Koshiro's Doubts: Wouldn't He Get Hurt?

Their battle lasted all afternoon.

When dusk fell, Dunn and Koshiro returned to the ship, both covered in blood.

Kuina and Zoro were already frozen in shock.

The battle between Dunn and Koshiro had clearly gone far beyond anything the two of them could have imagined.

The entire island looked as though it had been plowed over, its surface crisscrossed with sword marks.

Dunn looked worse for wear, but Koshiro wasn't in much better shape. He was even missing one lens from his glasses.

As he steered the ship back, Koshiro looked over at Dunn, who was resting in a corner of the deck, and regretted his decision.

He'd thought that although Dunn had improved quickly, he hadn't been training for long, so giving him practical combat instruction wouldn't be too exhausting.

But a monster was still a monster.

He realized he'd underestimated Dunn yet again.

He could already imagine what it would be like to keep instructing Dunn in combat.

Maybe I should turn him down?

But this was only the first day.

Dunn was like some kind of monster. After that battle, aside from looking a little exhausted, he didn't have so much as a scratch.

Koshiro had clearly seen some of the sword energy hit Dunn.

It seems this guy has plenty of secrets.

"Zoro, once we get back and have a good meal, I'll accept your challenge."

Dunn's voice suddenly rang out.

Zoro, still frozen in shock, came back to his senses. Once he understood what Dunn meant, he swallowed nervously, then turned to look at the island they'd seen plowed over.

Zoro really wanted to refuse.

He might be reckless, but he wasn't stupid.

The battle he'd just witnessed had made him realize how enormous the gap between him and Dunn was.

If Dunn got serious, there wouldn't be a fight at all.

He'd lose in a single strike.

But Kuina was right beside him, so Zoro gritted his teeth and nodded.

As he steered the ship, Koshiro studied Dunn.

There were plenty of tears in Dunn's clothes, of course.

But Dunn himself really didn't have a single wound. He didn't even have a scrape.

What terrifying defensive power.

It seems he was born with this kind of physique. Could it be a natural ability, like that flame of his?

Koshiro wondered.

Now he felt that it had been a mistake for Dragon not to keep inviting Dunn earlier.

He'd vastly underestimated Dunn's talent.

Dunn had no idea that Koshiro had mistaken his data-based body for a special physique.

Then again, the outward signs of this data-based body really did resemble a monster-level physique, like the Iron Balloon.

The powerful effect of not getting hurt as long as his HP didn't hit zero was still going strong.

After they returned to Shimotsuki Village, Dunn ate until his HP was completely restored in a very short time, and then noticed something.

He needed to eat more food to recover his HP.

Before, maintaining Two-Color Haki had caused his HP to drop continuously, but the loss had been small and barely noticeable. His regular meals had been enough to make up for it.

But after being reduced to critical HP this time, the difference was unmistakable.

And he wasn't the only one who noticed. Koshiro, Kuina, and Zoro had all seen it too.

The three of them stared with their eyes practically bulging out of their heads, mouths hanging open.

Koshiro felt that since he'd accepted nine million Beli from Dunn, if Dunn stayed in Shimotsuki Village for much longer, he might end up owing him money.

Kuina and Zoro stared in shock as Dunn ate more food than he weighed.

"Let's go!"

Dunn set down the bone in his hand, then stood and addressed Zoro.

Zoro snapped out of his daze and realized what Dunn intended to do. He glanced at Koshiro and Kuina, grabbed his three swords, and followed Dunn outside.

The expected outcome—being defeated in a single move—never came.

Dunn treated it as a little exercise to help digest his filling meal. He held his sword in one hand and traded blows evenly with Zoro and his three swords.

Every so often, he even used techniques he'd picked up during his fight with Koshiro that day.

Of course, he held back.

After all, Zoro couldn't withstand a single full-strength strike from him.

Their fight continued until late at night.

Dunn didn't say they were finished, and Zoro, with his stubborn nature, wouldn't say it either.

In the end, Zoro was too exhausted to get up, so Dunn carried him back to the dojo.

The days that followed were much the same.

In the morning, he practiced the basics with the dojo's students. In the afternoon, he fought Koshiro. After returning, he gave Zoro a beating.

Day after day, it was a very full schedule.

Of course, there were occasional interruptions.

"It's finally begun."

Dunn looked at the newspaper in his hands and sighed with feeling.

Kuina leaned over, curious about what Dunn was reading.

Perhaps because Dunn had saved her, Kuina's attitude toward him had changed a little. She'd grown closer to him.

Of course, it had nothing to do with anything else. It was simply a sincere feeling of closeness.

Koshiro knew that Dunn went to the village every few days to pick up a newspaper, and he was curious about what Dunn was talking about.

"The Three Admirals have officially taken office. Sengoku, the former Admiral, has been promoted to Fleet Admiral. I expect the Navy will make some big moves soon."

Dunn spoke softly, his eyes on the World Economic News report about the matter.

"The Navy?" A trace of worry flashed across Koshiro's eyes.

"Are those people strong?"

Kuina looked at the photographs in the newspaper, very curious.

"Of course they're strong. They're among the top fighters on the seas."

Dunn gave an objective assessment.

"But it has nothing to do with the East Blue. The Navy's focus is still on the Grand Line."

Dunn stroked his chin as he spoke, then glanced at Koshiro.

"Mm. The Four Blues are already under the Navy's control, and there aren't any pirates with especially high bounties. The Navy really won't send too many troops here."

Koshiro nodded.

The Revolutionary Army's focus wasn't on the Grand Line, so for now they didn't need to worry about confronting the Navy directly.

"Come on, Master Koshiro. Today's fight hasn't started yet."

Koshiro, deep in thought, froze for a moment, then put on a pained expression.

Dunn really had endless energy.

But there was no way Koshiro would refuse.

Kuina and Zoro were used to it by now, and neither followed them this time.

Late that night, Koshiro was utterly exhausted, but he didn't rest. Instead, he took out a Den Den Mushi.

A short while later, Dragon's low voice came through from the other end.

"Koshiro? What is it?"

"You've heard about the Navy, Dragon, haven't you?"

"Is that what this is about? I've been keeping an eye on it."

Dragon paused for a moment before answering. He was clearly taking the matter very seriously.

"They're not targeting the Revolutionary Army, are they?"

"You don't need to worry about that. Our opponent is the World Government right now. The Navy is still more concerned with pirates."

Koshiro let out a sigh of relief. "That's good. And it makes sense—the Navy can't spare any more troops."

"Right. So, is there anything else?"

Dragon clearly had things to do and was already preparing to end the call.

"Yes. There's one more thing. It's about Dunn."