Evilbane, Learning by Observation

Marineford was an enormous island. Besides the magnificent Marine Headquarters, it also contained several vast towns inhabited by countless military families.

Marine vice admirals, admirals, fleet admirals, and the like all had their own villas in the towns. Akainu was no exception.

Nangong Yan's plan was to find out where Akainu lived, then clean out every valuable item in his house while Akainu was away, turning him into a complete pauper.

Nangong Yan infiltrated one of the towns and went straight to the mayor's home, using the Mangekyo Sharingan's hypnotic abilities to extract Akainu's address.

Only after hypnotizing the mayors of three towns did Nangong Yan find Akainu's exact residence. With a sinister chuckle, Nangong Yan approached Akainu's home and used Kamui to slip inside without a sound, unnoticed by anyone.

As one of Marine Headquarters' most outstanding vice admirals, Akainu naturally received excellent treatment. His home was a detached Western-style villa nearly a thousand square meters in size. There were gardens in both the front and back, with shady green trees and lush lawns, as well as a swimming pool, training grounds, and everything else one could need.

The interior was just as lavishly decorated. While Akainu was away, Nangong Yan activated his Mangekyo Sharingan and frantically swept through the house, taking every valuable item in a blatant act of revenge.

Beli, jewelry, weapons, antique vases—even the food in Akainu's home was completely cleared out by Nangong Yan and stored in Kamui's alternate dimension. He scraped the place bare, leaving not even a chicken or dog behind!

With the Mangekyo Sharingan's terrifying perception, coupled with the sun's true flames that could melt anything, no matter how well Akainu had hidden his safe, it could not escape Nangong Yan's methods. After taking everything inside, Nangong Yan set a fire that engulfed Akainu's home in roaring flames.

Having vented his anger, Nangong Yan finally felt satisfied. He went to the summit of a scenic mountain, took out a bottle of Akainu's prized red wine, and began drinking.

Beli, jewelry, food, antique vases, and the like were nothing worth mentioning. What truly excited Nangong Yan was the famous sword he had acquired.

Though this famous sword was not one of the Supreme Grade Blades, it was still an excellent Great Grade Blade. Its name was Evilbane!

Before obtaining the Magma-Magma Fruit, Akainu had also been a swordsman highly skilled with the blade. This famous sword, Evilbane, had cost him tremendous effort to obtain.

The sword had originally been called Purgatory. After Akainu acquired it, he renamed it Evilbane to demonstrate his resolve to fight evil for his entire life!

It was a famous straight-bladed sword, three chi and three cun long. Its hilt was crimson, embedded with diamond-shaped crystals. The blade gleamed like snow, bright enough to reflect a person's image, its cold light making it clear at a glance that it was a fine sword.

Nangong Yan had always believed that one could never have too many skills. His physique had to be continuously strengthened without limit. Swordsmanship, fist techniques, kicking techniques, Haki, martial arts, even marksmanship—Nangong Yan was interested in all of them.

With the Mangekyo Sharingan, Nangong Yan could quickly grasp any kind of technique. For example, if Nangong Yan wanted to become a swordsman, it would be far less difficult for him than for anyone else.

Thanks to the Mangekyo Sharingan's copying ability, Nangong Yan only needed to master the fundamentals of swordsmanship to learn any sword technique to a convincing degree.

In a short time, Nangong Yan's swordsmanship could reach a respectable level. Reaching the realm of cutting steel would not take much effort. Of course, comprehending the breath of all things and becoming a great swordsman was not so easy. Everyone who reached that realm was a supreme expert.

For example, Shiryu of the Rain, Dracule Mihawk, Flower Sword Vista, and Golden Lion from the original story had all reached the realm of comprehending the breath of all things. They could cut through everything with their swords, and there were few substances in the world they could not sever.

Having obtained a famous sword, Nangong Yan began to consider learning swordsmanship and becoming a swordsman, perhaps even a great swordsman.

Nangong Yan had always acted decisively whenever he wanted to do something. Since he had decided to become a swordsman, he would put it into action.

As for swordsmanship and the basic techniques of wielding a sword, Nangong Yan was practically clueless. But that was fine. Marine Headquarters did not lack skilled swordsmen. Though they might not be the very best swordsmen, they were more than qualified to teach Nangong Yan.

After spending some time investigating the Marine's skilled swordsmen, Nangong Yan began to act. He used the Kamui Sharingan's special ability to place himself within its alternate dimension, hiding in the shadows as he continuously copied the sword techniques of the Marine's experts.

Using the Mangekyo Sharingan consumed a tremendous amount of stamina. Although he did not use its ocular techniques, merely using its perceptive abilities still consumed quite a bit. If he continuously used its copying ability, Nangong Yan could probably last for about an hour. Any longer, and his stamina would be exhausted, placing himself in danger.

Over the course of half a year, Nangong Yan used the Kamui Sharingan to hide in trees, flower beds, gaps within buildings, and other concealed places, copying the sword techniques of every skilled Marine swordsman. Akainu was no exception. He even gained an unexpected harvest when he saw quite a few Marine rear admirals and vice admirals practicing the Marine Six Powers.

To use the Marine Six Powers, one's physique undoubtedly had to be exceptionally strong. This gave Nangong Yan, who had been secretly training his body, an effective method of physical conditioning.

It was not as if no one discovered Nangong Yan during those six months of secretly learning. Unfortunately, he concealed himself beneath a black cloak, and whenever he was discovered, he used Kamui to escape. No one could catch him at all.

Over those six months, aside from eating and sleeping, Nangong Yan spent his time secretly learning and training. Swordsmanship, physique, developing his Devil Fruit, the Sharingan, researching new moves—he threw himself wholeheartedly into cultivation.

The ages of fifteen and sixteen were the best time for training, and Nangong Yan progressed at an astonishing rate. His swordsmanship was already nearing the realm of cutting steel, and he had learned one of the Marine Six Powers: Soru, currently the most useful technique for Nangong Yan.

Nangong Yan's physique had also greatly improved. The muscles throughout his body were well-proportioned and balanced, filled with explosive strength. He had grown another seven or eight centimeters taller, becoming a handsome, masculine youth.

His development of the Devil Fruit had also deepened. Nangong Yan had not only created techniques combining swordsmanship, but could also transform both arms into Golden Crow wings, allowing him to fly into the sky without needing to transform into a Golden Crow.

In half a year, he had made tremendous progress. Nangong Yan estimated that in his normal state, he now possessed the strength of a Marine Headquarters commodore. If he went through real combat and survived, he would soon possess the strength of a Marine Headquarters rear admiral.

In just one short year, he had progressed enormously, going from an ordinary person to an expert with the strength of a Marine commodore.

On the Grand Line and in the New World, Nangong Yan's current strength might not amount to much. But among the Four Blues, he could be considered an expert.

Having learned nearly everything he could by observation and greatly improved his strength, Nangong Yan decided to leave.

Training alone could at most make one an expert. Only by enduring countless bloody and brutal battles could one become a super powerhouse who dominated the seas without restraint!

It was time to make a name for himself and announce his arrival to the world!

Nangong Yan found a secluded spot. His arms transformed into wings burning with pale golden flames, and his body rose into the air. He left Marineford and flew toward the Sabaody Archipelago.