Ceruledge, the Fire Swordsman Pokemon, a branch evolution of Charcadet, is a Pokemon that evolves in the game by relying on the Malicious Armor.
Its body is encased in futuristic purple armor, while ghostly blue flames burn behind its head and on the blades of its arms. Legend has it that the flaming swords on Ceruledge's arms are imbued with the resentment of a swordsman who fell before realizing their aspirations.
Yet Ceruledge is not a swordsman. To it, a sword is merely a tool for battle. For victory, Ceruledge will resort to any means necessary, whether it be ambush or treachery, as long as it can win.
Its specialty is using its speed to close in on the enemy, then launch an attack from a blind spot.
For Ceruledge, the Demonic Fire unleashed by the Seven-Star Sword is merely fuel, much like the Singing Demon King is to Darkrai.
"Sister Misu, are you really okay?"
Even though Misu had already transformed, Tiger was still not entirely convinced. After all, Tiger had never seen her fight before.
"Oh dear, oh dear, didn't we already discuss this on the way? I can handle opponents of this level, and how could the Chief's nun be without combat ability? There must be some effort made."
Misu and Tiger judged the enemy's strength through people from the previous Navy Dojo. By assessing the strength of the cadres, they could roughly gauge the strength of the group's leaders, except for Buggy.
Tiger easily took down the people from the previous Navy Dojo, leading to the inference that the enemy leader wouldn't be very strong. What's crucial to consider is the extent of the Seven-Star Sword's capabilities.
After confirming the ability suppression, Misu gained more confidence.
"Moreover, this way of swinging the sword... feels quite familiar, somewhat like the techniques of the Shimotsuki Family."
The Church hadn't taught Misu swordsmanship before, but later in Wano Kuni, she did learn some swordsmanship at the local dojo, including techniques from the Shimotsuki Family.
In some sense, Saka and Misu happened to have the same master indirectly.
Many years ago, the renowned swordsmith of Wano Kuni, Shimotsuki Kozaburo, who forged Enma and Wado Ichimonji, left Wano Kuni along with 24 family members, violating its prohibitions. They settled overseas, including Ushimaru's sister, Shimotsuki Furiko.
Upon arriving in the East Sea, they fought mountain bandits attacking a village and easily triumphed. Ten of them then settled there, founding Shimotsuki Village.
Kozaburo married a woman from the village and they had a son, Koshiro. When Koshiro took charge of the Isshin Dojo, he accepted a disciple named Saka.
He grew up alongside Zoro and vowed to wield the Sword of Justice.
During a battle against a group of pirates with Zoro, Saka's arm was bound by chains. Subsequently, the ship exploded, resulting in him losing his right arm. After much wandering, he came to Ascension Island.
There he fell in love with Maya and previously, in order to protect her, he accidentally touched the Seven-Star Sword, which then controlled him, leading him to a goal of freeing it.
"Shimotsuki..."
This surname seemed to trigger something in Saka's memory, but once again, an eerie green light emanated from the Seven-Star Sword, its red glow filling his eyes.
"You must be, the most suitable sacrifice..."
Saka's voice turned eerily strange, sounding as if it were wrapped by a multitude of phantoms, filled with waves of dead silence.
Water overcomes fire, yet overpowering fire dries up water. While Ceruledge's abilities certainly suppress the Seven-Star Sword, should it manage to devour Ceruledge instead, its own powers would undergo a qualitative change. With such power, even outside a Blood Moon, it could be reborn.
Thus it manipulated Saka, seeking to drink Misu's blood.
Once a Holy Sword, now a Demon Blade, the Seven-Star Sword had seen countless battles. Yet compared to the powers personally bestowed by Arceus, there was a significant gap.
Furthermore, the blade of the Seven-Star Sword served as another layer of sealing for it. Despite Saka's vast combat experience, the boost from Ceruledge allowed Misu to effortlessly handle the situation. Meanwhile, Tiger could only wonder how to evaluate this battle.
Neither Misu nor Saka's displayed strength could be deemed weak, having a footing in the First Half of the Grand Line.
But Tiger, who could compete with others even in the New World, saw that aside from the peculiar abilities of the Seven-Star Sword and Ceruledge, the two were merely exchanging pecks like chickens.
This relieved him somewhat, knowing that if an accident did occur, he could step in and stop things in time.
"I heard you wield your sword for justice? If that's truly your thought, then you shouldn't be under the control of this Demon Blade, right?"
"Justice... So what dictates justice? It's not law or order, but strength! Only the strong can become omnipotent gods!
Offer your strength, and you can gain everything in the future world!"
The Seven-Star Sword emitted another strange force, seemingly attempting to dominate Misu's mind. However, as her twin blades swept past, several cracks appeared along its blade.
Seeing the crumbling Seven-Star Sword, Misu was taken aback. She hadn't expected the sword to be so easily damaged.
Normally, her mission would be complete with the Seven-Star Sword's destruction.
Yet Ceruledge's abilities indicated that matters were far from over. That uncanny energy still lingered, having entered Saka's body, with the green sword-shaped mark on his chest as proof anew.
"The Blood Moon has yet to arrive, your power is worth the risk..."
Saka's voice starkly differed from before. Speaking now was not him, but the sinister will of the Seven-Star Sword. A blade formed by green demonic fire replaced Saka's left arm, mimicking Ceruledge's actions.
"Nun, do you have any new techniques? I think something's not right with this guy..."
"Tiger, do you know why the Chief grants me this power?"
"Huh?"
"Because I can perfectly execute this technique and unleash its... full power."
Some individuals gain their abilities by random selection, like most of the low-tier cadres of the Hundred Beasts. New generations specially trained are chosen based on their physical conditions, and Misu has a highly compatible match with Ceruledge, particularly with its exclusive move—Bitter Blade.
Bitter Blade is a special attack that gathers worldly attachments onto the sword tip to strike foes. To unleash its full might, one must abandon all worldly attachments. Only then can it achieve maximum potency.
The more attachments to the world, the harder it is for this strike to exhibit its proper effect, usable solely by those who've forsaken the world—a fiery sword.
As a survivor of Freyvans, Misu ordinarily faces the world with a smile. But beneath that smile lies an undisclosed despair.