"Heh…Hard ass…" The Swordsman smirked. His mentor was almost too much like himself in his steeled personality.