Shimotsuki Village: Unexpected Progress / Shimotsuki Village: A Promise Before Setting Out

Suddenly curling his lips into a smile, Lin Mo drew Wado Ichimonji from its sheath. "Fine. Then let me fulfill your wish once before I leave."

Chapter 15: Shimotsuki Village—Unexpected Progress

For the past ten-odd days, Zoro had trained every day at the limits of the human body, frightening the children practicing swordsmanship around him.

Worried that he would damage his body, Koshiro had even sought him out for a talk, hoping he would reduce his training load.

But Zoro refused.

Koshiro then went to Kuina, hoping she would persuade Zoro.

He had not expected Kuina's attitude to be exactly the same as Zoro's.

Even Kuina's training load had increased several times over compared with before.

The reason these two children had begun training so frantically was the day after Lin Mo had instantly killed Bandit Higuma and his men more than ten days ago.

Koshiro was depressed, but there was nothing he could do to stop them.

Inside the valley.

Lin Mo accepted Zoro's challenge.

The two stood facing each other.

Both were ready to fight at any moment.

A sharp glint flashed through Zoro's eyes, and he charged at Lin Mo first.

As he approached Lin Mo, the swords gripped in both hands deftly carved out two intersecting arcs. The sword clenched between his teeth was also controlled with practiced ease, and all three swords came crashing toward Lin Mo.

Compared with the first time, when he had recklessly known only to use brute force against Lin Mo, his current level was worlds apart.

To improve so much in such a short time, talent and comprehension alone were not enough.

He also needed sufficient training to form muscle memory.

Just from Zoro's current sword technique and control over the three swords,

it was clear that he had worked extremely hard during this period.

But the current Zoro was still far too weak in Lin Mo's eyes.

Lin Mo narrowed his eyes slightly and spotted his opponent's opening at a glance. As Zoro approached, one strike sent him flying.

Wado Ichimonji slid back into its sheath.

Lin Mo looked at the person lying on his back in the distance.

Zoro gritted his teeth and stared blankly at the sky. After a while, he climbed to his feet, brushed the dust from his body, and grinned. "As expected, I'm still nowhere near being your opponent. Looks like I have to work even harder."

Lin Mo watched him.

A faint stir passed through his heart.

"Zoro." Lin Mo spoke up. "When you started that move just now, try raising your shoulder a little higher, concentrating a little more, and lowering your stance a little further."

Zoro froze for a moment.

Without thinking much, he immediately picked up the sword lying beside him and, following Lin Mo's instructions, assumed the stance from before.

"Like this?" Zoro asked indistinctly around the sword hilt.

Lin Mo nodded and continued, "Try slashing out that strike again."

"Okay."

Zoro answered and turned his gaze toward the nearest tree.

Lin Mo could already sense that the sword intent Zoro was releasing was slightly stronger than before.

Zoro immediately sprinted toward the large tree. With one strike, he left three sword marks nearly ten centimeters deep in its trunk.

"Huh?" Zoro stared at the marks he had carved, his eyes shining. "Before, I could only cut five centimeters deep. Lin Mo, you're amazing! A little guidance from you let me break through."

"You need to keep trying." Lin Mo continued, "This move can become even stronger. Keep working hard."

"Mm! I will!" Zoro nodded heavily.

Just after he finished speaking, a sharp crack rang out. The sword in his right hand suddenly split apart, and half the blade fell to the ground.

Zoro stared wide-eyed at the half-blade on the ground, his expression changing drastically. He cried out, "Aaaah, why did it break? I saved money for so long to buy it! This is terrible! I'm down one sword—how am I supposed to practice swordsmanship from now on...?"

During this period, he had been training with real swords.

Ordinary swords could not withstand the intensity of Zoro's training.

As a result, all three swords had suffered varying degrees of damage. The sword in his right hand had suffered the worst damage. Its breaking had only been a matter of time.

Lin Mo also stared at the half-blade lying on the ground.

He thought, It broke at exactly this moment, and only one sword broke. Isn't that a little too coincidental?

After a moment of silence,

he drew Wado Ichimonji, sheath and all, from his waist.

"Zoro." Lin Mo called out to him.

Zoro's eyes were brimming with tears, and he was still immersed in the grief of seeing his beloved sword shatter. Hearing Lin Mo call him, he turned to look over.

Lin Mo tossed Wado Ichimonji to him.

Zoro instinctively reached out and caught it. He looked at Wado Ichimonji, then at Lin Mo. "What are you...?"

"It's yours." Lin Mo spoke indifferently.

"Huh?" Zoro was stunned. "W-why? Didn't I lose to you?"

"This sword suits you very well."

Lin Mo said no more and turned toward Isshin Dojo.

He had barely taken a few steps

when

the system's notification chime rang out in his mind.

Ding! Gifting Wado Ichimonji to Zoro: Sign-in progress +20%.

Ding! Shimotsuki Village sign-in mission completed. Congratulations, Host, on unlocking the Six Powers. Swordsmanship level +1. Current Swordsmanship level: Lv6.

Upon hearing that,

Lin Mo abruptly stopped.

A powerful, heart-stirring might radiated from his body.

Just as before, the might quickly dissipated.

It seemed

there was no need to challenge Koshiro anymore...

Still, this final bit of progress had truly exceeded his expectations.

Lin Mo smiled and opened the status panel.

Name: Lin Mo.

Age: 10.

Sign-in location: Baratie (0%).

Haki: Armament Haki Lv2, Conqueror's Haki Lv3, Observation Haki Lv2.

Skills: Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique (Beginner), Swordsmanship Lv6.

Six Powers: Finger Pistol Lv1, Iron Body Lv1, Shave (Locked), Geppo (Locked), Tempest Kick (Locked), Kami-e (Locked).

Weapon: Cursed Blade Stardust (Toyako).

System Space: 10x10x10 cubic meters.

The Six Powers were six forms of Taijutsu in the world of Pirates that surpassed the limits of the human body.

If one mastered all six forms of Taijutsu, one would become extraordinarily powerful.

Unfortunately, he had only unlocked Finger Pistol and Iron Body for now.

Finger Pistol was a technique said to possess the power of a gunshot. It gathered the body's strength into the index finger, then released a strike with the hardened finger in the blink of an eye. The fingertip possessed bullet-like attacking power and could easily pierce human bodies and even steel.

Iron Body was a defensive technique among the Six Powers. It forced strength into a well-trained body, giving it the hardness of iron. Even ordinary bullets and blades could not break through it.

As for the Taijutsu that had yet to be unlocked, he would explain them after unlocking them.

He closed the status panel.

Lin Mo continued walking toward Isshin Dojo,

The mission was complete, so it was time to leave. After all, he had stayed at Isshin Dojo for so long that he should at least say goodbye to Koshiro.

Zoro hugged the Wado Ichimonji Lin Mo had given him and stared blankly at his back.

Just moments ago, a terrifying power that made his blood run cold had suddenly appeared,

frightening his legs into weakness and sending him tumbling to the ground.

Zoro watched Lin Mo trembling all over as he stopped in the distance for a short while before continuing forward.

He had more or less figured out who had released that terrifying power.

Although it had lasted only an instant, he did not think it had been an illusion.

"W-was that Lin Mo?" Zoro nervously swallowed. "That was terrifying. What was that just now?"

Isshin Dojo.

Koshiro was at the dojo watching the students practice their basics.

Sensing Lin Mo's presence,

Koshiro looked toward Lin Mo, who had just arrived at the dojo entrance, and smiled. "You're back earlier than usual today."

"Mm." Lin Mo got straight to the point. "I'm leaving."

Koshiro paused briefly. A fleeting trace of surprise flashed through his eyes before he accepted it. "I suppose so. You said you wanted to become a traveler. Are you planning to leave right now?"

Lin Mo nodded. "Mm."

Kuina, who had been leading the basic exercises, immediately hurried to the dojo entrance when she heard that. Her face was filled with disbelief, and anger churned in her heart. "You're leaving? Why? Zoro and I haven't defeated you yet! I don't want you to leave!"

Chapter 16: Shimotsuki Village—A Promise Before Departure

Kuina was unwilling to accept it.

She did not want Lin Mo to leave.

How despicable. She had not defeated him yet. How could he just leave whenever he wanted?

"Lin Mo." Kuina bit her lower lip tightly, doing her best to suppress the emotions that were about to break loose. She continued, "Do you really have to leave? If you really go, I won't forgive you! Can't you really stay?"

"No." Lin Mo shook his head. "I'm a traveler. I won't stay in one place for too long."

"But I haven't defeated you yet..." Kuina said aggrievedly. "Does Zoro know you're leaving?"

Before fighting Zoro, Lin Mo had already told him.

Given the circumstances at the time, that guy probably had not noticed.

Even if he had not noticed, Lin Mo had still told him. Lin Mo nodded. "I told him."

"That idiot!" Kuina clenched both fists. "He didn't even try to make you stay. What on earth is that idiot Zoro doing?"

"Kuina, enough." Koshiro said helplessly, "Parting is always painful. Besides, separating now doesn't mean you won't see each other again in the future. Once you and Zoro grow up and become outstanding Swordsmen, I won't stop you from going out to sea."

Lin Mo had not expected his departure to cause such a strong emotional reaction from Kuina.

She really is still just a child.

"Then at least—at least let us have one more duel before you leave!" Kuina took a deep breath. Just as she had during her first challenge to Lin Mo, she pointed the bamboo sword in her hand at him. "I challenge you!"

The words were the same, but her state of mind was different.