Ares: My Body Is My Weapon

Ares's extremely serious and resolute attitude made Golden Lion nod in satisfaction.

Aside from his poor alcohol tolerance and tendency toward mental confusion, everything else about him—from his talents to his diligence—made him the most monstrous person Golden Lion had ever seen.

Golden Lion reached out and drew the other Grade 2 Sword, "Sakura Ten," from his waist. He said, "This sword isn't the right size for you, so make do with it for now. When I have the time, I'll find someone to forge a sword specifically suited to you."

As he spoke, he used the Float-Float Fruit's power to make the sword hover in front of Ares.

Ares's body was simply too huge, and he was still growing. The size of his weapon wasn't suited to his physique either.

With a build like his, he was more suited to a great cleaver or a naginata like Whitebeard Newgate's!

However, Ares did not reach out to take Golden Lion's sword. With an earnest expression, he said, "I don't need a weapon. My body is my weapon!"

"I believe that one day, my body will surpass the Supreme Great Sword!"

Those words made Golden Lion frown. He took a deep drag from the cigar in his mouth, pondered for a moment, and said, "Then don't use a sword. I'd like to see how far you can go in the future."

"It's truly something to look forward to. Perhaps you'll even be able to create your own path of swordsmanship!"

Ares was determined to temper his own body into a "Famous Sword," and Golden Lion had sensed many times the nearly pathological, fanatical obsession in Ares's heart.

It was also what drove Ares to train his body through savage and violent methods.

He stopped trying to persuade him. With a wave of his hand, Sakura Ten flew into his left hand.

After thinking for a moment, Shiki the Golden Lion solemnly warned Ares, "Then use your arms as swords. But remember this: before your Armament Haki becomes powerful enough, never use your hands to block a great swordsman's slash."

With Ares's current strength, blocking a great swordsman's attack would only result in him being cut in half.

Ares nodded and committed Golden Lion's words to memory. Whenever it involved improving himself and forging his body into a weapon that could surpass the Supreme Great Sword, he was always extremely serious and meticulous.

"Powerful swordsmanship isn't simply about releasing slashes. Although you've used the flying... slash that only swordsmen can wield, the power of your swordsmanship and slashes is still far too inferior to that of a true swordsman!" Golden Lion recalled Ares swinging his arm and producing a slash.

He immediately poured a bucket of icy water over Ares's enthusiasm.

Golden Lion held Withered Tree upright. Its gleaming blade reflected his unruly face, while the cigar in his mouth bobbed up and down as he spoke. "Now..."

"I'll begin by breaking down the simplest single-strike sword techniques for you. Only after learning the single-strike movements can you perform chained strikes."

"First movement: downward vertical slash!"

Whoosh!

The blade cleaved straight down over his head!

"The key points for exerting force and the requirements of the movement are..." Golden Lion patiently explained this extremely basic sword technique to Ares. He then said, "Since you're using your own body as a weapon, you can try using your arms or legs to perform the movements of swordsmanship."

Ares nodded. He immediately raised his arm, spreading and bringing together his five fingers to form a hand blade.

Swish!

The blade came crashing down!

Compared to the sharp, brief whistle of wind produced when Golden Lion swung Withered Tree, the sound created by Ares's movement was longer and louder, mainly because his arm was extraordinarily thick!

Golden Lion nodded in satisfaction, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "This talent truly surpasses ordinary people by far. I sincerely look forward to seeing you become a great swordsman one day!"

"You'll surely cause a sensation across the entire sea in the future."

He also began teaching Ares swordsmanship, breaking down each basic movement one by one before explaining the key points.

With his inhuman talent, Ares quickly mastered the fundamentals of swordsmanship after half a day of training.

The setting sun's afterglow spilled over Ares's body, making his originally bronze skin appear even darker and shinier. Bead after bead of sweat as large as beans trickled down along the contours of his muscles.

It was enough to make countless bodybuilding champions from his previous life shed tears of envy.

Swish!

Swish!

Bang!

······

The sounds continued without pause. Ares practiced the basic sword techniques, using both his hands and feet and treating his hands as blades!

He treated his legs as blades too!

The lessons Golden Lion had taught him replayed constantly in his mind, and he continually adjusted them to suit his own circumstances.

He wasn't merely replaying Golden Lion's movements. He was also replaying his own!

Ares could clearly sense that even with the same movement, changes in his angle, exerted force, and other details would lead to different levels of power. His special ability could help him find the flaws and strengths within them!

His progress was incredibly fast!

Golden Lion was already used to this. Ares had shocked him far too many times, and he was extremely satisfied with Ares's improvement.

He sat carelessly on a smooth boulder, a smile appearing at the corners of his mouth from time to time. "A single day of this guy's learning can equal a month or even longer for an ordinary person."

"If he had appeared on the sea a few years earlier, he might already have become a powerhouse who struck terror into people's hearts."

"Jihahahaha..."

"Perhaps everything is guided by fate. It might be destiny that allowed me, Golden Lion, to encounter such a swordsmanship prodigy. One day, this gem will attract the attention of the entire world."

For Ares, Golden Lion's heart was filled with affection and anticipation.

After all, there was a saying that made perfect sense: anything might betray you, but... hard work never will!!

People who persisted in their dreams and worked tirelessly toward them were welcome wherever they went.

Golden Lion reached out and pinched out the butt of his cigar. He rose from the boulder and shouted at Ares, "Hey, Ares, it's time to head back!"

"If we're late, we won't make it in time for dinner."

"Okay!"

Ares withdrew his arm, his face filled with lingering eagerness. He had only just stepped onto the path of swordsmanship, and besides, this amount of training was nothing to him!

The two returned to Skull Castle.

In the cafeteria.

Under Shakky's murderous glare, Ares swept across the food on the table and devoured it at astonishing speed!

Stacks of plates piled high.

Golden Lion handed Ares a bottle of liquor and said with a hearty laugh, "Ares, you have to build up your alcohol tolerance. Otherwise, how will you enjoy the happiest banquet moments of a pirate's life in the future?!"

Ares unceremoniously accepted the liquor Golden Lion handed him and gulped it down.

"Ah!!"

"Fine wine with meat—now that's satisfying!!"

He smacked his lips and continued wolfing down the food, eating in an extremely savage manner.

Beside him, Shakky clenched her silver teeth and said each word through her anger, "How--much--longer--are--you--going--to--eat?!"

The stacks of plates piled on the table towered even higher than she did.

This guy's appetite had increased again!

It had even grown by a tenth compared to yesterday!!

How much money would this cost?!

All he did was eat and never work!!!