A Swordsman Adrift

Marineford Marine Headquarters Training Grounds

The blade flashed like snow, and the sword energy surged everywhere!

The midday sun shone brightly on the center of the Training Ground, where Zoro and Kuina's figures flashed like lightning on the scorching ground!

The stands and the edge of the Training Ground were already crowded with cadets and naval officers. The intense, almost hand-to-hand combat inside the arena had everyone holding their breath.

"How old are they? What level of competition is this?"

"This is already a duel at the level of sword masters, isn't it?!"

The crowd buzzed with discussion, their eyes filled with shock.

In the center of the Training Ground, Zoro and Kuina's figures flashed back and forth, the clanging of blades clashing resounding continuously, sparks flying like fireworks!

"Two-Sword Style: Eagle Wave!"

Zoro suddenly unleashed his power, slashing horizontally with his twin swords. The air surged, and the sword's momentum swept like a whirlwind, stirring up dust and sand from the ground!

Kuina's eyes narrowed, and with a light touch of her feet, her figure swept past Zoro like a streak of light, drawing a silver arc with her Wado Ichimonji!

"Flash of Moonlight!"

"Clang--!"

Blades clashed, sparks flew!

The two slid backward simultaneously, leaving several cracks in the paving stones beneath their feet.

In the next instant, Kuina dashed to Zoro's left, her blade tip firmly pointed at his throat, just half an inch away.

A collective gasp erupted from the sidelines.

"2314 wins, 0 losses."

Kuina breathed slightly, and sheathed her sword.

Zoro gritted his teeth, his brow furrowed, but there was no resentment in his eyes. Instead, his gaze burned with fury. "... Next time, I will definitely win."

Kuina nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips, but the moment she turned her back, her Right Hand, gripping the sword, trembled almost imperceptibly.

That wasn't tension, nor fatigue, but rather the sheer willpower required after pushing one's physical limits to the limit.

"Is my stamina failing again...?"

Involuntarily, the image of her father's deep yet incredibly harsh judgment from years ago surfaced in her mind. "Due to physical limitations, Female Swordswoman can never become the World's Strongest."

"Is it... truly impossible to surpass?"

Her fingertips were slightly cool.

At the edge of the Training Ground, Zephyr and Garp stood on a high platform, their gazes solemn and their expressions unusually silent.

"Kuina... she's confused."

Zephyr's voice was hoarse and deep, as if he had foreseen something long ago.

Unlike his usual self, Garp neither laughed nor joked. Instead, he sighed softly, scratching his chin, and said, "Her swordsmanship is indeed superior to Zoro's, though I don't want to admit it..."

"But his body simply couldn't keep up with her sword intent..."

Both veterans' eyes held a complex mix of helplessness and worry.

Just then, a familiar spatial fluctuation sound came from behind.

"Kid, you're back?" Zephyr turned around, a smirk playing on his lips.

Garp snorted, but unconsciously raised the corners of his mouth. "You two went off to the New World and caused trouble everywhere, and you still know how to come back?"

Approaching were Roy and Luo, who had just Teleportation to the Training Ground.

Roy took off his sunglasses, revealing himself in casual clothes, and greeted the two veterans with a smile and a nod, "Professor Zephyr, Grandpa Garp."

Luo bowed slightly, his gaze steady.

"Just arrived and already stumbled upon a spectacular sword duel?" Roy glanced at Kuina, who had already finished her stance, and Zoro, whose face was full of resentment, his eyes holding a hint of something.

Are you all worried about Kuina?

Garp curled his lip, turned around and continued watching the arena, "Hmph, I just think that little girl's swordsmanship shouldn't be limited by her stamina."

"It would be such a waste if a child as talented and hardworking as her gave up."

Luo was silent for a few seconds, then looked at Kuina, who was panting and clutching her knee in the arena, and his eyes flickered slightly. "A swordsmanship genius, yet trapped by the shackles of physical strength?"

A certain feeling stirred within him: a perfect swordsmanship spirit, yet trapped by a mortal body.

But they all knew that Kuina would never give up easily; her trembling hands were not a sign of weakness, but rather a testament to her will to push forward to the limit.

Marine Headquarters - Vice Admiral Roy's Office

The heavy doors were tightly shut, the curtains were drawn shut, and the only light coming from the dim yellow lamp on the table cast a halo around the room, enveloping everything in a quiet yet oppressive atmosphere.

Zephyr and Garp sat on the sofa, their gazes differing, but both simultaneously fixed on the golden box in front of Roy.

"You little brat," Garp said, arms crossed, eyes wary, his tone like he was facing a bomb about to be defused, "You didn't call us here mysteriously just for tea, did you? What did you bring back this time?"

"Don't tell me there's another Devil Fruit in here." Zephyr's tone was calm, but his brows were already slightly furrowed.

They all knew that Roy was not one to speak without reason, and that any item that could elicit such a solemn expression from him was definitely not ordinary.

Roy stood behind his desk, his face calm, but a hint of sharpness lurked in his eyes.

He looked at the two veterans before him and suddenly uttered a startling question, "Zephyr, Garp —have you ever considered eating Devil Fruits?"

The air fell silent for two seconds.

"Ha?!"

Garp jumped up as if a fuse had been lit, even kicking over his chair!

"Are you out of your mind?! A Martial Arts master with extraordinary talent like me doesn't need the power of that kind of fruit!!"

While Zephyr wasn't as excited as Garp, a strange light flashed in his eyes as he said in a deep voice, "I know about Luffy's Mythical Zoan... but don't forget, not everyone can control that kind of power."

"Did you do something dangerous behind the scenes to get this fruit?"

Although his tone was serious, it sounded more like a worried elder giving a reprimand.

Seeing the two elderly people's strong reaction, Roy chuckled and softened his tone, "Don't worry, we didn't do anything illegal, nor did we fight with the Celestial Dragons."

"This fruit was retrieved from a secret network I had planted beforehand."

As he spoke, he gently lifted the gold box and placed it on the desk.

"However, since we invited you here, we naturally want you to see for yourselves whether this power is worthy of your trust."

After saying that, Roy slowly opened the box.

"Click--"

Under the dim yellow light, a faint red glow emanated from the box.

It was a Devil Fruit with purple spiral patterns covering its skin. Shadows, like bat wings, floated faintly between the fruit's skin, appearing almost alive under the light, wriggling slightly and emanating an oppressive aura.

"Zoan, Bat-Bat Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Vampire Form."

Roy's voice was calm, yet every word he uttered was like thunder!

"Mythical Zoan?!" Garp had just sat down, jumped up, his eyebrows almost knitting together. "You've got another one of these dangerous things?!"

Zephyr's pupils contracted sharply, his expression turning serious. "Vampire... Are you sure? This is a fruit recorded in the 'Forbidden Ancient Species Archives'."

Roy nodded, his fingertips lightly tracing the surface of the fruit, and slowly explained, "The person who eats it will gain the ultrasonic perception and flight abilities of a bat, and will be able to precisely control the combat environment with sound waves."

"At night, the ability user's physical abilities are greatly enhanced, allowing them to unleash 'Absolute Dark Domain,' which completely disorients enemies, disrupting their rhythm and judgment in the absence of light and sound."

"And its greatest strength is--"

He paused, his fingertip resting on the deepest crimson vein in the center of the fruit. "By absorbing blood, one can restore their own condition, accelerate the aging of enemies, and weaken their physical abilities..."

A brief silence.

Garp frowned, slowly sat back on the sofa, his fingers unconsciously tapping his knee, as if rationally assessing the threat level of this fruit.

Zephyr stared at the fruit for a long time, his voice low and deep. "... This ability is a tactical-level suppressive weapon, especially for those with weak wills, it's practically a death sentence."

"But similarly, if used improperly, it can be a disaster."

Roy gently closed the box lid and smiled calmly, "This fruit won't fall into the hands of someone who 'won't use it properly'."

Zephyr took a deep breath, his gaze fixed intently on the closed golden box. After a long silence, he finally spoke, "Roy, this fruit... whom do you intend to give it to?"

His tone was calm, but the weight it carried was undeniable.

Garp, standing to the side, raised an eyebrow and waited quietly for Roy's answer.

Roy's gaze slowly swept between the two veterans, then he smiled gently, his expression calm. "That's precisely why I invited you to this office."

I don't intend to make this decision alone.

Zephyr remained silent for a moment, his eyes wavering slightly, as if he were weighing something in his mind.

As time passed, his gaze grew increasingly profound, finally settling on the gold box.

Mythical Zoan, a veteran long past its prime, if it could obtain that kind of power... perhaps...

"If this fruit could really compensate for my declining physical strength..."

Zephyr spoke slowly, his voice deep and resonant, "Then, perhaps there's still something I can do."

His tone was calm, yet it revealed a long-hidden fighting spirit.

Roy looked at him without the slightest surprise in his eyes, as if he had expected this all along.

He said slowly, "Teacher Zephyr, the power of this fruit can just solve your current 'bottleneck'."

Zephyr suddenly looked up, his eyes sharpening. "What do you mean?"

Roy's gaze was calm as he lightly tapped his fingertips on the box lid, slowly saying, "Mythical Zoan - Vampire Form, possessing a very special ability - 'Blood Drain'."

"By absorbing the blood of their enemies, users can not only accelerate the recovery from injuries, but also, in a short period of time... return to their 'peak youthful condition'."

The air seemed to freeze slightly.

Zephyr's brow twitched; even with his steely will, he showed a brief moment of weakness.

"... Return to the peak?"

The old man murmured to himself, as if recalling the years when he was invincible on the Battlefield, those arms that were once known as "Black Arms " that once supported Justice throughout the era.

Upon hearing this, Garp was also taken aback. Uncharacteristically, he didn't crack a joke, but turned to look at his old friend, his eyes filled with a respect and hesitation he rarely showed. "Zephyr..."

Zephyr remained silent for a long time.

It was a long and profound silence, as if bidding a silent farewell to one's life and past beliefs.

Finally, he slowly stood up and gently shook his head.

The voice was hoarse but incredibly firm. "No!"

"I don't need this fruit!"

He turned around, parted the curtains, and looked at the figure repeatedly swinging a knife on the Training Ground in the distance, his eyes revealing a warmth completely different from his usual image as a devilish instructor.

There was a person--

She needs this strength more than I do.

"She's still young, she has a future, while I... have already passed the most vibrant years of my life."

His tone was gentle, like the wind blowing through the setting sun, yet it suddenly made the atmosphere in the room heavy.

Roy didn't try to stop him, but simply looked at his mentor quietly, a slow smile playing on his lips, "As expected, a teacher... still a teacher."

Garp finally realized what was happening, laughing heartily as he slapped Zephyr on the shoulder, his eyes filled with emotion. "Hahaha, Zephyr, you old codger, you're much more clear-headed than me!"

He blinked and looked at the two of them, then asked, "But who exactly is this 'person' you're talking about?"

Roy didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned and walked to the window, looking at the Training Ground in the distance. The girl held her sword in one hand, her arm still trembling slightly, yet she continued to slash again and again, unwilling to take a single step back.

He spoke softly, his voice low but resonant. "A swordsman struggling with 'insufficient stamina'."