Re: Vagabond Hang Out Thread
Musashi's new circumstances aside, it hasn't changed that much, there's always been extended periods of reflection and plot development between Musash's milestone battles, they've just gradually gotten longer and more cerebral. Volumes 22-24 after his fight with Seijuro weren't that much different from 28-30 for example. Even the Ittosai battle itself, albeit mostly cerebral, isn't so different from, say, the fight with Denshichiro, which was a battle that encompassed a long mental and physical buildup to short but furious action and a quick end. Except in this case both were evenly matched masters, so the bulidup was that much longer, and the action and end that much quicker.
What was irregular was 26-27, since it was literally Musashi fighting for two straight volumes. I don't think we're going to see Musashi fight so clumsily anymore, at least we haven't since Seijuro, against single opponents. He'll either outclass them instantly or they'll be at such a high level themselves, as with Ittosai, that there's almost no room for error either way. At this stage, most of the "battle" is going to be in the preparation before the action, like In'ei said, "Whoever wins, it'll be over in an instant."
