Newgate looked at the boy on the deck, who was diligently training and sweating profusely, with a look of relief.
After more than a week of training, Shaq’s strength was growing at a visible rate.
To put it bluntly, the current Shaq could easily defeat ten past versions of himself.
“Little Shaq, take a break.
I have a gift for you,” Newgate said.
“Ah?
What good thing is it this time, Pops?” Hearing this, Shaq stopped his training and happily trotted towards the cabin.
Seeing Shaq enter, Newgate stood up and pulled out a long case from a wooden box in the corner of the cabin, handing it to the boy.
Seeing the wooden case, Shaq guessed it was almost certainly a sword.
Opening the case, he saw a katana about 1.2 meters long.
The pommel was shaped like a lifelike carp, the hilt was wrapped in dark-gold fish-scale patterns, and below it was a petal-shaped tsuba.
The scabbard was pure white with several light pink cherry blossoms arranged in a vertical line along the center.
Overall, the sword looked like a graceful lady.
“Sugoi!” Shaq’s eyes sparkled as he excitedly shouted, taking the sword in his hand.
The blade slid out of the sheath, accompanied by the crisp sound of steel being drawn.
The blade itself, unlike the ornate sheath, was remarkably simple.
It was entirely silver-white, with only a wavy hamon decorating the edge, giving it a sense of purity after being washed clean of all extravagance.
“One of the fifty Ryo Wazamono swords Flower Fish is her name.
Her previous owner was a capable swordsman, but unfortunately, he insisted on challenging me and ultimately lost her to me,” Newgate introduced the beautiful katana, then added, “Take it, little Shaq.
From now on, she belongs to you!”
“Really?
Thank you, Pops.
Even though you’re a really unreliable old man, you’re still very generous,” Shaq said, patting Newgate’s calf and laughing happily.
“Bang.”
“Gomen nasai,” Shaq apologized pitifully, rubbing the large bump on his head.
“You brat!
Go get used to this sword first.
I’ll teach you swordsmanship tomorrow.
Now scram, don’t bother me.
Just looking at you makes me angry!” Newgate said with a grin, kicking Shaq’s backside and “gently” sending him out of the cabin.
Kicked out, Shaq rubbed his backside and grumbled as he stood up, but then immediately forgot about it, caressing the silver blade with adoration.
“What a beautiful girl,” he couldn’t help but praise the sword in his hand.
He tried swinging it a few times and found that the sword was well-balanced, producing a crisp, pleasant ringing sound when swung.
“Should I give her life?” Shaq hesitated.
To be honest, he really didn’t like his personal items growing eyes and mouths.
The thought of drawing his sword in battle and Flower Fish cackling wildly as it slashed at enemies sent a shiver down Shaq’s spine.
But then he remembered how Charlotte Linlin used her Soul-Soul Fruit to imbue objects like Zeus and Prometheus with life to enhance her combat power, and Shaq felt a stir of interest.
Considering that woman’s terrifying application of her ability, Shaq steeled himself.
So what if it felt awkward?
As long as it could kill enemies, that was all that mattered.
With that thought, Shaq activated his ability, injecting a portion of his life force into the Flower Fish in his hand.
Immediately, Flower Fish transformed; eyes and a mouth grew on the pommel, but unlike Linlin’s homies, they weren’t grotesque but rather quite refined.
“This humble one, Flower Fish, greets her master,” a gentle female voice emanated from the sword.
“Oho!
I hit the jackpot, I hit the jackpot!” Shaq happily hugged Flower Fish and kissed her, very satisfied that her voice wasn’t strange or grating.
“Master, please behave yourself!” a voice of indignant embarrassment came from the pommel of Flower Fish, and the entire blade trembled violently, as if vowing to resist to the death.
Hearing this, Shaq gave an awkward laugh.
“Haha, my apologies, my apologies.
I was just too excited to see you come to life.”
“Master, please be mindful of your words and actions in the future, and do not treat this humble one lightly again,” Flower Fish said with displeasure, but she stopped trembling.
Hearing this, Shaq couldn’t help but inwardly grumble, ‘You’re a sword.
Even if I went wild, what could I do to you?
I can’t actually do anything strange, can I?’ Despite his thoughts, Shaq could only apologize, “Sorry, sorry, it won’t happen again.”
Then, as if he had thought of something, Shaq, in a rather dramatic tone, said to her, “From now on, I look forward to your guidance, Flower Fish.
In the future, our names will surely resound throughout this great sea!”
“And I ask that Master treat this humble one well,” Flower Fish responded calmly.
“Uh,” Shaq was quite speechless; she wasn’t cooperating with him at all.
Afterward, Shaq tried a few more swings and found that he had a feeling of perfect control, as if the sword were an extension of his arm.
Furthermore, the Life-Life Fruit’s ability could also be attached to the blade.
Shaq could feel that even without direct body contact, merely through weapon clashes, he could drain an opponent’s stamina and life force.
It truly lived up to the name of the Life-Life Fruit.
Gradually, night fell.
After an afternoon of practice, Shaq had completely adapted to the sword.
The only drawback was that the awakened Flower Fish was too aloof; unless he specifically asked her a question, she rarely spoke.
Soon, the next day arrived, and Newgate also learned that Flower Fish had been given life.
He didn’t offer many opinions.
Although he had once sailed with Charlotte Linlin, he had never concerned himself deeply with her method of imbuing objects with souls.
“gurararara, Shaq, today I’ll teach you the basics of swordsmanship,” Newgate said to Shaq, holding Murakumogiri.
Although Newgate wielded a naginata, he had clashed with countless master swordsmen and naturally understood the principles of blade combat.
“First, how to hold the sword: single-handed grip, two-handed grip…”
After explaining the fundamentals, Newgate held Murakumogiri in one hand and pointed it at Shaq.
“gurararara, come on, Shaq.
Remember, combat is the best teacher.”
Hearing this, Shaq also drew Flower Fish from its sheath, gripping it firmly with both hands.
“Then please guide me, Pops.”
He then quickly charged, slashing diagonally at Newgate.
Newgate casually blocked, calmly commenting, “Too slow, too weak, and lacking sharpness.”
Hearing this, Shaq continued to attack, but Newgate parried each strike effortlessly.
“Don’t be reckless, Shaq!
You must remain calm in battle!
Only a calm mind can read your enemy!” As he spoke, he struck Shaq with the blunt side of his blade, sending him flying with a single blow.
Getting back up, Shaq no longer rushed blindly but instead carefully reflected on his previous mistakes.
Seeing this, Newgate didn’t rush him.
A fledgling must learn to think and adapt.
A moment later, Shaq looked up and charged again, feinting a horizontal slash.
But as he closed the distance, he shifted his stance, turning the attack into a diagonal thrust.
However, in Newgate’s eyes, these movements were still crude; he blocked easily and struck Shaq’s shoulder with the hilt, sending him flying once more.
After being knocked down countless times, Shaq finally collapsed from exhaustion.
Although he had been using his Devil Fruit ability to drain Newgate’s stamina during their clashes, he had never once landed a true hit.
The small amount of stamina he absorbed had no effect whatsoever on Newgate.
“gurararara, Shaq, not bad.
In just one day, you’ve already begun forming your own fighting rhythm.
Once you awaken Observation Haki and sharpen your perception, you’ll improve even faster,” Newgate said with satisfaction to Shaq, who lay sprawled on the deck.
“Got it, Pops,” Shaq replied weakly.
Seeing this, Newgate smiled and returned to the cabin, leaving the deck to Shaq.