Inside the spacious dojo, two figures clashed in a fierce spar.
One was Light, the other was Roronoa Zoro.
Light gripped his katana firmly with both hands, parrying in rapid succession.
Opposite him, Zoro pressed forward relentlessly, wielding his Three-Sword Style with overwhelming force and giving Light almost no opportunity to counter.
Light’s build was solid and powerful, yet Zoro, though slightly leaner, possessed astonishing strength of his own.
Their blades collided again and again, each strike producing sharp clangs and bursts of sparks.
After dozens of exchanges, one of Zoro’s swords suddenly shifted forward, slipping from its usual rhythm.
The blade shot toward Light’s neck at an unexpected angle.
Caught off guard, Light reacted instinctively, raising his sword to block.
In doing so, his chest was left open.
“It’s over!” Zoro roared.
He removed Wado Ichimonji from his mouth, gripping it in his hand as his aura surged.
His arms tensed, muscles swelling with explosive strength.
“Two-Sword Style: Rhinoceros Saber!”
His blades thrust forward like the horns of a charging beast, aiming straight for Light’s chest.
In that instant, Light understood.
He had lost the sword fight.
Half a year earlier, Light had successfully become a disciple of Koushirou, joining the Isshin Dojo.
At first, Koushirou had no intention of teaching him Haki, clearly wishing to keep his past hidden.
But Light had forced his hand with a shameless tactic, leveraging Koushirou’s connection to Monkey D.
Dragon.
The result was immediate.
“Mr.
Koushirou” became “Master.”
Light had expected harsh treatment afterward, but Koushirou proved otherwise.
He taught him diligently, focusing on the fundamentals of swordsmanship and Haki without bias or difficulty.
For six months, Light trained relentlessly.
His talent in swordsmanship became evident, and with his strong physique, he rose quickly.
Within the dojo, only Zoro could consistently suppress him in pure swordplay.
Zoro’s talent was exceptional, refined through years of discipline.
Against that, Light still fell short.
But just as Zoro’s blades closed in, Light made a decisive move.
He threw his katana aside.
This action marked the end of the sword duel.
Zoro understood immediately.
This was no longer a simple spar.
“Soru.”
A moment later, Light appeared behind him.
Darkness gathered around his fingers as he formed a claw and reached for Zoro’s shoulder.
Zoro reacted instantly.
“Soru.”
His body vanished as well, avoiding the strike without even turning around.
Since arriving at the dojo, Light had not hidden his abilities.
With approval from Smoker, he had taught Zoro the Six Powers.
Originally, Zoro had planned to leave for training, but the introduction of these techniques changed his path.
Over the past six months, he had focused heavily on mastering them.
Unlike Light, who trained in all aspects, Zoro concentrated only on what suited him.
Soru, Geppo, Rankyaku, Tekkai, and Kami-e.
He had no interest in Finger Pistol.
The moment Zoro vanished, Light spun and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick.
Zoro reappeared exactly where Light expected.
Without hesitation, he raised his swords to block.
The impact rang out like metal striking metal.
Though it was Light’s leg that connected, it carried the force of hardened steel.
A faint black sheen coated his limb.
Armament Haki.
After months of training, Light had firmly grasped its basics.
Balancing in a difficult stance, Light pinned Zoro’s blades down with his leg.
At the same time, he clasped his hands together.
“Dark Annihilation!”
Darkness erupted from him.
It spread like a raging sea, swallowing everything in its path.
The dojo was instantly engulfed, the ground itself consumed by the black tide.
From the second-floor balcony, Koushirou observed quietly, a cup of tea in hand.
The dojo had vanished into darkness.
Neither Light nor Zoro could be seen.
“Logia abilities are truly fearsome,” he said with a faint smile.
This outcome was always the same.
In swordsmanship, Zoro dominated.
But once Light abandoned the blade, the balance shifted completely.
The darkness began to recede, drawing back toward the center.
Soon, both figures reappeared.
Light stood calmly, hands clasped in front of him.
Zoro, however, was trapped.
A sphere of darkness encased his body, suspending him in the air. Find the original chapter at novelping.com.
Only his head remained visible, the rest of him immobilized within the black mass.
“Bastard, let me down!” Zoro snapped.
“Do you give up?” Light asked with a slight smile.
“If you surrender first, then I will,” Zoro replied stubbornly.
Light understood him well.
“In terms of swordsmanship, I’m inferior to you.
I concede.”
Zoro’s expression tightened.
After a pause, he answered, “In overall strength, you’re stronger.
I concede.”
With that, Light released his hold.
The darkness dissipated, and Zoro dropped back to the ground.
Zoro retrieved his swords, irritation clear on his face.
“This is practically cheating.
Your Darkness Power blocks all light and ruins visibility.
Without Observation Haki, there’s no way to fight back.”
Koushirou had already begun teaching both of them Haki.
While their progress in Armament Haki was solid, Observation Haki remained a challenge.
As for Conqueror’s Haki, neither had awakened it.
Light chuckled.
“That’s the advantage of a Devil Fruit.
If you want one, I can find one for you when you head out to sea.
Consider it a gift from your senior brother.”
“I’m the senior brother,” Zoro shot back.
“Whoever is stronger takes that title,” Light replied without hesitation.
“I thought you meant swordsmanship,” Zoro said, annoyed.
“Strength is strength.
Do you think your future enemies will only use swords?”
Zoro clenched his teeth but held back.
“When I surpass you…”
“When that happens, I’ll call you senior brother,” Light interrupted with a grin.
“I keep my word.”
Zoro’s face twitched, veins rising on his forehead.
“…Senior brother,” he muttered reluctantly.
From above, Koushirou watched the exchange with a gentle smile.
Moments like this made him certain.
Taking Light as a disciple had been the right decision.