"Another series?"
Zoro asked impatiently, his hand gripping the sword unconsciously tightening. "What is it?"
Vivi said, "That series is called Magire."
"Magire?"
"Yes. Legend has it that the Magire series also has three blades, corresponding to the Supreme Grade, Great Grade, and Skillful Grade levels respectively.
Unlike the cursed nature of the Kitetsu blades, the characteristic of the Magire blades lies in transformation and will. It's said that the true Magire can sense its wielder's heart, changing form and size at will, even resonating with its master's will to unleash power that defies common sense.
They are not known for being sharp or durable, but rather for their ever-changing adaptability and the strange powers they contain."
Regarding Meitō, the most famous and named strong men on this sea basically have them.
There were also many collectors who enjoyed searching for them.
For example, Golden Lion had two named blades at his feet. The World's Strongest Swordsman, Hawk-Eyes, had a Supreme Grade blade in his hand.
The Black Blade: Yoru.
Vivi pointed to the black blade in Luffy's hand and said, "If the ancient records are correct—a blade that can change according to its master's will and is also a type of Black Blade—then the sword in Luffy's hand is very likely the top blade of the Magire series: one of the 12 Supreme Grade Blades—the Black Blade: Magi!"
"Supreme Grade Blade... Magi?"
Zoro gasped.
A Supreme Grade Blade—that was the ultimate weapon that all swordsmen dreamed of!
"It has that kind of background?" Luffy now understood why Vivi had called it a Black Blade. His eyes flickered, and he immediately began channeling Busoshoku Haki into Magi.
Then, the thick layer of rust entwined on Magi spreads out, revealing the pitch-black blade beneath.
"The blade pattern is the same as Hawk-Eyes' Black Blade Yoru—midareba jūka chōji. As expected of a Supreme Grade Blade." Zoro's eyes burned.
"Want to try it?" Luffy tossed the sword to Zoro.
Zoro caught it and swung it once. A flash of sword energy cut through the air.
However, to everyone's surprise, after a brief moment of excitement and obsession, Zoro flicked his wrist and without hesitation tossed this suspected Supreme Grade Blade, the Black Blade Magi, back to Luffy!
"Hey, Zoro!"
Luffy caught Magi—which had returned to its normal katana size—in a fluster, his face full of shock. "When you see a good blade, don't you usually want to hug it to your chest? This is a Supreme Grade Blade!"
Zoro crossed his arms, coolly pursing his lips. "You're an idiot. Meitō—especially blades of this level—have spirits. They choose their own masters.
Although this blade did respond to me earlier, it wasn't nearly as thorough or submissive as when it responds to you. It's very clear: from the moment it appeared during your fight to now changing form for you, it has already recognized you."
"The more powerful the blade, the more this is true. You can't force it. Besides,"
He glanced at Luffy, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile. "With your Gomu Gomu no Mi abilities, paired with a sword that can change length at will—just thinking about how much more troublesome you'll become gives me a headache. It suits you perfectly."
"Not bad, Marimo. I didn't know you had that kind of mind." Sanji, standing nearby, praised him with a provoking look on his face.
Zoro's mouth twitched. "No one would think you were mute if you didn't speak."
"Then I won't hold back."
Luffy looked down at Magi in his hand and smiled. He supposed that now, maybe... he could be considered a swordsman?
He had never really pursued weapons.
Since childhood, Garp had drilled one concept into him:
For the strong, anything can become a weapon whether external objects or the body itself.
"It feels great in hand." Luffy looked at the black blade in his hand.
The blade was pitch-black, yet flowed faintly within. Holding it, a sense of intimate familiarity—as if connected by blood—arose spontaneously.
He thought: "Make it smaller. Turn into a dagger."
Shwing!
Magi's blade instantly shortens, transforming into an exquisite black dagger. The hilt perfectly fits Luffy's palm.
"Make it longer again, like before!" Luffy thought again.
The dagger instantly extends, instantly restores its katana form, and even continued to grow longer, becoming even more slender than before, like a black serpent.
"Nice, nice,"
Luffy excitedly swung it a few times. With his rubber arms swinging the now-long blade, his attack range became extremely exaggerated.
"It's like a sword made of rubber. It suits me really well."
Happily, he hung Magi now back in its small dagger form on his belt. He was very satisfied.
Having found a Supreme Grade Blade among the treasure, everyone's enthusiasm for treasure hunting grew even more intense.
Luffy also enthusiastically began searching through the treasure pile. Soon, he found another item: a dark gold armband with a simple shape, engraved with unknown lines, as well as a small black sheath made of what looked like the same material, just the right size to hold Magi in its dagger form.
He slipped the armband onto his right arm, sheathed Magi, and tucked it behind his waist. It felt very natural.
"Hey, Luffy, watch out. Nami keeps a close eye on this treasure."
Usopp watched Luffy equip himself with things as if he had found treasures, and couldn't help but reminded him in a low voice, "If you take things like that, she's going to transform."
What did Nami's transformation look like?
Simply put she could take on anyone.
"I can hear you, you know." Nami said quietly.
Usopp was so startled that he jumped onto Franky.
Unexpectedly—
"It's fine. Everyone, feel free to take things."
Nami's face wore a rare, almost kind smile. "Luffy, you too. See if there's anything else you like. We've had such a big haul this time. Take whatever you want."
"EHH?!!" Everyone exclaimed in surprise.
"Is the sun rising in the west?"
The cigarette in Sanji's mouth nearly fell out.
"Nami-san is being this generous?" Franky rubbed his eyes exaggeratedly.
"Nami, are you okay? Do you have a fever?" Chopper was even worried enough to reach out a hoof to feel Nami's forehead.
Nami slapped Chopper's hoof away, hands on her hips. "If I tell you to take things, then take them!"
What kind of looks were these people giving her?
Was she really that possessive of food?
Everyone: "..."
Weren't you?
Nami waved her hand and said, "We're super rich now. What's a little bit of this stuff? Besides, if our comrades get stronger, our voyage will go more smoothly. I understand the value of this kind of investment!"
That said, the deep glint of "this is all my Berry" in her eyes still occasionally flashed.
But Nami wasn't entirely wrong about one thing.
They were filthy rich right now.
The massive gold stele on the Thousand Sunny weighed enough to crush a whole ship of people!
If they needed money, breaking off a chunk of that gold would be worth who knows how many Berry. As impressive as Moria's treasure was, it was only a drop in the bucket compared to that.
"Nami is being generous today! Everyone help yourselves!" Luffy invited the whole crew.
"You're the last person who should be saying that!" Nami angrily grabbed Luffy's cheeks and started kneading them.
Was there no reason why Nami kept such a tight grip on the money?!
Before that huge pile of money from Skypiea, every time she watched Luffy's huge appetite devour their funds, Nami could have cried.
With Nami's generous permission, everyone enthusiastically searched through the pile for a while longer.
Everyone found something.
Zoro found several special sharpening stones for maintaining and polishing swords. Sanji picked out a set of top chef's knives and some rare spices.
Usopp and Franky found themselves unable to part with some exotic mechanical parts and materials, planning to upgrade the Thousand Sunny and the Going Merry a bit further.
Chopper excitedly took a few ancient medical manuscripts and some rare medicinal ingredients.
Perhaps his Rumble Ball research could progress even further.
"What a shame. Didn't Moria collect any Poneglyphs either?"
Robin was a bit disappointed.
She had thought that a big-time pirate like Moria would have collected Poneglyphs.
It seemed that Warlord-level pirates didn't have any.
If she wanted to obtain Poneglyphs, would she have to go after Emperor-level pirates?
"Merry, over here."
Vivi had found quite a few nice pieces of jewelry. Merry in her Ruri form was as beautiful as a doll—she was just too adorable.
She had to be dressed up properly.
But before long, Merry changed back to her small, cute normal form. Maintaining her Ruri form was still very tiring for her.
After all, using the power of a Devil Fruit—Merry would need to practice a lot more to maintain this form for long periods.
And since it was a Mythical Zoan—itself a synonym for miracle—if she developed it well, Merry's strength would definitely be considerable.
"You hear that, Merry?" Luffy, also a Mythical Zoan user, rubbed Merry's head and said, "If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me."
Luffy was super confident when it came to Devil Fruit development.
"I hear you, I hear you." Merry said as she played with several necklaces and gems in her hands.
She had a special fondness for those shiny, beautiful jewels.
Nika, on the other hand, had developed a keen interest in a barrel of what looked like aged spirits.
She tried to sneak over and open it, but Nami caught her in the act.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I want this!"
"No. You drunkard need to quit drinking!"
Nami picked Nika up. Nika's limbs kicked uselessly—it was no use at all.
In the end, the vast majority of the glittering treasure was taken as a matter of course back into the custody of Nami, the chief of internal affairs. She planned to exchange it for real Berry as soon as they reached the next island.
Just as the distribution of spoils was nearing its end, the familiar sound of wings fluttering came from the sky.
A News Coo circled and landed, tilting its head at the crowd on the deck.
Little Merry was curiously holding a dove egg-sized, pearl up to the sunlight. The News Coo seemed attracted by the light. It cooed, trying to exchange the newspaper in its beak for the pearl in Merry's hand.
"Hey, you little profiteer bird!"
Nami's eyes and hands were fast. She dashed over in a flash and punched the News Coo on the head, leaving two big eye-catching bumps. "Trying to trade a newspaper worth a few hundred Berry for our priceless jewelry? Dream on!"
She deftly pulled a few coins from her coin purse, stuffed them into the pocket on the News Coo's chest, then snatched the newspaper. Fuming, she shooed away the now-dizzy News Coo.
***
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