The Birth of a Cursed Sword

For someone like him who had used blades for years, he could sense the energy contained within it simply by holding it.

He then bought a Storage Ring.

Although the space was limited, it could still be used to store swords in special circumstances. Otherwise, there might be situations where he could not carry weapons.

He opened the description for "Heart Crossing: Demon Sword Power."

Heart Crossing: Demon Sword Power: Can be attached to any weapon, turning it into a Cursed Sword. It can evolve by killing people or devouring other Cursed Swords.

"Good stuff!"

His other sword, Dragon Abyss, was only one of the Good Grade Swords and could no longer keep up with his current Combat.

He was afraid that the gift from Sister Momousagi would snap if he used too much force.

Come to think of it, many Good Grade Swords were replicas of Supreme Grade Swords. The Dragon Abyss Sister Momousagi had given him was one such replica of the Supreme Grade Sword Dragon Abyss.

To make them easier to distinguish, Lin Qi decided to rename the Dragon Abyss Sister Momousagi had given him Dragon Slayer, or Heart Crossing Demon Blade.

"Purchase it, use it, and fuse it with Dragon Slayer!"

100,000 Points were consumed. Usage successful.

"Hmm? Don't they say Cursed Swords are extremely evil? Why isn't there any reaction?"

After the fusion, the only change to Dragon Slayer was an extra ghostly face on its blade.

Ding. The host is the creator of the Cursed Sword. The Cursed Sword will not attack its creator.

"So that's how it is..."

After that shopping spree, he only had 2,530 Points left.

Lin Qi looked at his shriveled wallet and sighed.

He still had to earn Points!

He bought two Double Training Scrolls (one week), one for Hina and one for himself.

At that point, he was completely broke, with only 530 Points remaining.

"Uncle, we're leaving. We'll come see you another day."

"Take care."

With the mission complete, Lin Qi prepared to leave Reverse Mountain.

Before departing, Laboon and Uncle Crocus came out to see him off.

On the way to East Blue, the Marines gathered together and spoke in low voices.

They had spent the past month doing nothing but killing. Now that they had suddenly become idle, they felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.

"I feel like Captain Lin Qi has become even more terrifying."

"Yeah, especially the two swords at his waist. Maybe it's just my imagination, but I keep feeling like those swords are alive."

"Damn, I thought I was the only one who felt that way."

"Every time I get close, my legs go weak, like some ferocious beast is staring at me."

"What are you talking about?"

Suddenly, a vast shadow blocked out the sunlight.

"Smoker, we were discussing Captain Lin Qi's swords."

"Swords?!"

Smoker looked doubtful. Since when had Lin Qi switched to two swords?

He walked straight over and asked, "Can I take a look at your swords?"

"No." Lin Qi coldly refused. "A swordsman's blade is like his wife. How can you let just anyone touch it?"

"..."

Smoker said speechlessly, "What if your sword is male?"

"..."

"Fine, but you can only touch this one."

Lin Qi was also curious what would happen if an outsider held Dragon Slayer. He would be a fool not to use a test subject who had delivered himself to his door.

After pondering for a moment, Smoker reached out and gripped the hilt of the Cursed Sword: Dragon Slayer.

The instant Smoker grasped the hilt, the ghostly face on the blade glowed with purple light.

The purple radiance reflected in Smoker's pupils, dyeing his eyes violet.

Whoosh~

Smoker suddenly swung the long blade and charged at a nearby Marine.

"Enough!"

Lin Qi shouted sharply, and the ghostly face on Dragon Slayer dimmed.

Smoker jolted awake, threw Dragon Slayer away in terror, and broke out in a cold sweat.

"Just now... I was controlled by this sword?"

"Don't throw it." Lin Qi picked up Dragon Slayer with concern. "This is a Cursed Sword. If you'd been on guard, you probably wouldn't have been controlled."

"A Cursed Sword!"

Smoker was thoroughly frightened. "Don't you know that no swordsman who used a Cursed Sword in history ever met a good end?!"

"It's fine. It's very well-behaved." As he spoke, Lin Qi patted Dragon Slayer at his waist.

"Well-behaved..."

Smoker recalled how he had just been controlled, then looked at Dragon Slayer quietly resting at Lin Qi's waist. His expression became complicated.

He really wanted to say: How is that sword of yours well-behaved in any way?

"Lin Qi, come try the waffles I just baked."

"Oh, Smoker, you're here too."

When Smoker noticed Hina approaching with a plate of waffles and a cup of Orange Juice with two straws in it, he knew it had not been prepared for him.

He silently walked away alone.

He had eaten more than enough Dog Food. He had to eat several huge servings of it practically every day.

Crunch, crunch.

Afternoon tea passed with Hina by his side.

In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived. The group passed above the Red Line and successfully reached East Blue.

East Blue.

The sweet sea breeze brushed against their faces. Lin Qi wrapped his arms around Hina from behind as she stood at the bow with her arms spread wide, embracing the sea breeze.

"So this is your hometown? As expected of the place where my Hina grew up. Even the sea breeze is much sweeter than anywhere else."

Smoker turned his head away. "Ugh, this sickening stench of romance."

Hina had returned to East Blue after a long time, and her face was full of happy smiles.

"Um... Boss, sorry to interrupt you, but the fragrance you smell seems to be coming from over there." Yosef cautiously pointed into the distance.

"That's... a restaurant? No, it's a Pirate crew!"

On the sea, a Pirate crew with a Chef Hat painted on its flag was locked in a fierce battle with another Pirate crew.

The various aromas drifting across the sea came from the kitchens aboard the ships.

"Smoker, I'll leave it to you. Just knock the Pirates out."

Lin Qi stroked Hina's soft little belly and did not feel like moving.

These East Blue small fry were no match for Smoker.

"Tch!"

With a cigar in his mouth, Smoker moved with obvious reluctance, turning into smoke and flying over.

In just a few moves, he knocked out the Pirates from both ships.

The captains of the two Pirate crews were brought over by Smoker with blank looks on their faces.

They looked as if they were wondering who they were, where they were, and how they had been captured alive.

"You two, state your names. Let me see how high your bounties are."

The two captains raised their heads stiffly. Before they could recover from their defeat, their bodies suddenly trembled.

"P-Pirate Killer, Lin Qi!"

One of them staggered back several steps in sheer terror.

The other Pirate, with blond hair, let out a long sigh. "No matter how carefully I calculated, I still couldn't avoid you. If I hadn't been worried about running into you, I'd already be on the Grand Line by now."

"Idiots, why are you two talking so much? Answer Boss Lin Qi's question!" Yosef barked.

"Knight Pullman."

"Red Leg Zeff."

Upon hearing those two names, Lin Qi became interested.

Wasn't this Zeff the Pirate who would later adopt Sanji? So he was still a Pirate in East Blue at this time.

He had his men drag the other captain away, leaving only Zeff behind.

"I've heard of you. Although you're a Pirate, you're not all that bad. You haven't done anything truly wicked."

Zeff did not understand why this Pirate Buster was telling him such things.

"How about making a meal for me and my brothers? In exchange, I'll let you go."

"You're not lying to me?"

Zeff stared without blinking. In this day and age, was there really a Marine who would willingly let a Pirate go???

"My word is my bond."

"Fine, but there are so many of you. I'll need my crew to help if I'm going to make enough food for everyone."

"Of course."