What Shimotsuki Koshiro said was, of course, true.
After all, even among geniuses, there are differences.
Although Cyrus had only been at the Isshin Dojo in Shimotsuki Village for a month, the talent he had revealed was enough to astound Shimotsuki Koshiro.
That was why he had given this answer.
"Find a sword style that suits me?" Cyrus said softly, and a ball of fire appeared in his mind.
The power of the Flame-Flame Fruit was the strongest power he currently possessed, so he naturally thought of flames.
And a skinny old man wreathed in flames appeared in his mind.
A temperature comparable to the sun; if he went all out for too long, he could even destroy a world.
He had not been lax in developing his Devil Fruit powers and had also tried to use all his knowledge to create some powerful moves.
Perhaps he could give it a try.
Cyrus's eyes lit up.
No man would dislike moves that were both cool and powerful!
"It seems you already have an idea. But before that, I will teach you my philosophy of swordsmanship. This is my understanding of the sword, which you can use as a reference," Shimotsuki Koshiro said with a smile, having been watching Cyrus's expression.
"No problem. I do have some ideas, but they are very difficult. I'm certainly willing to spend time trying."
Cyrus felt no sense of urgency and was willing to spend time experimenting with this.
"You must not neglect your basic swordsmanship training. From now on, you will train by yourself in the morning, and in the afternoon, I will guide you in Haki and swordsmanship training."
After speaking, Shimotsuki Koshiro looked Cyrus over a few times, then stood up and walked to the side wall.
He pulled something and the wall slid aside, revealing rows of sword racks.
"You can choose a sword. Although I don't recommend beginners use a real sword, you are different."
Cyrus didn't stand on ceremony as he stood up and began to choose.
They all looked to be of fine quality.
Cyrus knew that Shimotsuki Koshiro's father was Shimotsuki Kozaburo, a master swordsmith from Wano Country.
The Great Grade Sword, Enma, was one of his creations.
Cyrus picked up every sword, one by one, finally grabbing a blade that was longer, wider, and heavier than the rest.
Cyrus was now over 1.8 meters tall, and this sword was even taller than him.
Seeing Cyrus return with this unusually long sword, Shimotsuki Koshiro was a little surprised, but he didn't say much.
As the door slid shut, the two sat down again.
Shimotsuki Koshiro's gaze swept over the longsword resting by Cyrus's side, and he sighed with some emotion.
"These were all swords forged by my father in the past, but he hasn't forged any in a very long time. You can give it a name yourself. Perhaps one day it will become a true black blade, renowned across the seas."
"A black blade?" Cyrus asked in response.
He knew what a black blade was and that it was created by its wielder.
It seemed to be related to Haki.
"A black blade is a state a sword can achieve. When a wielder carries a sword through countless battles, imbuing it with Haki time and time again, the very nature of the blade in their hands will change. Its material will become much harder, to the point where it can be called indestructible."
Seeming to grow enthusiastic, Shimotsuki Koshiro looked directly into Cyrus's eyes.
"And right now, the sword of Hawkeye, who just became the world's greatest Swordsman—his Yoru—is a black blade."
He thought Cyrus's expression would change when he mentioned this.
But when Cyrus heard of the black blade Yoru, his expression remained placid.
"Don't you want to become the world's strongest Swordsman?" Shimotsuki Koshiro asked with a cheerful smile.
"I don't have that thought right now."
Cyrus shook his head. "Ultimately, my goal has always been to live a stable life in this world. If that So called strongest Swordsman gets in my way in the future, perhaps the title will change hands."
Hearing Cyrus calmly state that he would make the title of number one Swordsman change hands, Shimotsuki Koshiro burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, good! I'd quite like to see that day. After all, I can say I've given you some guidance in Swordsmanship, so I'd share in the glory."
"So, since I'm not even a Master Swordsman yet, isn't it a bit too early for us to be talking about this?"
Cyrus was a little speechless watching the laughing Shimotsuki Koshiro.
"I believe you have the talent for it."
"Alright, thank you for your confidence. But I'd like to learn Observation Haki first."
"Okay!"
Although he didn't know why Cyrus wanted to learn Observation Haki first, Shimotsuki Koshiro did not refuse.
"Then I'll take my leave."
Cyrus stood up, grabbed the sword beside him, and left.
Shimotsuki Koshiro watched Cyrus depart.
A long while later, a short old man slowly walked out.
"He knew I was here. He may have already awakened Observation Haki, but he just can't use it freely yet."
The old man, holding a traditional pipe, sat down where Cyrus had just been sitting.
"What do you think, Father?"
"Even you can't see through him. This old man is not as good as you, so I can't see through him either," Shimotsuki Kozaburo said, shaking his head.
Although he was a master swordsmith and knew some Swordsmanship, his skills with a blade couldn't compare to his son's.
"However, he might really be able to forge a black blade. I didn't expect him to choose that one."
Thinking of the sword Cyrus had taken, Shimotsuki Kozaburo was filled with emotion.
"That sword is no worse than a Great Grade Blade. It's just that when I forged it, my stamina was already failing, so it's very crude. And it's very heavy."
The sword Cyrus had taken was indeed more than ten times heavier than an ordinary sword.
"He has a special talent. This bit of weight is nothing to him."
Shimotsuki Koshiro was well aware of Cyrus's strength.
Or rather, Cyrus's strength was directly proportional to his appetite.
"Mm. Focus on teaching him. He probably won't stay here for very long."
Shimotsuki Kozaburo stood up as he spoke, then started walking out.
But after a few steps, he turned back, his somewhat dim, aged eyes looking at Shimotsuki Koshiro.
"And Zoro!" He paused, a trace of nostalgia flashing in his eyes. "Zoro's talent for Swordsmanship is inherited from his grandfather and father, and even from that dragon-slaying swordsman. You must teach him well."
"Understood!"
Hailing from Wano Country, Shimotsuki Koshiro was a firm believer in things like bloodlines.
Zoro's ancestors included several great Master Swordsmen, so Zoro himself must surely possess the same aptitude.
...
Cyrus had indeed faintly sensed that someone was nearby but had not shown themselves while he was talking with Shimotsuki Koshiro.
But he didn't probe any further.
It was enough to just mind his own business.
After returning to his room, Cyrus raised his hand and drew the sword from its sheath.
Its matte luster wasn't very bright, and a wave-like pattern covered the entire blade.
It was much thicker than an ordinary sword, but its edge was no less sharp.
Holding the hilt, he brought the sword horizontal before his chest.
A flicker of fire appeared in his hand and spread along the blade.
In an instant, flames completely enveloped the sword.
However, for now, these flames were all for show.