"Eh?"
Sabo froze, pointing at himself.
"You want… me to spar?"
Dragon spoke earnestly, like a patient father:
"Even if you've lost your memories, Sabo, you must understand—
only by interacting with others your age can you gradually adapt to who you are now."
"Exchanging blows with someone your age will help you understand yourself, open your heart… maybe even make a friend."
Hearing this, Sabo waved his hands frantically.
"No, no, I—I can't!"
Ivan stepped in immediately, smiling with meaning:
"Sabo, darling, you must berryeve in yourself! Among children your age, your strength is top-class! This kind of chance to 'make friends through combat' doesn't come often!"
Of course Ivan knew what Dragon really wanted.
They wanted to test the strange boy from the dojo.
But as adults—and guests—they couldn't just step forward and challenge him.
That would be rude, and they didn't want Koushirou to think the Revolutionary Army had come to pick a fight.
Letting Sabo test him was the most natural solution.
Even with memory loss, Sabo was still a genius—far beyond normal children.
And Dragon?
He was simply too curious.
This boy…
Why did he feel so unusual?
Why could Dragon sense danger from someone so young?
"Man shouldn't say he 'can't'!"
Fishman martial artist Hack struck a dramatic pose.
"...I understand."
Sabo finally nodded.
Under the gazes of Dragon, Ivan, and Hack, he stepped forward—with the air of a child going to his execution—and walked toward Ryukawa.
His movement instantly alerted Kuina and Zoro.
"What are you planning?"
Kuina narrowed her eyes, wooden sword in hand.
Something about these strangers felt extremely dangerous.
"I… I want to spar with him."
Sabo said timidly, pointing at Ryukawa.
"I'll go—"
Zoro stepped forward.
But Ryukawa turned around and calmly interrupted him:
"You sure about that?"
Only then did Sabo notice Ryukawa was already watching him.
So this is Sabo.
Ryukawa finally recognized him.
Future Revolutionary Army chief-of-staff.
The second-in-command under Dragon.
A monster who would one day rival admirals.
But right now…
He was just a timid blond boy, unsure of himself, still carrying the confusion of lost memories.
"S-Sir… everyone says I'm strong for my age. So I wanted to exchange a few blows with you."
Sabo explained honestly.
"For your age?"
Ryukawa raised a brow.
"Child… My strength is considered top of the entire East Blue, you know?"
Wasn't this basically bullying?
But then Ryukawa sensed it—
the subtle gazes coming from Dragon's group.
So that's how it is.
A test.
Since they wanted to probe him…
Ryukawa saw no reason to refuse.
Kuina frowned, wanting to stop him.
"Senior brother, this seems—"
"It's fine."
Ryukawa cut her off with a smile.
"He challenged me. It'd be rude not to accept."
And so—
Students stopped their training and gathered excitedly around the center of the dojo.
Two figures stood facing each other.
Five meters apart.
Sabo gripped his iron pipe—his usual weapon.
Ryukawa held his wooden sword.
"Ready when you are," Ryukawa said casually.
Sabo inhaled sharply.
"Here I come!"
He lunged.
Instant acceleration!
In a blink, he closed the distance.
His iron pipe swung down with force far beyond a normal child's.
"So fast!"
Both Zoro and Kuina's expressions changed.
If that strike landed on them…
They weren't sure they could block it.
Indeed—
This world was too huge.
And Shimotsuki Village… was just a tiny speck in the East Blue.
A random child from outside could already pressure them this much.
And Sabo's display allowed Ryukawa to judge:
Zoro wasn't his match.
Kuina barely could contest.
But—
Compared to Ryukawa?
Still too weak.
With a simple sidestep, Ryukawa avoided the iron pipe—
and with a flick of his wrist, his wooden sword cut a clean arc.
A faint afterimage.
PAK!
A sharp strike landed on Sabo's arm.
"Ah—!"
Pain shot through him.
His grip loosened.
The iron pipe clattered to the floor.
Before he realized what happened—
A wooden sword was already resting coldly against his neck.
Ryukawa smiled.
"You lost."
If he had been serious…
Sabo might've lost more than just a spar.
Wooden swords can't kill?
Ryukawa had shattered that idea long ago.
His wooden sword had already taken over a hundred lives.
The outcome was set in an instant.
One exchange.
One move.
One strike.
Sabo was defeated.
Completely.
Utterly.
Overwhelmingly.
Not even remotely close to Ryukawa's level.
The dojo erupted.
"Senior brother is still senior brother—hopelessly strong!"
"So fast!!"
"He beat that challenger in an instant!"
"That kid was brave, I'll give him that. But in front of senior brother… no one survives long!"
"As expected—he's flawless, invincible!"
Yet—
Kuina and Zoro didn't seem surprised.
This kind of one-shot kill…
They were already used to it.
Ryukawa's overwhelming strength had long been engraved into their minds.
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