Robin seemed to be in a very deep sleep, so Carl carefully carried her back to her cabin on the ship. As soon as he placed her on the bed, she unknowingly reached out and held onto him, unwilling to let go. Carl could not help but chuckle. He spent a moment singing a soft, hypnotic melody to help her drift back into a peaceful sleep before he quietly left the room. She was meant to be resting and recovering, but her recent injuries required extra care.
When Carl finally stepped onto the small island, he found that the sparring match between Tashigi and Harta had just concluded. The outcome surprised him; he had not expected Tashigi to fight the captain of the 12th Division of the Whitebeard Pirates to a draw. Harta was a powerful veteran of the New World, and this was an impressive feat.
Vista could not help but offer a thumbs-up as he watched. He laughed loudly and called out, "Hahaha, Roronoa, your little swordswoman is truly extraordinary! She even managed to fight Harta to a standstill!"
Zoro's face flushed a deep red, and he roared back, "I have told you already, she is not my girlfriend! If you keep talking nonsense, Vista, be careful, or I will cut you down!"
Vista smirked and drew his own blades. "Oh? Is that so? Then come at me, Roronoa. I will be your opponent this time!"
Zoro did not hesitate to accept the challenge. "I would have it no other way!"
The duel began immediately. Zoro tied his black bandana around his head, shifted into his signature three-sword style stance, and faced the Flower Sword. Carl arrived just in time to watch from the sidelines, choosing not to interrupt. Zoro had managed to hold his own against Shiryu just yesterday, so he should certainly be able to compete with Vista.
Vista leaped forward, his double blades moving with such grace that it looked as if flower petals were dancing in the air around him. Zoro braced himself, meeting the assault with his three-sword style. He immediately felt a weight behind Vista's strikes that was as heavy as a mountain, yet the very next blow felt as light as a falling petal. The sudden shift caught Zoro off guard for a moment. In contrast, Vista's movements were smooth and fluid—a master class in the art of swordsmanship.
Neither man used their ultimate techniques yet, focusing instead on refining their basic skills. Even so, every clash of steel made the nearby observers tremble with respect. As time passed, Zoro adapted to the speed and rhythm of Vista's attacks. He regained his composure, not only parrying the strikes with ease but also launching his own counterattacks.
This rapid improvement surprised Vista, which soon gave way to a sense of envy. He looked at Zoro's natural aptitude and could not help but compare it to his own youth. When he was the same age as Zoro, he was nowhere near this level of skill. Talent was a fickle thing; if sheer hard work were all that mattered, thousands of swordsmen would have already surpassed Mihawk. Perhaps this was the exact reason why the greatest swordsman in the world had taken an interest in this young man in the first place.
Vista fell into deep thought, and without realizing it, he began to intentionally leave openings for Zoro. He was no longer just fighting; he was feeding Zoro his own decades of experience.
Tashigi and Law watched from the side, completely stunned. "He is..." Law muttered, his eyes wide as he realized what was happening. They understood that Vista was not trying to win the fight anymore. He was acting as a mentor.
"You fool," Zoro started to say, feeling the shift in the duel.
Vista cut him off sharply. "Stop talking! Keep your guard up!"
Vista continued, his voice firm. "Who among us does not dream of becoming the world's greatest swordsman? I am no exception, but that is not a reason to ignore raw talent when I see it. Boy, if you can perceive the gap between yourself and Mihawk, you might not win in this life, but you are different. I am offering you a lesson. Are you going to take it or not?"
Zoro tightened his grip on his swords and shouted back, "I would be honored to learn!"
Vista laughed, pleased by the answer, and unleashed a continuous stream of advanced sword techniques. He kept the pressure high, forcing Zoro to adapt or fail. Zoro acted like a sponge, soaking up every nuance of Vista's movements and integrating them into his own style. Of course, Zoro did not just take; he countered with his own unique sword skills, pushing back whenever he could.
An hour later, both men collapsed onto the grass, breathing heavily. They both wore wide, satisfied grins. It was clear that the battle had been a massive benefit to both of them.
Law and Tashigi watched them with a mix of awe and envy. It was rare for a legend like Vista to show such favor to a younger generation. However, they knew that every warrior had their own path. Law relied on his Devil Fruit abilities and did not aspire to be the world's greatest swordsman. Tashigi was focused on recovering famous blades and protecting the honor of the craft.
"That was an incredible fight," Carl said, floating down to join them.
As soon as Vista saw Carl, he gripped his swords again, clearly eager to test his strength against him. Carl simply waved a hand to dismiss the notion. "Don't pay any attention to me. Just keep on sparring if you want. My injuries have not fully healed, so it is impossible for me to compete with you properly. Do not even think about it."
Vista looked visibly disappointed. Carl was a world-class great swordsman, and despite his Devil Fruit powers, his skill with a blade was legendary. It would have been a dream to exchange blows, but Carl was firm.
Fortunately, while they could not fight, they could still discuss their craft. Carl and the other masters sat down for a heated, productive conversation. The veterans like Vista, who had survived in the New World for years, provided deep insights that even Carl found valuable. In return, Carl shared his own knowledge without hesitation. The discussion of the sword was lively and filled with genuine passion.
They did not stop until someone came to call them for dinner. They returned to the small island, where the crew had prepared a massive feast. Since many people were recovering from hangovers, the morning meal was designed to be soothing. Sanji's cooking was, as always, exceptional. Even Whitebeard, a man who had traveled the world and tasted the finest meals, was so impressed that he jokingly considered kidnapping the chef.
Luffy was not about to let that happen. He stepped forward with a grin. "Uncle Whitebeard, for Ace's sake, I won't argue with you about your jokes, but Sanji is the cook for the Straw Hat Pirates. I am not letting him go!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily. "Ku la la la! That is a shame, then!"
Luffy smiled, his expression turning serious as he looked toward the tall, blue-skinned man nearby. "However, I would like to ask you for someone else. Jinbei, I invited you on Fish-Man Island, and I am inviting you again. Come and be my partner!"
The members of the Whitebeard Pirates were suddenly silent, their expressions darkening. Luffy had already refused to give up his cook, and now he was trying to poach one of their own allies.
Ace stepped up, looking at Luffy with a mixture of amusement and annoyance. "Hey, hey, Luffy, you are going too far. Jinbei is a partner of the Whitebeard Pirates!"
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