After the heavy door opened, Garling continued to support Lloyd as they stepped inside. Lloyd's tone remained calm, his expression unreadable as he asked, "Uncle Garling, did Grandpa stop coming here after he became a Devil Fruit user? Or did he need to bring you every time just to open the door for him?"
Garling paused for a moment before understanding the implication. The usually solemn man allowed himself a faint smile. "So you're already imagining the day you become Head of the Family? Thinking quite far ahead, aren't you? I'm not dead yet."
"That's not what I meant. Besides, it's not like I can only take the role after you die. Maybe you'll get bored one day and retire early."
"Retire? Do you think the position of Family Head is like a post in the Marines? Have you ever heard of a retired Head?"
"You're right. Then I guess it's better if I don't take the position at all, since I don't want Uncle Garling to die."
That part came from Lloyd's real thoughts, though he did not show much emotion on his face. After a few back-and-forth exchanges, Garling loosened up, speaking more freely. "At least you still have a conscience. Don't worry, the position will be yours sooner or later. As for what you asked, it's not a difficult problem to solve. It simply depends on whether you're qualified to accept the gift I prepared for you."
Only then did Lloyd remember the gift Garling had mentioned. As they moved farther from the Sea Stone door, Lloyd slowly regained his strength.
He stepped away from Garling, rolling his shoulders slightly before examining the secret chamber.
As one of the most powerful Celestial Dragon lineages, the Figarland Family had accumulated staggering wealth. Mountains of gold and jewels lay piled casually, treated like worthless trinkets. Their value meant nothing here.
What truly mattered were the swords displayed along the walls.
Not every blade deserved a place among them. Lloyd noticed several swords stacked in a corner, accompanied by a wooden sign reading "50 Skillful Grade". Tags on their hilts displayed their respective names.
But the swords on the wall were different. These were the 21 Great Grade Blades. Lloyd counted them, finding five in total.
Five out of twenty-one in the entire world. The Figarland Family held nearly a quarter of them.
Even Lloyd felt a spark of awe.
This was the first time he truly grasped the family's terrifying heritage.
Garling noticed Lloyd's lingering gaze and smiled faintly. "Seems you have an interest in swords."
Lloyd looked away, his voice steady and emotionless. "They look impressive, but my swordsmanship isn't refined. Giving me a rare blade would be a waste."
Garling snorted. "You have the nerve to admit that? Our Family's foundation is swordsmanship. It's what we excel in."
"There wasn't much to learn in the Marines. The swordsmen there aren't exactly exceptional."
Garling nodded with disdain. "You're right. Those Marine swordsmen are half-trained fools."
"So, Uncle Garling, the gift you mentioned is a sword?"
"Exactly. As a member of the Figarland Family, not having your own blade is unacceptable."
"Then those swords on the wall…"
Garling stared at him with disappointment. "Is this all you aim for? The 21 Great Grade Blades are decent, but if the future Family Head uses one of those, it embarrasses the entire lineage."
Lloyd fell silent. His gaze drifted to the sword at Garling's waist. If Garling's words were true, that blade had to be one of the 12 Supreme Grade Swords.
Only twelve existed in the world.
And Garling wasn't about to hand away his own, which meant the Family possessed more than one Supreme Grade blade.
Lloyd didn't react outwardly, but inside, he acknowledged it.
A foundation like this could shake the world.
Garling didn't keep him waiting. He led Lloyd to the far end of the room, where several ornate coffins were arranged. The central one was the largest and most extravagant.
Above each coffin hung a portrait. The hairstyles were… unique. Without a doubt, each coffin held a former Head of the Figarland Family.
Garling bowed to them. Lloyd followed suit.
Then Garling approached the central coffin and pushed the lid open.
Lloyd stepped closer and looked inside.
A skeleton lay within, clad in golden armor. Strangely, the skeleton still had hair, perfectly matching the one in the portrait. It looked as if death had never dared touch it.
But Lloyd's attention was immediately captured by the sword resting in the skeleton's arms.
The blade was pitch-black, its edge veined with vivid purple patterns that resembled living blood vessels. A large ruby gleamed at the base of the hilt.
As Lloyd stared, his vision blurred. His mind drifted. His body faintly trembled. Something inside him was… reacting.
Garling, observing the sword, remained calm. He even reached out and ran a finger along the blade. "He was the first Head of the Figarland Family, Saint Cassius. This sword belonged to him. You and he—Lloyd? Lloyd!"
Only then did Garling notice the boy's abnormality.
A sudden surge of black flames burst from the blade.
The sword dissolved into a streak of darkness, shooting past Garling and plunging directly into Lloyd's right hand.
The black light condensed, reforming into the sword's original shape.
Lloyd blinked, consciousness snapping back as he lifted his arm. The weapon settled into his grasp as though it had always belonged there. "What just happened? What is this sword?"
Garling steadied himself, eyes wide with shock. "That sword… is one of the 12 Supreme Grade Blades. Its name is Demon Blade, Muramasa."
The moment he spoke the name, the sword in Lloyd's hand began to exude streams of black mist.
Lloyd's expression remained blank, but his eyes narrowed.
That mist was unmistakable.
It was the power of darkness.
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