Dangerous target.
Dunn had been using Observation Haki to try to guide his Armament Haki with the help of his enhanced perception. Suddenly, he opened his eyes.
He had only just mastered Observation Haki, so the range he could perceive was still quite limited. It barely covered the entire Isshin Dojo.
But the group that had arrived at the dojo gave Dunn an extremely dangerous feeling.
"Strong, and there are so many of them. Some are even stronger than Koushiro."
In the field of vision granted by his Observation Haki, every member of the group had an extremely dangerous marker above their head. One person even had three blood-red question marks above theirs.
"Is this a group from the Revolutionary Army?"
Dunn opened his eyes. He had already guessed who the newcomers were.
Shimotsuki Koshiro had indeed been in contact with the Revolutionary Army in private.
Monkey D. Dragon, also known simply as Dragon.
The leader of the Revolutionary Army, a thorn in the World Government's side, the son of the Hero of the Marines Monkey D. Garp, the father of Monkey D. Luffy, and a Logia user—his Logia ability was suspected to be related to wind.
"Though he hasn't shown his hand much, this man should be one of the very strongest in the world—a Four Emperors-level powerhouse."
Dunn was tempted, but before he could fully get to his feet, he sat back down.
These people meant trouble.
You could say that the Revolutionary Army, led by Dragon, had noble ideals and wanted to overthrow the World Government to change the world, but that had nothing to do with him.
He wasn't even from this world.
Respect was one thing, but getting involved? He'd pass.
With that thought, Dunn reined in his curiosity. After settling back down, he continued his training, guiding his Armament Haki.
Kuina and Zoro, who had just finished another bout, had also noticed the unexpected guests and seen Koushiro lead them into the dojo. They didn't go over to see what was happening.
"You lost again. That's 1,997 times!"
Kuina looked at Zoro calmly.
"Damn it, don't get so cocky! I'll definitely beat you!"
Kuina's emphasis sent Zoro into an instant rage.
"You'll never beat me."
Kuina put her hands on her hips and looked down at Zoro.
Zoro gritted his teeth and pointed his bamboo sword at Kuina.
"I'm not just going to beat you. I'm going to beat Dunn too, and then I'm going to become the world's greatest swordsman!"
After finishing, Zoro panted heavily as he glared at Kuina.
"Beat Dunn?"
Kuina froze, her expression turning complicated.
Dunn had only been at the dojo for a month, yet his strength had improved by leaps and bounds. His progress in swordsmanship, especially, had already surpassed her expectations.
And then there was his superhuman physique, which had left even her father astonished.
According to her father, Dunn's physique was no weaker than that of the monsters out at sea.
Now, Kuina felt that even if she gave it everything she had, she still couldn't defeat him.
"You can't even see the gap between us and him."
Kuina's voice was low.
"You... have you given up?"
Zoro might have been hopelessly bad with directions, but he wasn't stupid. Every now and then, he could be surprisingly perceptive.
And at that moment, he could sense how Kuina was feeling.
"You've beaten me 1,997 times. Don't sell yourself short! If you do, what does that make me, the guy you've beaten all those times?"
Zoro glared at Kuina, fuming.
Kuina lowered her head and said nothing. Zoro stared at her with wide eyes, then suddenly raised the bamboo sword in his hand.
"I've decided, Kuina. I'm going to beat you next, and then I'll beat Dunn!"
After saying that, Zoro snorted and turned to leave. Then he saw someone standing behind him, though he didn't know when they had appeared.
"D-Dunn..."
Zoro froze and stammered.
"I'll give you that chance. Come on, Zoro. Challenge me, beat me, and charge toward the title of the world's greatest swordsman!"
Dunn held a wooden sword in his hand and looked at Zoro solemnly.
Zoro: ...
Kuina: ...
"What's the matter? Lost your nerve?"
Dunn looked at the stunned pair and grinned.
"You... don't get so cocky!"
Zoro flew into a rage again. He was so easy to rile up. Gripping his sword, he charged straight at Dunn.
What greeted him was a whack right on the head.
A red mark appeared on Zoro's face, and blood streamed from his nose.
Staggering back several steps, Zoro clutched his nose, and tears instantly sprang from his eyes.
The sting and pain in his nose brought tears and snot pouring out together.
Seeing this, Kuina came over too and gripped her sword with both hands.
"My turn."
With that, Kuina attacked with her wooden sword held in both hands.
Thwack!
That sounded like a good hit to the head.
Kuina clutched the top of her head and crouched down, her eyes welling with tears.
Watching the two of them—one holding her head and the other clutching his nose—Dunn sat down on the floor and looked at them.
"Last time, was there something you didn't get to finish saying?"
Kuina, still holding her head, saw Dunn sit down and suddenly asked him.
"What?"
"You said there were women out at sea who became top-tier powerhouses."
Kuina clearly still cared about that.
Dunn sighed.
He understood what Shimotsuki Koshiro had intended, but it seemed to have only deepened Kuina's doubts about herself.
"Sit down!"
Dunn pointed at the spot in front of him.
Kuina and Zoro came over and sat down, staring at Dunn with tear-filled eyes.
Both Zoro and Kuina knew that Dunn understood the world out at sea.
"People are different from one another. There are many races out at sea, like the Fish-Men, the Minks, and the giants. They're vastly different from humans to begin with.
"Let me put it this way: any member of the Giant Race, once they reach adulthood, is as strong as a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral. That already makes them very powerful by the standards of the world."
Kuina and Zoro clearly had no idea how strong a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral was.
"Charlotte Linlin, who established Totto Land in the New World of the Grand Line... Well, she's one of the strongest pirates in the world. When she was five, she destroyed a village of giants."
"She was a woman?"
Kuina looked at Dunn, evidently curious.
"Yes, a woman. But in terms of talent, there may not be many people in this world who can match her."
Dunn sighed with feeling.
He really meant it.
"If I keep pushing myself, could I reach that level someday?"
Kuina looked at Dunn.
It seemed she needed some reassurance.
"There's no end to swordsmanship. You can keep training and growing stronger."
Dunn looked at Kuina.
He'd originally wanted to shatter Kuina's illusions and make her face reality.
As for talent, Kuina might have plenty, but she wasn't exceptional enough to make people take notice.
Sure, it was impressive that Kuina, at around ten years old, could beat the adults at the dojo. But even she could feel that her bouts with Zoro were getting harder and harder.
"Right. I'm going to keep getting stronger, just like that, and become the world's greatest swordsman."
Kuina's expression shifted as she seemed to mull over Dunn's poisonous chicken soup. Then Zoro gulped the whole bowl down in one go and declared excitedly.
The red mark on his face and the blood from his nose, though, made him look a little ridiculous.
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