chsdbacks Chapter 61 Promotion to S-Rank
Chapter 61 Promotion to S-Rank
A few days later, the cleanup and reconstruction work in G City was still ongoing, but order had been largely restored.
That afternoon, a steady and rhythmic footstep sounded outside the dojo, and the disciples who remained behind all showed expressions of surprise and delight.
"The teacher is back!"
Atomic Samurai appeared at the entrance of the dojo. He was still wearing his traditional samurai outfit, with his beloved sword "Atomic Ichimonji" at his waist, a toothpick in his mouth, and his eyes as sharp as an eagle's.
He first glanced at the disciples in the dojo, nodded slightly, and then his gaze fell on Iai, who came out of the inner room upon hearing the sound.
"teacher."
Iai stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
Atomic Samurai didn't speak immediately, but instead looked Iai up and down, his sharp gaze seemingly trying to see right through him.
After a long pause, he slowly spoke, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of gravity: "I've heard about what happened in G City. Well done, you haven't tarnished the reputation of Atomic Stream."
"I am ashamed and do not deserve such praise. I failed to protect the city, and Qiu Wu and Zuan Tou were seriously injured."
Iai bowed his head and said.
"Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. The important thing is to get up from defeat and become stronger."
Atomic Samurai waved his hand, then changed the subject, "However, I heard that the way you finally dealt with that monster was quite unique. Come, let me see just how far you've 'broken through'."
Clearly, Atomic Samurai had learned more detailed information from the association or other sources and had developed a strong interest in Iai's so-called "breakthrough before battle".
For a great swordsman who pursues the ultimate swordsmanship, he must personally test the qualitative change in his disciple's strength.
"Yes, please give me your guidance, teacher."
Iai knew this hurdle was unavoidable, and he also wanted to better assess his current strength by sparring with his teacher.
The two arrived at the special training area behind the dojo.
All the other disciples were dismissed, leaving only the master and disciple in the room.
Atomic Samurai slowly drew his "Atomic Ichimonji," the gleaming blade reflecting the afternoon sunlight.
"Don't hold back, use the power you used to kill the monster to attack."
Iai took a deep breath, knowing that ordinary swordsmanship was meaningless in front of his teacher.
His eyes narrowed, and he simultaneously mobilized his chakra and domineering aura.
"I'm sorry, teacher!"
Before he could finish speaking, Iaijutsu suddenly blurred as he activated Body Flicker Technique, instantly closing the distance.
At the same time, he gripped the handle of the "Steel-Cutting" sword with his right hand.
"Iai·Blink!"
The blade flashed like lightning; the moment it was drawn, the blade was covered with a deep layer of Armament Haki, making the speed and power of the strike far exceed those of the past.
"Oh?"
A glint flashed in Atomic Samurai's eyes, and he casually swung the Atomic Ichimonji in his hand.
Clang—!
The two swords clashed, producing a clear and long ringing sound, and sparks flew everywhere.
Iai felt an overwhelming force surge through him, his hands went numb, and his body slid backward several meters uncontrollably.
Atomic Samurai was also shaken and took two or three steps back before regaining his balance, his eyes filled with even greater surprise.
"The improvements in speed, power, and the sharpness of this blade are truly astonishing."
Atomic Samurai commented, "But that's not enough. Use your 'Red Lightning'!"
Iai regained his footing, knowing that conventional attacks could not pose a threat to the teacher.
He adjusted his breathing, calmed his mind, and recalled the techniques of using Conqueror's Haki that he shared with Jin, as well as that will to be the only one who could cut through everything.
Om-!
An invisible pressure spread out from the center of the iaido, and the air in the training ground seemed to become viscous.
Tiny, dark red arcs of electricity began to flicker on the "steel-chopping" blade in his hand, emitting a soft crackling sound.
Sensing the oppressive aura, Atomic Samurai's expression finally turned serious: "This is... an aura? A materialized aura? Interesting!"
"Conqueror's Haki Entanglement - Iai Slash!"
With a low shout, Iaijutsu lunged forward again. This time, his strikes were no longer simply fast; they carried an overbearing intent that was unstoppable and capable of destroying everything.
Dark red arcs of electricity coiled around the jet-black blade, tearing through the air as they slashed straight at the Atomic Samurai.
Faced with this earth-shattering strike, Atomic Samurai finally stopped being overconfident.
His eyes were sharp as knives, and the atomic slash in his hand drew a mysterious trajectory, striking first despite being behind, precisely at the point where the power of the iaido slash was most concentrated.
bite--!!!
This time, the sound of the clash became muffled and strange, as if the space itself was being shaken.
The dark red Conqueror's Haki lightning clashed violently with the Atomic Samurai's highly refined sword energy, annihilating each other and unleashing a blinding light and a powerful shockwave that scraped a layer off the training ground.
Iai was thrown back again, and after landing, he staggered back more than ten steps before barely managing to stand. His right arm, which was holding the sword, trembled slightly.
This time, Atomic Samurai retreated even further, because he hadn't expected Iaijutsu's ultimate move to be so powerful. He looked at Iaijutsu with shock and confusion in his eyes, but even more so with uncontrollable admiration and joy.
"Good! Good lad!"
Atomic Samurai sheathed his sword and burst into laughter, "I never expected you to wield such power! Your materialized aura, though still somewhat immature, has boundless potential!"
He walked up to Iai and patted his disciple's shoulder forcefully: "It seems this setback has truly been a stroke of luck for you! The future of my Atomic Stream may really depend on you!"
Iai breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed his teacher had accepted his "adventure" and was extremely satisfied.
"but……"
Atomic Samurai's tone turned serious. "This power is incredibly domineering. Remember not to become addicted to it and lose your swordsmanship. The ultimate swordsmanship lies in precision and control. You have a long way to go. You must thoroughly integrate this newly acquired power into your Iaijutsu and form your own 'Way'."
"Yes! Your disciple will remember your teachings!"
Iai solemnly replied.
The Atomic Samurai's guidance is precisely the direction he needs to work towards next.
……
The news that the Demon-level disaster in G City was single-handedly resolved by Iaian, a disciple of Atomic Samurai, spread like wildfire throughout the hero world and even among ordinary people after a few days of fermentation.
The Hero Association's official website has updated its rankings: Iaian, the second-ranked hero in Class A, has been promoted to 18th in Class S.
News headlines rushed to report:
Shocking! A new star of atomic flow rises, instantly defeating Demon-level enemies and directly ascending to S-class!
"Red Lightning? Analyzing the formidable strength of the newly promoted S-class hero, Iaian!"
The Hero Association gains another powerful member, further ensuring public safety!
……
Public discussion was in an uproar, and Juhe Temple became incredibly famous for a time.
Many people compare him to Genos, the "cyborg" who also rose to prominence rapidly, and consider him one of the best among the new generation of heroes.
However, fame doesn't always bring flowers and applause.
In some dark corners, some eyes were also drawn to this newly promoted S-class hero.
Inside one of the Monster Association's bases, a detailed report about Iaian was laid out on the table.
The report highlighted his unique "red lightning" ability and his physique, which appeared to have "high-speed regeneration".
"Oh? Another S-class hero has appeared among humans!"
A cold voice rang out, "Atomic Samurai's disciple, keep a close eye on him, and find an opportunity to test his strength."