A Year of Cultivation Gains! A True Clash

"Could it have something to do with these two?"

Kuina pulled two copies of the World Economic News from behind her back, staring at the headshots of the two men on the papers.

"The Shichibukai, Heavenly Yaksha Doflamingo and Knight of the Sea Jinbe."

Hearing Kuina's words, Zoro leaned over, curiously eyeing the people reported on the two newspapers.

"Are you saying Dunn has a connection to these two?"

Zoro said, rubbing his chin.

"That wouldn't be a good thing; Dunn probably isn't a match for these two right now."

Kuina looked at the descriptions of the two men in the paper.

These were major pirates from the New World, after all. That Doflamingo had even become the king of a country; he must have some formidable subordinates.

And that Knight of the Sea Jinbe was a Fish-Man. The report stated that a Fish-Man's physique was generally at least a dozen times stronger than a human's.

The fact that they could be recruited by the Navy as Shichibukai was enough to show just how powerful they were.

A flash of worry crossed Kuina's eyes.

"It definitely isn't that. Didn't Dunn say he wouldn't be going to the Grand Line anytime soon? Both of these guys are in the Grand Line."

Zoro suddenly spoke up.

Don't let his usual airheadedness fool you; Zoro could always spot the key point.

"Oh, right!"

Kuina snapped back to reality, suddenly enlightened.

Dunn had indeed said that. She had simply been misled by the fact that Dunn was looking at those two newspapers earlier.

"Let's go!"

Kuina put down the newspapers in her hand and beckoned to Zoro.

"Go where?"

Zoro looked confused.

"To the village to buy supplies. You forgot, Father told us to buy ingredients. After their battle ends, we need to treat Dunn to a grand farewell feast."

Kuina knew what Koshiro meant and explained it to Zoro.

On the other side.

The island where Dunn and Koshiro had previously sparred was no longer suitable for combat.

Or rather, it wasn't suitable for this particular battle anymore.

The small island hadn't been large to begin with, and at high tide, most of it would be submerged.

After being ravaged by the two of them for nearly a year, the area of the island remaining above water had shrunk considerably.

As they headed toward a more distant island, Dunn leaned quietly against the ship's railing, looking out at the vast sea, seemingly lost in thought.

Of course, that was how it appeared to Koshiro.

But the truth was, Dunn was checking his Body Digitization panel.

[Body Digitization: Your vital points have vanished; after taking damage, the injury is converted into a deduction of HP; panel attributes will change based on your own strength; you will not die before your HP hits zero]

[Current Physical Age: Fifteen]

[Physique: 83 (continuously evolving due to certain influences)]

[Current HP: 100% (recovering; consuming food can accelerate recovery)]

[Inherent Talent (Indomitable): When HP hits zero, enter a brief empowered state; all your physical attributes increase tenfold; your HP will no longer be deducted; all negative status effects are cleared; current duration: fifteen minutes; cooldown: one day]

[Abilities]

[Flame-Flame Fruit (Proficient Control): A powerful Logia-type fruit ability; gain the ability to transform into and manipulate flames; continuously strengthens the body; fruit drawbacks have been cleared (weaknesses and soul-lodging); you have a clear understanding of how to improve the fruit's abilities; current fruit development (46%)]

[Swordsmanship (Proficient Control): You have mastered the basic moves and training methods of swordsmanship; you have crossed the threshold of a master swordsman; you have grasped flying slashes; you have found a style of swordsmanship that suits you]

[Observation Haki (Initial Control): You have a clear perception of the energy of all things in the world; your range of perception has increased significantly; you can perform special perception in specific directions, with the distance greatly extended]

[Armament Haki (Initial Control): You can skillfully control the energy within your body for attack and defense; you have grasped the techniques of Armament Haki hardening and coating]

[Flame (Black Blade): Under the influence of your Haki, your sword is evolving toward a Black Blade; evolution (3%); coating with advanced Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki will accelerate the Black Blade's evolution; experiencing numerous battles and having the weapon's nature align more closely with the master's personality can accelerate the Black Blade's evolution]

The improvement over this past year or so had been immense.

His physique, naturally, went without saying; it had increased significantly once again.

The areas where the improvement hadn't been obvious initially due to the small gains were now becoming clear.

The improvement in physique was an all-encompassing enhancement.

Now, for every point his physique increased, his strength would grow by a significant margin.

At first, it might have been just adding a little bit of strength or physique to a person, but it was different now.

After all, with his physique at this level, every point of increase was an extremely difficult feat.

Even for him, the rapid transformation he had experienced before had vanished, replaced by a continuous, gradual evolution.

As for the rest...

The swordsmanship and Haki he had originally mastered had both seen massive improvements, and he naturally hadn't been idle regarding the development of his Devil Fruit ability.

Or rather, his fruit ability had been improving even while he practiced swordsmanship, and combined with his own development of the fruit, it was currently the thing he had mastered best.

At the very least, he could now easily replicate the techniques that Ace had mastered and developed; furthermore, he could now even imitate the form of Old Man Yamamoto's techniques.

However, what surprised him most was that Flame was currently evolving into a Black Blade.

Although the evolution progress was still very low, as long as he could see improvement, it was a goal.

Moreover, when Koshiro was teaching him swordsmanship and Haki, he had mentioned many times that all things in the world had their own breath.

Now, he could also vaguely perceive the pulse or breath of his own sword, Flame.

It was a peculiar feeling.

Similar to the idea that all things have a spirit.

But the feeling was very blurry right now; perhaps he needed his Observation Haki to continue improving.

But as for how to turn a weapon into a Black Blade, the system panel had already provided the method.

Regardless, compared to a year ago when he first arrived in this world, his strength had increased by an unknown number of times.

Therefore, this sparring session with Koshiro would be to truly confirm just what level his strength had reached.

Dunn thought to himself, his gaze shifting to Koshiro, and then he saw Koshiro's calm eyes.

"I will go all out this time; I no longer have the confidence to defeat you."

"Good, that is what I hope for as well. I also want to confirm that I haven't wasted this past year."

Dunn stood up; his body, just over two meters tall, did not look bulky, but rather lean and well-built.

"Not wasted?"

Koshiro's expression turned strange.

No matter who it was, let alone one year, even if it were ten years, anyone who could achieve the kind of improvement Dunn had would be laughing in their sleep.

But he didn't know that Dunn was measuring himself against Monkey D. Luffy.

From a rookie pirate who didn't even understand Haki when he first set sail, to mastering Conqueror's Haki infusion and awakening his fruit in less than three years—compared to Monkey D. Luffy, his own progress was too slow.

But the good thing was that Monkey D. Luffy hadn't set sail yet.

And his own rate of progress was fast; in a few years, it was not impossible for him to stand at the pinnacle of this world.

However, as soon as this thought popped up, Dunn shook his head.

The increase in power was important.

But Dunn suddenly thought that Robin seemed to be just over twenty years old this year; at this age, she was still hiding in the West Blue to avoid capture by the Navy and the World Government.

Thinking of this, Dunn became a bit distracted.

Koshiro quietly steered the small boat, stopping beside a small island further away from Shimotsuki Village.

"Get ready to start. Kuina and Zoro are probably already waiting."

Koshiro, gripping Wado Ichimonji, said this as he leaped from the boat and landed on the beach of the small island.