Zoro stepped onto the stone path through the courtyard, and the first thing that caught his eye was a massive cherry blossom tree, its petals drifting silently in the breeze.
Beyond the tree stood the back gate. Just outside, a wide clearing stretched out, lined with black barbell plates arranged from largest to smallest in a perfect row. Even the smallest was as big as a basin, while the largest towered three or four times his height.
Past this iron mountain of weights, he spotted Kuina, her entire body drenched in sweat, swinging an iron rod again and again. A barbell plate, roughly the size of Zoro himself, hung from its tip.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!…"
From the veins bulging on her arms, Zoro could practically feel the sheer weight she was handling.
Further in, he caught sight of Kouta shirtless, balanced upside down, palms on the ground, rhythmically doing handstand push-ups. Above his feet floated a barbell, loaded with plates on either side.
"You train like this? Doesn't seem so special," Zoro muttered, confidence brimming in his voice as he stepped forward.
What's this? This is just normal training, isn't it?
If getting stronger was this straightforward, he'd surpass Kuina in no time.
But the moment he reached within five meters of Kouta, it was as if he had plunged into the depths of the sea. Pressure surged in from all directions.
Especially on his back, it felt like a mountain had dropped onto him. Every step forward felt like the earth itself was trying to flatten him.
Still, how could he be defeated by something like this?
He roared inwardly, eyes wide, veins visible in the whites. Gritting his teeth, legs trembling, he inched forward, one painstaking step at a time.
Those few meters might as well have been a lifetime. It took him over ten minutes to close the distance.
Kuina shot him a brief, indifferent glance before resuming her sword swings.
Her mind wandered back to Kouta's words: In this world, though women may be born physically weaker than men, strength isn't the only factor that determines victory. Skill. Speed. Sometimes, that's all it takes. If you can take down your opponent before your stamina runs out, you win.
That single glance from Kuina lit a fire in Zoro. He raised his head, eyes blazing.
I'll surpass her. I swear I will.
He still didn't fully understand where this place was, but if training in this kind of environment could make him stronger, then he'd thrive.
Relaxing, he took a deep breath, lowered himself to the ground, and started doing push-ups.
If standing was difficult, then he'd train lying down. No excuses.
Kouta looked on as Zoro contorted his face in agony, muscles straining.
This sheer willpower… It could only be Zoro.
This entire training ground was actually Kouta's personal domain—a space he could extend up to five meters outward. Within it, he could compress space to increase pressure or lighten it to the point of flight.
Nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine… ten thousand. Kouta silently counted in his mind before stopping.
Boom!
With a small bend of his legs, he tossed the barbell aside, sending dust flying everywhere.
Then, with a powerful push, he sprang upright, landing steadily beside the barbell.
Looking at the now-unconscious Zoro, Kouta grabbed a sweat towel from the barbell and wiped his face, slowly retracting the domain.
Nearby, Kuina, who had been resting with her eyes closed, suddenly felt the pressure around her vanish. She knew: Kouta had finished his training.
She quickly grabbed her bamboo sword and stood up. "Kouta, let's start our sparring."
"Hold on. Let's wake Zoro first."
Kouta, amused by the scene before him, casually slung the towel around his neck. He walked over, bent down, and grabbed Zoro by the collar like he was picking up a drenched, green-haired cat.
Seeing him carry Zoro toward the nearby stream, Kuina jogged after them.
"Kouta, he's definitely going to challenge you later."
"Nope. I'll just tell him you did it," Kouta said, flashing a mischievous grin.
"Whatever. It's not like he can beat me anyway," Kuina replied, full of self-assurance.
And she had every reason to be confident, aside from her father, no one in the village questioned her swordsmanship.
"Don't underestimate Zoro," she added, her tone turning serious. "His will and determination are every bit as fierce as mine."
"I could feel it too, spending time with him today," Kouta admitted. "That beast-like resolve, it's real."
Kuina stared at him, eyes firm. "But..i-i made a promise to you. I swore I'd become the world's strongest female swordsman. Only then… can I always stay by your side."
Kouta stopped at the stream, looking to his left at Kuina. Her determined eyes revealed a heart full of strength—and for a moment, he was stunned.
All these years, it had been Master Koushiro and Kuina, caring for him like family. Their presence had gradually chipped away at his confusion, his aimlessness, and his fears.
That trust, that bond, it all became clear in this moment.
Yes. This isn't some cartoon world.
This was a living, breathing world of flesh and blood, of dreams and ideals.
He had always been trying to fit in, but something had always felt… off. Now he understood.
What was missing was connection. Bonds.
Only when you have ties to this world do you find home, do you find where your heart belongs.
At that moment, something burst from within him, a force that shattered the boundary he had long tried but failed to cross.
He closed his eyes. His spirit expanded outward and suddenly, he could feel everything: the creek, the forest, the birdsong, the ocean, the clouds, the sunlight—each clearer than ever before.
Was this… the realm of the swordmaster?
"Ha… hahahaha!"
A wave of enlightenment washed over him, and he burst out laughing. His voice echoed across the mountains, startling a flock of birds into flight.
Kuina, caught up in his joy, smiled gently. She didn't know why he was laughing, but she could feel that something inside him had changed.
A happiness she had never seen before now radiated from him.
Back in the courtyard of the dojo, Master Koushiro was meditating when he heard the laughter. His eyes, half-lidded until then, snapped open slightly.
Looks like that child has finally resolved the knot in his heart. He smiled faintly, nodding to himself.
After a moment of thought, he stood up and walked outside.
Soon, this boy will leave for the seas. I'd better prepare a gift for him.
Back at the stream, Kouta stopped laughing. He looked at the gently flowing water before him, then swung his arm and launched Zoro with a flick of the wrist.
"Off you go."
Splash!
Zoro arced through the air, landing in the stream with an unceremonious plop.
Coughing and sputtering, he jolted awake. "Who-who the hell threw me in?! Cough! Cough, cough!"
Flailing in the water, Zoro's limbs slapped at the surface.
Kouta turned to Kuina, grinning. "Look at him. Doesn't he look just like a wet puppy?"
He couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing again. "Hahaha…!"
Kuina rested her hands on Kouta's shoulder. She didn't say a word, but her narrowed eyes and shaking shoulders betrayed her amusement.
"Damn it! You two just wait!" Zoro growled, glaring up at them from the water's edge.
Kouta straightened, glanced at Kuina, then turned to Zoro with a broad smile.
"All right, come on up. Time to get back to training." With that, he turned and walked away with Kuina.
Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Zoro slapped the water hard, sending droplets everywhere. He flailed and cursed until his frustration was spent, then finally began wading toward the shore.
"Hey! Wait for me!"
His voice drifted behind them, light but full of resolve.
*********
Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 100, 200, 300 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!