Tashigi stared blankly at the two swords clinging together like magnets and murmured, "They say that above the Supreme Grade Swords is an even more powerful sword, born of heaven and earth... Light of the Millennium. In its presence, even the Supreme Grade Swords must submit."
"Yet one of the Supreme Grade Swords gave birth to a sword spirit that challenged Light of the Millennium. That sword was the strongest of the Supreme Grade Swords: Shodai Kitetsu!"
"Finally, in the hands of two Great Swordsmen of equal strength, the two swords truly crossed blades. The result was... Shodai Kitetsu shattered into several pieces!"
"Later generations reforged the pieces of Shodai Kitetsu, but could no longer forge them into a single sword. They could only add other materials and make three Nidai Kitetsu and six Sandai Kitetsu."
"Because it failed to challenge Light of the Millennium, Kitetsu's sword spirit passed down its anger and resentment to the Nidai Kitetsu and Sandai Kitetsu. That's why Kitetsu was also known as an ill-omened blade, one that brought misfortune to its wielder."
At this point, Tashigi fixed her eyes on Lu Zhuo and said gravely, "No matter what kind of swordsman you are, the fact that the Nidai Kitetsu truly submitted to you means that Kitetsu now has a chance to reappear in the world."
Hearing this, Lu Zhuo frowned slightly as he looked at the Kitetsu swords stuck together like two magnets. He was starting to get a headache. No matter how hard he pulled, he couldn't separate them.
Just then, the two Kitetsu swords suddenly released an even more intense chill. Lu Zhuo could feel it: a powerful resentment!
His expression turned cold. He held the sword before his chest and said with utmost seriousness, "If you're willing to submit to me, I'll take you to defeat the legendary Light of the Millennium and make you the strongest sword!" As he spoke, a resolute conviction and powerful sword intent burst from him.
Even Tashigi couldn't help taking a few steps back. At that moment, Lu Zhuo was very, very close to becoming a swordsman!
As if sensing Lu Zhuo's resolve, the two Kitetsu swords leapt from his hands. Without needing to be reforged in a furnace, they fused together in midair!
After several scraps of metal were pushed out, a brand-new Nidai Kitetsu returned to Lu Zhuo's hand. This new Nidai Kitetsu was nearly twice as powerful as the previous one! It could even be called the strongest blade among the Great Grade Swords!
Lu Zhuo could sense the newborn sword spirit inside the blade. It seemed to be calling to him, urging him to seek out the other Kitetsu swords, restore it completely, and fight Light of the Millennium!
Watching this scene, which seemed straight out of a myth, Tashigi's eyes burned with even greater fervor. Perhaps this was why she became so much more dedicated to studying swords. In the future, her sword would become almost like her life.
"It's true... The legend really is true!"
Her trembling words revealed her excitement. Tashigi walked up to Lu Zhuo, ignoring him once again, and reached out with her delicate hand to touch the brand-new Nidai Kitetsu.
But just as she was about to touch it, the Nidai Kitetsu rang out on its own, issuing a warning. In its eyes, only its master, Lu Zhuo, was allowed to touch it. No one else was worthy.
Tashigi didn't insist. Instead, she kept gazing at the sword with burning eyes. Lu Zhuo couldn't take it anymore. He coughed again, finally bringing Tashigi back to her senses.
Tashigi straightened her slightly disheveled blue hair and smiled sweetly. Looking at Lu Zhuo with envy, she said softly, "You must treat it well. It already has a life of its own. Although Light of the Millennium hasn't appeared for several hundred years, you must fulfill its wish."
Lu Zhuo looked at the Nidai Kitetsu in his hand, his expression complicated.
"I will."
Only after saying this did Lu Zhuo slap his forehead, remembering his real purpose.
"All right, Miss Tashigi. You seem to know a lot about swords. Would you come aboard my ship and discuss the Way of the Sword with me?"
Tashigi smiled slightly. "Of course. It's an honor to discuss swordsmanship with a powerful swordsman."
Hearing this, Lu Zhuo wore a rather strange expression.
If you knew I was going to kidnap you, would you still think it was an honor?
Aboard the Holy Sword, Nami had tied Tashigi firmly to the mast with hemp rope.
Tashigi's face flushed with embarrassment as she glared furiously at Lu Zhuo.
"I was wrong about you... You're a disgrace to swordsmen, you pirate! I'll arrest you, just you wait! You don't deserve to wield that sword."
At her words, Lu Zhuo frowned and walked over.
"You bastard, don't come near me! You're not fit to be a swordsman... Mmph!"
All right, don't get the wrong idea. Lu Zhuo had only stuffed a strip of cloth in her mouth. There was an exceptionally vigilant little wildcat by his side; even if he wanted to, he couldn't possibly act on it.
Otherwise, Nami would tear him to pieces!
Thinking about it made his head ache. She was really hard to deal with. And what should he do about Robin-chan... That might be harder than defeating one of the Four Emperors!
He shook his head, casting aside his distracting thoughts, and stopped thinking about anything else.
Tashigi had given up struggling. After coming to her senses, she suddenly felt a little afraid. She had no idea what Lu Zhuo was going to do to her.
Just then, Nami smiled as she searched Tashigi, but to Tashigi, that smile looked just like a devil's.
At last, Nami found a snail. She bounded over to Lu Zhuo, looking as if she expected a reward.
Lu Zhuo smiled helplessly. The snail was, of course, a Den Den Mushi. Judging from the original story, when Smoker became a captain in Loguetown, Tashigi should have been his secretary.
Now that he had the Den Den Mushi, Lu Zhuo was finally certain of his deduction, and he could fully relax. That meant he truly had everything under control.
"Hello, Captain Smoker? Tashigi is in my hands. If you want her alive, come to the coast west of Loguetown at once! Remember, don't bring any other Marines, or I'll kill this beauty immediately. I won't go easy on her."
After saying everything in one breath, Lu Zhuo hung up before Smoker could respond.
On the other end, anger flashed in Smoker's eyes. He slammed his fist down, smashing the table in front of him to pieces and startling the Marines nearby.
"Who the hell thinks they can make me their target? This is ridiculous. Just you wait—you're dead!" Smoker took a deep drag from his cigar and calmed himself.
The next moment, his body turned into a cloud of smoke and drifted out the window.
On the west coast of Loguetown, Smoker glared furiously at Lu Zhuo.
"So it's you, brat! You became a pirate, you bastard! Let Tashigi go!"
Lu Zhuo held out one finger and waggled it gently, smiling playfully. "No, no. If I dared to lure you out here, I'm obviously not afraid of you. Want to get this pretty girl back? Beat me, and she's yours!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a vein bulged on Smoker's forehead. His lower body turned to smoke, which enveloped him as he charged forward.
Before you continue