"Everything in existence, turn to ash… Ryujin Jakka."
Along with Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto's low chant, an overwhelming surge of spiritual pressure erupted from his body.
The immense reiatsu poured into Ryujin Jakka, instantly igniting it into blazing inferno.
In an instant, the surrounding temperature rose to the level of the sun's surface.
Not far away, Ezra D. Vale slowly raised his own Ryujin Jakka.
"Everything in existence, turn to ash… Ryujin Jakka."
The moment the words fell, a scorching wave of spiritual pressure exploded from Ezra's body.
Yamamoto's eyes narrowed slightly.
From the very beginning, he had already noticed that this young man's spiritual pressure was different.
Even more, it seemed far more compatible with Ryujin Jakka than his own.
And that was indeed the truth.
The flames on Ezra's blade burned even hotter than Yamamoto's.
The ocean beneath their feet could no longer endure the heat.
It hissed and steamed violently as seawater was instantly vaporized.
"Old man, continue."
The instant Ezra spoke, he swung his blade down.
"Burning Prison of Flames!"
A massive wall of fire surged from his sword, forming a giant palm-like inferno that tried to engulf Yamamoto.
"Naive."
Yamamoto let out a cold snort and casually placed his blade at his waist.
"Soukatsu."
A raging fire vortex erupted outward.
In an instant, it neutralized the massive flaming hand.
Shunpo.
Yamamoto appeared directly in front of Ezra without hesitation.
Their blades collided violently.
Clang!
"Boy, show me more!"
Yamamoto pressed forward, his strength increasing with each strike.
Ezra frowned, tightening his grip and forcing the old man's blade back.
The two exchanged relentless attacks and defenses.
From sky to sea, their battle raged on.
Everything within sight was reduced to ashes.
But this was only their basic exchange.
Boom!
The two separated once again.
Just as Ezra prepared to continue, Yamamoto suddenly extinguished the flames on Ryujin Jakka and returned it to its cane form.
Ezra raised a brow.
"Old man, stopping already?"
Yamamoto shook his head slightly.
"You are close. Very close to being acknowledged."
Ezra frowned.
"So there is no need to defeat you to be acknowledged?"
Yamamoto showed a faint approving expression.
"Correct. But I still needed to test your strength."
"That is enough for today. Reflect on this battle. When you are ready, we will continue."
Without waiting for a reply, his figure dissolved into white light and vanished.
At the same time, a system voice echoed in Ezra's mind.
[First Trial Completion: 50 percent. Trial ended.]
The world around him collapsed into nothingness.
Ezra returned to the pure white space.
"Only fifty percent completion…"
He muttered under his breath.
[Host, return to the real world?]
"Return."
In an instant, his consciousness snapped back into his body.
When he opened his crimson eyes again, he was back on the familiar mountain peak.
"…A trial, huh."
Ezra rubbed his temple.
Although the trial did not harm his body, the mental strain was significant.
Fortunately, his spiritual strength had already been tempered to a high level.
It was only a mild discomfort.
He did not leave immediately.
Instead, he stood still and replayed the battle in his mind.
Yamamoto Shigekuni Genryusai truly lived up to the name of the strongest Shinigami of the thousand-year era.
Even though Ezra had inherited his power, the difference in experience was still obvious.
In hand-to-hand combat, he had been suppressed far more often than he had succeeded.
If Yamamoto had not deliberately held back, he would not have found those openings.
In Kidō, they were evenly matched, since it mostly came down to raw spiritual pressure.
But the most difficult part was swordsmanship.
Despite using everything he had, he still could not surpass Yamamoto's mastery.
Experience was the deciding factor.
And Yamamoto's understanding of the blade evolved constantly, like a "Sword Demon" who never stopped refining his art.
Even if Ezra inherited his power, each battle against him would only make Yamamoto stronger.
That was the troubling part.
If he could not eventually surpass him, the final opponent might become an even more monstrous version of Yamamoto himself.
For now, though, he needed to focus on digesting everything he had learned.
Time passed quietly.
Meanwhile, far away on Sabaody Archipelago, something major was about to unfold with the reunion of the Straw Hat crew.
But Ezra did not care.
At that moment, Monkey D. Luffy and Nico Robin had just stepped off a Revolutionary Army ship.
"We're finally back at Sabaody," Luffy said with excitement in his eyes.
The two of them turned to the man who had escorted them, West Army Commander Morley.
"Uncle Morley, we'll stop here!" Luffy said.
Morley scratched his head and smiled.
"Got it, Luffy, Robin. Stay safe out there."
"Things are different now. This place is too close to Marine Headquarters."
"The Three Admirals can arrive here in no time."
"You must not cause trouble. Leave quickly."
Luffy and Robin nodded seriously.
"Marine Headquarters… Ezra D. Vale…"