"One Piece:The True Codex"Chapter 358: Shusui
William had no interest in where these undead might wander off to scare people for fun, but he would never allow them to lay a finger on the Starlight or Brook's ship.
At the dock, six General Zombies stood idly, watching the ordinary zombies work busily. They showed no intention of helping. Among them, a tall and thin zombie wearing a cowboy hat with four arms suddenly turned his head toward the horizon.
A swirling white column of steam, like a tornado, was rolling rapidly toward the dock. It moved with such speed that it reached the zombies in the blink of an eye.
"Not good!"
The cowboy zombie muttered in a low voice. His four arms moved swiftly, drawing four pistols from his waist. With only a brief aim, he fired rapidly.
Four bullets flew with precision toward the center of the tornado. Just as they were about to pierce through it, the tornado suddenly dispersed, revealing William diving down from above. The powerful gusts of wind and high-pressure steam sent the ordinary zombies on the dock swaying unsteadily.
William, holding the black blade Shusui, descended with his long hair billowing in the wind. With a few light metallic clangs, the bullets were deflected by his blade.
The cowboy zombie quickly retreated, while the other General Zombies, clad in golden armor and armed with sharp weapons, stepped forward. Their stances indicated they were skilled in close combat.
Seeing this, William leveled his katana horizontally. With a light step mid-air, a burst of white steam erupted beneath his feet, propelling him like a supersonic jet toward the dock. The sharp sound of a sonic boom shattered the air. Splinters of wood flew everywhere, and the surrounding seawater erupted into towering columns of spray.
The six armored and armed General Zombies, seemingly caught off guard, stood frozen in place, weapons raised but unmoving.
The ordinary zombies, who had been knocked to the ground, stared in shock as William stood alone behind the six General Zombies. Ignoring the surrounding undead, he quietly admired the black blade in his hand.
A moment later, the six General Zombies' bodies suddenly fell apart, their wounds smooth as mirrors. Even their weapons and armor were cleanly sliced, the cut surfaces perfectly polished.
"Excellent blade!" William couldn't help but praise Shusui once again as he examined it closely.
The blade of Wado Ichimonji, in contrast, was relatively straight, embodying a simple and unadorned style. Its balanced nature made it versatile for techniques like parrying, thrusting, slashing, and more. However, it lacked specialization in any particular area. Whenever William wielded Wado Ichimonji, it reminded him of his teacher Koushirou from his peaceful days at the Isshin Dojo. The sword's temperament and style perfectly matched the calm, balanced demeanor of a swordsman like Koushirou.
This made Wado Ichimonji an excellent weapon for novice swordsmen. Its balanced attributes ensured that beginners wouldn't develop bad habits while practicing basic techniques.
Shusui, however, was a completely different kind of blade. Its curved design made it ideal for slashing, and its overall structure was heavier and denser than other katanas. This increased its weight significantly. While this demanded greater arm and wrist strength from its wielder, it also allowed for unparalleled power and destructive capability.
A swordsman lacking strength and skill would never be able to wield this black blade effectively. But William, possessing the Robust feat and exceptional physical strength, was more than capable. Moreover, in his Overheat state, his strength and explosive power would multiply several times over. In swordsmanship, slashing techniques relied heavily on raw power. What William needed was a blade that could fully harness his enhanced strength. Every characteristic of Shusui seemed tailor-made for him.
In comparison, while Wado Ichimonji held more sentimental value for William—serving as a symbol of his fond memories at the Isshin Dojo—it was Shusui that truly complemented his combat style. No wonder William had taken such a liking to it after just one use.
Thud, thud, thud.
The pieces of armor and severed body parts finally hit the dock with dull thuds, snapping the zombies out of their daze.
William casually used his blade to sweep the remains into the sea. The salt in the ocean quickly began to dissolve the black shadows, which occasionally emerged from the water before vanishing into the sky.
The ordinary zombies, who had been watching in stunned silence, exchanged nervous glances. At this moment, William, surrounded by a crowd of zombies, seemed more like a terrifying monster himself.
Suddenly, someone among the zombies shouted, "Run!"
That single cry acted as a signal. All the zombies immediately scattered like birds and beasts. William didn't bother to chase them. There were still a few small boats on the island, and he didn't mind if the zombies used them to leave.
William would never allow Karslana and her companions to escape, as they would likely report his location to the Marines at the first opportunity. However, the zombies posed no such threat. Once they set sail, they would undoubtedly cause chaos, drawing the attention of the Marines. This would not only help William divert some of the Marines' focus but also spread the news of Moria's death. Additionally, the Marines' pursuit of the zombies would buy William some valuable time.
...
When Perona groggily opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Hogback's grotesque face hovering in front of her, his long nose swaying annoyingly.
"You..." Perona started to snap, but she suddenly gasped in pain. Her entire body ached, especially her chest. Even the slightest movement caused such intense pain that she couldn't speak.
"You're awake?!" Hogback exclaimed in his sharp voice, his expression a mix of emotions. He discreetly tugged on a thin string nearby, which disappeared into the wall and connected to a bell in the adjacent room.
Perona didn't notice Hogback's actions. Only then did she realize that she wasn't in her familiar palace but in a dimly lit ship's cabin. She could faintly hear the sound of waves crashing against the hull and smell the salty sea air.
Recalling the scenes from before she lost consciousness, Perona felt a growing sense of unease. A barrage of questions spilled from her lips: "Hogback, where are we? What happened? Where is Master Moria? What about those attackers?"
"We're on that merchant ship we seized earlier. As for Moria..." Hogback hesitated, his voice faltering.
Before he could finish, the cabin door creaked open. A beam of sunlight angled into the room, causing Perona, whose eyes had adjusted to the darkness, to squint instinctively.
She raised a hand to shield her eyes and slowly adjusted to the light. She could just barely make out a tall, slender figure standing in the doorway, backlit by the sun.
The figure continued where Hogback had left off, saying, "Moria is dead. As for the attackers, you're looking at one of them right now."
"That's a lie!" Perona shouted at the unfamiliar voice, her tone filled with disbelief.
Ignoring the pain in her chest, which caused her wound to reopen and stain her newly changed hospital gown with fresh blood, she waved her hand. A Negative Hollow shot toward the figure in the doorway, passing through his body.
To her shock, the man remained completely unaffected.
The sight, combined with her worsening injuries, caused Perona to cough up blood.
"Causing trouble as soon as you wake up," the man said, finally stepping into the room. Perona could now see him clearly: a tall, handsome man with blond hair and blue eyes. His bloodshot gaze carried a hint of amusement as he spoke in a playful tone, "You're being very naughty!"
Despite his smile, Perona couldn't shake the chill that ran down her spine.
(End of Chapter)
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