Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, Lucas had been at Marineford for a year.
On the mountain behind the academy, the surface of a tree that required two people to wrap their arms around was covered in mottled sword marks, one after another—the result of Lucas’s year of effort.
At this moment, in front of the tree, a black-haired youth focused his mind, gripping his wooden sword with both hands.
His aura gradually solidified, and suddenly, he took a deep breath.
“Hah!”
Lucas let out a sharp shout, his wrist flicking suddenly.
The wooden sword shot out, swift as the wind, and slammed heavily into the tree.
Thwack!
A crisp sound exploded, and under the force of that strike, a long, new sword mark instantly appeared on the solid tree trunk.
Lucas’s expression remained unchanged.
He withdrew the wooden sword and, with great seriousness, swung it again!
Cleaving, slashing, lifting, thrusting—one strike after another, continuous and unending.
Cultivation is tedious and slow, but Lucas’s gains over this past year had been tremendous.
Throughout this year, besides training Lucas and the others’ bodies, Zephyr had them getting beaten up.
Furthermore, in the span of a year, Lucas’s weighted training gear had increased from the initial five hundred kilogram to two tons.
(PS: This number isn’t an exaggeration; it’s roughly based on Zoro’s barbell.)
This world is magical; both people and objects defy common sense.
Otherwise, if this were Lucas’s past life, training like this would be like lighting a lamp in a latrine—looking for shit (death).
In one year, not to mention the others, Lucas had built a very solid foundation.
Moreover, because his nutrition kept up, his height had reached 190 cm.
Not long ago, his strength reached D-rank, and he won the Seed of Corruption as a lottery reward.
[Seed of Corruption]: At every rank, the host can produce one seed.
Planting this seed in another person will make them forever loyal to you.
Current number of seeds: 1
[(Note: The seed must be planted when the target has absolutely no ability to resist!)]
[Name: Saris Lucas (Logia Forest-Forest Fruit)]
[Age: 16]
[Height: 190]
[Physical Strength: ★★★★☆]
[Swordsmanship: ★★☆]
[Devil Fruit Ability: ★★]
[Plant Mutation, Seed of Corruption (1)]
[Devil Fruit Ability:
1.
Photosynthesis Ability: Absorb sunlight, store it in the body, recover physical strength, enhance physique, and change the hardness of wood;
2.
Sense surrounding trees: Sense the situation around trees, similar to Mantra;
3.
Plant Growth Acceleration;
4.
Plant Manipulation;
5.
Plant-body Transformation]
[Haki: None]
[Skills: Gale Swordsmanship (Beginner)]
[Combat Power: D]
[Note 1.: As the host’s strength increases, you will receive one lottery opportunity for every rank gained, so please work hard to improve your strength.]
[Note 2.: If the host kills an opponent of the same or higher rank, you will gain some of the opponent’s insights.
Taijutsu experts increase Taijutsu, Devil Fruit experts increase Devil Fruit insights, and swordsmanship experts increase swordsmanship insights!]
Nowadays, among his peers, Lucas could absolutely be called a physical monster.
Moreover, under the effect of the Photosynthesis Ability, his physical attributes and aptitude were constantly and slowly improving.
The year ended, and Lucas ushered in a short vacation.
He had originally wanted to stay at the academy, but just as he was training and sweating profusely, Gion, who happened to be on break, came to find him.
“Kid, if I didn’t come looking for you, were you not planning to come looking for me?”
After Lucas showered and changed clothes, Gion took him out of the academy, speaking as they walked.
“No, I know Sister Gion is very busy,” Lucas said, knowing how to talk.
“Hmph, let’s go.
I’m treating you to a big meal today,” Gion said, putting an arm around Lucas, who had already reached her elbow, and walked toward the most prosperous part of Marineford.
“Whoa, that kid Lucas has such strong backing?
Is that Rear Admiral Gion?” Because the academy holiday was only half a month long, Shu, Shuzo, and Hina chose to stay at the school, while Smoker and Vergo went home.
At this moment, Shuzo and the other two happened to see Lucas being led away by Gion and couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.
“Not long ago, Gion was promoted from Rear Admiral to Vice Admiral, codename Momousagi,” Hina corrected from the side.
After finishing the big meal, when Momousagi and Lucas were returning home, they “coincidentally” ran into Tokikake at the door again.
“Gion, what a coincidence!
Look, the weather is nice today, let’s be together!” Tokikake said.
“I refuse!” Momousagi said, opening the door with Lucas and then shutting Tokikake outside.
Rejected ruthlessly once again!
“Sister Gion, let’s have a duel!” Lucas said.
Momousagi was a Great Swordsman, a female version of Hawkeye, and Lucas wanted to test the gap between him and a Great Swordsman.
Hearing this, the corners of Momousagi’s mouth curled up, revealing a faint smile.
“Alright, but don’t go crying.”
Soon, the two stood facing each other in the courtyard, holding wooden swords.
“Use all your strength, kid!
I won’t go easy on you.” Holding the wooden sword, at this moment, Momousagi shed her gentleness toward Lucas and displayed the spirit of a Great Swordsman.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way!”
Lucas said, and a sharp aura began to surge from his body, rising rapidly before condensing.
When his aura condensed to its peak, Lucas let out a low shout.
The tip of his wooden sword instantly turned into an afterimage, striking toward Momousagi with a fierce sword slash.
“Steel Tempest!”
Swish!
Just like the first duel between Hawkeye and Zoro, Momousagi used only one strike to shatter Lucas’s sword slash, and then his wooden sword.
As they passed each other, the blade of Momousagi’s wooden sword slapped heavily against Lucas’s stomach.
“Ugh!”
Lucas cried out in pain and was sent flying, crashing into the flowerbed in Momousagi’s courtyard.
“How does it feel?” Momousagi asked when Lucas stood up from the garden.
“Sister Gion, you must be a Great Swordsman, right?
Have you ever fought Hawkeye?
Who is stronger?” Lucas asked a rather curious question.
“We haven’t fought, but I don’t fear him.
However, if the battle goes on for more than a day, I will most likely lose,” Momousagi said.
In fact, Momousagi knew very well that if she fought Hawkeye, if she couldn’t quickly inflict heavy damage on him, she would be the one to lose.
Just as Koushiro said to his daughter Kuina, women are naturally at a disadvantage in physique and strength; they are bound to lose in a battle of attrition.
As she spoke, she looked at Lucas, who was rubbing his stomach where he had just been struck, as he walked over and sat down.
“Actually, if you put your heart entirely into swordsmanship, there might be a possibility in the future to challenge Hawkeye and become the world’s greatest swordsman.
Unfortunately, you possess a Devil Fruit, so your energy will inevitably be divided.”
Hearing this, Lucas smiled.
Anything is possible!
Who says one can’t master both?
In the future, Issho is a master of both Devil Fruit and swordsmanship.