Moke Heard This
Upon hearing what the other person said, Moke's face showed a hint of disapproval, and he gently shook his head. While joining the Navy wasn't entirely without appeal, the restrictions and constraints it entailed were simply unacceptable to him. After all, life in the Navy meant losing too much precious freedom.
Take Smoker, for example. Even though he is quite powerful and renowned, if the Marine Headquarters gives the order to station him in this small Loguetown, he can only obediently stay where he is and cannot disobey in the slightest. This kind of life, where he has to take orders from others and cannot decide his own course of action, is definitely not what Moke longs for.
Moreover, and most importantly, Moke harbored a proud heart; he absolutely refused to be subservient to anyone, to become someone's vassal or lackey. Especially those arrogant, domineering Celestial Dragons —they were objects of his deepest abhorrence. Thinking of this, Moke's gaze hardened, and without hesitation, he shook his head again, saying, "Thank you for your high regard and appreciation, but my heart belongs elsewhere; my ambitions lie elsewhere."
As soon as he finished speaking, Smoker's expression changed slightly, his smile vanishing. He stared intently into Moke's eyes, his gaze sharpening as if trying to see through to the depths of Moke's heart. In this vast and boundless world brimming with countless possibilities, people often have only two choices—either join the righteous Navy to defend peace and order, or embark on the adventurous and challenging path of the pirates, pursuing wealth and dreams. All other paths seem exceptionally narrow and difficult.
Therefore, faced with Moke's decisive refusal, Smoker couldn't help but wonder: Had this kid already made up his mind to set sail and become a fearsome pirate? If so, with his extraordinary talent and potential, he would surely grow into a powerful figure in time, posing a huge threat to the entire world. This was naturally the last thing Smoker wanted to see.
However, at this moment, Moke had not yet joined the ranks of pirates, nor had he ever broken the law or harmed anyone. His unwavering principles made it difficult for him to completely eliminate this potential threat under these circumstances. Watching Moke's departing figure, Smoker couldn't help but sigh deeply, thinking to himself, "Hopefully, this kid will remember his bond with Tashigi and not go astray!"
Just as Smoker was filled with worry, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly shattered the surrounding tranquility. A navy soldier rushed towards him like a whirlwind. "Hmm?" Smoker was slightly taken aback, his brows furrowing instantly. A sense of foreboding washed over him, and he quickly demanded, "What's going on? Why the rush?" The navy soldier, panting heavily, replied haltingly, "Found... the... Straw... Hat... the... Group..."
Upon hearing the words "Straw Hat Crew," Smoker's face initially showed a hint of surprise, but in an instant, his gaze sharpened, as if two swords were about to pierce through the void before him. In his eyes, an existence like the Straw Hat Pirates was absolutely not to be allowed to set foot outside the East Blue. Otherwise, if they were allowed to grow stronger, they would inevitably become a huge scourge that would cause the entire Navy considerable trouble. Thinking of this, Smoker unconsciously tightened his grip on his weapon, exuding a chilling aura, preparing for the fierce battle that was about to begin.
Just a month ago, Luffy, the boy with the straw Straw Hat and a bright smile, defeated the infamous Fish-Man Arlong with his amazing strength. After this battle, Luffy became famous and was not only put on a bounty of 30 million Beli by the World Government, but also became the highest-bounty pirate in the entire East Blue.
It should be noted that this is Luffy's first time receiving a bounty... Such a dazzling achievement and a high bounty naturally made him a key target of the Marines in Loguetown.
"Whoosh..." A soft sound rang out, instantly drawing everyone's attention. It turned out that Tashigi and Moke were both looking over at the same time. Tashigi looked over for a simple reason: she had already heard that there was an exceptional swordsman among the Straw Hat Crew. Moke, on the other hand, was completely different. His face was full of excitement, and he muttered to himself, "Haha, they're finally here... Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, Nami, Usopp... I bet today will be a day full of surprises and a lot of fun!" Thinking of this, Moke couldn't help but tremble with excitement, and he couldn't wait to rush forward and find out what was going on.
At this moment, Smoker, who was standing to the side, also noticed the situation. He decisively turned around and shouted to Tashigi, "Tashigi, let's move out quickly!" Upon hearing the order, Tashigi didn't dare to delay in the slightest and hurriedly replied, "Yes, Captain Smoker!" Before she finished speaking, she quickly followed Smoker ahead. However, when Tashigi passed by Moke, her originally firm gaze involuntarily lingered on him, becoming unusually complicated for a moment, as if containing a thousand words. But in the end, she didn't say anything, only giving him a deep look before hurriedly leaving.
However, Moke seemed to be in his own world, oblivious to the strange looks he received from those around him. His eyes were fixed on the slender figure as if drawn by a magnet. Time seemed to freeze at that moment, and he stood there Fudō, like a silent statue, watching her gradually disappear from his sight.
When the figure finally disappeared completely, Moke snapped out of his daze. He first lowered his head slightly, pondered for a moment, and then slowly raised his right arm, raising his right palm high and pointing it directly at the blazing, dazzling sun in the sky.
The instant his palms made intimate contact with the scorching sunlight, an indescribable, wondrous warmth surged up his arm like a raging tide, instantly engulfing his entire body. This warmth did not come from external temperature, but rather from the Awakening and stirring of some mysterious power deep within him.
At the same time, an astonishing miracle occurred! A slight ripple suddenly appeared in the previously calm air, and then, as if summoned by a silent call, a large number of light elements shimmering with multicolored light rapidly converged on Moke's direction. These light elements, like a group of joyful sprites, leaped and danced in the air, eagerly throwing themselves into Moke's outstretched right hand.
As more and more light elements poured in, Moke began to undergo astonishing changes. His originally solid body gradually became transparent, like a flawless crystal being slowly melted by invisible flames. At first, this change was relatively slow, but soon the speed suddenly accelerated. In the blink of an eye, Moke's body had completely lost its physical form, transforming into a dazzling, radiant light. This light was so brilliant and dazzling that it was almost unbelievable that it was transformed from a human. It turned out that he had successfully activated his own light-based abilities, and due to his previous absorption of the Sandai Kitetsu, this ability had become permanent. Moreover, even after activating the Absorb-Absorb Fruit's ability, he could still continue to absorb other substances to further strengthen and change his physical form.
However, it should be noted that if Moke does not use this special ability, he will revert to his original peculiar state known as "Kitetsu Swordman".
In the blink of an eye, a crisp sound rang out, "Whoosh..." Moke transformed into a dazzling beam of light, hurtling straight toward the center of Loguetown at an astonishing speed.
Since Moke made no attempt to conceal his presence, both Smoker, who was on patrol, and Tashigi, who was on a mission in the street, noticed the sudden beam of light immediately. Their pupils contracted sharply in unison, their faces showing astonishment, and their hearts filled with doubt and confusion.
Smoker, in particular, as a seasoned Logia user, possessed an exceptionally keen perception of various elemental powers. Therefore, when he saw this mysterious beam of light, he immediately realized that the energy it contained was extremely powerful, and that its manifestation was quite similar to the Logia abilities he possessed.
Moke moved with lightning speed, arriving in town in no time. He walked confidently toward the familiar weapon shop, wondering if he could find anything this time. After all, he knew Roronoa Zoro had a particular fondness for this weapon shop, and he figured the other man would surely visit again.
As expected, when Moke stepped into the weapon shop again, he immediately spotted Roronoa Zoro's tall and distinctive figure standing there. Unfortunately, Roronoa Zoro had already snapped up the two Meito Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri, and there were no other noteworthy blades to choose from in the shop. Helpless, Moke could only purchase two ordinary knives priced at a mere 50,000 Beli.
Actually, the reason Moke made this choice was not only because the shop genuinely lacked high-quality swords, but more importantly, because he was short of money. If he weren't limited by funds, why would he be willing to buy what was arguably the worst knife in the shop? Just then, the weapon shop owner, with sharp eyes, spotted Moke's arrival. His eyes lit up, and he greeted him with a beaming smile, "Oh my, esteemed guest, what brings you to our humble shop this time?" The owner's fawning manner made it seem as if he regarded Moke as a moving gold mine.
Faced with the overly enthusiastic boss, Moke simply smiled, then shook his head and said, "Hehe, boss, to be honest, I didn't come here to buy new knives..." As he spoke, he casually pointed in the direction of Roronoa Zoro, then added, "I came specifically for this person."
"Huh?" Roronoa Zoro's face showed a hint of surprise, his eyes fixed on Moke in front of him, as if trying to see through him. He frowned, trying hard to recall if he had met this person before, but no matter how hard he racked his brains, no relevant memory surfaced in his mind. However, at this moment, his gaze inadvertently swept over the sword Moke wore at his waist— the Sandai Kitetsu.
His pupils constricted sharply. Although he didn't know the name of the knife, as an experienced swordsman with a keen sense for blades, he could tell at a glance that it was no ordinary weapon. Its unique aura and the faint glint of cold light made him realize its extraordinary nature. At the same time, he also detected a familiar aura emanating from Moke —a unique quality possessed only by true swordsmen. This discovery caused a smile to involuntarily creep onto his face, and he had a rough idea of the other man's purpose in coming.
Almost instinctively, Roronoa Zoro's right hand slowly moved towards the Wado Ichimonji his waist, his fingers lightly caressing the hilt, his eyes gleaming with eager anticipation. He straightened his posture, staring intently at Moke, and said in a low, firm voice, "If you want to fight, then fight..."
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper's smile froze instantly, his eyes widening slightly in surprise, clearly taken aback by the unexpected words. However, he quickly recovered, slowly shifting his gaze from Roronoa Zoro to Moke, scanning back and forth between the two, seemingly trying to glean some clue from their expressions or eyes.
After a while, the shopkeeper's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had suddenly Satori something. Then, with a broad smile, he said enthusiastically, "Oh dear, I see! There just happens to be a small, specially built Sword Testing Grounds behind my little shop. If you two gentlemen are interested in exchanging skills and having a contest here, why don't you move over there? It's spacious and won't disturb other customers." After saying this, the shopkeeper paused slightly, but his meaning was crystal clear—he was very much looking forward to this exciting competition.
At that moment, Moke and Roronoa Zoro exchanged a glance. Their eyes met for a split second, as if an invisible force was transmitting information between them. In that brief look, they understood each other perfectly, nodding vigorously in agreement with their boss's suggestion. Then, almost simultaneously, they both shouted in unison, "Yes!" Their voices were loud and firm, filled with confidence and excitement.
At that moment, the surrounding air seemed to become heavy because of their extraordinary understanding. Although they had only known each other for a short time, they were like old friends who had known each other for many years, easily understanding each other's thoughts without much verbal communication. This wonderful understanding made everyone present turn their heads and sigh in admiration.
The two followed closely behind the shopkeeper and walked together through the slightly old door behind the counter. Inside, there was a narrow passageway with wooden crates filled with miscellaneous items piled on both sides. After passing through this passageway, a small storeroom came into view, filled with all sorts of weapons and tools.
Next, they carefully passed through the dimly lit and cluttered storeroom. After some trial and error, a spacious and breathtaking Sword Testing Grounds suddenly appeared before them.
This Sword Testing Grounds covers an area of fifty square meters, giving it a vast and boundless feel. The ground is paved with tightly packed, hard, iron-like bluestone. These stones, polished by time and countless clashes of swords, have become smooth and even, yet still exude a cold and austere aura. The surrounding walls are tightly wrapped with a thick layer of wooden planks, as if wearing a sturdy Armored Titan. This is undoubtedly to prevent sharp fragments from flying everywhere during the fierce clashes of swords and thus injuring innocent people.
Moke and Roronoa Zoro curiously looked around, their eyes scanning every corner. Finally, their gazes met again. From their bright and passionate eyes, they could clearly read each other's satisfaction with the arena. Undoubtedly, such a vast space was more than enough for the thrilling contest that was about to unfold.
Without hesitation, the two strode towards the center of the Sword Testing Grounds. Their steps were steady and powerful, each step carrying unwavering determination and high morale. Soon, they arrived at the core area of Sword Testing Grounds and stood facing each other, about four or five meters apart.
After taking their positions, the two men drew their swords almost simultaneously. Their bodies leaned slightly forward, like cheetahs poised to pounce; their hands gripped the hilts tightly, their knuckles turning slightly white from the exertion; at the same time, an invisible yet powerful aura, strong enough to awe the soul, instantly emanated from them, sweeping outwards like a surging wave.
At this moment, Roronoa Zoro's gaze fell once again on the Sandai Kitetsu hanging at his waist. He knew the extraordinary power of this Cursed Sword, but he also understood that the other two swords he held were just ordinary items and probably could not withstand the enormous pressure brought about by a fierce battle.
After a brief moment of thought, Roronoa Zoro made his decision. "Then I'll use One Sword Style!" As he uttered these words, his posture, which had been preparing to draw all three swords, suddenly changed. He swiftly released his left hand, firmly gripping the hilt of Wado Ichimonji only his right. The famous Meito seemed to sense its master's determination, trembling slightly and emitting a clear, ringing sound.
In the next second, the two moved almost simultaneously, swiftly drawing their swords and charging towards each other without hesitation. Like two Inazuma, they instantly closed the distance between them.
Immediately afterwards, the two men swung their arms sharply, their swords flashing through the air in an extremely sharp arc, like Inazuma. The arc, like a shooting star streaking across the night sky, carried an unparalleled power, slashing fiercely at each other with overwhelming force.
In that instant, Wado Ichimonji and Sandai Kitetsu collided head-on without any restraint. A crisp "clang" resounded through the sky, as clear and loud as a great bell. The sound of the impact was deafening, as if the entire space was trembling violently because of this powerful force.
Under such astonishing impact, their bodies were like leaves swept up by Gale, involuntarily flying backward. Their feet slid rapidly across the ground, kicking up clouds of dust, and they Rewind-Rewind several steps before barely managing to regain their footing.
Surprisingly, this breathtaking exchange ended in a draw! At that moment, a bright light flashed in the eyes of Moke and Roronoa Zoro almost simultaneously. For Moke, this intense clash had undoubtedly brought him immense shock. Through this direct confrontation, he finally gained a very clear and accurate understanding of his true strength in swordsmanship.
At the same time, deep within Moke's heart, an overwhelming joy, too strong to be described in words, welled up within him. He realized that after so much persistent and arduous training, he had made significant progress in the field of swordsmanship, and could now stand shoulder to shoulder with the world-renowned swordsmanship genius before him, sharing the same skill! The satisfaction and pride this achievement brought him were simply beyond words.
Moreover, with his Devil Fruit powers providing powerful support, Moke, after three months of relentless and arduous training, is now able to match the formidable Roronoa Zoro in even the purest form of strength! In that instant, something deep within Moke's heart seemed to break free from its constraints, achieving complete release and transcending to a whole new level.
His initial naivety and hesitation vanished in an instant, replaced by an unprecedented firmness, decisiveness, and sharpness. At this moment, he was like a peerless sword just drawn from its sheath, radiating a chilling and terrifying sharpness that made people dare not look directly at him.
Roronoa Zoro clearly sensed the dramatic change in Moke, but he showed no sign of backing down. On the contrary, his fighting spirit intensified. After all, the man standing before him was the most formidable swordsman he had encountered since venturing into the East Blue! Of course, this excludes the mysterious figure with eyes as sharp as a hawk's.