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Chapter 115 - Chapter 115: Testing the Blades 

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, everyone was thoroughly satisfied. Hina's gaze inadvertently landed on the three swords at Victor's waist—two of which exuded an unmistakable, domineering aura. 

Earlier, while standing, the blades had been concealed beneath Victor's black cloak. Now seated, they were fully visible. 

Hina knew one of Victor's original swords had shattered. Over the past month, she and Smoker had visited occasionally, aware Victor was secluded forging new blades—yet she never expected the results to be so extraordinary. 

"Victor, are these your new swords?" Hina smiled, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "They look remarkable. Won't you give us a demonstration? I'm sure everyone wants to see." 

Though she framed it as a collective request, her own interest was undeniable—and truthfully, the others shared her anticipation. 

Under their expectant gazes, Victor found refusal impossible. He had originally planned to unveil these Great Grade blades in a more momentous setting, but for now, he'd indulge their curiosity. 

"Fine. But we'll need to head to the shore. Testing them on land isn't an option." 

With that, Victor rose, his hand already resting on the hilt as he strode toward the beach. The group followed eagerly. They all remembered how Victor had wounded the "Strongest Creature" with mere Skillful Grade blades. What could these superior weapons achieve? 

--- 

By the shore, the sun had fully set, leaving only an inky darkness before the moon's rise. Victor glanced at the watchtowers behind them before fixing his eyes on the rolling waves ahead. 

He assumed a iaido stance—motionless, poised—his presence intensifying with each passing second. 

"Victor's aura is rising..." 

"It's getting stronger!" 

"I feel something piercing through me!" 

"The very air feels sharpened—how terrifying!" 

"Dragon-Slaying Slash." 

In one fluid motion, Victor drew 'Chikara' and delivered a vertical slash toward the sea. The blade's movement unleashed a draconic roar that echoed across the waters. 

A massive black sword arc, edged with white light, tore through the ocean—its passage illuminating the sky in chaotic brilliance. The sea split apart, forming a yawning abyss flanked by two towering waterfalls of seawater, their breadth stretching beyond sight. 

As the sword energy raced into the distance, the cascading walls glowed in its wake. 

"Remarkable." Victor analyzed the strike with quiet awe. "Blades forged by my own hands perfectly channel my sword energy. The efficiency is incomparable—no resistance, seamless control. What once required prolonged energy gathering now takes half the time, with exponentially greater power. Truly, a swordsman's greatest ally is a blade tailored to his essence." 

During the forging process, Victor had meticulously shaped the swords while infusing them with his sword energy—adjusting, refining, until the blades became flawless extensions of himself. 

"Was that a black moon falling from the sky?!" 

"How can a human 'do' that?!" 

"I swear I saw a dragon soaring out!" 

"Victor, you monster! You absolute freak! My Logia powers feel like trash now—you've shattered my confidence!" Smoker groaned. 

"Tch. No Sea Kings will venture here for ages. We'll have to hunt farther out." Victor sighed as he sheathed Chikara, watching the sea slowly mend itself. 

"Who cares about that right now?! Where's the sympathy for my wounded pride?!" 

"Victor's slash was like art—beautiful yet lethal." Hina murmured. 

Rebecca, meanwhile, fell into self-reflection. "He's grown even stronger... How do I catch up? My talent is lacking... I must awaken Armament Haki faster!" 

Wendy observed silently. "Perhaps Victor truly is my destined benefactor. My choice wasn't wrong." 

"Enough gawking," Victor called over his shoulder, already marching back to the cabin. The others trailed behind, their minds reeling from the glimpse into a realm beyond ordinary comprehension. 

--- 

[Later, at the watchtowers] 

"Hey... Should we report what just happened?" 

"Idiot! Of course we report! Our job is to monitor anomalies!" 

"Was that 'really' an anomaly?" 

"THE OCEAN GOT SLICED IN HALF. WHAT WOULD YOU CALL IT?!" 

"Uh... Okay, you file the report then." 

"Nice try, rookie! This is 'your' duty!" 

"But I don't know how to describe it! Words fail me—" 

--- 

By the cabin, the group dispersed—Rebecca retreating to her room with troubled thoughts, while Victor remained cross-legged on the grass. 

Cloaked in Haki, he began tempering both blades, initiating the long process of transforming them into black blades. 'Tonight marks the start.' 

--- 

Dawn.

Rebecca stepped outside to find Victor still meditating on the dewy grass. Her heart ached seeing him—year after year, he barely slept, substituting rest with relentless training. 

"With such prodigious talent, why push so hard?" She'd urged him countless times to ease up, but Victor never wavered. She sensed burdens he refused to share, borne alone in silence. 

"Victor, time to freshen up. We're meeting Hina and the others, remember?" Her voice pulled him from meditation. 

Preparations complete, they headed for the central plaza rendezvous point before boarding a supply ship to Sabaody Archipelago. 

At the Marine base on Sabaody, Victor noted numerous cloak-adorned officers—all at least captain-rank or higher. Their presence was noteworthy, but none held any personal significance to him. 

The group made their way inland, the three women chatting excitedly about which amusement park rides to try first. Victor walked with a faint smile—this time, their passage was undisturbed. 

Most islanders recognized Victor now. A month after the headlines, people still whispered about him as they instinctively cleared a path, only resuming their chatter once he'd passed. 

Smoker, however, grew increasingly awkward the closer they got to the amusement district. When they reached the border of Lawless Area 10—with Family Park's 30th Grove just ahead—he suddenly slapped his pockets. 

"Ah—just remembered I'm out of cigars. You all go ahead; I'll catch up later!" 

A perfectly reasonable excuse. No one objected—though Hina looked particularly displeased, as if some scheme had been thwarted. 

As Smoker hurried off, Victor shook his head with quiet amusement. 'A Logia user in Paradise is hardly in danger.' He led the girls onward. 

--- 

Their next stop was their informant—Bern. 

The man had risen considerably in status since becoming known as "that upstart Marine's contact." Victor's previous visits had been noticed, granting Bern both prestige and an expanded intelligence network. 

Spotting Victor, Bern nearly tripped over himself in his haste to greet them. That initial act of kindness had paid dividends beyond imagination. This very public meeting would further cement his reputation. 

Throwing a gloating glance at rival informants (their envy palpable), Bern poured tea with theatrical hospitality. 

"Mr. Victor! How may I be of service today? Anything you need, I'll move mountains to arrange!" 

Victor sipped his tea. "There is one thing. I need information on a pirate crew called 'Claw Pirates.' They hailed from East Blue—should've reached the Grand Line by now. Yet this past year, I've found no trace of them." 

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