Panda retracted his claws and looked at Sol curiously.
Even Inumaki Toge stopped practicing, pulled up his collar, and glanced over in surprise.
Sol repeated himself.
"Your feint was too obvious. Panda's weight and defensive advantages mean he'll naturally choose a steady defense and counterattack."
He pointed toward Panda.
"If you adjust your timing slightly and commit to the attack a little earlier, you can hit the connection point in his right shoulder joint. Under his current stance, that's the most unstable part of his defense. One clean strike there would break his posture immediately."
The analysis was astonishingly precise. He had not only identified the flaw but also provided exact instructions on timing and force application.
Maki froze.
Subconsciously, she replayed the exchange in her mind and imagined making the adjustments Sol had suggested.
The result shocked her.
If she had made those subtle changes, her strike really would have landed faster.
But how?
He had only been watching for a short time.
The refinements he described were incredibly subtle. Reaching that conclusion required a deep understanding of her combat habits, Panda's defensive tendencies, and even Panda's physical structure.
Panda's eyes widened as he touched his right shoulder.
"Huh? Really? That spot does feel a little..."
"You..."
Maki lowered her staff and walked over to Sol, studying him with sharp eyes.
"How did you know that?"
"I saw it."
Sol's answer was simple and direct.
With his enhanced perception, analytical abilities, and vast combat experience, this level of sparring was practically moving in slow motion. Nothing escaped his notice.
Maki was briefly speechless.
She could tell he wasn't lying, which somehow made it even harder to believe.
After several seconds of silence, she suddenly extended her staff toward him.
"Enough talking. You try it."
She wanted to see exactly how capable this first-year student, personally brought here by Gojo Satoru, really was.
Was he all talk, or did he actually have the skill to back it up?
Sol glanced at the offered staff but made no move to take it.
"My method isn't suitable for you."
It was the same answer he had given Yuji earlier.
"Your physique and fighting style are already established. Trying to imitate someone else's approach would only hurt your development. I can point out weaknesses and offer better solutions, but that's where my role ends."
Maki's hand froze in midair.
Her brows knit together.
The words sounded arrogant, yet paired with Sol's composed expression and the accuracy of his earlier observations, they were surprisingly difficult to dismiss.
Panda stepped in to ease the tension.
"Well, he does have a point, Maki. Why not try the adjustment he suggested first?"
Maki clicked her tongue, lowered the staff, and let the matter drop.
The skepticism in her eyes had noticeably faded.
Turning back toward Panda, she took a deep breath and carefully reviewed Sol's advice before incorporating those subtle changes into her next attack.
At first, it felt awkward.
But after several exchanges, she realized something surprising.
Her movements were smoother.
Her attacks connected more consistently.
The improvement was subtle, but unmistakable.
The longer she fought, the more astonished she became. Every so often, her gaze drifted toward the silent figure standing beside the training ground.
Sol rarely spoke now.
However, whenever Maki or Panda fell into an obvious habit or overlooked a better option, he would casually point it out.
Every observation struck directly at the core of the issue.
Eventually, even Panda could no longer hold back.
While blocking another attack, he looked toward Sol with an almost pleading expression.
"Sol! What about me? How can I improve?"
Sol looked at him.
"Your intentions are too obvious before you commit to an attack."
Panda immediately straightened up.
"When you push off with your right leg, your shoulder drops half an inch first."
Panda blinked.
"And when you swing with your left paw, your eyes automatically follow the strike. That makes you miss changes in your opponent's center of gravity."
Panda's jaw nearly hit the floor.
He had never noticed either habit before.
The atmosphere in the training ground quietly changed.
What began as skepticism and casual curiosity gradually became genuine interest.
Even Inumaki Toge walked over.
After a brief hesitation, he lowered his collar and spoke.
"Seaweed?"
The meaning was obvious.
What about me?
Sol studied him for a moment.
"Too much of your Cursed Speech leaks out during activation. Try concentrating your cursed energy in the latter half of each command and compressing the release range."
He paused.
"You'll increase the impact on a single target while reducing the burden on your throat."
Inumaki's eyes widened.
He instinctively touched his throat.
He had been trying to gain finer control over Cursed Speech for some time, but he had never analyzed it in such specific terms.
Had he really been wasting that much energy?
Without another word, he moved to the side and tested Sol's suggestion on a wooden training post.
"Tuna."
The command landed.
This time, the cracks in the post were noticeably deeper and more concentrated.
More importantly, the strain on his throat genuinely felt lighter.
Inumaki stared at Sol in disbelief.
Who exactly was this first-year student?
He refused to believe this was something Gojo had taught him.
Sol had to possess this level of skill long before arriving here.
The atmosphere grew increasingly strange.
Maki, Panda, and Inumaki all stopped what they were doing and looked toward Sol with complicated expressions.
This mysterious newcomer had spent only a few minutes observing them, yet he had identified flaws they had never noticed and immediately provided effective solutions.
That wasn't something an ordinary student could do.
Maki tightened her grip on her staff.
Behind her glasses, her eyes were as sharp as blades.
"Who exactly are you?"
For the first time, her voice carried unmistakable seriousness.
"What was Gojo-sensei's real reason for sending someone like you here?"
Faced with their scrutiny, Sol remained completely unfazed.
He had expected this reaction.
"I am Sol, a first-year student."
He repeated the same introduction he had given earlier.
"I'm simply providing some guidance while making my rounds."
Panda scratched his head, confusion written all over his round face.
"But... Satoru never mentioned someone this impressive in the first year."
He looked directly at Sol.
"Can you really see all that just from watching us for a little while?"
"Mm."
Sol nodded and offered no further explanation.
Inumaki pulled his collar back up and muttered quietly.
"Salmon roe."
===
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