Hell Demon Blade: Shura

At Marine Headquarters' upscale residential district, in Garp's home, Zhong Hao spread out the sea chart and examined it carefully.

Just as Zhong Hao was carefully making out the writing on the scroll, a large face leaned over his shoulder. "Valboro... I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before."

"Teacher knows Valboro?" Zhong Hao asked.

"Hmm... I've heard that name somewhere, but I can't remember." Garp pondered for a long while but still could not recall it. "Go ask Tsuru or Sengoku."

"All right. Mistress Tsuru looks very learned. She probably hasn't gone far yet, so I'll go ask her." Zhong Hao grinned mischievously and dashed out the door, running into the distance.

"You little bastard! I'll make you taste the Love Fist again!" Garp roared at Zhong Hao's retreating figure from the doorway.

On the roads of the residential district, Tsuru had not gone far since leaving Garp's house. Zhong Hao quickly caught up to her and called out, "Vice Admiral Tsuru, please wait!"

Tsuru stopped at the sound and turned around. Seeing that it was Zhong Hao, she asked gently, "Zhong Hao, what is so urgent that you chased after me?"

"Yes, there are some things I'd like to ask you about." Zhong Hao no longer called her his mistress. Garp was not around, so there was no point teasing him, and it might only cause misunderstandings.

"Ask whatever you need. Even if I do not know, I can help you look through the records." Tsuru had been Garp's friend for decades and was willing to devote herself to helping his disciple.

"Thank you, Vice Admiral Tsuru." Zhong Hao raised the sea chart with both hands and handed it to her.

"A scroll made from deep-sea Sea King skin. Such scrolls are rare. They are made by skinning an entire deep-sea Sea King and shrinking its hide with special techniques. They can remain intact for five hundred years." The moment Tsuru touched the scroll, she identified its material, proving that her reputation for learning was well deserved.

Zhong Hao asked, "Vice Admiral Tsuru, who is this Valboro written here? Teacher found the name familiar, so I imagine you know of him."

Tsuru sat down on a long wooden bench by the roadside, patted the seat beside her, and beckoned Zhong Hao over. "Garp, Sengoku, and I entered the Marines in the same generation. Whenever we had cultural studies, Garp would sleep through them. He has even forgotten someone this famous."

"Was he that well-known?" Zhong Hao jumped onto the bench and sat beside Tsuru. A faint scent of soap drifted over, perhaps related to her Wash-Wash Fruit ability. It was clean but not overpowering. Come to think of it, she had been a great beauty in her youth.

"Valboro the Demon Swordsman was a legendary powerhouse from a hundred years ago. He founded the Hell Pirates, which once ran rampant across the seas. His most glorious feat was charging into Holy Land Mary Geoise alone with a single blade, then retreating unscathed. The Marines organized several extermination campaigns against him, but none succeeded. Instead, they suffered grievous losses. A man like that could absolutely be called the strongest of his era."

Tsuru gave Zhong Hao a detailed account of Valboro's deeds.

"However, something strange happened. At the height of his power, he slaughtered every single member of the Hell Pirates in one night. Then he sailed alone, carrying the corpses of his crew deep into the New World, and was never heard from again. Some say he found an island without magnetic force, buried himself and all his crew there, and that island also holds everything Valboro ever possessed."

Zhong Hao said, "If he was so powerful, why was Roger the first to be called the One Piece rather than him? Charging into Holy Land Mary Geoise alone and escaping unharmed—would even Roger have been able to do that?"

Tsuru explained, "Because he did not find Laugh Tale. Even if he was only missing that one island, it meant he had not completely conquered the Grand Line. Though powerful, he was not acknowledged by the other pirates."

Zhong Hao nodded in understanding, then looked at the scroll again. "There are six words written here: 'Valboro... buried bones.' Could this be the island where he was buried?"

Tsuru handed the scroll back to Zhong Hao. "Since such precious material was used to record it, it should not be a prank."

"Is the legend of treasure true? It has been a hundred years, after all. The rumors might not be accurate."

Zhong Hao rolled up the scroll and stuffed it into his pocket. His casual manner made Tsuru laugh inwardly.

Tsuru nodded, then shook her head. "I do not know whether there is treasure there, but one thing definitely exists, and it was certainly buried with Valboro. The weapon he treasured as dearly as his life—the Hell Demon Blade Shura. It is one of the Supreme Grade Blades, and Valboro once used it to sever another Supreme Grade Blade."

Zhong Hao was greatly surprised. "Aren't Supreme Grade Blades all on the same level? How could that Shura cut another one apart?"

"Garp truly is an incompetent teacher. He has told you nothing."

Tsuru smiled lightly. "Supreme Grade Blades also have differences in rank, though they are not obvious. Their greatest differences lie in their individual traits. Some are light and fast; some are heavy and powerful; some are slim and sharp. Two blades are especially unusual. One is the Hell Demon Blade Shura, which influences the wielder's mind. The other is the Demon Sword Kitetsu, which curses its wielder. I once speculated that Valboro's bizarre slaughter of his crew was because he could not suppress Shura's demonic nature and was blinded by the violence in his heart."

Rather than being frightened, Zhong Hao was captivated and filled with desire. "Vice Admiral Tsuru, do you know where the sea region shown on this scroll is?"

Tsuru's eyes widened sharply, and she said sternly, "Zhong Hao, do not seek Valboro's tomb until your strength surpasses Garp's. Even in the New World, that place is extremely dangerous. It is not something you can covet at your current level."

Zhong Hao did not get angry. Knowing that she was concerned for him, he reassured her, "Please do not worry, Vice Admiral Tsuru. I know my own strength well. I will not let temporary success or greed burn away my reason."

Tsuru nodded approvingly. "Garp always says that you will surpass him within twenty years. That shows how extraordinary your talent is. What is rare is that, despite possessing such talent, you can still remain so calm and composed. Sea Fang will be enough for you for now. Once you are strong enough, I will apply with Garp to let you take a Great Grade Blade from the Marines' secret vault. That is already the best weapon the Marines can offer. The World Government should have Supreme Grade Blades in its collection. When the time comes, Sengoku and I will think of a way to try and obtain one for you."

Zhong Hao rose and gave Tsuru a slight bow. "There is no need, Vice Admiral Tsuru. I would never accept the World Government's self-important reward. Famous blades are hidden in every corner of the sea, and I will search for them myself. Just like the surprise of finding Sea Fang, the process of searching can also be a kind of pleasure."

"You will find one. If there is nothing else, I will be going." A strange look appeared in Tsuru's eyes. With that, she left, while Zhong Hao waved at her departing back.

As Tsuru walked toward the edge of the residential district, she recalled Zhong Hao's words: "I would never accept the World Government's self-important reward." From that sentence alone, she could tell what Zhong Hao thought of the World Government. A shadow settled in her heart as she muttered, "This is troublesome. He is so much like Dragon back then."

She did not know how to tell Garp, but she knew she needed to discuss it with Sengoku as soon as possible. What had happened with Dragon could not happen again.

Zhong Hao remained where he was, slipping one hand into his pocket and concealing the scroll inside his space.

"Hell Demon Blade Shura... I really want to... obtain it!"