"Draw your sword, Gion-senpai. I know you're holding back."
Suddenly, a golden sword of light appeared in Ren's hand — modeled after Kizaru's Ama no Murakumo.
It was shaped like a traditional Huaxia longsword, styled after the legendary Xuanyuan Sword.
With the power of the Glint-Glint Fruit coursing through it, it radiated might no less than a famed named blade.
Zephyr, watching from the sidelines, sighed deeply.
"To think this kid has developed his Devil Fruit ability to this degree… I honestly don't know if that's a good thing or not."
Neither Zephyr nor Garp were Devil Fruit users. In their view, becoming too reliant on a Fruit's power was a bad thing.
To become the strongest in the world, strength alone wasn't enough — not even with a powerful fruit like the Glint-Glint.
Zephyr had always warned Kizaru not to neglect his body techniques.
But at the same time, to leave such a powerful ability undeveloped would be a waste.
Power comes at a price — a fruit that's too strong can hinder a person's true growth.
That's why Garp insisted Ren reach the level of Ryuo (advanced Armament Haki) before being allowed to develop his fruit powers.
And yet, in just three years… Ren had done it.
Such talent was terrifying.
Even Luffy had to train two years for basic Armament Haki and later spent even more time mastering Ryuo in Wano. But that's protagonist privilege.
Ren, on the other hand, was just grinding the hard way.
Still, he was satisfied with his progress.
"Huh? You've trained in swordsmanship too? What a surprising little monster…"
Gion's heart trembled as she saw Ren summon the sword.
This wasn't a novice swordsman.
She had thought — naively — that he was just someone with decent Haki and some martial skill.
But now… this wasn't just a swordsman.
He was a swordmaster!
That mysterious presence known as "sword pressure" — Kenryoku — was the hallmark of every true swordmaster.
To become a Great Swordmaster, one must grasp Kenryoku and possess swordsmanship at the highest level.
There were barely a handful of people in the world recognized as Great Swordmasters.
Even Gion, despite her pride, knew she had a long way to go.
She only awakened her sword pressure in a moment of life-or-death crisis, and had crawled through countless near-death battles to reach her current level.
And yet…
Ren's sword pressure exploded out like it was natural.
He had it too.
He was a swordmaster!
"Do real prodigies actually exist?
Forget me — even Dracule Mihawk, the world's strongest swordsman — I doubt he had talent like this."
"This guy… is a monster wearing human skin!"
Gion was genuinely shaken. Her worldview cracked.
And then she remembered their bet — if she lost, she'd be his vice-captain.
And now they were both swordmasters.
Suddenly, the bet didn't feel so safe.
Compared to Gion's shock, Zephyr was downright grumpy.
This brat had Haki, body techniques, a powerful Devil Fruit, and now swordsmanship too?
What the hell was he trying to be — a one-man army?!
Did Garp never teach him the phrase "jack of all trades, master of none"?
Piling on too many skills would only dilute focus. That's not how you become the best.
In Zephyr's rigid mindset, Ren was on "the wrong path."
If Garp were here, Zephyr might've punched him for being such a reckless mentor.
"Damn it, who trains a disciple like this?"
But the moment he felt the weight of Ren's sword pressure, Zephyr paused.
Was that… the awakening of Conqueror's Haki?
Off to the side, Simba and the others were just as confused.
"Oi oi, when did boss start learning the sword?"
"I've never seen it," said Dar, shaking his head. "Boss always said punching people in the face felt best."
As he spoke, he rubbed his own head — clearly, he'd been on the receiving end many times these past three years.
Ren stared intently at Gion, his aura slowly merging with the Xuanyuan Sword in his hand.
What man doesn't love swords?
In the world of One Piece, of course Ren had to train in them too.
He didn't know any flashy moves.
He simply practiced the eight fundamental forms of swordsmanship every day:
Thrust, Sweep, Slash, Draw, Flourish, Flick, Sever, Tap.
He trained each motion 5,000 times a day.
Only with his system-enhanced body could he withstand that volume — any normal person's body would've crumbled by now.
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