Chapter 12: Rivalries and Resolve

"Kuina, let's duel!" Zoro once again challenged Kuina to a fight.

"Let's go," Kuina agreed without hesitation.

"This is the fifth duel today… What a spirited kid," Ethan muttered, feeling a bit exasperated. Over the past ten days, he had seen Zoro and Kuina duel 5 to 10 times a day. It was no wonder they managed to rack up 2,001 duels in just a year, ending only with Kuina's tragic death.

Thwack! Kuina's bamboo sword struck Zoro's head without mercy. Another victory for Kuina.

"That's my 1,735th win!" Kuina declared with a triumphant smile.

"Damn it!" Zoro, ignoring his injuries, ran off again, likely heading to his special training spot to work on his strength.

'He's really something. Training so hard, even though he's just a nine-year-old kid. His determination puts those lazy keyboard warriors to shame,' Ethan thought as he watched Zoro's retreating figure, completely forgetting that he himself had once been a keyboard warrior.

'1,735 wins already? That means we're about half a month to a month away from the fateful 2,001st duel,' Ethan thought, recalling the tragic separation between Kuina and Zoro. He was determined to prevent that outcome.

"Kuina, how about a spar with me? Just swordsmanship, no tricks," Ethan suggested to Kuina, who was about to start practicing on a wooden post.

"Sure." Kuina, still bitter about her last loss to Ethan due to his use of Soru, was eager to prove that her swordsmanship was no weaker than any man's.

Clash! Clash! Clash! Kuina unleashed a flurry of attacks, her bamboo sword striking Ethan's abdomen and head.

"Ouch, you're really good. I lose," Ethan admitted defeat without hesitation. Losing to someone more skilled wasn't shameful—refusing to admit it was.

"Your swordsmanship has improved too…" Kuina murmured to herself before turning back to practice on the wooden post.

"These kids are anything but cute. They're way too intense," Ethan muttered under his breath.

...

"Akame, for the next month, let's keep a close eye on Kuina," Ethan said to Akame.

"Okay." Akame's response was brief and to the point. She didn't ask why, showing her complete trust in her new captain.

...

"Kuina, let's duel!" Zoro challenged her again.

Clash! Clash! Clash! "That's my 1,957th win," Kuina said with a smile as Zoro lay on the ground for the 1,957th time.

"Ugh… Ethan! Duel me!" Zoro, unwilling to give up, turned his attention to Ethan. Thanks to Ethan's presence, Zoro now had two additional sparring partners. However, Akame was too strong, so Zoro had shifted his focus to Ethan, much to Ethan's annoyance.

Ethan was worried that if he messed up the duel count, he might not be able to save Kuina in time. Fortunately, Akame and Kuina trained and slept together at night, so he didn't have to worry about accidents. Reluctantly, he agreed to Zoro's request.

"Zoro, have you ever thought about using three swords?" Ethan asked, knowing that Zoro would only adopt his signature three-sword style after Kuina's death—later he would wield Wado Ichimonji to honor her memory and dreams.

"Three swords? Forget that for now, fight me!" Zoro, obsessed with dueling, swung his bamboo sword at Ethan.

Clash! Clash! The crisp sound of bamboo swords clashing filled the air as sweat flew from the two combatants—a boy and a young man. Their shouts echoed under the sunlight, their shadows intertwining on the ground.

...Fifteen minutes later, Zoro's bamboo sword was knocked out of his hand as his stamina gave out.

"Damn it!" Zoro was frustrated. Not only had he lost to Kuina, who had been training longer, but he couldn't even beat the new "junior."

"I only won because of my stamina. My swordsmanship is nowhere near yours. If you were seventeen like me, I wouldn't stand a chance," Ethan comforted Zoro, not wanting him to be discouraged.

"Hmph, I'll beat you someday!" Zoro declared before running off to train again.

'If he were the type to give up after a loss, he wouldn't be Zoro,' Ethan thought as he watched Zoro's retreating figure.

Turning around, Ethan headed to where Kuina was training to continue his own practice.