"Great... great swordsman???"
Grace struggled to form his words, his eyes locked onto Ronny, seeking confirmation of what he had witnessed.
"Indeed," Ronny nodded calmly, offering no further explanation.
Grace's lips quivered upon hearing Ronny's response. He closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath, trying to steady his raging emotions.
The teenagers, however, were taken aback by Grace's unexpected reaction. What was happening? Their sensei had clearly won, but he looked somber, even silencing them as they offered their congratulations.
Perhaps it was humility on their teacher's part? Yes, that must be it!
"Sensei, you've clearly won. Why be so modest?" a short, chubby teenager couldn't help but voice his thoughts. "This guy is clearly no match for you—you even granted him a chance to fight back..."
"Quiet!" Grace snapped coldly. "Do you understand what has happened? I just lost!"
"What? You lost, sensei?"
"How could you lose?"
A wave of disbelief washed over the teenagers. They couldn't perceive any signs that Grace had lost during the exchange.
"Master Ronny, please ignore these youngsters," Grace suggested with newfound respect. After all, he was a renowned swordsman in Loguetown, and the teenagers couldn't discern true skill.
During their brief exchange, he had aimed a strike at Ronny's sword arm, which Ronny had deftly blocked with his sword's sheath. The incredible power contained in that simple defensive move had completely negated Grace's potent iaijutsu technique, rendering it ineffective.
But more importantly, as Ronny's blade had deflected his attack, it had gently brushed against Grace's forehead—a moment that passed too quickly for the teenagers to comprehend.
Sweat beaded on Grace's forehead. Ronny, despite his youthful appearance, had reached an astonishingly high level of swordsmanship.
In his estimation, Ronny had surpassed the Master Swordsman level and likely reached the realm of a Great Swordsman.
Great Swordsman was a title reserved for swordsmen whose fame and power had extended across all the seas, including the Grand Line itself.
Grace couldn't fathom how someone of Ronny's apparent age could possess such mastery, leaving him in complete awe.
"Master Ronny, although you are formidable," Grace said, his demeanor suddenly animated, "I still possess my dual sword style technique and would like to spar with you. I request your guidance."
Ronny remained composed, a faint smile gracing his face. "Competition between swordsmen is quite normal. Make your move."
"Thank you, Master Ronny. Please be prepared!" Grace's tone was serious. He knew he couldn't defeat Ronny, but he yearned to learn and test himself against a formidable swordsman. He was determined to fight to the best of his ability, seeking to gauge how far he stood from the realm of Great Swordsman.
The teenagers in the kendokan were utterly shocked by the unexpected turn of events. What had they just heard?
The teenagers couldn't believe their ears. Had they truly heard their renowned Teacher Grace humbly asking for guidance in swordsmanship from the young man before them?
This didn't make sense. The situation seemed to have taken a bizarre turn.
Confusion swept over the teenagers. They exchanged bewildered glances, trying to grasp the sudden shift in events.
"Master Ronny, please observe my technique. Dual Sword Style!" Grace declared, drawing another long sword from his waist. With two swords in hand, he exuded an even more intense aura than before. In a swift motion, he advanced toward Ronny, wielding his blades like twin silvery crescents shining in the moonlight.
Ronny, observing with his trained eye, recognized Grace's technique. It wasn't the iaijutsu style but the dual sword style, and it was indeed impressive.
Swish!
With a swift movement, Ronny unsheathed his sword, and a sonorous sword cry filled the air. The blade cut through the sky, and compressed air soared outward, shaking the entire dojo.
Following two resounding clashes, Grace's twin blades were sent flying and buried themselves into the wooden walls nearby.
Seeing his empty hands, Grace was stupefied, as were the teenagers who had been watching. If they hadn't clearly seen the initial attack, they were now presented with the undeniable result—Teacher Grace's dual swords had been disarmed by Ronny with seemingly effortless precision. With confident resheathing of his sword, Ronny maintained his calm and gentle demeanor, sporting a faint smile on his lips.
"I... I've lost," Grace admitted with dignified calm, bowing deeply to Ronny. "Master Ronny, you are indeed a formidable swordsman, deserving of the title Great Swordsman. I am thoroughly convinced."
"Lost... the teacher lost?"
"What is happening?"
The students and teenagers were dumbfounded by this revelation.
Ronny smiled gently, approaching Grace and assisting him as he bowed. He spoke with a calm and kind tone, "Master Grace, there's no need to be so formal. While my skills have reached the level of a Great Swordsman, there is still much I have yet to learn about swordsmanship. I still hope you'll be willing to guide me."
"Where would I have the qualification to guide someone of your caliber?" Grace responded with a slightly downcast expression. Today, he had been humbled by a young man, and he didn't think he possessed the ability to instruct such a powerful swordsman.
"Master Grace, you are very kind," Ronny replied calmly. "I have great admiration for your iaijutsu and dual sword style techniques. I wonder if you'd be willing to honor the agreement we made and teach me these two techniques?"
Grace was taken aback but soon nodded with genuine respect. "Master Ronny, it would be an honor to teach you these techniques. It's a privilege for our kendokan to share these skills with you. Please, come inside, and we can discuss it further."
As they entered the dojo's inner chambers, the bewildered kendo students remained in the courtyard, still in a daze from witnessing their master's decisive defeat.
At the same time, in Loguetown, at the Marine base, several Marine officers sensed the immense sword energy and turned their attention toward the kendokan, feeling the surge of power that had emanated from that direction. They were left trembling in its wake.