"W what did you say?" Uzui Tengen, the Sound Hashira, asked in disbelief, the jewels on his flamboyant headpiece swaying as he moved.
"I said," Sol Mirek repeated calmly, "all nine of you should attack at once. It will save time."
Sanemi Shinazugawa instantly drew his Nichirin sword and pointed the blade straight at Sol.
"Arrogant bastard! I can deal with you myself!"
The Wind Hashira's shout shattered the brief silence. The other Hashira also reacted with clear irritation or disbelief.
"How brazen," Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Hashira, said coldly while the white snake around his neck flicked its tongue.
"Oh my... this is quite something," Mitsuri Kanroji murmured, her cheeks turning pink from surprise and confusion.
Giyu Tomioka stood quietly to the side, watching Sol with a complicated expression. As the only person present who had personally witnessed Sol's strength, he understood the weight of that proposal far better than the others.
A soft cough came from Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and the courtyard immediately fell silent again.
He turned his gentle gaze toward Sol.
"Mr. Mirek, are you certain you wish to do this?"
"Of course," Sol replied casually.
He stretched his shoulders as if preparing for light exercise.
"And I suggest you fight seriously. Otherwise you might lose very badly."
Those words instantly ignited the anger of the Hashira. Even the kindhearted Mitsuri frowned slightly.
"Master! Please allow us to teach this arrogant man a lesson!" Sanemi said as he dropped to one knee.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki considered it briefly, then nodded slowly.
"If that is the case, we will proceed as Mr. Mirek requested. However, stop before causing serious injury. This is only a spar."
"Yes!"
The nine Hashira responded in unison.
The center of the courtyard was quickly cleared. Sol stood casually in the middle while the nine Hashira spread out around him in a wide arc.
The air grew tense. Even the Kasugai Crows perched in nearby trees wisely flew to higher branches to watch.
"Begin," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said softly.
In the same instant, the nine Hashira attacked.
Sanemi's Wind Breathing, Shinobu's Insect Breathing, Uzui's Sound Breathing and several other techniques erupted at once. Brilliant sword arcs filled the courtyard as the combined assault rushed toward Sol.
Yet Sol moved through the storm of blades like a ghost.
His movements appeared relaxed and unhurried, but every strike missed him by the narrowest margin.
Even more shocking, he never drew a weapon.
He parried or redirected every attack using only his bare hands.
"How is that possible?" Sanemi's eyes widened.
His Wind Breathing, First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter, had been stopped by Sol with a single hand.
The spinning wind blade twisted violently in Sol's palm but failed to cut him at all.
Sol closed his fingers and crushed the attack.
"Too scattered," he said lightly.
Behind him, Shinobu's poisoned blade darted forward toward his back.
Sol casually turned his body and avoided the thrust. At the same time he flicked the side of her blade with one finger.
Clang.
A powerful force traveled up Shinobu's arm, making her wrist numb. Her Nichirin sword almost slipped from her grip.
Such strength!
"Insect Hashira," Sol said calmly, "poison does not work on me."
"Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux!"
Giyu's flowing strikes surged forward like an endless tide.
Sol did not even move his feet. With only small shifts of his upper body, every slash passed harmlessly by.
"Too slow, Giyu. Not flexible enough."
Sol suddenly reached out and pinched the blade between two fingers, stopping it completely.
At that moment Gyomei Himejima's heavy spiked flail roared toward him.
Sol lightly jumped, tapping the weapon with his foot and using the momentum to flip behind Gyomei.
"Strong, but a little clumsy," Sol commented.
The Hashira increased the intensity of their attacks. Sword light flashed across the courtyard as nine Breathing Styles clashed together in a dazzling display.
But Sol remained relaxed.
Each movement he made was simple, efficient, and perfectly timed to disrupt their attacks.
Gradually the Hashira's expressions changed from anger to seriousness. They were beginning to realize that the young man before them possessed terrifying power.
"Everyone!" Uzui shouted. "This guy is too flashy. Attack together!"
The Hashira quickly shifted positions and formed a tight encirclement.
Sanemi's wind, Rengoku's flame, Shinobu's poison, Giyu's water and the other Breathing Styles erupted at the same time. Attacks rushed toward Sol from every direction.
Sol finally looked a little more focused.
He bent his knees slightly.
At the exact moment the attacks were about to land, a loud crack echoed.
The stone beneath his feet shattered.
Sol vanished from his position in a blur, leaving only a faint afterimage behind. The nine Hashira attacks all missed and nearly collided with one another.
"He's above us!" Obanai shouted.
Everyone looked up.
Sol floated calmly in midair, watching them with an amused smile.
The nine Hashira stared at him in shock.
Sanemi's grip tightened around his sword as sweat formed on his forehead.
"What is this... How can anyone do that?"
Shinobu's usual smile had disappeared, replaced by a serious expression.
"How can a human fly?"
Giyu continued staring upward silently. Even though he had seen Sol's power before, this still exceeded what he expected.
Uzui let out a low whistle.
"Now that is flashy."
Gyomei pressed his palms together and murmured quietly.
"Amitabha. This man's power has already surpassed common sense."
Mitsuri looked both nervous and amazed.
"That is incredible..."
Sol slowly descended back to the courtyard, his clothes fluttering gently as he landed.
He glanced around at the nine Hashira.
"So," he said casually, "do you want to keep going?"
Sanemi roared in frustration.
"Do not underestimate us!"
He swung his sword with full force.
"Wind Breathing, Seventh Form: Gale, Sudden Gusts!"
A violent blade of wind tore toward Sol.
At the same moment the other eight Hashira unleashed their strongest techniques.
"Flame Breathing, Ninth Form: Rengoku!"
"Insect Breathing, Dance of the Bee: Sting!"
Nine ultimate attacks erupted together, filling the entire courtyard with blinding sword light.
Sol sighed softly.
"You young people really are energetic."
He simply raised his right hand.
An invisible force expanded outward from his body.
Every attack stopped abruptly about three meters away from him, as if they had all struck an invisible wall.
___
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