"For those of us who make our living on the sea, the fastest way to get stronger is through battle… battling enemies, battling oneself, battling nature..."
On the deck of Marine Branch 77's Battleship, the clashing hum of swords echoed incessantly.
Mixed within it was the crisp 'commentary' from the young girl leaning against the ice chair.
"Why does battle make us stronger?"
Swallowing his saliva, a relatively brave Marine asked quietly on behalf of the others.
"Whether it's surpassing yourself, or conquering enemies and nature, it's all about tempering your will."
Sakura glanced at these Marines and actually explained it to them.
"The firmer your will, the more you can influence reality, making your body and skills stronger as well. And besides..."
Here, the mischievous girl deliberately slowed her speech.
"And besides?"
A group of Marines, their interest piqued, eagerly awaited her next words.
After all, the experience talk of a famous sea powerhouse was a treat even in Headquarters, usually reserved for elites in the training camps.
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Sakura happily picked up her iced beer and took a big gulp, winking playfully at the expectant Marines.
"You have to pay for it too!"
A large group of Marines was thunderstruck, all of them collapsing onto the frost-covered deck.
"Hahahaha!"
Very satisfied with the Marines' reaction, Sakura turned her gaze back to the battlefield.
Kuina, who had been taught swordsmanship by a Great Swordsman since childhood and could already easily defeat adults, was in a very awkward position in her battle with Pudding Pudding.
Not only because this enemy was from Marine Headquarters in the Grand Line-
But also because the skill she had trained in her eleven years of life was Kendo, not practical swordsmanship.
Kuina, who is raised in the hothouse environment of a dojo, was still too inexperienced against a veteran like Pudding Pudding, who had truly fought and killed pirates.
"Stop this, little girl. I see from your attire you're a local commoner, right?"
"If you've been kidnapped by that evil pirate, come behind me. I will protect you and send you home!"
Pudding Pudding slashed Kuina away.
The powerful, heavy blow sent her sliding back a long way from the recoil, her feet leaving two deep trails in the frost on the deck.
"I... am standing here by my own will. Don't… look down on me!"
Kuina raised the Muramasa in her hand once more. A hazy blue mist seemed to gather around this demon sword, passed down through the Shimotsuki Family for generations.
Gripping the hilt tightly with both hands, she used a dragging sword technique to charge at the Marine Commodore before her.
"I see. So you're a little pirate brat in need of corrective education!"
This time, Pudding Pudding raised his longsword without any hesitation or holding back, intending to defeat his opponent in one strike.
The ornate cursed sword and the standard-issue Marine longsword collided in mid-air, sparks flying, illuminating the iron-cold faces of the Marine and the pirate.
The violent storm turned into wind, frost, and snow scattering down.
The heavy wind and snow were split apart by the slash of the longsword, but Kuina's figure seemed to vanish, merging into the wind.
Yet in an instant, she was right in front of Pudding Pudding, the cursed sword in her hand descending towards him.
Steel clashed again, sparks flying.
The two passed each other, but Kuina twisted her blade, scooping up a sheet of frost from the deck and flinging it at Pudding Pudding, obscuring his vision.
Then she turned, using the force of the spin, putting her body weight behind the blade for a diagonal slash!
Her technique had improved, right in the midst of this brief exchange!
Watching Kuina's style gradually become more 'underhanded', a smile tugged at the corner of Sakura's mouth: "Looks like she doesn't need my pointers anymore."
"Hmph!"
Pudding Pudding didn't feel the slightest anger at this, because after he blocked Kuina's strike...
His free hand had already slipped into his coat. Beneath the Justice Cloak, a rod-like object was pushed out.
Bang!
The firing pin ignited the gunpowder, the flash and impact propelling the bullet through the cloak.
Kuina, who was about to press forward, felt her eye twitch violently. A sense of deadly chill spread, and she frantically rolled to the side.
A bullet crater now marked the spot where she had just been. Before she could even feel shocked, the waiting blade came slashing down.
The outcome was decided!
A look of triumphant pleasure appeared in Pudding Pudding's eyes.
But unexpectedly, after the blade fell, the girl who should have been cut down dissolved like an illusion.
"One Sword Style: Bhagawadgita!"
The girl's sharp cry rang out. Her form, distorted by the deathly aura, slowly materialized, dancing like flames as the demon sword gleamed with blue light, charging forward at an unbelievable speed.
In his astonishment, Pudding Pudding tried to retreat, but the blade was already right before his eyes.
Shoop!
An unforeseen tremendous force erupted from the blade, shattering the longsword he tried to block with and carving a huge gash across his body.
The deathly aura from the demon sword injected into Pudding Pudding's body, completely igniting the flames of despair in his heart.
With the collapse of his will, he lost all his strength, was sent flying into the air by the ensuing force, and finally crashed heavily to the ground.
"Commodore!"
The Marines, seeing this, rushed forward, but Sakura unleashed a burst of Conqueror's Haki, knocking them all unconscious.
Kuina supported herself on the Muramasa with both hands, breathing heavily on one knee.
"Well done!"
Sakura walked over and ruffled her hair.
Then she treated both her and the unconscious Commodore, bandaged their wounds, and summoned Leviathan.
Having turned into a plump little night sparrow due to the ship's modification, Leviathan was horrified to find she could no longer perch on Sakura's shoulder.
So, the whole bird seemed to have its bones removed, slumping into a despondent forward bend on the ground.
"Stop fooling around. Take these two into your belly. Don't let this affect your modification plans!"
Sakura curled her knuckles and knocked on the little fat bird's head.
"Alrighty~"
Hearing that she could still be saved, Leviathan immediately struggled to open her mouth and swallowed the two.
Then, like a ground-running chicken, she stuck close behind Sakura, not leaving a step.
"Transformation!"
Sakura formed the hand signs: Dog - Boar - Ram. Chakra surged around her, exploding into a puff of smoke.
Immediately, a 'Pudding Pudding', complete with injuries, walked out of the smoke.
Cough!
After adjusting her voice, the newly appointed Commodore of Marine Branch 77, 'Commodore Sakura', took office.
After a long wait, the soldiers on the Battleship slowly woke from their unconsciousness. Seeing they were still alive, they wept with joy.
"Commodore, how did we survive?"
The recovering soldiers began gathering around their commanding officer. Soon, the 'Commodore' was surrounded by concerned soldiers.
"It's shameful to say, but we were actually spared by a pirate..."
Leaning dejectedly against the bulwark, the 'Commodore's' tone was low.
The soldiers came forward one after another, offering words of comfort: "Commodore, it's not your fault!"
The man on the deck seemed comforted, mustering his energy again: "Thank you, but my Justice will not give up so easily! Everyone is not in good condition now. Let's return to base to rest and recuperate."
"Yes, sir!"
The Marine soldiers saluted him and ran back to their respective posts, completely unaware that the solid ice beneath the ship was melting at an unbelievable rate.
The Battleship soon turned its bow and set course for the waters where Branch 77's base, located in the Conifer Islands, lay.