Koushiro's Doubts: Wouldn't He Get Hurt?

The two fought for the entire afternoon.

When dusk fell, Dunn and Koushiro returned to the ship, both covered in blood.

Kuina and Zoro had already been petrified with shock.

The battle between Dunn and Koushiro had clearly gone far beyond anything the two of them could have imagined.

The entire island looked as if it had been plowed, crisscrossed with sword marks.

Dunn was in worse shape, but Koushiro didn't look much better. He was even missing one lens from his glasses.

As he steered the ship back, Koushiro looked over at Dunn, who was resting against a corner of the deck, and regretted his decision.

He'd thought that although Dunn had improved quickly, he hadn't been at it for long, so giving him practical combat guidance wouldn't be too exhausting.

But a monster was a monster.

He realized he'd still underestimated Dunn.

He could already imagine what it would be like to keep guiding Dunn in battle.

Should he try turning him down?

But this was only the first day.

And yet Dunn was like a monster. Aside from looking somewhat exhausted, he hadn't suffered even a single superficial wound in their battle.

Koushiro had clearly seen some of the sword energy strike Dunn.

It seemed the young man still had plenty of secrets.

"Zoro, once we get back and you've eaten your fill, I'll accept your challenge."

Dunn's voice suddenly rang out.

Zoro, still frozen in shock, came back to his senses when Dunn called to him. After understanding what Dunn meant, he swallowed and turned to look at the island that had been plowed.

Zoro really wanted to refuse.

He was reckless, not stupid.

The battle he'd just witnessed had made him realize that he was far too weak compared to Dunn.

If Dunn got serious, it wouldn't even be a fight.

He'd lose in a single strike.

But with Kuina right beside him, Zoro gritted his teeth and nodded.

As Koushiro steered the ship, he kept glancing at Dunn.

Naturally, Dunn's clothes were torn in many places.

But Dunn's body really didn't have a single wound—or even a scratch.

What terrifying defensive power.

It seemed he'd been born with this kind of physique. Could it be an innate ability, like that flame of his?

Koushiro wondered.

Now he suddenly felt that it had been a mistake for Dragon not to keep inviting Dunn earlier.

He'd far underestimated Dunn's talent.

Dunn had no idea that Koushiro mistook his data-based body for a special physique.

Then again, the outward effects of having a data-based body really were similar to those of certain monstrous physiques, like Steel Balloon.

The incredible effect that kept him from getting hurt as long as his health didn't hit zero was still going strong.

After returning to Shimotsuki Village, Dunn replenished his health in an extremely short time by eating. Then he noticed something.

He needed to eat more food to recover his health now.

Before, his two-color Haki continuously drained his health, but the loss was small and barely noticeable. His regular meals were enough to make up for it.

But this time, after his health had dropped so low, the difference was unmistakable.

And he wasn't the only one who noticed. Koushiro, Kuina, and Zoro could all see it too.

The three of them were practically bug-eyed, their mouths hanging open.

Koushiro felt that after taking nine million Belly from Dunn, he might end up losing money if Dunn stayed in Shimotsuki Village much longer.

Kuina and Zoro, meanwhile, stared in shock as Dunn ate more food than he weighed.

"Let's go!"

Dunn set down the bone in his hand, got to his feet, and spoke to Zoro.

Zoro snapped out of his daze and realized what Dunn intended to do. He glanced at Koushiro and Kuina, grabbed his three swords, and followed Dunn outside.

The expected one-strike defeat never came.

Dunn treated it as a little exercise to help digest his hearty meal, and fought evenly against Zoro's three swords with a sword in one hand.

At times, he even used techniques he'd learned during his fight with Koushiro that day.

Of course, he held back his strength.

After all, Zoro couldn't withstand a single full-power strike from him yet.

Their fight continued until late into the night.

Dunn didn't say they were done, and Zoro wasn't the type to call it quits either.

In the end, Zoro was so exhausted he couldn't get back up, and Dunn carried him back to the dojo.

For the days that followed, their routine was more or less the same.

In the morning, Dunn practiced the basics alongside the dojo's students. In the afternoon, he fought Koushiro. After returning, he took on Zoro.

Day after day, it kept him busy.

Of course, there were occasional interruptions.

"It's finally begun."

Dunn looked at the newspaper in his hands and sighed.

Kuina leaned over to see what he was reading, curious.

Perhaps because Dunn had saved her, Kuina had grown closer to him.

Of course, it was nothing more than a simple fondness for him.

Koushiro knew that Dunn went to the village every so often to pick up a newspaper, and he was curious about what Dunn was looking at.

"The Three Admirals have officially taken office. The previous Admiral, Sengoku, has been promoted to Fleet Admiral. I expect the Navy will make some major moves soon."

Dunn spoke softly, his eyes on the World Economic Journal's report about the news.

"The Navy?" Koushiro asked, a trace of worry flashing through his eyes.

"Are they powerful?"

Kuina looked at the photographs in the newspaper, very curious.

"Of course they're powerful. They're all top fighters in the sea."

Dunn gave an objective assessment.

"But it has little to do with the East Blue. The Navy's focus is still the Grand Line."

Dunn stroked his chin as he spoke, then glanced at Koushiro.

"Mm. The Four Blues are already under the Navy's control, and there aren't any pirates with particularly high bounties here. The Navy really doesn't need to send many troops."

Koushiro nodded.

The Revolutionary Army's focus wasn't on the Grand Line, so for now, there was no need to worry about confronting the Navy directly.

"Come on, Koushiro. We haven't started today's fight yet."

Koushiro, lost in thought, froze. Then he put on a pained expression.

Dunn really did have endless energy.

Still, he wasn't going to refuse.

Kuina and Zoro were used to it by now, so neither followed them this time.

Late that night, although he was utterly exhausted, Koushiro didn't rest. Instead, he took out a Den Den Mushi.

Before long, Dragon's deep voice came through from the other end.

"Koushiro? Is something wrong?"

"You've heard about the Navy, Dragon, haven't you?"

"You mean that? I've been keeping an eye on it."

Dragon fell silent for a moment before replying, clearly taking the matter very seriously.

"Could they be targeting the Revolutionary Army?"

"That's nothing to worry about. Our enemy right now is the World Government. As for the Navy, they're more concerned with pirates."

Koushiro breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. And it makes sense—the Navy can't spare any more troops."

"Mm. Is there anything else?"

Dragon clearly had things to do and was already preparing to end the call.

"Yes. There's one more thing. It's about Dunn."