A full week had passed since the world-shaking battle in Fire Country.
By now, the news had spread across the seas.
Super rookie Kairos had defeated Admiral Kuzan first, then gone on to knock Golden Lion Shiki out of the sky.
Kuzan's defeat alone was hard enough to believe.
But for Kairos to fight Shiki immediately afterward—and win again—was almost absurd.
That battle made his name resound across the Grand Line. Even the New World had begun to talk about him.
At this point, the title "super rookie" no longer suited him.
Every move he made could stir up waves across the world.
That was the weight of absolute strength.
Because of that, more and more people began to fear what kind of threat Kairos might become. His name had grown so terrifying that even children crying in the middle of the night would fall silent the moment they heard it.
There was one more thing that left many people uneasy.
Golden Lion Shiki had been defeated and sent flying, but when the Marines arrived afterward, they failed to capture him.
That legendary monster from the previous era had vanished from the world's sight once again.
Somewhere on the Grand Line—
the weather was clear and bright.
Warm sunlight spilled across the sea, gentle enough to make a person want to lie down and enjoy it.
Kairos was doing exactly that.
He lay flat on his little wooden boat, letting the sun warm his body.
Name: Kairos D. ValeSkills: Qi Control, Swordsmanship Techniques, Swallow Return, Sword Pressure, Armament Haki, Observation Haki, BattōjutsuWeapons: Wooden Sword, Sandai Kitetsu, Magic Blade Thousand BladesCards: Assassin Seven — Magic Blade Thousand Blades Version, Permanent; Killer B — Tailed Beast Version, 1 Use; Kenpachi Zaraki — Unsealed Version, 3 Minutes; Sasaki Kojiro — Fate/stay night Version, 1 Use; Ichigo Kurosaki — Bankai Version, 1 Use; Byakuya Kuchiki — Complete Bankai Version, 1 Use
Kairos looked over the system panel.
Soderos was gone.
Byakuya Kuchiki had been added.
The Fire Country battle had not given him a new skill, but it had left him with something more valuable than a simple technique.
Insight.
A clear understanding born from battle.
In time, that insight might help him create a sword technique that truly belonged to him.
After thinking for a moment, Kairos sat up and closed the panel.
"Robin, I'm going to stop sailing for a while."
Robin looked up from her book.
"What are you planning?"
"Dedicated training." Kairos smiled. "Coming with me?"
Robin's eyes flickered thoughtfully.
Then she nodded.
"Sure."
In her mind, Kairos probably wanted to avoid attention for a while. After everything that had happened, that was reasonable.
Honestly, she wanted some quiet too.
The past few months had been far too eventful.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
Before Kairos answered, Robin had already thought of several hidden islands that would suit him.
Then Kairos gave a destination she had not expected at all.
Robin blinked.
"You want to go there?"
"Hardly anyone visits. It's perfect for training. No distractions."
Kairos smiled and said nothing more.
Invisible Qi wrapped around the little boat, and it shot across the sea like an arrow.
Somewhere on the Grand Line, there was an island covered in dense jungle.
Boom!
A thunderous crash erupted from deep within the island, like a mountain collapsing.
A flock of birds burst from the trees and fled into the distance.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The explosions continued, rolling across the island like thunder.
Mixed into the noise were two loud, hearty laughs.
Anyone who stepped onto the island at that moment would have seen two enormous figures clashing in the forest.
They were gigantic.
Every collision between them was like two mountains slamming together, sending dust and shattered earth flying into the air.
This strange island was called Little Garden.
It was also known as the Ancient Island.
And today, a small wooden boat arrived at its shore.
Robin stepped down from the boat, looked at the two giant figures fighting in the distance, then turned to Kairos.
"So…"
She pointed toward the battlefield.
"This is the quiet island where no one will disturb you?"
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