Inside the dojo, Amon sat with Koushirou and the others, sipping tea and trading stories from the sea. The talk flowed easily.
He had only visited two places so far, yet he had watched all of One Piece and his "knowledge" did not come up short. Kuina and Zoro found themselves admiring him more and more. When he mentioned an elephant larger than an island, both of them could not help gasping.
After hearing Amon's tales, Kuina's resolve to become a great swordsman grew even firmer.
They talked like that for a long while, laughing aloud whenever the mood rose. At the right moment, Amon brought out the fine liquor Makino had blended and shared it around.
"Delicious." Zoro took a heavy swig and shouted his praise.
Koushirou sipped and nodded. "Truly excellent. I did not expect you to be a master brewer as well, Mr. Amon."
"Hehe, not bad, right." The liquor was Makino's, but since they had already shared a night, calling it "his" did not feel wrong.
"Mhm." Zoro drank another big mouthful and could not spare his tongue for words. Amon sighed inwardly. So young and already this fond of drink, no wonder he would grow into such a lush. The Straw Hats really were a gifted bunch, with a little of everything, food and drink and every vice in between.
"Let me try." Kuina, seeing everyone so happy, took a small sip. "Mmm, so good. Much better than fruit wine." That single taste brightened her eyes.
Dragon and the others also praised Amon's liquor. Tea brought quiet contentment. After three rounds of drinks, the mood turned lively.
"By the way, Mr. Amon, I heard from Kuina and Zoro that you are a master of the sword."
Carried by the warmth of wine, Koushirou kept asking about swordplay, and at last he voiced a desire to cross blades.
"Hm?"
The room fell still at his request.
"Well?" Koushirou smiled.
"Honored to accept." Amon looked at his harmless face and grinned, agreeing.
In the original story, Koushirou's true level had always been debated. As the plot advanced, and with his connection to Dragon, many fans analyzed his strength. Some guessed he came from the Shimotsuki clan of Wano.
According to Kozuki Oden, the warriors under that clan were the strongest in Wano. Their group bore a clear emblem, two swords crossed. The dojo Koushirou ran in Shimotsuki Village used that same crossed-swords emblem, printed on every student's uniform. Add the village name "Shimotsuki," and the signs all pointed to a warrior of the Shimotsuki line.
Still, it was speculation. No one knew how strong the master truly was. Some said he was not inferior to Mihawk, but no one had seen him fight for real. As a One Piece fan, Amon wanted to see Koushirou's true skill, and to gauge what his own LV7 swordsmanship really meant.
"Master, Father, you want to spar with Mr. Amon?" Zoro and Kuina, who had been drinking at the side, stared in surprise. In their minds, Koushirou was always the gentle sort, modest and uninterested in fame. They had never once seen him draw his blade. That he would ask to spar today set their hearts pounding. Zoro even put down his beloved cup, afraid to miss a single detail. Clashes between real masters did not come every day.
"Come."
Amon accepted a wooden sword a student brought over. "Once we are done, we keep drinking."
He lifted the wooden blade and raised it to his chest.
The instant he gripped the sword, his aura changed. A moment earlier he had been all casual breeze and drifting cloud. Now, as his fingers closed, a vast killing edge surged out. It was a hundred times heavier than when he had faced Zoro.
Those sitting nearby felt as if a mountain had settled over their shoulders, making it hard to breathe.
"Go." Dragon flicked a hand. A sudden wind rose, and with one motion he whisked everyone out into the yard.
"So strong. That sword intent is even fiercer than Hawkeye's." Outside the hall, Dragon watched Amon in the courtyard.
Only after Dragon pulled them out did Kuina and Zoro feel the pressure vanish. They sucked in deep breaths, then looked back at Amon with changed eyes. Zoro's gaze in particular burned hotter.
In the heart of that sword aura, Koushirou felt the pressure and smiled. He raised his own blade and, without waiting, launched the first attack.