Powerful Force and Sword Skill Cultivation

Seeing Koushiro so solemn, Kuina was stunned.

It was the first time she had ever seen her father look so serious.

Little did she know, Koushiro was currently gripped by fear—the fear of losing his only daughter.

Witnessing this scene, Dunn glanced at the Wado Ichimonji before turning to leave.

If Kuina did not die, would Zoro still request the Wado Ichimonji to inherit her will?

Within the perception of his Observation Haki, Zoro was training frantically.

He held two ropes in his hands, each tied to a heavy stone, while clenching a dumbbell in his mouth to train his jaw strength.

"Well, not bad!"

Dunn walked into the courtyard, bent his knees slightly, and leaped onto the roof.

Placing Flame by his side, Dunn lay down, squinting at the bright, scorching sun in the sky while keeping both his Observation Haki and Armament Haki fully active.

"Next, it's time to get stronger. Koushiro shouldn't be holding anything back."

Dunn closed his eyes and thought silently to himself.

Over the next few days, Kuina seemed like a different person.

Even with Dunn around before, Kuina would often appear preoccupied.

But now, her personality had actually become cheerful.

Perhaps this was more like how an eleven-year-old girl should be.

Although Zoro was puzzled by Kuina's change, he simply compared himself to her.

A few days later, Dunn looked at Zoro, who was wielding his Three-Sword Style, staring at him intently.

"Did you beat Kuina?"

Dunn asked with his eyes closed.

"Kuina admitted defeat voluntarily. From now on, you are my target."

Zoro was very serious.

Dunn turned his head toward where Kuina was standing.

"Yeah, I lost!"

Kuina said with a grin.

"Whatever, you're dumping this trouble on me?"

"That has nothing to do with me!"

Kuina shook her head and then looked at Zoro.

"But my goal remains to be the world's greatest swordsman."

After saying this, Kuina stopped talking, sat down on the spot, propped her chin on her hand, and prepared to watch the fight.

"I'm not trouble, Dunn. Accept my challenge."

Zoro widened his eyes, looking at Dunn with anticipation, waiting for him to agree.

"Fine, fine!"

Dunn sighed. Seeing Zoro about to charge, he raised a hand to stop him.

"But you'll have to wait. I haven't started my training for the day yet."

Zoro, who was about to rush forward, stumbled and nearly fell to the ground. After finally steadying himself, he looked at Dunn in confusion.

Footsteps rang out.

Koushiro, carrying his sword, walked over slowly, showing no surprise at the scene before him.

"The island isn't suitable for a fight. The boat is at the dock; there's a small, uninhabited island nearby."

After speaking, Koushiro turned and walked toward the dock, and Dunn followed immediately.

Kuina stood up and followed without the slightest hesitation. Zoro looked bewildered, but his curiosity drove him to follow as well.

The small island was indeed not far; it took only half an hour by boat from Shimotsuki Village.

"Master Koushiro!"

After the boat stopped, Zoro couldn't contain his curiosity and asked Koushiro.

"Kuina, Zoro, you two wait on the boat. Do not come near."

Koushiro turned to look at the two of them and gave his instructions.

Dunn's upcoming training was live combat, which was what he had promised Dunn earlier; from now on, they would engage in such bouts every day.

Dunn was also looking forward to this very much.

Glancing at Kuina and Zoro, who were waiting quietly, Dunn bent his knees slightly and leaped up with a sudden burst of power.

The immense force caused the small boat to rock violently, a testament to the strength he had exerted when pushing off the deck.

Zoro swallowed hard.

He suddenly wondered if challenging Dunn was just a deliberate way to get himself beaten up.

The small island was not large and quite desolate; the parts exposed above the sea were nothing but gravel, without a single blade of grass to be seen, and water stains were still visible on the rocks.

After landing, Dunn looked at Koushiro, who had also leaped over and landed not far away.

"Next, you may attempt to learn my swordsmanship."

Koushiro looked at Dunn with a peaceful expression and spoke calmly.

"Although the swordsmanship one realizes through their own combat is the most suitable, learning from others is never a bad thing."

Dunn nodded upon hearing this, naturally not about to argue.

Drawing from the strengths of many was easy enough to understand.

"The swordsmanship I practice was passed down from my father, the Shimotsuki Family's ancestral style. Shimotsuki swordsmanship emphasizes the cleave; one adjusts their breathing while cleaving and lets out a roar to amplify the power of the strike."

Koushiro drew his weapon and began to explain.

"For example, like this."

Koushiro gripped his sword with both hands and took a stance. In the next instant, he appeared before Dunn as if he had teleported, raised his sword high, and brought it down in a heavy cleave.

"Hah!"

A fierce shout accompanied the strike.

Clang!

Dunn parried with his blade, but the force sent him flying backward.

After adjusting his posture and landing, Dunn saw Koushiro follow up immediately with another cleaving strike accompanied by a shout.

Watching the sword descend toward his head, a smile appeared on Dunn's face; he gripped his blade with both hands and swung upward in an arc.

Clang!

The sound of metal clashing rang out, Dunn's knees bent slightly, and the ground beneath his feet suddenly cracked.

"What immense strength!"

Koushiro used the recoil to retreat, standing firm as he exclaimed in surprise.

He had long known that Dunn's breakthrough far exceeded that of an ordinary person and that he was growing stronger at a rapid pace.

Yet now, even though he had used seventy percent of his strength, he hadn't gained any advantage. He knew he wasn't a top-tier powerhouse of the seas, but he had spent decades diligently practicing swordsmanship.

But what about Dunn, who stood before him?

Of course, neither side was using any power other than their swordsmanship and physical strength.

"My turn!"

Dunn paid no mind to Koushiro's exclamation. He pushed off with his legs, causing the ground to explode outward, and just like Koushiro moments before, Dunn arrived in front of him in the blink of an eye.

He swung his blade horizontally with his right hand.

As the weapons collided, Dunn clearly felt the force of Koushiro's sword guiding, or rather, deflecting his own power.

Dunn smiled; he managed to retract the sword he had swung with full force, and immediately after retracting it, he swung it horizontally once more.

This strike sent Koushiro flying, and he had to flip several times in the air before finally landing.

"Crude! That is merely a crude application of your strength."

Koushiro's face darkened, and he was quite speechless.

"But it works very well."

Dunn didn't mind Koushiro's tone and replied with a smile.

"But on these seas, you will eventually encounter opponents with greater strength than your own, such as those of the Giant Race, or the true monsters of this ocean."

Koushiro felt that Dunn was relying too much on his own raw power.

Did he really think he could suppress every opponent with strength alone?

"This is only the first day; I just wanted to let the Master know that I'm actually quite capable."

Dunn said cheerfully.

"Showing me your strength, are you?"

Koushiro was stunned, then understood what Dunn meant.

Dunn was telling him that he should feel free to go all out.

Since that was the case, Koushiro's gaze turned dangerous.

It seemed he had been underestimated by Dunn.