Their battle continued for an entire afternoon.
When dusk fell, a battered Ban and Koushirou returned to the boat.
Kuina and Zoro, who were on the boat, were completely petrified.
The battle between Ban and Koushirou had clearly exceeded their wildest imaginations.
The entire small island looked as if it had been plowed over, covered in a crisscrossing network of sword marks.
Ban looked more disheveled, but Koushirou was not much better off, even missing one of his glasses lenses.
While steering the boat to return, Koushirou looked at Ban, who was resting in a corner of the deck, and regretted his decision.
He had previously thought that while Ban was progressing rapidly, the time he had been training wasn’t that long, so his practical combat guidance wouldn’t be too strenuous.
But a monster was a monster.
He realized he had severely underestimated Ban.
He could imagine what future training sessions with Ban would be like.
Should I just refuse to train him?
But it was only the first day.
Yet Ban was like a monster.
After this battle, apart from looking a bit exhausted, he hadn’t even suffered a single scratch.
Koushirou had clearly seen some sword slashes landing on Ban’s body.
It seems this guy still has many secrets.
“Zoro, when we get back and you’ve eaten your fill, I’ll accept your challenge.”
Ban’s voice suddenly broke the silence.
The petrified Zoro, hearing Ban call his name, snapped back to reality.
After understanding what Ban meant, Zoro swallowed hard, then turned to look at the island that had been plowed over.
Zoro really wanted to refuse.
He was reckless, but not stupid.
The battle he had just witnessed made Zoro realize that the gap between him and Ban was too immense.
If Ban were serious, there wouldn’t even be a fight.
He would be defeated in one blow.
But with Kuina nearby, Zoro gritted his teeth and nodded in agreement.
Koushirou continued to steer the boat, his gaze fixed on Ban.
Ban’s clothes were, of course, torn in many places.
But there wasn’t a single wound on Ban’s body, not even a graze.
What terrifying defense!
It seemed as if he was born with such a physique, similar to his fire abilities—was this also an innate power of his?
Koushirou pondered this inwardly.
Now he suddenly felt that Dragon’s decision not to extend the invitation further had been a mistake.
He had gravely underestimated Ban’s talent.
Ban naturally didn’t know that Koushirou was mistaking his data-driven body for a special physique.
However, come to think of it, the external manifestation of this data-driven body did indeed resemble a monster-level physique, like an “iron balloon.”
After returning to Shimotsuki Village, Ban quickly replenished his HP by eating, and then also noticed something.
He now needed to consume much more food to recover his HP.
Previously, maintaining both types of Haki constantly drained his HP, but the drain was so slight that it wasn’t very noticeable, and his daily meals were enough to compensate.
However, after being left with low HP this time, he clearly felt the difference.
Not only did he feel it, but Koushirou, Kuina, and Zoro also noticed.
Now, all three of them were staring, their mouths agape.
Koushirou felt that if Ban stayed in Shimotsuki Village for a while longer, he might end up losing money, despite having received nine million Berries from him.
Kuina and Zoro were shocked, watching Ban devour an amount of food that weighed more than Ban himself.
“Let’s go!”
Ban put down the bone in his hand, then stood up and said to Zoro.
Zoro snapped out of his daze, understood what Ban was about to do, glanced at Koushirou and Kuina, grabbed his three swords, and followed Ban out.
The expected situation of being defeated in one blow didn’t happen.
Ban treated it as light exercise to digest his meal, engaging in a back-and-forth battle with Zoro, who used his three swords.
Occasionally, Ban even used some of the techniques he had learned from his fight with Koushirou earlier that day.
Of course, he wasn’t going all out.
After all, the current Zoro couldn’t withstand a full-power attack from him.
The spar continued late into the night.
Ban didn’t say anything about ending it, and with Zoro’s personality, he naturally wouldn’t either.
Eventually, Zoro was too exhausted to get up and had to be carried back to the dojo by Ban.
For the next period of time, this basically became their daily routine.
In the mornings, Ban would practice fundamentals with the dojo students.
In the afternoons, he would spar with Koushirou, and after returning, he would clean up Zoro.
Each day was very fulfilling.
Of course, there would also be some unexpected incidents.
“It’s finally started.”
Ban looked at the newspaper in his hand, feeling a bit emotional.
Kuina leaned over, curious about what Ban was reading.
Perhaps it was because Ban had saved her, but Kuina’s attitude towards Ban had changed, becoming more affectionate.
Of course, this wasn’t about anything else; it was just a pure, simple kind of closeness.
Koushirou knew that Ban would pick up a newspaper every few days from the village, and he was also curious about what Ban was saying.
“The three new Marine Admirals have officially taken office.
The former Admiral Sengoku has been promoted to Fleet Admiral.
I expect the Marines will make some big moves soon.”
Ban said softly, his eyes scanning the World Economic News’s report on the matter.
“The Marines?” Koushirou’s eyes flashed with a hint of worry when he heard this.
“Are these people very strong?”
Kuina looked at the newspaper photos, very curious.
They are top-tier powerhouses on the seas.”
Ban gave an objective assessment.
“But it doesn’t have much to do with the East Blue.
The Marines’ focus is still the Grand Line.”
Ban said, stroking his chin, and glanced at Koushirou.
“Indeed.
The four seas are already under Marine control, and there aren’t many highly-bounty pirates here, so the Marines certainly won’t commit too many forces.”
Koushirou nodded.
The Revolutionary Army’s focus wasn’t on the Grand Line, so for now, they didn’t need to worry about directly confronting the Marines.
“Come on, Master Koushirou.
Today’s battle hasn’t even begun yet.”
Koushirou, who had been deep in thought, paused, then showed a bitter expression.
This Ban really had endless energy.
But that said, he naturally wouldn’t refuse.
Kuina and Zoro were both used to it by now, and this time they didn’t follow along.
Late that night, a thoroughly exhausted Koushirou didn’t rest.
Instead, he took out a Den Den Mushi.
Soon after, Dragon’s low voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
“Koushirou?
Do you need something?”
“About the Marines, Dragon, you must already know, right?”
“That matter?
I am indeed keeping an eye on it.”
Dragon replied after a moment of silence, clearly taking the matter very seriously.
“It’s not targeting the Revolutionary Army, is it?”
“You don’t need to worry about that.
Our opponent right now is the World Government.
The Marines are more concerned with pirates.”
Koushirou breathed a sigh of relief.
“That’s good.
And yes, the Marines can’t spare many more forces.”
“Hmm, so, is there anything else?”
Dragon clearly had other things to do and was already preparing to end the call.
“Yes, there’s one more thing.
It’s about Ban.” “Monday to Friday – Update 3 Chapters a Day”
“Saturday and Sunday – Off”