"Sword Intent?"
Kuina and Zoro spoke almost simultaneously, staring at Xia Yu with excitement and confusion.
"Yes. Sword Intent."
"Sword Intent represents the artistic conception of the sword—the very realm a swordsman steps into. Intent is the unity of form, spirit, emotion, and reason. It harmonizes the real and the unreal—the tangible and the intangible. It exists both beyond the sword and within it. It is an extremely high realm.
"When you touch Sword Intent, nothing in this world will be able to stop you from walking the path toward becoming the strongest."
As his words fell, Xia Yu suddenly raised his right hand and reached out and grasped the air.
Whoosh—
With that motion, a fishing rod not far away flew up instantly and landed steadily in his hand.
In the next moment, an invisible and overwhelming Sword Intent burst outward like a sudden whirlwind sweeping across the ground, passing by Zoro and Kuina in an instant.
Xia Yu's voice continued.
"Sword Intent is when a swordsman's understanding of the sword reaches an unprecedented realm!"
The overwhelming Sword Intent caused Xia Yu's clothes to flutter even though there was no wind.
Under the shadow of his straw hat, his eyes shone with a sharp, domineering brilliance.
The aura surrounding him pressed down on Zoro and Kuina like a towering mountain.
If Xia Yu hadn't restrained the release of his Sword Intent, the two children might already have dropped to their knees in reverence.
"Only after mastering Sword Intent can swordsmanship truly evolve in battle—giving birth to Sword Momentum, Sword Energy, and Sword Radiance!"
Looking at the two children standing before him with eyes full of awe and fanatic admiration, Xia Yu suddenly stepped forward.
"Watch closely."
The moment the word "closely" left his mouth—
Xia Yu leapt into the air.
At the same time, the fishing rod in his hand descended in a terrifying downward slash filled with overwhelming pressure.
Slash—
A strange yet dazzling arc cut across the sky, following the arc of the fishing rod.
It shot forward and vanished into the bundle of fishing rods Zoro had tied together earlier.
Crack!!!
Before Kuina and Zoro could react, dozens of tightly bound fishing rods suddenly snapped apart.
"S-So amazing…!"
Looking at the neatly severed rods, Kuina and Zoro's eyes widened in absolute shock.
Using just one fishing rod to slice through dozens of rods tied together—
This completely exceeded their understanding.
They had never imagined that such sharp and domineering swordsmanship could exist in the world.
"What cut those rods… was not the object in my hand."
As if he had read their thoughts, Xia Yu tossed the fishing rod aside and explained calmly.
"What truly cut them… was Sword Energy."
"S-Sword Energy?!"
The two children stared with longing eyes.
The swordsmanship Xia Yu displayed had already far surpassed their imagination.
And at that moment, they finally understood what the word "strong" truly meant.
"Mr. Xia Yu…"
Zoro stepped forward, clenching his fists tightly.
"Can you stay here… and teach us swordsmanship? I want to become as strong as you!"
Hearing this, Kuina also wanted to ask Xia Yu to stay.
But she remembered that Xia Yu was a traveler.
Even if she managed to make him stay for a while, he would eventually leave.
So she gently pulled Zoro back.
"Zoro, don't make things difficult for Mr. Xia Yu."
After a brief pause, Kuina looked up at Xia Yu seriously.
"Mr. Xia Yu… will we meet again someday?"
"Yes."
Xia Yu answered firmly.
Hearing that, the tension in Kuina's heart finally relaxed.
She smiled brightly and spoke as if making both a promise and a life goal.
"When I become strong, I will follow Mr. Xia Yu's footsteps and travel across every corner of this world!"
"The name—Great Swordsman Kuina—will echo all the way to the heavens!"
"Me too! Me too!"
Zoro hurriedly spoke up.
"I'll become even stronger than you! I'll become the world's strongest swordsman!"
A new journey began.
After staying in Shimotsuki Village for more than ten days, Xia Yu bid farewell to Koushirou, Kuina, and the green-haired Zoro.
Then he set sail leisurely from the dock in his small boat.
"Mr. Xia Yu! No matter where you go, please don't forget!"
"Shimotsuki Village has a female swordsman named Kuina!"
Standing on the dock, Kuina could no longer hold back her tears as she watched Xia Yu leave.
Although they had only spent ten days together, those ten days had been the happiest of her life.
More importantly—
Xia Yu's appearance had turned her frustration into hope.
Without exaggeration, Xia Yu had become a guiding light in her life, illuminating a future she once believed impossible.
Beside her, Zoro bit his lower lip tightly, trying not to cry.
Yet tears still streamed down his face.
If possible, he truly wished Xia Yu would stay in Shimotsuki Village and teach him swordsmanship.
What Xia Yu didn't realize was that his short ten-day journey in Shimotsuki Village had not only changed Kuina's fate—
It had also planted the seed of strength deep within Zoro's heart.
Under the golden glow of the setting sun, Xia Yu stood at the bow of his boat and waved back toward Kuina and Zoro.
"Kuina, green-haired kid—keep working hard!"
…
Shells Town
A massive Marine battleship slowly entered the harbor of Marine Base 153.
On the dock stood a neatly organized Marine formation.
Leading them was a middle-aged Marine wearing a Colonel's coat.
As soon as the warship docked, the Marines on the pier began boarding in disciplined order.
But just as they were about to step aboard—
A figure suddenly appeared on the deck.
"It's Morgan!"
"Damn it—what happened to Morgan?!"
The Marines were instantly stunned by what they saw.
The Marine standing on the deck was covered in blood.
His jaw had been completely shattered, leaving his face horribly deformed and terrifying.
"C-Colonel… sir…"
Dragging his battered body to the edge of the deck, Morgan threw a corpse down onto the dock.
Then he spoke weakly.
"Your subordinate… has fulfilled the mission…"
"I finally captured the pirate… Kuro of a Hundred Plans…"
The moment he finished speaking, Morgan collapsed onto the deck and lost consciousness.
"Quick! Take Morgan for treatment!"
The Marine Colonel immediately gave orders while walking toward the corpse.
When he saw that it was indeed the pirate Kuro, whom they had repeatedly failed to capture and who had caused them heavy losses, he burst into loud laughter.
"Morgan has done a great service!"
"He must be rewarded!"
Clearly a man who believed in rewarding merit, the Colonel immediately announced loudly:
"Morgan has made a great contribution by capturing the pirate Kuro. From this moment forward—"
"He is officially promoted to Ensign of Marine Base 153!"
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