"The Second Onigiri, one of the Twenty-One Great Blades — no wonder it's a demon blade!"
Zoro excitedly drew the Second Onigiri.
The blade was sheer and cold, light flashing off its edge, a faint smell of iron and blood lingering around it.
Tengu-yama Flyche said, "Since my ancestor Gochi forged this blade it's had several owners — but each died an untimely death. Green-haired boy, think carefully: if you accept this cursed sword, be ready for misfortune at any moment."
Zoro showed no fear. He grinned, eyes bright with confidence and ambition. "I'm going to be the world's greatest swordsman. If I'm scared of a sword, I'm not fit to be a swordsman."
He lifted the Second Onigiri slowly. "I remember Master Goro-saburo telling me that every sword has a will of its own and chooses its owner. Second Onigiri — if you have a will, tell me: do I have what it takes to be your owner?"
With that, Zoro tossed the Second Onigiri straight into the air and held his right arm out level, waiting for it to fall.
"Big brother Green-Hair, move your arm! You'll lose your hand!" little O-Tama shouted, eyes wide.
Flyche was astonished. "Boy — it's been ages since I've seen a swordsman like you. Goro really took on a remarkable disciple. That heart of yours — the greatest swordsman's heart — Second Onigiri will sense it!"
Zoro smiled and closed his eyes. The Second Onigiri tumbled and spun down through the air. Given the blade's sharpness, a single nick would slice his arm clean off. The distance closed.
Flyche stared in disbelief. The legendary demon blade — is this green-haired kid truly its chosen owner?!
O-Tama covered her eyes in terror. Then, at the last instant, the Second Onigiri traced a perfect arc and sank into the floor — missing Zoro's arm completely. Zoro's right arm was unharmed.
O-Tama was stunned. Flyche breathed out in relief and smiled.
Zoro picked up the Second Onigiri and turned to Flyche. "Thanks, old man. This blade is incredible. I can feel a strong demonic presence — no, it's 'oni' ki. I can't wait to try it out!"
He bowed out quickly and ran off. "Goodbye, old man. Goodbye, O-Tama!" He was off to the gravity training room to get used to the Second Onigiri.
O-Tama watched his excited retreat and asked Flyche, curious, "Master, you really gave him that sword? It's your most precious treasure. Last time when big brother [Roxing] looked at it you were all nervous."
That first time Roxing had visited this teacher–student pair, he'd noticed the Second Onigiri but hadn't seemed particularly interested — it wasn't the original supreme blade. Flyche had shown no intention of giving it away.
Flyche answered, "Second Onigiri chose its owner. Even if I refuse, I can't stop it. Besides, what's strange about a swordsmith entrusting his dream to a true swordsman?"
O-Tama scratched her head and didn't really understand, but continued happily sipping her red-bean soup. Since the Kuri clan moved into the shogun's residence, O-Tama's life had gotten a thousand times better.
…
Roxing finished seven full days in the mid-level Time-Gravity Room — almost two years' worth of external training. When he emerged, the once-overt, suffocating edge to his presence had softened. His sharpness hadn't vanished so much as matured into simplicity. Clearly, he'd leveled up again.
Roxing had just arrived at the Flower Capital's shogun residence when he saw Zoro waiting at the gate.
"What is it, Zoro?" Roxing asked.
Zoro came bounding over. "Roxing-sama, I want to challenge you — a duel of swordsmanship!"
"Oh?" Roxing's brow lifted. "Looks like you trained hard in the gravity room. Confident, huh?"
Zoro grinned. "I've improved."
After eating the Dragon-class Monster Cell, Zoro's body had no obvious weaknesses: strength, speed, and endurance were all solid. What he needed most was refinement of technique and control of Haki. With his talent, those would improve fast.
Roxing said, "Alright — let's spar. I want to stretch my legs too."
Zoro beamed and flexed his solid arms. "You better be careful. A few days ago I got a great blade and I've developed a brand-new sword style."
Roxing's eyes flicked to the three swords at Zoro's waist. "Is that the Second Onigiri? Flyche was generous to give that up. Show me your new technique."
Zoro drew all three blades: the Wadō Ichimonji in his mouth, the Second Onigiri in his right hand, and a plain sword in his left.
"Three-Sword Style — One Hundred and Eight Frustrations Wind!" he shouted, unleashing three blue slashing waves at once.
Roxing remained calm. When the slashing waves reached him, he simply raised the scabbard of his Yama-no-Killer (the Hades blade) and deflected them — without drawing his sword.
Zoro's pupils tightened. "Roxing-sama is unbelievably strong!"
He didn't give up. Planting his feet, he sped forward with incredible pace. "Armored Haki, blacken the blades!" he barked — the three swords went black.
"Three-Sword Style — Oni Slash!" Zoro blitzed in, swinging all three blades from every angle.
Roxing, still composed, continued to parry with the scabbard. Clangs rang out as they traded a dozen strikes. Sweat beaded on Zoro's forehead.
Grimly, Zoro said, "Roxing-sama's strength is beyond sight. Now I'll use my strongest move — the one I developed with the Second Onigiri."
Roxing's gaze sharpened; he had an inkling of Zoro's new technique and watched with interest. Zoro inhaled deeply. The Second Onigiri trembled in his hand and a thick black mist began to roll off it.
His eyes widened and he shouted, "Demonic Aura — Nine-Sword Style — Asura: Ichigiri-Gin!"
For an instant, Zoro took on the appearance of three heads and six arms. Roxing thought to himself, of course — with the Second Onigiri Zoro had indeed created a Demonic-Ki Nine-Sword Style.
Zoro blurred forward with near-invisible speed and unleashed nine simultaneous strikes.
Roxing flicked his thumb, drew Yama-no-Killer, and with a sweep of magnificent Haki released a single sword cut. The two passes crossed with a thunderous clang. Roxing sheathed and turned to Zoro.
"Your Demonic-Ki sword style is truly exceptional," he said.
Zoro sheathed both the Wadō and the Second Onigiri. The plain left-hand sword had snapped from the force of the fight. He looked down at the wound on his chest — if Roxing had decided to kill him, he would have died.
Zoro sighed. "There's still an unfathomable gap between me and Roxing-sama."
Then, more earnestly: "I still lack a proper named blade. Do you know of any famous swords, Roxing-sama?"
Roxing thought for a moment. He didn't usually pay much attention to famous swords, but one came to mind: the national treasure of Wano — Shusui. "It should be aboard Moria's dread three-masted ship right now," he said.
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