The body!
In the world of the Pirate King, the body is undoubtedly the foundation of everything.
Whether it is a swordsmaster or the manifestation of Devil Fruit abilities.
People in this world possess incredibly strong physical constitutions, even ordinary pirates.
This is evident from the sheer amount of food Luffy consumes at every meal.
Although Skyler’s bounty made him look pretty decent among pirates, that was only true for the rookie paradise of the Four Seas…
in the Grand Line, it wouldn’t even register.
Even in the Four Seas, those who could be called great pirates had bounties in the tens of millions.
As expected of a cheat system designed to assist growth.
As if sensing his thoughts, the mall interface shifted, displaying a dazzling array of items related to enhancing physical constitution, all at prices he could currently afford.
“Hyperbolic Time Chamber!” With a quick glance, Skyler’s gaze landed on an image.
It was all too familiar.
The Hyperbolic Time Chamber from Dragon Ball, where one year inside is equivalent to one day outside.
The rental price for the chamber was one hundred combat points per day.
Compared to other applicable items, Skyler felt this was the most cost-effective option.
To him, nothing was more precious than time right now.
He clicked purchase.
A pop-up window appeared.
[System: Is the host sure about renting this item for use?]
[Tip: In the Time Chamber, having a corresponding instructor for guidance or sparring will more rapidly enhance your physical strength and combat experience!]
Huh?
Guidance and sparring?
[System: Found the most suitable sparring partner for the host, Yujiro Hanma from Baki.
Would you like to hire him?]
The hiring cost is a total of one hundred combat points.
Yujiro Hanma, hailed as the strongest creature on Earth in Baki, the protagonist’s father, the absolute ceiling for human martial artists…
Just how terrifying was he?
With a slight stomp of his foot, an entire hundred-meter-tall skyscraper would tremble…
If he could get his guidance, his swordsmanship would surely advance by leaps and bounds, transforming into a true killing technique!
Totally worth it!
Then, Skyler rented the Hyperbolic Time Chamber for three days, plus one hundred points for the instructor fee, spending a total of four hundred combat points.
At the same time, the system also recommended an item.
The swordsmanship insights of Himura Kenshin, the protagonist of Rurouni Kenshin, containing the essence of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu.
These insights could not only improve the quality of Skyler’s existing swordsmanship skills, but also give him a chance to comprehend the ultimate techniques of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu…
which meant higher-level skills.
As a swordsmaster, how could he not have a signature move or two to show off?
Haven’t you seen Zoro’s growth?
Whenever he unleashed moves like Shishi Sonson or 360 Pound Ho, not only was the damage explosive, but his style points were instantly maxed out.
Bought!
Immediately, Skyler’s consciousness was pulled into a wondrous space, entering the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
Standing opposite him was a man with a wild, lion-like mane of thick Red Hair, bulging muscles, and a domineering gaze full of power.
Yujiro Hanma.
“A swordsman, huh…”
Yujiro Hanma looked down condescendingly at Skyler, who was holding his Teigu sword as if facing a formidable enemy, and said indifferently, “Next, you will stay here for three years.
It will be just the two of us.
I will be responsible for tempering your body and playing around with you a bit…
Here, you will die, but you will immediately reincarnate…
In other words, these three years will be a hellish life beyond your imagination.
The only thing you can do is defeat me…
though that hope is extremely slim.”
“However, if you can quickly adapt to the pain of being tortured by me, it might be a little easier.”
An extremely malicious grin appeared on Yujiro Hanma’s face.
In the next second, regardless of whether Skyler was ready, he lunged forward like a tiger out of a cage, casting a shadow as he pounced toward Skyler.
His terrifying movement technique and overflowing aura instantly kicked up a blast of air.
Skyler gripped the hilt tightly and, following his body’s instincts, assumed a defensive stance!
As time ticked away, Skyler began to regret it a little…
He felt he had underestimated just how long three years could be.
Most importantly, he was fighting and killing with Yujiro Hanma at every single moment.
In this Time Chamber, which was slightly different from the original work, he didn’t need to sleep and didn’t have to worry about dying…
but whenever he opened or closed his eyes, all he saw was Yujiro Hanma’s brutal face and his mocking of Skyler’s weakness.
Skyler wasn’t just gritting his teeth and enduring; he simply had no choice!
Without sufficient strength, even if his consciousness returned to his physical body, he wouldn’t survive in the world of the Pirate King…
Even if he broke out of the Marine prison and fought his way out, what then?
Combat points required killing, especially plot characters!
Binding with this system meant he had to fight, stepping over mountains of corpses and seas of blood to reach the very end, becoming an absolute powerhouse of a swordsmaster!
Without this resolve and clear awareness, even if he returned to reality and scraped by in the world of the Pirate King, his good days would be numbered.
Most importantly, he didn’t want to die!
This was the survival instinct of every living creature.
The weak in the world of the Pirate King had no say, no status…
they were only fit to be trampled upon.
Skyler refused to end up like that.
Being weak was the ultimate sin!
Holding onto this belief, he went from being instantly killed by Yujiro Hanma in almost a single blow at the beginning, dying thousands of times a day, to gradually reincarnating only hundreds of times, then dozens of times…
from passive defense at first, to barely being able to dodge, and finally to counterattacking…
During this time, no outsider could know what he went through except himself.
The passage of time lost all meaning in this space.
Skyler felt numb…
gradually, only one thought remained in his mind.
Kill him!
Kill Yujiro Hanma!
Even Skyler himself didn’t know how much time had passed.
His face was covered in a thick beard, his black hair grew down to his waist, and his appearance was somewhat unkempt…
but his aura had gradually shifted from impetuous at the start to steady and restrained.
Like a sheathed seven-foot steel blade.
Boom!
On the battlefield, two dark shadows crossed in mid-air.
In a single breath, it was impossible to tell how many times the sword light and hard fists clashed.
It was entirely a blur of afterimages…
Until the two parted upon contact, landing on their respective sides.
Yujiro Hanma raised his arm expressionlessly, staring at a cut on his fist that was bleeding profusely.
He stuck out his tongue to lick it, then looked at the swordsman standing opposite him, as motionless as a monolith, and finally acknowledged his opponent’s strength for the first time: “Your sword is much sharper than it was two years ago.
It seems you’ve gained some insights in swordsmanship…
In that case, I’ll show you some of my real strength!”
Having said that, the veins all over his body began to squirm like little snakes, presenting an extremely horrifying sight.
His clothes burst apart, and as he took a massive step forward, the space itself trembled.
Then, he shot toward Skyler like a bolt of lightning.
Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu was originally a swordsmanship style meant for killing.
Skyler looked at his opponent and lifted his head.
His eyes, obscured by his long hair, revealed only a single crimson pupil…
Wisps of red vapor began to rise from his body.
This was…
his killing intent.
Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, Soaring Dragon Flash, is an ultra-high-speed Battojutsu.
Swish!
The two crossed paths, and a silver thread flashed and vanished in the air.
Skyler slowly straightened his back and stood firm.
Looking back at Yujiro Hanma, who was frozen like a stone statue, he said coldly, “Thanks for looking after me these past two years.
Die…”
With a bang, Yujiro Hanma split into two.
His waist severed in half.
The wound sliced by the sword light was as smooth as a mirror, and for a moment, not a single drop of blood flowed.
It wasn’t until his upper body collapsed to the ground for a while that a massive spray of blood erupted, splashing everywhere.
Looking from afar, set against the backdrop of the surging blood, stood a man with a deep gaze, gently brushing his black blade while looking up into the void.
No, a swordsman.