The morning air was still heavy with the scent of dew and steel.
The dojo grounds bore the marks of battle — the cracked tiles, the faint smell of ozone where Ash's Noble Phantasm had blazed across the yard, and the uneven patches of earth where Zoro's blades had struck deep.
Now, silence lingered.
The villagers, dojo students, and children who had once cheered stood scattered, replaying the clash in their minds.
A few murmured under their breath.
> "Did you see that speed…?"
"I thought humans couldn't move like that!"
"They're monsters… no— legends in the making."
Ash sat at the far end of the field, by the river that glimmered like polished glass under the rising sun. His coat lay folded beside him, and his hair drifted with the wind.
His hand hovered above the water — droplets lifted gently from the surface and danced in the air, forming ripples of shimmering light.
He exhaled, eyes half-open. The reflection staring back at him was calm, yet wild. A predator at peace.
---
The System Stirs
A faint hum broke the silence.
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__________________________.
> [SYSTEM UPDATE COMPLETE]
Mission: "Duel of Destiny" – Status: SUCCESS
Reward Unlocked:
▪ Rokushiki Knowledge Upload (Basic Framework – Manual Mastery Required)
▪ 100,000,000 System Berries (System Currency)
System Notice: "New Feature 'Shop' detected — Synchronizing... Locked until full update."
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.________________________
Ash's eyes widened as a sudden pressure flooded his mind — memories not his own.
Images flickered across his thoughts: masked men of CP9 performing impossible feats — moving faster than bullets, kicking off the air itself, hardening their bodies like steel. Rokushiki. The Navy's ultimate physical discipline.
He saw the world blur around him — heard the thundering of his own heartbeat echoing with strange rhythm.
And then it stopped.
Ash gasped and clutched his temple, beads of sweat dripping down his cheek.
The knowledge was there… but distant. Like a melody he could hum but not yet play.
> "Power without control… that's suicide," he muttered, smirking through the fatigue. "Guess I've got more training ahead."
Footsteps approached softly.
Koushirou stood behind him, hands folded behind his back, wearing that same calm smile — one that carried both pride and nostalgia.
The morning wind tugged gently at his robes.
"You've grown strong, Ash," he said quietly. "Stronger than I once imagined. But your eyes…"
He paused, tilting his head slightly. "They're still searching."
Ash chuckled, brushing his hair back. "Searching, yeah. For a place in this world. For a name they'll remember."
Koushirou's expression softened. "You always spoke of carving your name into the sea — of becoming a legend. But legends are not remembered for strength alone."
"I know," Ash said. His gaze drifted toward the distant horizon. "That's why I'll make sure my story is worth remembering."
For a moment, the air between them held the quiet understanding of teacher and student — a bond that time and distance couldn't dull.
Koushirou finally smiled. "Then go, my student. The world won't wait forever."
By noon, the harbor of Shimotsuki Village bustled with life.
Children from the dojo ran ahead with wide eyes, shouting farewells. Villagers waved from wooden balconies.
Even the old caretaker of the orphanage, Mira, stood among them, tears glistening in her wrinkled eyes.
> "You better not die out there, Ash!" she cried.
"I'll come back rich enough to rebuild the whole orphanage," Ash called back with a grin.
Beside him, Zoro leaned lazily against the railing of their new ship — a sturdy vessel painted in black and gold, sails pristine and crest freshly carved.
Nami was busy counting the crates of supplies she'd "borrowed" from the Marine storage, muttering under her breath.
"Oi, navigator," Ash teased, "we ready to set sail?"
She shot him a glare, tucking her map into her bag. "You mean you're ready to stop standing around talking? Honestly, I should charge extra for babysitting two sword freaks."
Zoro smirked. "You'll still get lost without us."
"Say that again, mosshead."
"Come closer, thief."
Ash sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You two are going to kill me before the sea does."
Zoro's grin turned wolfish. "By the way, I'll win next time."
Ash turned his head slightly, violet eyes glinting. "When you can cut through steel, then maybe."
The tension between them hummed like drawn blades — not hostility, but the fire of two warriors chasing the same horizon.
Koushirou stepped forward, his voice calm and deep. "Both of you — remember this day. The world beyond these seas is cruel. But if you walk it with conviction, even the gods will turn to watch."
Ash bowed deeply, Zoro following a second after.
"Thank you, master," they said in unison.
The ropes were pulled. The sails unfurled.
Wind caught the ship, and waves shimmered in the afternoon sun. As they drifted away from the pier, the cheers grew louder.
> "Come back as legends!"
"Make us proud!"
"Grim Reaper Hunter and the Demon Swordsman — the pride of Shimotsuki!"
Nami leaned against the helm, pretending not to smile. "You two have quite the reputation for being terrifying."
Ash smirked. "It's a start."
Zoro crossed his arms, staring at the sea ahead. "So, what's next, Captain?"
Ash's eyes sharpened. "North Blue."
Both Nami and Zoro turned toward him.
"North Blue?" Nami asked, brows furrowing. "That's half a world away. Why?"
Ash's grin was faint, mysterious. "There's someone there I intend to find. Someone who belongs in this crew — before we enter the Grand Line."
Nami sighed, already calculating the route. "Then we'll need to stop at Syrup Village first for supplies and repairs. And you're paying for it."
Ash chuckled. "Fair enough."
The ship rocked gently as they turned toward open waters. Seagulls cried overhead, and the world stretched out before them — endless, alive, and waiting to be conquered.
As the sun dipped lower, a faint digital chime whispered once more in the back of Ash's mind.
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.
Ding.
______________
System notification:
> [NEXT MAIN QUEST UNLOCKED]
"Assemble the Crew of Legends."
Reward -????
Penalty -????
_______________.
He closed his eyes, feeling the wind on his face. The scent of salt, the taste of freedom, and the quiet hum of destiny filled the air.
> "A man dies when he's forgotten," he murmured.
"So I'll make sure the whole world remembers my name."
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________to be continued _______