Kengiryu/hiku

Hiku (literally meaning to saw) is the fifth form of the Kengiryu, and one of the hardest, although the principle is simple enough. The user aims their sword at the target at close range, and using their internal strength causes a shockwave to pass through the blade. this causes a small wave of cutting force to be projected at close range.

For inexperianced users, it is often justifiably mistaken for the most useles skill of the Kengiryu, as the range of cutting force is generally smaller than the blade projecting it in the first place. However, with practice and sufficient strength, it becomes more usefull, as it can produce a sharper edge than an ordinary sword normally posseses, and with skill is notably faster than a conventional slash. furthermore, the reach of the attack is slightly longer than the sword itself, and is projected forwards, giving advantages similar to those of a much longer blade, but without the loss of power in an enclosed space.

Notabley, both Jane Rose of the Harlequin Pirates, and Azrael Hattori Winstanely of the SOF pirates fourth division have shown techniques similar to this skill, develloped independantly of the orrginal Kengiryu. Jane Rose, while known to have studied Kengiryu when learning to use swords, is not a practiced user of them, prefering her own style, and Azrael has no knowledge of the techniques at all.