On No Named Island in the West Blue, Noah leaned back in a lounge chair, soaking up the sun, while Robin read a book nearby, both of them looking very relaxed.
You couldn’t tell at all that these two had done something big just a few days ago.
Noah felt he had done all he could.
Rushing around now would only attract suspicion, so it was better to stay on the small island and recover from his injuries.
Robin was wherever Noah was; there was no need to overthink it.
Closing his eyes, Noah opened his status screen, mentally calculating his gains from this trip.
Body: 72/60
Strength: 65
Speed: 67
Skills:
Soru: Mastered 3%
Rankyaku: Beginner 80%
Conqueror’s Haki 15%~17%
Master Swordsmanship 15%
Observation Haki Mastered 90%
Armament Haki Mastered 80%
This clash with CP9 was very perilous.
In terms of raw power, Noah was inferior to his opponents.
The reason he won was due to several factors.
First, the opponent was careless.
They were wounded by the first blow, which affected their condition.
Second, they didn’t expect him to have a Master Armament Haki experience card, and a perfected Master level at that.
His strength surged dramatically.
Third, his swordsmanship broke through to Swordsman, allowing him to unleash Flying Slash.
The first strike after breaking through was the peak of his Swordsman phase, even triggering an overflow in Conqueror’s Haki’s power beyond its limits.
There are very few fearsome individuals on the seas who can imbue their attacks with Conqueror’s Haki; they are on the level of Roger and Whitebeard.
Even a trace of Conqueror’s Haki wrapping around a slash could easily shatter a Six Powers Secret Technique.
Unfortunately, this strike required a perfect alignment of timing, location, and circumstance, making it very difficult to replicate.
If his regular combat power were at this level, he would be at least a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral.
The gains from this battle were very pleasing.
The Armament Haki experience card worked wonders, allowing him to feel a higher level of power beforehand.
Noah’s Armament Haki had completely crossed over to the mastered level and had progressed far within that stage.
For Soru and Rankyaku, he had to thank CP9 for their “guidance.” Such technical skills were defenseless against his powers of analysis.
After breaking through to Swordsman, Shimotsuki swordsmanship could no longer help Noah much.
Every Swordsman carves their own path.
He could add the Shimotsuki name to his sword techniques, but they had essentially become his own.
Shimotsuki Ryuma had his own swordsmanship, and Shimotsuki Gyumaru also had his own, and their swordsmanship styles were different.
Therefore, it made sense for swordsmen of the same level to test their skills against each other.
Challenging a master was about pushing the limits of one’s own swordsmanship, and as long as one didn’t die, there would definitely be progress.
However, few survive.
Many people on the seas have lost their footing by going easy.
Generally, masters won’t hold back.
If you’re challenging me with a sword, should I abandon my pride as a master?
If I let one go, more will come to challenge me.
Will I still have time to train?
The swordsmen who are challengers also take their pride seriously; it would be worse than dying if they were let go.
There’s a reason for all the broken swords on the island where Mihawk resides.
Zoro being able to challenge Mihawk and survive was because Mihawk highly regarded Zoro’s spirit and talent, hence he let him live to give the future Zoro a chance.
Otherwise, would the Black Blade Yoru not be able to cut down someone who isn’t even a Swordsman?
The regrettable part of this battle was Noah’s lack of talent for naming things; he couldn’t come up with any cool sword technique names.
He envied Zoro in this aspect.
Zoro probably ate a naming naming fruit.
How else could he be holding a sword in his mouth while fighting an enemy and still shout out some chuunibyou sword technique names?
Does calling out the name give a boost to the technique?
Noah remembered watching One Piece in his past life, and sometimes Zoro wouldn’t just call out the name; he’d even add a chant before the technique.
“Three thousand worlds, all realms, for one world.
Gather a thousand realms to form a ‘Small Thousand Worlds.’ This world multiplied by three, nothing I cannot cut.
Three Sword Style Secret Technique: One Great, Three Thousand, Great, Thousand, Great Thousand Worlds!”
It was simply unbelievable.
What did Mihawk, who usually just swung his sword, think of this?
After defeating CP9, when they asked about his sword techniques, Noah really wanted to come up with a cool name.
Unfortunately, the words were on the tip of his tongue but he didn’t know what to say.
He hoped to discuss this issue with Mihawk someday.
Noah was quite satisfied with his current progress; his foundations were solid.
It was now the first half of the year 1506 of the Sea Calendar, and 1509 was not far off.
If possible, he hoped his strength would fully reach master level before he could participate in future major events.
Another gain from this trip was the upgrade to his analysis power.
Noah knew his talent was truly ordinary.
His current strength was greatly aided by his analysis power.
The higher the level of power later on, the less assistance his analysis power would provide.
He never expected that he could upgrade it through the power of the era within the Poneglyphs.
Of the 10 Poneglyphs currently known, Noah could access 4 of them.
Two were in Alabasta, one was on Skypiea, and one was on Fish-Man Island.
These places were all within Noah’s plans.
After half a month of resting his injuries on the island, Noah and Robin continued their journey.
Now a Swordsman, Noah found it hard to find an opponent in the Four Blues.
His improvement in strength relied entirely on self-cultivation and deeply analyzing the source of power.
He had now incorporated the training of lifting the light as if it were heavy into his routine, practicing with a small wooden stick every day, swinging it occasionally.
Passersby just thought he was acting silly for his age, not knowing that this wooden stick could slice through a giant boulder.
They spent half a year in the West Blue as well.
After largely covering the area, they had another pile of manuscripts.
Then they officially entered the last sea, the North Blue.
The North Blue was also home to famous strong individuals.
Unlike the East Blue, which was the center of an era, the North Blue produced figures who were pillars of their time.
For example, Akainu Sakazuki, Kizaru Borsalino, and it also produced two major powers, the Donquixote Pirates and Germa 66.
And the legendary figure, the great liar Mont Blanc Norland.
Upon arriving in the North Blue, they naturally heard a popular little story, “The Great Liar Norland.”
The protagonist, Norland, was a foolish and deceitful person who often lied, insisting until his execution that the Land of Gold truly existed.
But in reality, everything Norland said was true.
Over 400 years ago, Liar Norland, an explorer and botanist in the North Blue, came to Jaya Island with his crew during his third journey on the Grand Line, in the Sea Calendar year 1122 (about 400 years ago), to escape a storm.
He happened to save the Shandians, who were suffering from “tree rot,” and ended their tradition of human sacrifice.
He also became close friends with “Great Warrior” Kalgara.
Although Norland saved the Shandians, he was misunderstood by the tribe as a sinner who violated their traditions and faith because he cut down all the Shandians’ “divine trees” during the process.
After Kalgara ordered them to leave and drove them away, he learned from Mu, who he didn’t get to see off, the reason for cutting down the trees, which he deeply regretted.
In the Sea Calendar year 1127, Norland was ordered by the king to return to Jaya Island to find gold.
However, Jaya Island had already been washed ashore into the White Sea.
Because he couldn’t find the Land of Gold, he was convicted of deceiving the king, executed, and given the title “Great Liar.”
Before his death, Norland speculated that the Land of Gold had sunk into the sea due to tectonic movement, but no one was willing to listen to him anymore.
And Norland’s story didn’t end there.
In Dressrosa of the New World, 400 years ago, Norland saved the Tontatta tribe, who were being oppressed by humans at the time.
He stood up for them, allowing them to return to their normal lives.
In remembrance of Norland’s kindness, the Tontatta tribe erected a memorial statue of Norland in the settlement where their people lived.
Such a legendary figure from 400 years ago was misunderstood for 400 years.
Time truly conceals so much truth.
When Luffy rang the Golden Bell on Skypiea, the bell’s chime that echoed through the heavens was the best proof for Norland.
By this time, the Donquixote family and the Germa Kingdom were already established in the North Blue.
Therefore, while traveling in the North Blue, Noah maintained a cautious and discreet itinerary.
Finally, by the end of 1506, they had completed their voyage in the North Blue.
Now they were to return to the East Blue.
Home.
Robin was in a great mood.
Although traveling with Noah was enjoyable, returning home with Noah was double the happiness.
She loved their small house in the East Blue and the books in her study.
Humming a tune, the two of them carried their luggage off the passenger ship and returned to Shimotsuki Village.
Opening the door, they found the house full of dust.
This time, Robin didn’t need to use her Devil Fruit abilities.
Noah swung the wooden stick in his hand, and a gentle sword wind permeated the room.
It swept away all the dust from the surfaces and corners, and with another swing, he swept the dust into the trash can.
This was the practice of lifting the light as if it were heavy.
After a simple tidying up, they bought some ingredients and made a hearty dinner.
Afterward, Noah retired to his room to rest.
Tomorrow, he had to pay a visit to Master Koushiro and give him a surprise.