"Could he be connected to these two?"
Kuina pulled out two copies of the World Economic News from behind her back and looked at the large headshots of the two men in the papers.
"Shichibukai, Heavenly Yaksha Doflamingo, and Knight of the Sea Jinbe."
Hearing Kuina's words, Zoro leaned over and curiously examined the people reported on in the two newspapers.
"Could Dunn be connected to these two?"
Zoro said, stroking his chin.
"That wouldn't be a good thing. Dunn probably isn't a match for either of them yet."
Kuina looked at the papers' evaluations of the two men.
They were both great pirates of the New World. That Doflamingo had even become the king of a country, so he definitely had some formidable subordinates.
And Knight of the Sea Jinbe was a Fishman. It said that Fishmen were generally at least ten times stronger than humans physically.
The fact that the Navy had recruited them as Shichibukai was enough to show how powerful they were.
A trace of worry flashed through Kuina's eyes.
"Definitely not. Didn't Dunn say he wouldn't be going to the Grand Line anytime soon? These two are both on the Grand Line."
Zoro suddenly said.
Although Zoro usually looked like he was missing a screw, he could always spot the key detail.
"Right!"
Kuina came back to her senses, suddenly enlightened.
Dunn had indeed said that. She had just been misled by the fact that he had been reading those two newspapers earlier.
"Let's go!"
Kuina put down the newspapers in her hands and waved at Zoro.
"What for?"
Zoro looked confused.
"To buy things in the village. Did you forget? Father asked us to buy ingredients. Once their fight is over, we're treating Dunn to a lavish farewell feast."
Knowing what Koshiro meant, Kuina explained it to Zoro.
Meanwhile.
The island where Dunn and Koshiro had fought before was no longer suitable for battle.
Or rather, it wasn't suitable for this battle.
That small island had never been large to begin with. At high tide, most of it would sometimes be submerged.
After nearly a year of ravaging by the two of them, the portion of the island remaining above water had shrunk considerably.
As they headed toward a more distant island, Dunn quietly leaned against the side of the boat, looking out over the vast sea as though he were deep in thought.
At least, that was what Koshiro saw.
But the truth was that Dunn was checking his Body Digitization Panel.
[Body Digitization: Your vital points have disappeared. After being attacked, damage is converted into a reduction in health; Panel attributes change according to your own strength; before your health reaches zero, you will not die.] [Current physical age: Fifteen] [Physique: 83 (continuing to transform due to certain influences)] [Current health: 100% (recovering; eating can speed up recovery)] [Innate Talent (Indomitable): When health reaches zero, enter a brief enhanced state; all your physical attributes are increased tenfold; your health will no longer decrease; all negative conditions are removed; current duration: Fifteen minutes; cooldown: One day] [Abilities] [Flame-Flame Fruit (Proficient Control): A powerful Logia Fruit ability, granting the power to transform into and control flames; continuously strengthens the body; the Fruit's drawbacks have been removed (weaknesses and the residing soul); you have gained a clear understanding of how to improve the Fruit's abilities; current Fruit development: 46%] [Swordsmanship (Proficient Control): You have proficiently mastered the basic techniques and training methods of swordsmanship; you have crossed the boundary of a master swordsman; you have comprehended flying slashes; you have found a swordsmanship suited to yourself] [Observation Haki (Initial Control): You have gained a clear perception of the energy of all things in the world; your sensing range has increased substantially; you can conduct special perception in a specific direction, greatly extending the distance] [Armament Haki (Initial Control): You can skillfully control the energy within your body for attack and defense; you have comprehended Armament Haki Hardening and coating techniques] [Flame (Black Blade): Under the influence of your Haki, your sword is evolving toward a Black Blade; evolution: 3%; advanced Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki Coating can accelerate the Black Blade's evolution; experiencing numerous battles and making the weapon's nature more compatible with its master's can accelerate the Black Blade's evolution]
His gains over the past year or so had been enormous.
His physique went without saying; it had increased greatly once again.
The aspects that had been hard to notice at first because his physique had improved too little had now become clear.
An improvement in physique was an all-around improvement.
Now, every additional point of physique brought a substantial increase in his strength.
At first, one point might have merely added the strength or physical constitution of one person, but it was different now.
After all, once one's physical constitution reached his level, every additional point was extremely difficult to gain.
Even for him, the previous notice of rapid transformation had disappeared, becoming continuous transformation instead.
As for everything else...
The swordsmanship and Haki he had already mastered had both improved tremendously, and naturally, he had not neglected developing his Fruit ability either.
Or rather, his Fruit ability had also been improving while he trained in swordsmanship. Combined with his own development of the Fruit, it was currently the ability he had mastered best.
At the very least, he could now easily replicate all the methods Ace had mastered and developed. Not only that, he could now imitate Old Man Yamamoto's techniques in form as well.
But what delighted him most was that Flame was evolving toward a Black Blade.
Although its evolution progress was still very low, as long as he could see improvement, he had a goal to pursue.
Moreover, when Koshiro had taught him swordsmanship and Haki, he had repeatedly mentioned that all things in the world had their own breath.
Now, he could vaguely sense Flame's own pulse, or breath.
It was a peculiar sensation.
As though all things possessed a spirit.
But the feeling was still vague. Perhaps his Observation Haki needed to improve further.
However, the Panel had already provided the method for turning a weapon into a Black Blade.
No matter what, compared to when he had first arrived in this world a year ago, his strength had improved by an unknown number of times.
So, in this fight with Koshiro, he would confirm exactly how far his strength had progressed.
As Dunn thought this, his gaze turned toward Koshiro, and he saw Koshiro's calm eyes.
"I'll be going all out this time. I'm no longer confident that I can defeat you."
"Good. That's what I want 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. Instead, he was lean without being frail.
"Not wasted?"
Koshiro's expression turned strange.
No matter who it was, let alone one year, even if they spent ten years improving as much as Dunn had, they would be laughing in their sleep.
But what he did not know was that Dunn was measuring himself against Monkey D. Luffy.
From a rookie pirate who did not even understand Haki when he first set sail, in a little over two years—less than three—he had mastered Conqueror's Haki Coating and awakened his Fruit.
Compared to Monkey D. Luffy, his own progress was far too slow.
But the good thing was that Monkey D. Luffy had not set sail yet.
And his own progress was fast. In a few years, he might not be unable to stand at the peak of this world.
However, the moment that thought surfaced, Dunn shook his head.
Increasing his strength was important.
But Dunn suddenly remembered that Robin seemed to have only just turned twenty this year. At this age, she was still hiding in West Blue, evading pursuit by the Navy and the World Government.
Thinking of that, Dunn became somewhat distracted.
Koshiro quietly guided the small boat and stopped beside a small island farther from Shimotsuki Village.
"Get ready. Kuina and Zoro are probably already waiting."
Holding Wado Ichimonji, Koshiro spoke as he leaped from the boat and landed on the island's beach.
Before you continue