"Flying slash?"
Zoro, who had just returned from escorting Nami and the others, had just boarded the ship and casually struck up a conversation with Hiroto, only to hear these words that left him not knowing how to respond.
Hiroto had just said that although he had used some clever tricks before, he was about to learn the true flying slash.
Zoro's first reaction was: Are you joking?
But then he thought about how it was Hiroto who had said it, and he had no way to deny or question it. The example of 'Breath of All Things' was right before his eyes.
But can a person really be a monster to this extent?
Zoro, who was usually a monster in the eyes of others, was now wondering if his own Captain was a monster.
But learning a Flying Slash was simply too exaggerated.
Keep in mind, only about half a month had passed since Hiroto's last breakthrough to learn the Breath of All Things.
During that time, Hiroto had also learned Armament Haki, and most of his energy had even been spent on that. It was only in the last few days that he started focusing on the Flying Slash.
Zoro instinctively didn't believe it but Hiroto had already shown him a real-life example of 'what a f-ing genius looks like' once before.
'Can he really unleash a Flying Slash? It shouldn't be possible.'
Zoro was in disbelief, wanting to see a failure that fit his understanding.
"You seem very confident."
Compared to Zoro, who was unwilling to believe but forced to take the words seriously due to past experience, Koushirou's reaction was very calm, but he didn't offer encouragement.
Instead, he cautioned, "Being overly ambitious is not a good thing."
Clearly, unlike Zoro who had traveled with him, Koushirou only took it as the arrogant bravado of a young man. He had made the mistake of relying on empiricism.
Hiroto didn't argue and simply continued his training.
Nami and Carina quickly appraised the specific value of that batch of treasure.
At this time, Binmock cleared out the goods on hand through various channels and bought some cheap goods in large quantities. He planned to make another profit after the return voyage.
He used all the remaining money to buy Hiroto's treasures, and the excess he couldn't handle was left to other merchants.
All in all, Hiroto's side received a total of 550 million berries. Including the original various reserves, they had about 600 million berries. At least for a long time, there was no need to worry about expenses.
At the same time, Binmock also purchased several den den mushi, making up for the team's lack of long-distance communication means.
Three days passed in a flash.
The Going Merry was anchored in the sea outside the port.
Hiroto sat cross-legged on the sheep-head figurehead, with Shigure resting on his knees. He closed his eyes against the wind, or rather, a wailing gale was surrounding him, like loyal soldiers guarding their king.
But if one felt it carefully, there would be a completely different sensation. It was not natural wind, nor was it the gale brought by [Thrust]. It was more like 'wind' that was alive and possessed a will.
In the original story, Zoro used the Flying Slash on Skypiea after learning the Breath of All Things.
The meaning revealed between the lines was very direct: one only begins to try and learn the Flying Slash after learning the Breath of All Things.
There was a clear sequence.
And Koushirou's teaching also revealed the essence of this point.
The Flying Slash—how do you make the slash wave that flies out maintain its power at a long distance?
Pure brute force?
Perhaps that's a way, but it doesn't belong to a swordsman.
When Mihawk's slash was blocked by Diamond Jozu during the Marineford War, its manifestation didn't seem like a product of pure brute force. It was more like something with spirituality, an extension of something. Even if blocked and thrown into the sky, its power could tear through the firmament.
This wasn't something that could be achieved through pure brute force alone.
So what exactly was it?
The answer surfaced in Hiroto's mind.
Using a human body to borrow the sword's eye, sensing the pulse of inanimate objects, achieving the Breath of All Things.
The even more advanced Flying Slash was also built upon this.
Extending and spreading toward all things with a sword infused with one's own consciousness, turning them into a part of one's own will.
Touch, control, dominate, and finally use.
The moment he realized this, Hiroto saw the light, and several messages appeared.
[Entry: Flying Slash (Blue) acquired!]
[Panel Updated]
[True Swordsman → Swordmaster]
The message faded, replaced by the rushing sound of water ahead.
Off the Going Merry's bow, a huge shadow glided beneath the surface. Some colossal creature had marked the motionless 'prey'.
The sea bulged upward, water cascading down to reveal a monstrous serpentine body.
Like a sea serpent, yet dozens of meters tall, its bulk rivaling a Marine warship.
Its gaping maw bristled with tusks thicker than a man. Yet it kept its distance, a mere probe or warning.
"Hiroto..."
Nami at the helm paled. "A sea king!"
She rarely panicked, but these beasts were ferociously territorial. Days anchored here must have looked like a challenge.
Then she spotted the figure seated cross-legged at the prow. Her tension melted and the man seemed no longer small. He felt like a mountain, steadying her heart.
Not crushing, but reassuring.