Seven Star Sword

A legend had always circulated on Asuka Island in the first half of the Grand Line.

It was said that in ancient times, whenever the once-in-a-century red full moon appeared, all of Asuka Island would be plunged into endless disaster. The people regarded the red moon as an evil omen and feared it deeply, so they prayed to the gods, hoping to receive protection when such misfortune descended. Their devotion eventually moved the gods. Though the gods did not descend in person, they bestowed two treasures upon the island's king—the Three Sacred Jewels as a shield, and the invincible Seven Star Sword as a spear.

Yet in the end, the Seven Star Sword, an invincible blade, did not follow the destiny laid out for it. Instead, it veered onto a path entirely opposite to its intended one.

On a night when a red full moon descended, the three princes of Asuka Island's royal family encountered a beautiful witch and all fell in love with her.

To win the witch's love, the three princes turned against one another and fought without end. In the end, they even drew the Seven Star Sword, the symbol of their royal status, and slaughtered each other, dragging the entirety of Asuka Island into the conflict.

Thus, an ugly war between brothers stained both land and sea with the blood of its victims, leaving behind endless pain and resentment.

Under the influence of the red full moon, the Seven Star Sword absorbed that blood and resentment, transforming from a sword of protection into a cursed blade. With slaughter and hatred, it destroyed the Asuka Kingdom.

For a long time afterward, the Seven Star Sword, now a cursed blade, sparked one bloody war after another. The battlefields gradually spread from Asuka Island to the entire sea, plunging the once-beautiful ocean into endless darkness.

At last, the beautiful witch who had started it all could no longer bear to watch. She decided to sacrifice her life and, with the power of the other divine treasure—the Three Sacred Jewels—seal the Seven Star Sword. She used her own body to bear all that hatred and bring an end to the darkness sweeping across the world.

But even the witch's sacrifice, combined with the power of the Three Sacred Jewels, could not completely seal the Seven Star Sword. Whenever the once-in-a-century red full moon descended again, the sealed sword's power would be strengthened, allowing it to break free of the seal and reveal its cursed power once more.

So whenever that time came, a new witch had to step forward, sacrifice herself again, and use the power of the jewels to suppress the Seven Star Sword's cursed power.

"So your goal this time is this legendary Seven Star Sword?"

"Something from a legend actually exists?"

The four of them walked through the streets of Asuka Island. As Oak slowly recounted the legend, Rocks and Newgate immediately understood why he had come here.

But they found it hard to believe that such a terrifying weapon from legend truly existed. Wouldn't whoever obtained it become invincible?

"Of course!"

Oak confirmed the sword's existence.

"But a legend is just a legend. The Seven Star Sword may possess some special power, but it isn't nearly as powerful as the stories make it out to be!"

Otherwise, it would not have been cut in two by Zoro with a single slash shortly after he entered the Grand Line, and that had been during the red full moon, when it was at its strongest.

As he explained, Oak silently added that thought in his heart.

Many legends in this world were real, but their details had become severely distorted. Generally, one could only believe half of them, if not less.

"Then what special power does this Seven Star Sword actually have?"

Kaido asked curiously from the side. At the same time, his large eyes darted around as he glanced at his spiked club, clearly plotting something.

But Oak saw at a glance that he was up to no good.

"What's it to you? Why are you asking so much? You'll find out once I get it.

"Let me warn you first: if you dare get any bad ideas, I'll break all three of your legs!"

Rolling his eyes, Oak issued the threat viciously.

"Stop slandering an innocent man!"

Kaido shouted indignantly, wearing the expression of someone who had been wronged. But Oak could not even be bothered to respond.

He knew this seemingly honest-looking fellow's character far too well. The louder Kaido spoke, the guiltier he was. He was definitely up to no good.

So Oak quickened his pace toward the summit of the tallest mountain on the island, wanting to seize the Seven Star Sword as soon as possible before anything unexpected happened.

Before long, Oak reached the mountaintop. He directly brushed aside the obstruction of the current guardian witch and forcibly opened the stone coffin atop the altar, revealing an ordinary double-edged longsword about a person's height.

Its blade was straight, adorned with intricate and exquisite green patterns, while its hilt was large enough for both hands. This sword suited Oak's taste perfectly.

In this world, there was little distinction between swords and blades. Most swords were either katana-like weapons such as Zoro's, Western-style swords like those used by Rocks, Rayleigh, and Roger, or ordinary choppers. Very few resembled what he remembered a true sword should look like. This one was the sole exception.

"It really is a cursed blade. What heavy cursed aura!"

Both Rocks and Newgate present were considered swordsmen.

Yes, even someone like Newgate, who wielded Murakumogiri, a long-handled naginata resembling a guandao, could somehow be classified as a swordsman in this world. Oak often found that absurd. Moreover, Murakumogiri could even be ranked among the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades.

But Newgate really was a swordsman. It was only because he possessed Devil Fruit abilities that he was not a pure swordsman like Zoro or Hawk-Eye.

Thus, both he and Rocks could immediately sense the intense cursed aura contained within the legendary Seven Star Sword before them.

"It really seems capable of affecting a person's soul!"

Even from the distance of a stone coffin, Rocks could sense the Seven Star Sword's influence over him. But everyone present possessed formidable willpower, so the effect was negligible and far from enough to control their minds. Still, it was enough to prove the cursed sword's extraordinary nature.

Oak reached out and grabbed the Seven Star Sword. Instantly, an intense desire to kill swept through his mind, as though a voice were urging him to slaughter every living creature around him.

"Behave yourself!"

But how could Oak possibly be controlled? He immediately released his Conqueror's Haki from within his body and pressed it toward the Seven Star Sword, instantly suppressing the urge until it vanished without a trace.

Swish—

With a flick of his wrist, he swung the sword at a distant mountain peak. A dark-green sword aura immediately shot from the blade and sliced the peak cleanly in two.

The severed surface was smooth and even, clearly displaying the sword aura's sharpness.

"Since when did you learn swordsmanship?"

Kaido was astonished by the sight. He clearly remembered that Oak had not known swordsmanship when they had first landed on Hachinosu. How long had it been? Yet Oak could already unleash a slash with such power?

"You bastard, you've been secretly training behind my back!"

A moment later, Kaido stomped about as though he had been betrayed, convinced that Oak had secretly trained while he was not paying attention.

They had agreed to undergo Newgate's Conqueror's Haki Infusion training together, yet this bastard had secretly practiced other combat techniques by himself. Kaido felt utterly betrayed.