Chapter 6

The battle had finally come to an end. It wasn't a grand clash of world-shattering techniques like Luffy's Gear Fifth or Zoro's Asura, but to the onlookers, it was an eye-opening experience—true swordsmanship, honed through relentless training, laid bare in front of them.

For those who had only seen the world through the narrow confines of their limited strength, today was a revelation. Like a frog at the bottom of a well catching its first glimpse of the vast sky, they now understood how far the road of swordsmanship stretched.

However, victory came with its own consequences. From that day forward, Dongze found himself relentlessly pursued by Kuina and Zoro, who now saw him as their ultimate rival. Their battles became an unbreakable cycle—twice a day, without fail.

At first, Kuina had dismissed her father Koshiro's words, but now, as she clashed swords with Dongze, she finally understood what Zoro had felt back then. The sheer frustration, the helplessness—she had never imagined herself on this side of the fight.

Because of these daily sparring sessions, Dongze's meticulous training of the thirteen basic sword techniques was momentarily slowed. But fate had other plans. A blessing in disguise. Instead of a setback, this relentless combat forced him into a breakthrough—every fundamental sword technique in the thirteen styles had been mastered.

When the proficiency of his basic swordsmanship reached 1000/1000, a change occurred. The text on his status panel shifted:

Basic Swordsmanship → Swordsmanship EXP

A new path had opened.

The Awakening of Swordsmanship

Dongze paced around, contemplating the meaning of this transformation. The golden light flickering in his vision hinted at something profound—an evolution of his very being as a swordsman.

Suddenly, an idea struck him.

Gripping his bamboo sword with his right hand, he extended the index and middle fingers of his left, pressing lightly against the blade. A rush of energy surged through him.

And then—

Wind howled.

Ink-like rain descended.

A black dragon materialized.

The bamboo sword glowed brilliantly as if infused with Haki, and Dongze's movement flowed seamlessly with his weapon.

…Or so it should have.

Reality came crashing down as the bamboo sword snapped in mid-air, shattering into splinters before his eyes.

Dongze scratched his head awkwardly. That didn't go as planned.

But just as his excitement began to fade, a notification appeared before him:

Swordsmanship – Hundred Step Flying Sword Proficiency 1/10000

His eyes widened.

So it's real!

Dongze licked his lips, his gaze burning with intensity.

But progress was not as simple as he imagined. Just like Zoro's Santoryu required relentless mastery to wield three swords simultaneously, certain techniques were beyond his current level. The Horizontal and Vertical Swordplay, a technique that slashed in all directions, demanded not just skill but overwhelming power. For now, it was too advanced—his sword aura was unrefined, and a single mistake could throw the entire form into chaos.

After many failed attempts, he managed to extract only three usable techniques:

1. Hundred Step Flying Sword – A ranged sword strike capable of severing targets from a distance.

2. Iai (Drawing the Sword) – A lightning-fast unsheathing technique, reminiscent of Tashigi's precision and Zoro's Shishi Sonson.

3. Tai Chi Sword – A flowing, adaptive form, balancing offense and defense like the Rokushiki of the Marines.

The Encounter with Zoro and Kuina

As he trained, Dongze suddenly caught sight of Zoro and Kuina watching from the sidelines, their eyes practically popping out of their heads.

"Hey! What are you two doing here?" he called out.

A notification appeared:

Iron Head Technique Proficiency: 950/1000

Zoro and Kuina, still in shock, exchanged glances.

"Oi, am I seeing things? No way I'm losing to an idiot like him!" Zoro muttered.

Annoyed, Kuina took advantage of her height and bonked Zoro on the head.

"Shut up, moss-head!"

"The hell did you just call me?!"

Like a short-fused cannon, Zoro exploded. He never backed down from a challenge—especially not when Kuina taunted him.

Dongze sighed, watching the two bicker. These two are impossible.

"Oi, I asked what you're doing here!"

At that moment, Kuina and Zoro turned to him at the same time, shouting in unison:

"Shut up!"

Dongze's patience snapped.

"are you both mentally challenged?!"

Zoro and Kuina: "Who the hell are you calling an idiot?!"

The Brutal Training Philosophy

"Hey, Dongze, what are you even doing?" Kuina asked, watching him slam his head into a training post.

"Yeah, are you crazy?!" Zoro added.

Dongze ignored their reactions. Am I the one who's crazy, or are you two just weak?

Stretching his limbs, he smirked.

"It's simple," he said. "To truly master combat, you must first learn how to take a hit."

Zoro and Kuina raised an eyebrow.

"If you can't survive a hundred battles, then what's the point of knowing how to kill in one strike? A real warrior's strength isn't just about offense—it's about endurance. The ability to take punishment and keep standing."

Zoro and Kuina fell silent.

It made sense.

But Kuina frowned. "That's a bit excessive, don't you think?"

"Yeah," Zoro muttered. "This sounds more like self-harm."

Dongze felt a tinge of embarrassment. In truth, he was using this method to push his limits, but explaining it like this felt… ridiculous.

Still, he kept his composure.

"If you don't have the courage to endure pain, then your so-called 'dreams' mean nothing."

Their faces turned red with frustration.

Dongze's strength had already reached monstrous levels. Every move he made carried the weight of a beast. In their last duel, Kuina had been defeated in just two strikes—despite being as strong as an adult swordsman. Even Zoro struggled to withstand a single direct hit.

They were strong, but Dongze was on another level.

"Fine," Kuina finally said, crossing her arms. "Father told us to bring you to the dojo."

Dongze blinked.

"Koshiro wants to see me?"

Kuina nodded. "No idea why, but he seemed serious."

A thought crossed Dongze's mind.

Is it because he noticed my breakthrough?

Meeting with Koshiro

As he entered the dojo, he found Koshiro waiting for him.

"Dongze! Took you long enough!"

"Master." Dongze bowed slightly.

Koshiro sighed. "I'm ashamed to say this, but I haven't truly taught you anything yet."

Dongze chuckled. "If not for you taking me in, I wouldn't be where I am today."

His words were genuine. When he had first arrived in Shimotsuki Village, he had been powerless—almost cut down by bandits. Koshiro had saved him and given him a place to train.

"You're strong now," Koshiro said. "Strong enough to seek revenge."

Dongze's expression darkened.

"You mean…?"

"Swords exist to take lives. Training alone is not enough to progress. You need real combat."

A long silence followed.

Then, Dongze's eyes sharpened.

"So that's it… No wonder…"

Now it made sense. His sword techniques had stagnated because he lacked battle experience.

With newfound resolve, he borrowed a sword from Koshiro and stepped outside.

Facing the setting sun, he murmured:

"Bandits."