Cheng Xiaoyu boarded the Shadow, and the sea breeze brushed his cheeks, cold and sharp.
He gazed at the distant horizon, having already planned his first destination.
"System, open map navigation."
"Go to Shimotsuki Village."
Shimotsuki Village held an unexcavated regret and a future core member of his Shadow Legion.
Cheng Xiaoyu's ship needed a great swordsman who could rival Zoro in the future.
The first person he thought of was the sword prodigy Guina, who had utterly defeated Zoro in his youth!
"Guina…" His whisper gently echoed in the darkness.
"I wonder what you would have been like at your peak?"
…
After a period at sea, the Shadow finally arrived at Shimotsuki Village.
This peaceful little fishing village was hidden among the mountains, and at the end of the small path at the village entrance was the Isshin Dojo.
This was founded by a swordsman and sword smith from Wano Country, named Shimotsuki Kozaburo; the Great Grade sword Enma and the wado ichimonji were both his masterpieces.
This sword originally belonged to Guina; after she died, Zoro took it and swore to become the World's Greatest Swordsman with it.
The Shimotsuki family and the Kozuki family were originally the two major sword smith families of Wano Country, but for some unknown reason, Shimotsuki Kozaburo left Wano Country with a group of people more than fifty years ago and came here.
The wooden door of the Isshin Dojo creaked open in the morning light, and Genzo's hand, wiping his glasses, suddenly paused.
The disciples in the hall all turned to look, and for a moment, there was complete silence.
Shimotsuki Genzo was sitting cross-legged on the wooden floor, giving a lesson to his disciples, and frowned slightly as he looked at the uninvited guest.
The young man in front of him was enveloped in a faint, intertwining black Shadow, clearly indicating he was a Devil Fruit user.
His appearance, covered in dark Shadows, did not look like a good person.
"Um… I want to borrow Guina's Shadow."
Cheng Xiaoyu was direct, his gaze like a knife.
These undisguised words instantly dropped like a bomb into a calm lake, stirring up monstrous waves.
The disciples stared in astonishment at the black-clad man before them, and the atmosphere suddenly grew tense.
Genzo's pupils suddenly constricted, and the glasses in his hand trembled slightly.
"What—what did you say?"
Shimotsuki Genzo was startled, a hint of doubt and anger flashing in his eyes, as if he had heard the most absurd thing in the world.
"I said, I want Guina's Shadow."
Cheng Xiaoyu repeated, his tone even more forceful.
"I know she's already dead, but I need her Shadow. I want to take her out to sea with me!"
Shimotsuki Genzo stood up, grasping the bamboo sword beside him, a faint killing intent rising.
"Are you here to humiliate our Shimotsuki family? Guina has been at peace for many years; with such a direct and presumptuous request, do you really think I won't draw my sword and cut you down?"
Cheng Xiaoyu slightly tilted his head, his dark eyes unmoving.
"If you truly understood her, I dare say she was destined to be someone who couldn't cross the 'fatal boundary.' I can also tell you that her Shadow has not yet dissipated, and her talent should not be buried. And my ability can allow her to achieve her dream of becoming the World's Greatest."
"Get out."
Genzo's voice was stern, his usually gentle face now covered in frost.
The atmosphere in the dojo almost exploded, but Cheng Xiaoyu merely quietly withdrew his gaze, turned, and left without any further rebuttal.
However, his Shadow instantly spread like wings.
Everyone present felt a tremor in their hearts; that substantial dark energy seemed as if it would swallow them in the next second, but then it vanished the moment it dissipated…
Outside the door, Cheng Xiaoyu stood at the entrance of the dojo, his figure like an unmoving reef, no one could ignore his presence.
Time passed in this silence, minute by minute, and he showed no intention of leaving.
A day passed, and Shimotsuki Genzo finally pushed open the dojo door, looking coldly at Cheng Xiaoyu, who was still holding his ground.
"You are terrifyingly persistent, but that doesn't mean I will agree to your absurd request."
Another day passed, and Cheng Xiaoyu still stood outside the dojo, sleepless.
Genzo watched him, his confusion deepening.
What exactly was this young man so persistent about Guina's Shadow for?
Finally, Genzo walked out.
"What's your name?"
"Cheng Xiaoyu," he replied indifferently.
"If you can defeat me with swordsmanship, I will grant your request."
Cheng Xiaoyu agreed without hesitation; he knew his current swordsmanship was far inferior to Genzo's.
It was well known that characters with squinting eyes were terrifyingly strong, and Genzo happened to be one of them.
"But before that, you need to learn swordsmanship."
"I can teach you!"
"Alright then."
…
Cheng Xiaoyu stayed at the dojo and began his long swordsmanship training.
Every day before dawn, he stood by the old well, swinging his sword three thousand times.
When night fell, he practiced against his many Shadow Soldiers under the Moonlight.
Until one snowy night, he cut the falling snowflakes.
Not by cutting with a Shadow blade, but by the wind pressure created by his wooden sword.
Three days later, Cheng Xiaoyu stood before Genzo, the backyard piled with countless wooden swords he had broken.
He felt it was time.
"Please enlighten me."
Genzo nodded and drew his wooden sword.
Clang, clang, clang!
Sword light and Shadows intertwined, and two figures moved rapidly in the dojo.
Although Cheng Xiaoyu's swordsmanship was not as refined as Genzo's, he did not directly collapse, thanks to several days of hard practice day and night and his understanding of Genzo's swordsmanship.
Finally, both wooden swords shattered simultaneously!
Genzo's glasses split into four pieces, and Cheng Xiaoyu's sleeve turned into tatters.
The breaking of the wooden swords meant they could not continue the match, and this was a pure swordsmanship contest; Cheng Xiaoyu did not use any of his Shadow Fruit power.
Genzo looked at Cheng Xiaoyu, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
He never expected that in just a few days, the young man before him could fully grasp the essence of swordsmanship; such talent was simply…
Terrifying!
"You won," he said, sheathing his sword.
"But her Shadow may not be willing to go with you."
Subsequently, Genzo led Cheng Xiaoyu to Guina's grave.
On the tombstone, Guina's name shone particularly brightly in the sunlight; by calculation, she had been dead for almost twelve years.
Cheng Xiaoyu extended his hand, palm facing the tombstone, activating the Shadow Fruit's ability to extract Shadows.
"Arise!"
"Target Shadow first extraction failed!"
Cheng Xiaoyu frowned, extraction failed?
Could it be that even as a young girl, Guina's combat rating exceeded B?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
Even with extraordinary talent, a young Guina would at most be C-rank; her lack of physical strength and combat experience simply couldn't reach B-rank.
"Arise!"
"Target Shadow second extraction failed! Only one chance left; if it fails again, it cannot be tried again!"
Me… wouldn't all that effort be for nothing if this continues?
Could it really be as Genzo said, that Guina is unwilling to leave this place?
Or is it that there's no one under this tombstone at all?
Cheng Xiaoyu was unwilling to give up.
At this moment, he suddenly remembered the scene of extracting Ygritte's Shadow in Solo Leveling, which was also this situation.
He understood; at this point, he still had to use his words!
Although he wasn't good at it, he had to try!
"Ahem…"
"Ah, I heard Zoro has already set sail, and he keeps saying he wants to be the World's Greatest Swordsman…"
"Your father said a female swordswoman couldn't become the World's Greatest; did you accept that?"
"Zoro, whom you defeated countless times, is still getting stronger, while you can only lie here. Are you content with that?"
"Arise!"
This time, there was finally movement on the tombstone!
A faint Shadow slowly emerged, gradually solidifying, and finally transforming into the appearance of a young girl.
The girl had short, dark hair, delicate features, and a pair of eyes full of spirit. She stood there quietly, like an elf who had slept for many years.
"Guina…"
Genzo looked at the Shadow before him, his heart filled with mixed emotions, never expecting to see his daughter again one day…
Suddenly, the girl opened her eyes.