>>89863246>Kenshin was much stronger in the present than he was in the past.He peaked briefly after the succession technique / will to live, and coming back from his depressive state in Jinchuu. But physically he's far from his best days and no amount of willpower is going to reverse that.
>Your interpretation of events is deeply flawed. Oh save the pompous "just speaking facts" attitude.
>The difference between the Hitokiri and the Rurouni is strength born of desperation vs. the will to live, and the will to live is stronger. That's why he could master his techniques.There's this counter misconception that the Hitokiri is some desperado ready to lay down his life whenever things go south. Also desperation isn't a strength or a weakness, it's a trigger for that side of Kenshin to emerge. Before he (re) gained the will to survive, guilt was his weakness, and self sacrifice his strength.
>Saying he's dulled or weakened is preposterous. Pre-ougi Himura IS dulled and weakened. Post-ougi Himura, while gaining a boost in resolve and techniques, is irreversibly weakened physically.
>If that were the case he'd be dead. He had his Hitokiri instincts, he had morale and actual assistance in the form of friends, no?
>Kenshin says himself on several occasions that he is much stronger for the changes he's undergone.You'll notice he never really says that, and while it can be argued he did get stronger than his wartime days, _much_ is an incredible stretch.