Chapter 006
Precisely because he had stood at the top from a young age, Kai understood one fundamental truth: in this world, everything comes down to strength. On Earth, it was power and wealth that spoke loudest. In the One Piece world, true strength was personal might!
The law of the jungle! The biggest fist is the only real truth! Only by grasping that could one understand the essence of survival—and become the strongest!
"You? You're not my opponent!"
Through the light from the doorway, Kuina immediately declared dismissively upon seeing that her challenger was a boy even smaller than herself. She didn't notice anything special about Kai and didn't take him seriously at all.
"You'll only know after we try."
Kai replied without a trace of anger—instead, with calm confidence. He puffed out his chest and strode to the center of the dojo. Ignoring Kuina for the moment, he looked up respectfully at Koushirou seated in the center.
"Dojo Master, I wish to learn swordsmanship. Please teach me."
"Oh? You're here to train in the way of the sword?"
Koushirou blinked in mild surprise, then smiled warmly. He studied Kai closely and immediately noticed that despite the boy's small frame, he carried an impressive aura. His eyes lit up!
"So strong… I can't sense any emotional fluctuations at all!"
Kai was inwardly shocked. He was already within ten meters, yet he couldn't perceive Koushirou's emotions at all. It proved the dojo master was far from ordinary! In that instant, Kai deduced a limitation of his Devil Fruit: if the target was overwhelmingly stronger, the ability had no effect.
"Hmph! A kid who just came to learn swordsmanship dares to say he'll beat me?"
Before Kai could respond, Kuina huffed indignantly from beside him.
"Yes, Master—I'm here to learn from you."
Kai turned back to Koushirou, his tone far more respectful now that he understood the man's strength.
Then he smiled at Kuina. "I never said I'd beat you—just that I'd spar with you. It'll let the master see my sword talent too. After all, I've never touched a sword before."
"What? You've never touched a sword?"
Kuina exclaimed in genuine surprise, staring at him wide-eyed. Her opinion shifted instantly. For someone with zero experience to challenge her purely on courage? That earned her respect.
The other dojo members reacted with similar surprise, whispering among themselves—some praising Kai's boldness, some expecting him to embarrass himself, others indifferent.
"Yori! Lend him your bamboo sword."
Koushirou spoke up. He wanted to see this unusual boy's potential. He had already checked Kai's palms—no calluses from sword grips. The boy wasn't lying.
"Yes, Master!"
The young man who had just lost to Kuina stood and handed over his bamboo sword.
"Here, kid."
Yori said, curious to see how many moves a complete beginner could last against Kuina.
"Thanks."
Kai accepted politely, then gripped the sword and swung it a few times experimentally to get the feel. Everyone could tell it was his first time holding one.
Yori quickly stepped aside, clearing the center for Kai and Kuina.
"You're using a sword for the first time, so you attack first."
Kuina gripped her bamboo sword tightly, staring straight at Kai.
"No need—ladies first."
Kai replied calmly. It wasn't chivalry; he genuinely didn't know sword techniques. Better to react than commit blindly.
"Is that so?"
Kuina paused, surprised by his manners. Then she didn't hold back—letting out a sharp cry, she swung her bamboo sword down in a fierce overhead strike.
Whoosh!
Seeing the powerful attack coming, Kai's eyes narrowed. His body—far more agile than Kuina's—flashed aside, easily dodging.
"Eh?"
Kuina let out a small sound of surprise. Before she could react further, a sword shadow rushed toward her.
Clack!
Kai's strike was instantly blocked by Kuina with a resounding clash!
"How is that possible…" "He dodged…" "So fast…"
Even though Kuina blocked it, gasps filled the dojo. Everyone was stunned that Kai could evade her attack—and counter so quickly. No one dared underestimate him now.
"Good! Again!"
Kuina, after a brief shock, grinned excitedly and called out. She stepped back two paces, then unleashed a flurry—her bamboo sword whipping toward Kai like a storm, leaving afterimages.
Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack…
The sounds of bamboo clashing rang out nonstop. No matter how skillful Kuina's strikes, Kai parried them all. The two erupted into a heated exchange!
"So… amazing…" "Is he really a complete beginner…?" "First time holding a sword and he's keeping up with Kuina…" "Incredible…"
The dojo echoed with exclamations as they watched the intense spar.
Koushirou's eyes shone brightly as he observed. He could tell Kai's attacks were wild and untrained—no real technique. What let him match Kuina was pure agility, lightning-fast movement, and razor-sharp reflexes!
And that was exactly what Koushirou valued. With proper guidance, Kai's achievements in swordsmanship would be astonishing! He had never seen a ten-year-old with such body control and reaction speed!
They say concentration is essence. Kai's previous 21-year-old adult body had been reverted to an eight-year-old's during transmigration, but after a full year of relentless weighted training, his current agility and strength were anything but surprising!
"Damn it! He clearly doesn't know swordsmanship at all—why can't I hit him?!"
While continuing the exchange, Kuina inwardly cursed in frustration. Still, she was hooked on the fight—her bamboo sword lashed out faster and faster. She'd never enjoyed a spar this much!
Kai, for his part, was suffering silently. Sure, he could block or parry every one of Kuina's attacks, but landing a clean hit on her? Impossible. Without any real sword technique, his superior speed let him dodge and counter occasionally—but Kuina easily blocked those weak, untrained strikes.
Winning purely with a bamboo sword against her was far from easy!
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