News of Shusui · The Point of Decision

Marineford Training Ground

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the vast Training Ground, and golden light shone through the thick clouds onto the ground, elongating each sword mark at an angle.

Zoro, drenched in sweat, knelt in the center of the training ground, his two swords planted straight in the ground beside him, his wolf-like aura still lingering.

His shoulders rose and fell with his breath, and the sweat dripping from his forehead glistened on the stone slabs.

Suddenly, he sensed a familiar yet powerful aura quietly approaching.

Zoro suddenly raised his head, his green hair shimmering slightly in the setting sun.

"Roy!"

Before he could finish speaking, Zoro rushed forward and grabbed Roy, who had just stepped into the Training Ground, his eyes burning with a fierce, almost insane, fighting spirit.

"I've passed Kizaru- sensei's trial! Where's the third sword you promised me!?"

Roy was caught off guard by Zoro's sudden outburst of excitement, stumbled, smiled helplessly, and patted Zoro's head. "You little rascal... you really have a temper. Don't be so hasty, swords don't grow legs and run away."

He looked up at the setting sun slowly sinking in the sky, his gaze gradually becoming more focused, and his tone also turned somber.

"The third sword lies at one of the ends of the Grand Line — the Florian Triangle."

Zoro was taken aback, then frowned. "Isn't that place a mysterious sea area shrouded in mist year-round, where ships keep disappearing?"

"That's right." Roy nodded. "The legendary ghost ships, the shadowless zombies... those are all real."

He changed the subject abruptly, his tone low. "Gecko Moria, one of the Shichibukai, used that place as his hunting ground."

"And his proudest 'trophy' was a 'corpse' he stole from Wano Country."

Zoro's eyes widened, and his grip on his sword tightened subtly.

"Whose is that...?"

Roy stared directly at him, his eyes sharp as knives. "Shimotsuki Ryoma— the Dragon-Slaying Samurai, a legendary swordsman from Wano Country."

Upon hearing this Zoro's pupils contracted. "Shimotsuki...?!"

(Same surname as Kuina?!)

"Everything about him was revived by Moria using the 'Shadow-Shadow Fruit,' turning him into a zombie, but—"

He paused, a smirk playing on his lips. "His weapon is still in his possession."

"What weapon?" Zoro asked instinctively.

"Shusui," Roy uttered the name slowly, as if proclaiming a destiny-like authority.

"One of the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords, the 'Black Blade' capable of cleaving even a dragon."

A sharp glint appeared in Roy's eyes. "If you want that sword, you must defeat Ryoma's 'Sword Spirit'—this is your trial."

Zoro gritted his teeth, his whole body seemingly ignited by fighting spirit, his eyes blazing with intense light.

"Go! Go now! I won't come back until I get that knife back!"

"Wait a minute~" Roy suddenly spoke up, reaching out to stop Zoro who was about to take a step, his tone carrying a hint of teasing and meaning.

"You think I'm just letting you go alone?"

Zoro paused, his brow furrowing slightly. "Could there be someone else?"

Roy pointed to the Training Ground, where a Blond Hair figure was lazily lying on a folding chair in the shade of the trees under the setting sun, with lightning flashing faintly beside him, like a sleeping Thunder God.

"He," Roy said, "Enel will go with you."

Zoro was stunned for a moment, then bristled when he saw who it was. "What? It's this guy?!"

Enel glanced sideways, lazily plucked the blade of grass from his mouth, and snorted coldly as if he already knew the outcome, "Hmph, Moss Head, don't end up crying in the Thunderclouds."

"What did you say?!" Zoro's temples throbbed with anger, his hand already on the hilt of his sword.

Say that again and I'll chop you up!

"Come on, you little weed head, it's been a while since I warmed up my lightning strikes."

The air instantly thickened with tension, lightning crackled at Enel's fingertips, and Zoro's two swords began to hum.

"Hey!" Roy sighed and patted the two on the shoulder. "If you want to fight to your heart's content in the Devil's Triangle, don't tear down buildings at Marine Headquarters."

Enel rolled his eyes. "I don't want to take on any missions involving escorting brats as babysitters~"

Before he could finish speaking, Roy slowly clenched his fist, the cracking sound of his knuckles clearly reaching his ears.

Enel immediately shut up, coughed lightly, and softened his tone, saying, "But then again, since it's a mission assigned by Vice Admiral Roy, we might as well consider it a chance to get some fresh air."

Just then, Roy suddenly changed his tone and, in a voice only Enel's Mantra could hear, whispered:

"By the way, could you investigate this for me? I've heard that Moria has been frequently capturing civilians in that sea area lately, extracting their shadows using the Shadow-Shadow Fruit. If that's true..."

Enel's eyes widened as he understood the deeper meaning in Roy's words. He slowly grinned, but his smile was no longer lazy; instead, it was sinister, dangerous, and filled with murderous intent.

Lightning silently gathered in his palm, gradually exploding into wisps of lightning arcs. "So that's how it is, this is the 'Divine Judgment'."

Zoro felt a chill run down his spine when he saw that sinister smile, and quietly took a half step back. "This guy... is he really not a villain?"

Roy patted Zoro on the shoulder, his expression unusually serious. "This time, it's your trial as a 'swordsman'."

His gaze was intense. "If you lose, you won't even be qualified to pick up that knife."

Zoro grinned, his Beast- like fangs gleaming in the setting sun.

"I will obtain the third sword to prove who the true swordsman is!"

Roy watched the two figures gradually disappear into the distance, lightning and sword intent clashing forth.

As the sun sets and the wind rises, the shadows of the Devil's Triangle quietly open their gaping maws in the distance.

Meanwhile, at Marineford Gion Swordsmanship Dojo

Swords flashed and air surged.

In the very center of the training ground, two figures clashed back and forth like a whirlwind, the sparks from their swords colliding resembling a shower of stars, growing even more intense under the slanting rays of the setting sun.

Kuina gripped the Wado Ichimonji tightly in both hands, sweat dampening the stray hairs on her forehead and clinging to her pale brow. Her body swayed slightly from the intense exercise, but she never retreated an inch.

Each strike seemed to infuse the blade with the will of the entire body—calm, resolute, and uncompromising.

Opposite her, Gion held the Famous Sword Kompira, her expression no longer relaxed, her eyes filled with scrutiny and appreciation—the current Kuina was no longer the little girl she could easily suppress.

"Drink!" Kuina suddenly took a step forward, her blade flashing like a crescent moon, aimed straight at Gion's throat!

"You've got guts!" Gion smiled faintly, his Kompira slashing horizontally, deftly deflecting the force, and then followed up with an upward slash like a venomous snake spitting its tongue!

"Good awareness, but your speed is still a bit lacking!" Gion shouted.

Kuina forced herself back, but a piece of her dress was still torn off, and her shoulder trembled slightly.

Her breathing was erratic, and her strength was rapidly being burned away as if by a raging fire. Yet, her eyes remained as cold as blades, showing no sign of retreat.

Gion's gaze sharpened, and she charged forward with lightning speed, her Kompira aimed straight at his throat.

"Clang!"

Kuina tried to block, but her arm went numb and she felt a sharp pain in her hand; the blade was knocked away an inch.

The next second, Gion's knife tip came to a steady stop an inch from her throat.

"You've improved a lot!" Gion slowly sheathed her sword, her eyes filled with rare admiration.

Kuina, panting, her forehead beaded with sweat, stubbornly straightened her back. "I... can still go on."

Gion was about to speak, a familiar voice came from the doorway.

"Kuina, let's stop for a moment."

The two turned around and saw Roy leaning against the door frame, backlit, with a familiar smile on his face.

"Mr. Roy!" Kuina quickly sheathed her sword and bowed.

Gion nodded slightly. "Roy, you've come at the right time. Her swordsmanship has already closed in on me."

Roy approached the two, looking calmly at Kuina: "Your swordsmanship is indeed impeccable, but your stamina... remains a bottleneck."

Kuina's fingertips trembled slightly, she lowered her head slightly, and a hint of resentment and struggle flashed in her eyes.

"Stamina... it's all about stamina..." she murmured, her voice almost bitter.

"I practiced and trained like crazy, increasing the intensity of my training every day... but my body's limits were just there!"

She looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with suppressed anger. "Just because I'm a 'woman,' am I destined to never catch up with them?"

A moment of silence.

Roy seemed to read her mind. He took out a golden box from his pocket, and without the slightest hint of mockery, placed it in front of her and slowly opened it.

"So, I've brought you the 'answer'."

Inside the box, a strangely shaped Devil Fruit lay quietly—its purplish-black skin was covered with spiraling patterns like blood vessels, resembling a slowly beating heart.

It was as if even the air temperature had instantly dropped.

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

Gion recognized it at a glance, her expression instantly turning serious. "Devil Fruit?! And Mythical Zoan at that?!"

Roy nodded, his tone calm yet leaving no room for argument. "Eat it, and you will gain superhuman physical strength and regenerative abilities."

"At night, your power will double; and in each battle, you can recover to peak condition by absorbing the blood of your enemies, allowing you to continue fighting!"

Kuina froze, her eyes fixed on the fruit, her breathing rapid.

That was the "answer" she had always longed for—an opportunity to break through her physical limits, compete alongside men, and even surpass them!

But...

Her fingers hovered over the edge of the box, but remained motionless.

"But..."

She spoke softly, her voice trembling, "If I eat it, can I still be considered... a pure swordsman?"

"From childhood to adulthood, my pursuit has been to overcome everything through swordsmanship, perseverance, and rigorous training."

"If I win by relying on Devil Fruit, then... would I still be me?"

Her voice trailed off, and her eyes grew increasingly lost.

"If I take this bite, I might become stronger... but I'll also lose the beliefs I once held dear..."

"... Is it worth it?"

Roy didn't urge her, he just watched her quietly.

That fruit, symbolizing desire and its price, stood between her and "power."

The air seemed to freeze, and Kuina's hand, trembling slightly, remained still on the boundary line she hadn't crossed.