"How's the food, Mr. Ikki? Is it to your liking?" Nami asked cheerfully.
"Not bad at all. Thank you, Nami," Ikki nodded appreciatively as he handed her his empty plate.
"I'm glad! As long as you continue providing sufficient Berries, I'll happily cook for you anytime," she replied with a mercenary smile, taking the dish.
"No problem," Ikki agreed, patting his satisfied stomach as he stood up. "Nami, I'm about to face an opponent in there," he explained, gesturing toward the central area of the Sword Enlightenment Room—a spacious combat arena enclosed by transparent glass panels.
"Fight?" Nami shuddered, instinctively moving behind Ikki. "Are there enemies on this ship?"
"Not enemies—just a challenge. Don't worry, it's nothing serious," Ikki reassured her, patting her shoulder. Then, as if suddenly remembering something important, he added, "The battle won't take long. Stay right here."
His smile carried an unmistakable implication: Nami shouldn't attempt to sneak away with his treasure while he was occupied with the challenge.
Without waiting for her response, Ikki walked directly into the arena and activated his challenge permission.
[Ding! Host has activated 'Sky-Cutting Realm Challenge Permission.' Materializing the corresponding Sky-Cutting Realm Swordmaster.]
From Nami's perspective, a man wearing a haori with flame patterns at the hem appeared out of thin air opposite Ikki. It was Kyojuro Rengoku, the same swordsman who had demonstrated the Flame Breathing techniques earlier.
Before Nami could process how this stranger had suddenly materialized, Rengoku slammed one foot against the ground and launched himself toward Ikki with extraordinary speed.
"Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire!"
Rengoku swung his sword from left to right toward Ikki's head, the blade wreathed in blazing flames.
Having already activated his Observation Haki, Ikki focused intently and leaped backward, evading Rengoku's strike before it could connect.
While still airborne, Ikki clearly observed that Rengoku's blade had produced a flaming flying slash that cut through the air where he had stood moments before.
'As expected from the system's enhanced version of Rengoku,' Ikki thought. 'He can create flying slashes with a single move. Fortunately, I already saw this during his demonstration. In terms of speed, though, I still have the advantage.'
Ikki's lips curled into a confident smile as he wielded his sword, causing Zangetsu to enter its Shikai state. Having studied Rengoku's swordsmanship demonstration, Ikki consciously adjusted his breathing to the Sun Breathing pattern.
Within moments, Zangetsu transformed into a massive cleaver engulfed in flames even more intense than those on Rengoku's blade.
"Let's begin, Rengoku," Ikki declared. "Sun Breathing, Fifth Form: Setting Sun Transformation!"
Using his aerial position, Ikki spun his body in a complete circle, slashing at Rengoku with the enormous blade. Even as his opponent attempted to dodge, Ikki's Observation Haki guided his strike perfectly, and Rengoku couldn't fully escape the attack.
The two swordsmen quickly fell into an intense battle rhythm. Flames of different colors continuously erupted from both combatants, striking the glass barriers surrounding the arena.
Outside the battlefield, Nami watched with eyes widened to their limit.
'He's... so powerful,' she thought in amazement. 'Could anyone in the Arlong Pirates truly defeat someone like him?'
Witnessing Ikki's relentless fighting style, she began to doubt her previous assessment. Though Nami had no personal experience with swordsmanship, she had observed many sword-wielding pirates in action. Those fighters and the two combatants before her now seemed to exist in entirely different realms of ability.
She had no doubt that if ordinary pirates faced the Ikki she was witnessing now, they would be utterly consumed by the supernatural energies emanating from his blade.
'Ikki is incredibly strong! And the man fighting him is equally powerful!' her mind raced. 'But how did he suddenly appear? Are there other powerful fighters aboard this ship besides Ikki? If so, perhaps they could be convinced to visit Cocoyasi Village...'
Time passed swiftly, and half an hour elapsed in what felt like moments.
During this period, Ikki had utilized every form of breathing swordsmanship in his arsenal. He had also experimented with Zoro's techniques.
As Rengoku charged directly toward him once more, Ikki's lips curved into a slight smile.
"I appreciate the lesson, but it's time to end this," he declared.
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
Ikki suddenly raised Zangetsu and swung it toward Rengoku. Still harnessing the Sun Breathing state, he channeled tremendous physical energy into the Zangetsu blade, condensing it into a flaming crescent-shaped slash that surged toward his opponent.
Rengoku responded by launching his own flaming flying slash, but it was quickly overwhelmed by the Shikai attack. The Getsuga Tenshō cut directly through Rengoku's body, leaving a profound scar in its wake.
Rengoku's form began to dissolve, transforming into a blazing stream of flames that rushed toward Ikki. Understanding this was the method of power inheritance, Ikki remained still, calmly allowing the flames to enter his body.
In that moment, he distinctly felt something new awakening within him, and the system's notification confirmed his advancement:
[Ding! Host has defeated the 'Sky-Cutting Realm Swordmaster.' Congratulations, your swordsmanship has been upgraded to the 'Sky-Cutting Realm.']
[Since Host has already mastered the 'Flame Breathing' swordsmanship style, no additional acquisition is possible.]
'Excellent,' Ikki thought. As his swordsmanship entered the new 'Sky-Cutting Realm,' he experienced a profound new understanding of blade techniques. This enlightenment extended to all the swordsmanship schools he had mastered—both the Breathing Techniques and Zoro's Three-Sword Style.
'So this is how it works,' Ikki mused. He grasped Zangetsu's hilt with both hands as the sword reverted from its Shikai state, holding it before him as he murmured:
"One Sword Style: Thirty-Six Pound Phoenix!"