Easily Defeating the Enemy

"My name is Morris. As you can see, I am the commanding officer of Marines 371st Branch."

"Roy." Roy answered tersely, with no intention of speaking further. After all, he and the Marines would soon no longer be on the same path. The next time they met, they might very well be enemies on a battlefield.

To Roy's surprise, Morris's expression shifted slightly upon hearing that. "Roy? Phantom Sword Roy? If it's you, then killing Violent Wolf isn't so strange after all."

This time, Roy was somewhat surprised. Though he was fairly well-known, his reputation had only spread among pirates and Bounty Hunters. The arrogant Marines had never really taken notice of him.

"I heard of your reputation long ago, Roy. Your swordsmanship is dreamlike and illusory. To onlookers, only afterimages remain as you kill your enemies and depart, leaving behind a whole series of terrifying titles—Phantom Sword, Ghost Sword, Demon Sword, Shadow Sword. To any skilled swordsman, you are an opponent they would dearly wish to encounter."

"So, what are you getting at?" Roy looked at Morris with an amused expression.

"In this tiny North Blue, encountering a powerful swordsman is itself a stroke of fortune. I believe you often feel the same way, Roy. Since I have had the good fortune to meet you today, I hope you will not hesitate to offer me some guidance." As he spoke, his aura abruptly changed from steady to violent, and fighting intent burst from his eyes.

Roy's heart tightened. The Marines truly deserved to be called the rulers of the seas. Even an officer from some small branch possessed such strength. Morris gave Roy a feeling far surpassing Violent Wolf's. If this had been Roy from a month ago, the chances of his defeat would have been quite high.

But now, Morris would find it difficult to pose any threat to Roy. Once a swordsman comprehended Iron Cutting, he stepped onto an extraordinary path where nothing was uncuttable. Even upon entering the Grand Line, he could be considered a formidable figure. Unless the Marines sent an officer from headquarters, they were no more than a matter of one sword strike or two to Roy.

However, Roy did not choose to end things that way. On one hand, as Morris had said, encountering a swordsmanship expert like this in North Blue was a stroke of luck. On the other, Roy wanted to test a theory he had been considering.

"This isn't a suitable place for us to fight properly. Let's go to your training grounds."

"Very well, Roy. Please follow me."

Once news spread that Colonel Morris was going to fight Roy, the area around the Marine training grounds quickly filled with people. By the time the two arrived, the training grounds were packed with a dark mass of Marines, the crowd jostling and shoving.

Morris's face instantly darkened. Drawing on the authority of his rank, he barked, "What kind of disgraceful sight is this? Show some Marine spirit! Don't let our guest laugh at us."

Still, Morris did not send them away. A battle between powerful fighters would be greatly beneficial to these recruits—though also dangerous. Thus, he emphasized again, "All soldiers below lieutenant rank, stand farther back. Do not crowd around the training grounds. Officers, please be careful as well. Be ready to provide aid if necessary."

Morris knew he was not making a fuss over nothing. Swordsmen excelled at offense, and a tiny training ground was nowhere near enough for them to fight freely. If they truly got carried away, they might not be able to control the Sword Qi spilling out in every direction.

Though Sword Qi at their level could not split mountains and cleave peaks like that of a Master Swordsman, it was already terrifying enough for a group of recruits.

"Military Sword Water Pattern. Though it is not among the recorded Skillful Grade Swords, it is not far from one. Please." Morris solemnly drew his sword and prepared himself for the exchange.

"Aurora, a Skillful Grade Sword." Roy gripped the hilt. The instant his blade left its sheath would be his lethal attack.

"Good. Tidal Style."

"Drawing Sword Strike."

"Boom!" It was as though an earthquake had struck. Some Marines who had been leaning against the railings to watch were even shaken to the ground. Amid the cloud of dust, a figure was instantly blasted backward and smashed into a wall, punching a huge hole through it.

"Ah! Colonel Morris, are you all right?" Some sharp-eyed Marines had already recognized who was lying on the ground.

Roy had actually held back fifty percent of his strength, but he was simply too powerful now—so powerful that even he did not know what level he had reached. As a result, Morris, who was considerably stronger than Violent Wolf, was sent flying in a single exchange.

However, a Marine colonel was not so easily defeated. Morris rose from the rubble, blood streaming from his forehead. He looked thoroughly disheveled, but such injuries were nothing to a swordsman. Neither side had any intention of stopping.

"That was exhilarating. Again!"

This time, Roy used only thirty percent of his strength. After all, he still had something he wanted to verify. If the battle ended too easily, there would be no point.

Both sides moved quickly, exchanging dozens of blows in a short span. Morris's expression grew increasingly ferocious. Seizing an opening, he kicked Roy flying, but Roy simply performed a backflip in midair and stopped his backward momentum.

Just as the watching Marines began to show delight, Morris flew into a rage instead and roared, "Damn it! Are you looking down on me? Use the strength you used at the beginning, bastard!"

Roy merely shrugged. "That first strike was my Mind Strike. It's not something I can use so easily."

"Damn it! I'll show you the consequences of underestimating a swordsman! Reverse Wave Style!" Morris had clearly sensed how effortlessly Roy was handling the fight and did not believe his explanation at all. Enraged, he unleashed his ultimate move.

"That's right. Show me all of your strength." Roy felt a faint stir of excitement in his heart, but in the face of Morris's utterly furious attack, he still added a little more strength. It would be embarrassing if he somehow stumbled in the gutter.

"Now I'll show you why they call me the Phantom Sword—Dreamlike Illusion."

Facing Morris's savage strike, Roy neither dodged nor evaded. Before the horrified eyes of the Marines, he was completely pierced through by the sword light. Yet Morris's heart turned cold—his sword had not touched anything solid at all.

"Damn it, was that an afterimage left by excessive speed? When did he—?"

"No, wrong answer. I'm solid right now." Something even more horrifying happened. Roy, who had already turned into fragments of light and shadow, spoke again. Then, before Morris's incomprehending eyes, he knocked the sword from Morris's hand and sent Morris himself crashing heavily into the ground, blasting out a large crater.

"Looks like I won this battle, Colonel Morris. You really are quite a good opponent. Um, what was it again? You people can come up and carry him away for treatment."

Only then did the Marines come back to their senses. They rushed forward in a flurry and carried Morris away, while Roy left beneath the terrified gazes of the other Marines, who looked at him as if he were a monster.

"Oh, right. When will my money arrive?" Roy casually asked, startling the distracted Marine following behind him so badly that he jumped.

"Y-Yes, um, it should arrive very soon. Please wait a moment."

Seeing that a casual question from him had frightened this rookie Marine into acting like a startled bird, Roy felt rather helpless. He asked for a room to rest in.