[Young Kuina (Combat Power Rating C / Growable / Growth Talent: S-rank)]
Genzo excitedly called out, "Kuina!" The girl's gaze fell upon Genzo, her eyes gradually clearing as fragments of memory reassembled in her mind.
"Father?"
Kuina asked tentatively. Genzo, tears streaming down his face, rushed forward and embraced her tightly, too choked up to speak.
Father and daughter, reunited after a long separation, embraced and wept, a deeply moving scene.
After a long while, Genzo finally released Kuina, scrutinizing her carefully, and said with relief, "You're finally back, my daughter."
Kuina also hugged Genzo tightly, relishing the long-lost fatherly love.
Cheng Xiaoyu looked at the embracing father and daughter, feeling a touch of relief himself.
He quietly turned and stepped back a few paces, giving Genzo and Kuina's shadow some private space.
Then, Genzo's gaze turned to Cheng Xiaoyu, his eyes filled with gratitude and questions.
"Thank you, how exactly did you do it?"
Cheng Xiaoyu smiled faintly, explaining, "I merely used my Devil Fruit ability to awaken her shadow, allowing her to return to this world."
Genzo was even more astonished upon hearing this. He realized that Cheng Xiaoyu's ability was extraordinary, and his heart was filled with awe.
Although it was just a shadow, having the thoughts and memories from before life was no different from resurrection.
At this moment, Kuina also noticed Cheng Xiaoyu. She bowed to Cheng Xiaoyu and said gratefully,
"Thank you for bringing me back to my father."
"Wrong, you are the shadow I awakened, you can only stay by my side."
...
The atmosphere instantly grew cold, but for the young man who had brought her back from the dead, he could not control Kuina's departure or stay.
"Kuina, while you were asleep, Zoro has been getting stronger day and night," Cheng Xiaoyu added.
Hearing the name "Zoro," Kuina's eyes instantly sharpened, and a fierce sword intent emanated from her.
"Zoro... that guy..." She clenched her fists, her tone carrying a hint of stubborn unwillingness to admit defeat.
"How could I possibly lose to that guy Zoro!"
"He's been going around saying he's going to take your share of effort and become the World's Greatest Swordsman."
"What?!" Kuina's delicate brows furrowed upon hearing this, and a flicker of anger flashed in her eyes.
"No need! I will definitely surpass him again!"
Kuina's eyes were filled with fighting spirit, like a sharp sword about to be unsheathed, its brilliance fully revealed.
"I want to become the World's Greatest Swordsman! Let the whole world know that even a female swordswoman can stand at the pinnacle of swordsmanship!"
"So, come with me, let's explore the world outside!" Cheng Xiaoyu extended his hand, inviting Kuina.
She looked at Cheng Xiaoyu, her eyes full of anticipation, "In this state, can I wield a sword?"
Cheng Xiaoyu smiled, a hint of cunning in his grin: "Of course you can!"
Under Kuina's fervent gaze, he nodded slightly, flipped his palm, and summoned the system interface.
"System, open the armory!" he commanded softly.
A translucent light curtain then appeared, unfolding before him like a vast starry sky.
The dazzling array of weapons made him dizzy, but he had only one goal in mind—the Shadow of wado ichimonji.
Cheng Xiaoyu's gaze was calm and sharp, his finger sliding rapidly across the interface.
A few seconds later, his eyes lit up!
The shape of that sword appeared on the screen—the projected form of wado ichimonji.
The entire blade was enveloped in a deep, dark shadow, yet its gleaming edge still retained a cold glint amidst the devouring darkness.
[Shadow of wado ichimonji — Value 20000 points. Exchange?]
"Exchange!" Cheng Xiaoyu said without hesitation.
As he spoke, a low hum resonated, and the dark shadow beside Cheng Xiaoyu condensed and surged, finally revealing the outline of a blade.
The next second, the "Shadow of wado ichimonji" appeared steadily in his right hand.
"wado ichimonji..."
Genzo's pupils constricted slightly, his breathing becoming rapid and erratic.
He recognized the outline of this blade at a glance, and a mixture of emotion and shock surged through his heart, his voice even trembling slightly.
"Is this... is this wado ichimonji? It actually... actually recreated one through your Devil Fruit ability?"
"This is impossible... absolutely impossible..."
"Our family spent a hundred years of effort forging wado ichimonji! Its craftsmanship has been completely lost since then. This is one of the 21 Great Grade Swords, there aren't many in the entire world..."
"But now, this sword before me, it's so incredibly close to the original!"
He shook his head in disbelief, his eyes filled with shock and incredulity.
Cheng Xiaoyu did not reply. He simply tossed the "Shadow of wado ichimonji" in his hand casually, the blade tracing a graceful arc in the air before accurately landing in Kuina's hand.
"Try out your new partner, see if you're used to it?"
Kuina was slightly stunned. The moment the hilt met her fingertips, a cold yet familiar sensation quickly enveloped her palm.
At that very instant, deep within her mind, it was as if a long-sealed bellows had suddenly opened, and years of memories surged forth like a flood.
She saw the flashes of sword light clashing during their sparring under the moonlit night in the dojo;
She heard Zoro's roar, the tears of unwillingness and stubbornness condensed in the young boy's eyes;
She seemed to hear her father's low, helpless sigh during their farewell, "As a woman, you can never bear the name of a Swordsman..."
That sentence pierced her young self like a sharp blade, and like a dark shadow, it had always lurked in the depths of her heart.
Kuina silently gazed at the "Shadow of wado ichimonji" in her hand. The turmoil in her heart gradually subsided, yet an unprecedented obsession and fighting spirit arose.
She took a deep breath, then held the blade horizontally in front of her, her gaze like an eagle's, revealing an indescribable sharpness and decisiveness.
Then, she calmed her breathing, concentrating all her will onto the blade in her hand in an instant.
"Clang—!" A clear and highly penetrating sword hum echoed all around, and immediately after, she drew the blade from its sheath without hesitation.
"Boom—!" A wave of air swept in all directions like a tide. Amidst the swirling dust, everything fell silent.
The large tree in front fell in response, its cut smooth as a mirror. Where the blade passed, even the air seemed to be split open by a long, narrow gap.
Genzo's pupils contracted violently. In that scene, his daughter's graceful figure actually overlapped with the dignified afterimages of the Shimotsuki family's past swordsmen, shocking and undeniable—
This was the stance of a strong person!
"Not bad." Kuina murmured softly, a hint of excitement and fighting spirit in her eyes. She turned to look at Cheng Xiaoyu, "This sword is mine."
"Then, in exchange, become my shadow!"
"Your... shadow?" Kuina repeated, puzzled.
Cheng Xiaoyu explained, "That's right! You can continue to pursue the path of the sword!"
Kuina seemed to be thinking. She looked at her translucent body, then thought of Zoro, who was probably still sweating profusely at that moment. Finally, she made up her mind.
"Good!"
She cut a strand of her hair and let it fall before the grave, "But I have one condition."
"Speak."
"Sooner or later, please let me have a fair fight with Zoro!"
"No problem, it's a deal!"
"Come with me, we'll set off at dawn..."
[System Notification: Successfully extracted and saved Kuina's shadow!]
[Young Kuina (Combat Power Rating B / Growable / Growth Talent: S-rank)]
Just adding a weapon directly increased her rating by one level!
This shows how much a good blade can improve a swordsman!