Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: p@treon.com/CosmicKaminari
----------
"Just a legend?"
"I don't think so~!"
Red smiled slightly and murmured softly as if talking to himself.
After all, Zoro had clearly said...
This Narukami could amplify the special moves of Electric-type Pokémon, so it wasn't impossible that it could help understand the way of lightning-type swordsmanship!
"But I wonder whether this is due to Zoro's extraordinary luck or Nami's amazing Pick-Up ability."
A thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.
When he saw Tashigi looking equally surprised and praising the three swords on Zoro's waist, Red suddenly chuckled and turned to the weapon shop owner:
"Boss, if you really want to find a worthy swordsman to entrust that Yubashiri to..."
"I would recommend you consider the young lady in front of you."
"What!?"
Tashigi was stunned for a moment at being unexpectedly mentioned.
Then she waved her hands in panic: "No, no, no... I can't accept it..."
"I'm... I'm still very weak, and I haven't found my own path of swordsmanship yet..."
"So... so..."
Tashigi, whose dream was to collect famous swords, of course wanted to take Yubashiri for herself.
But she knew very well that she didn't have the courage and ability to test fate with a sword like Zoro had just done, and she wasn't worthy of the sword seller's appreciation.
Don't think that Zoro was truly invulnerable just because he possessed Armament Haki!
Although Red wasn't considered particularly strong right now, he wasn't completely powerless either.
For Zoro to dare use his own willpower to test the curse of the Sandai Kitetsu required tremendous courage.
The fact had proven that his will was strong enough to control this demonic sword.
So Tashigi was very aware of the gap between herself and him.
But for some reason, the baseball-capped boy in front of her seemed to have recognized her and recommended her to the shop owner again:
"Although she is still developing her skills, I have a hunch..."
"In the future, she will never disgrace the name of that fine sword!"
"My intuition has never been wrong."
"That's all I'll say, boss. The rest is up to you!"
Although Yubashiri was a skillful grade blade, slightly better than the Sandai Kitetsu in terms of quality.
However, as a descendant of the Shodai Kitetsu and Nidai Kitetsu, the Sandai Kitetsu possessed a unique demonic aura that other swords lacked!
Compared to a physically sharper blade, the Sandai Kitetsu was the most suitable choice for Zoro!
But it would indeed be a pity to let Yubashiri remain buried in this shop.
Tashigi had appeared at just the right time, and Red decided to do her a favor.
Although Tashigi's performance in the original timeline wasn't particularly impressive from beginning to end, her hard work and good heart made her worthy of a better sword!
After saying this, Red hurried toward the newspaper office without lingering any longer.
Zoro thanked the shop owner and immediately waved goodbye, leaving the weapons store with Red.
As they left, Zoro still glanced casually at Tashigi from the corner of his eye until the moment they walked out of the store.
For some reason, he actually saw glimpses of his old friend in this young female swordsman.
It was just that Tashigi's overly modest demeanor and elegant glasses completely separated her from the shadow in Zoro's memories.
"How strange~" Zoro murmured softly.
But soon, his attention was drawn to the sword at his waist.
"Narukami and the Sandai Kitetsu?"
"This is really exciting!"
Zoro gripped the sword with one hand, his eyes unusually determined.
Although Narukami was just a skillful grade sword sand Sandai Kitetsu was just grade sword, not as prestigious as the O Wado Ichimonji given by his master.
But Narukami's amplification of thunder and lightning techniques, and the demonic energy that the Sandai Kitetsu emanated just from touching it, had broadened Zoro's swordsmanship path!
At the same time, it also made him more comfortable using Pokémon energy!
Now, he felt that even if he faced the original Gear Third Luffy, he would still have the strength to fight!
A month ago, he would never have imagined he could become so strong!
But this was understandable.
After all, during the recent period, Red's main training targets had been Zoro and Sanji.
Besides using some power to help Usopp exchange evolution stones, Red had spent almost all his gaming time with the two of them lately.
Despite spending a lot of gaming time, they hadn't made much progress in the actual game.
Even though several days had passed, Red's game character still remained inside Team Rocket's base below the Celadon City Game Corner.
It couldn't be helped.
Under the game mechanics, Team Rocket's base, which was already complex in the original game, had become as complicated as a maze.
Not just Zoro with his notorious sense of direction, but even Red got lost there frequently.
Fortunately, there were numerous Team Rocket trainers in the base, and most of the Pokémon they used were evolved types above level 30.
Defeating them provided substantial money and experience.
And occasionally, they would find special items in Team Rocket's base.
Currently, Red had two Rare Candies stored in his bag.
He planned to use both on Luffy after he reached level 50 through training.
Thanks to all this training, Zoro and Sanji's levels had improved dramatically!
Zoro, who was originally level 40, had now reached level 42, and during his discussions with Luffy, he had successfully awakened his own Armament Haki.
Sanji, who had started at a slightly lower level, had gained 4 levels in one go, reaching level 36.
Although it would still take some time to master Armament Haki, his body seemed to have produced some special reactions inspired by Pokémon energy.
Under normal training, the experience points that Luffy and Zoro could gain daily were both around 300+.
Nami and Usopp would gain even less.
Only Sanji, who spent considerable time in the kitchen preparing three meals a day for the Straw Hats, had his naturally increasing experience points reach an astonishing 500+ daily!
This rate of gaining experience was almost as fast as Usopp's when he was enjoying his solitude in the training house!
Even without playing Pokémon games, Sanji could still rely on the natural growth of experience to increase his combat power by leveling up every ten days.
Life and career skills were truly the most impressive!
...
...
Meanwhile, in another part of town.
Just after Zoro and Red obtained the Sandai Kitetsu, Nami and Usopp had also completed their shopping.
Usopp could be seen carrying a small mountain of packages, swaying as if he might topple over at any moment.
While struggling to maintain his balance, Usopp said:
"Well Nami, I'll head back and guard the Merry first."
"There are several Marine patrols along the way, so you should be careful!"
"Don't worry!"
Nami patted the Clima-Tact at her waist and gave Usopp a confident smile.
"I will not be easily caught by the Marines!"
"That makes sense."
Usopp smiled and nodded.
Immediately after, he took the purchased supplies and headed toward the port.
Nami, on the other hand, continued wandering through the commercial district.
It wasn't like she wanted to buy anything else.
It was just a rare trip ashore, so Nami wanted to see if she could trigger her Pick Up ability again.
Ever since learning about the real-life effects of her ability, she had been eagerly looking forward to using it!
Time passed slowly.
As they say, persistence pays off!
Just as sounds of commotion began echoing from the execution platform, Nami finally felt something different!
That mysterious, enchanting feeling suddenly flooded her heart.
In an instant, a greedy golden light flashed in her bright eyes.
"It's here!"
Nami suddenly turned her gaze to the side - toward an ordinary small hotel!
At the same time.
In a room inside the hotel, Coby, who was guarding a wooden box, kept looking out the window, wondering to himself:
"Strange, why haven't Alvida and the others returned yet?"