Paramecia-Whirlwind Fruit User

"Clang..."

Under the immense force, Lina nearly lost her grip on her blade and staggered back several steps.

The Zoan—Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: White Tiger—had granted her considerable strength. But it had not directly made her invincible... Zoan fruits were based on the user's original body to begin with.

The stronger the original body, the greater the improvements in every aspect after consuming a Devil Fruit.

Lina herself had been too weak, so although she had been enhanced, the increase was limited. She could be considered a strong fighter in the East Blue, but elsewhere, she was still merely an ant.

The next second, fur sprouted across Lina's body as she transformed into her human-beast form...

"What is that?"

Kasli's eyes widened.

There were simply too few Devil Fruit users in the East Blue. Aside from Smoker in Loguetown, the only one he knew of was Buggy the Clown.

But neither of them had turned into animals!

Living in the East Blue, he was like a frog at the bottom of a well. He knew Devil Fruits existed, but understood almost nothing about them!

He was not the only one shocked. Even Blood Butcher and Zoro, who were fighting nearby, were stunned. Yet neither of them stopped moving.

Blood Butcher continuously swung his massive axe, unleashing wave after wave of attacks. Every strike was powerful and precise.

One careless mistake, and the giant axe would chop Zoro in two.

Zoro, meanwhile, kept dodging while constantly trying to break through and get close to Blood Butcher. Only once he got within reach would he have a chance to deliver a fatal blow.

Zoro understood that. How could Blood Butcher not?

So he gave Zoro no opportunity at all.

"Whoosh..."

At that moment, another attack caught up to him. The edge of the giant axe grazed Zoro's arm.

Blood sprayed out.

By then, Zoro could no longer suppress the curve of his lips. A cold gleam flashed through his eyes as he kicked off with both legs and leaped into the air.

He rose into the sky.

"One-Sword Style: Flying Dragon Flame!"

Blood Butcher had constantly guarded against Zoro getting close, sealing off every possible angle. Yet he had forgotten one direction.

Above him.

Zoro had finally found his chance.

Suspended in midair, Zoro placed Wado Ichimonji behind him. At the same time, a surge of power rose from his body, forming a white dragon that wrapped around him.

Then he dove straight down, targeting Blood Butcher on the ground.

"Not good..."

A trace of fear appeared in Blood Butcher's eyes. It was too late to pull back his giant axe, leaving him no other choice. He yanked the chain controlling the axe and raised it above his head, trying to block the attack.

"Clang..."

The blade slashed viciously against it. Zoro was already powerful, and with the added force of his descent, even Blood Butcher, with his monstrous strength, had to stagger back several steps before steadying himself.

"Two-Sword Style: Bull Needle!"

However, Zoro landed first, stabilized himself, and pressed his advantage.

He charged forward like a bull, moving at astonishing speed.

As he brushed past Blood Butcher, he unleashed more than eight thrusts in an instant.

He completed the instant kill, and Blood Butcher crashed to the ground.

At the same time, Lina launched her counterattack. Gripping her blade with both hands, she said, "One-Sword Style—Serpent Flash!"

Lina entered a high-speed movement state, weaving about with serpentine footwork as she moved. No one could tell where she would appear next.

A flicker of panic appeared on Kasli's face, but at the last moment, he still caught her movement. The instant Lina's blade swung toward him, he threw a punch.

"Whoosh..."

Half of his fist was sliced clean off.

"Argh!"

Kasli let out a miserable scream, his eyes filled with disbelief. The gauntlet on his hand had been forged from refined iron. Even swords had difficulty damaging it...

Yet now, it had been cut apart as easily as tofu.

Zoro, who had already finished his battle, happened to witness that scene. His pupils trembled. "The Iron-Cutting Realm?"

Even he had not reached that realm yet!

He had never expected this female swordswoman to have already attained it. The revelation deeply shocked him.

Yet Lina did not stop.

After landing the blow, she spun her body 360 degrees at high speed, and blade light flashed.

One strike sealed his throat!

Kasli clutched his neck and fell.

"Hm?"

At that moment, Matthew, who had been struck down by his attack and lay motionless on the ground, had vanished at some point.

His expression immediately hardened.

Then he heard gusts of wind. But the day was bright and calm, with not a cloud in sight. Where could that wind be coming from?

He looked up.

Well, damn. Matthew, who had been playing dead moments ago, was now standing atop two whirlwinds and flying through the air.

For a moment, Ener's eyes went blank.

Seriously!

He had never expected there to be someone like this in the East Blue.

"What the hell!"

Once he came back to his senses, Ener was genuinely shocked. But judging by the look of it, Matthew had probably only eaten the fruit recently!

He had not even developed any powerful moves yet.

Otherwise, with that ability, he could have slaughtered his way through the East Blue with ease!

"Interesting..."

Ener narrowed his eyes.

He had been searching for a pirate powerful enough to hold the field, someone who could serve as his front man. Although this guy was nothing special at the moment...

He had plenty of potential!

Unfortunately, no one present had the ability to fly, so they could only watch helplessly as he escaped.

"Sigh!"

Ener could not help sighing. If only he knew the Six Powers. He could have used Geppo to chase after him... It seemed he needed to find a way.

With his cheap old man's status, obtaining the training method for the Six Powers should not be difficult.

After watching him leave, the four of them dealt with the remaining four men.

Only then did Ener walk over to Zoro. "Interested in joining me?"

Just as Zoro was about to answer, Ener interrupted him. "Don't rush to answer. First, listen to the benefits of joining me."

As he spoke, he glanced at Zoro's waist. "First, I can equip you with Famed Blades. Second, if you follow me, I'll give you opportunities to seek guidance from Master Swordsmen and Great Swordsmen. Third, I'll take you to a broader world, where you can challenge true powerhouses. You may even face the World's Greatest Swordsman, Mihawk, himself."

With every point Ener made, Zoro's eyes shone brighter.

Honestly, those three points were simply too tempting for him.

Then Ener walked over to Zoro and held Ice Demon and Flame Dragon out before him.

Zoro's eyes immediately lit up.

He had already noticed during the fight that the two blades in Ener's hands were no ordinary weapons.

Ener chuckled softly when he saw that. "These two may not be Famed Blades, but they are Skillful Blade-grade weapons. As long as you follow me, I'll find you other blades as well, perhaps even Famed Blades."

As he said that, Ener could barely suppress the grin tugging at his lips.

Damn it!

I actually forgot about Yubashiri and Sandai Kitetsu.

Those are both among the Fifty Skillful Blades—true Famed Blades. Once I get back, I'll grab them immediately. Wouldn't that give me new sword souls?

And wouldn't the system rewards come right after that?