Three talents, which one to choose?
Laino didn't hesitate. He chose [Isshin Sword].
Two B-Ranks and one A-Rank, what's there to think about? Hesitating for even a second would be disrespectful to the A-Rank talent.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for copying Kuina's talent, Isshin Sword!]
[Talent Description: Only with a single-minded focus can one reach the peak. You can easily discard distracting thoughts, concentrate your mind, and be free from distractions.]
This talent is not bad. Focus is a very rare characteristic. The reason Kuina could achieve results far beyond her peers and crush the equally talented Zoro was inseparable from her "single-mindedness"!
[Ding! Detecting that the host possesses similar talents, Sword Heart and Isshin Sword. Please find more similar talents to fuse and upgrade!]
It doesn't fuse directly? Does it need other talents to make up the numbers?
That makes sense. One S-Rank and one A-Rank, can they fuse into an SS-Rank? Unlikely!
It's a pity that a talent from a person can only be copied once and cannot be repeatedly farmed. Otherwise, he could just keep farming Koshiro's [Sword Heart] until it reached SSS-Rank, an easy feat.
Laino focused on sparring and exchanging ideas with Kuina. After concentrating, he absorbed experience and knowledge even faster. Teaching Kuina was, in fact, a form of progress for himself.
"Kuina is truly dedicated to the way of the sword!" Kozaburo said.
"Yes!" Koshiro sighed softly.
"Success requires more sweat and effort, but... I would rather she live a carefree life!"
Goa Kingdom, on the edge of Mt. Colubo, a secret base with a simple pirate flag flying.
"Luffy, Ace!"
Sabo, wearing a top hat and carrying a pipe, jumped over a fallen giant tree and shouted at Ace and Luffy under the pirate flag.
"Oh, Sabo!" Luffy waved happily.
Ace, with a serious face, said to Sabo, "Hey, Sabo, you've been coming out later and later recently!"
Sabo scratched the back of his head, "I can't help it. I heard the Celestial Dragons are coming soon, so the patrols in the city have gotten stricter!"
"Celestial Dragons?"
"Yeah!"
"Hey, Sabo, Ace, let's start training! I'll definitely beat you today," Luffy said proudly.
"Huh?"
"I've learned an amazing move!" Luffy said.
"Really? Is it your ability?"
Sabo spun his pipe and leaped to attack Luffy, "Let me try it!"
Ace watched them fight, crossing his arms and observing from the side.
Three months ago, Garp, upon learning that Luffy had eaten a Devil Fruit, rushed back from Marine Headquarters and gave him a beating. Worried that he would be led astray by Shanks again, Garp sent Luffy to the Dadan family.
After that, Luffy became Ace's shadow. At first, Ace didn't like Luffy. But under Luffy's shameless persistence, Ace and Sabo eventually accepted Luffy, and the three became sworn brothers.
These days, the three of them played, frolicked, and trained together, becoming inseparable companions. The happiest thing was that they all shared the same dream: to go out to sea and become pirate captains.
"Ace, Gum-Gum... Battle Axe!"
Ace came back to his senses and saw Luffy's leg raised high, stretching like rubber, and then chopping down like a battle axe.
"Hey..."
Seagulls flew by, the youth of the boys shining under the sun.
Isshin Dojo.
The sound of ravenous eating rose and fell. A morning of high-intensity training required a large amount of food to replenish their stamina.
"Hey, Laino, what are you looking at?" Saka, holding a large piece of meat, came up to Laino.
"The newspaper!"
Although Laino was in Shimotsuki Village, he always paid attention to news from all over the world, extracting useful information from it. Because the news from the East Blue was delivered quickly by the News Coo.
"Eh? What's on it?"
Laino ate his meat while saying, "A sudden massive fire broke out in the Gray Terminal of the Goa Kingdom."
"The fire in the Goa Kingdom is suspected to be the work of the Revolutionary Army!"
"Celestial Dragons visiting the Goa Kingdom were attacked by a mysterious pirate ship!"
Today's news was explosive. The Revolutionary Army, pirates, and Celestial Dragons, all together, gave a sense of an impending storm.
Saka turned to share the news with his friends, sparking a small-scale discussion where everyone expressed their own opinions.
"The Goa Kingdom is just a remote little country, right?"
"I heard the leader of the Revolutionary Army is from the East Blue!"
"The Celestial Dragons are coming to the East Blue?"
"A big fire? It must have been the pirates. Those pirates are so despicable!"
Their views were all naive and superficial. But it wasn't their fault. Lacking outside information, most people's thinking was relatively one-dimensional, let alone a group of inexperienced teenagers.
"Hey, Laino, who do you think did it?" Saka turned his head and asked.
Everyone's gaze followed.
Although Laino had been at the dojo for a short time, he had already won everyone's respect and affection.
First, his progress was there for all to see, and his strength was recognized.
Second, Laino had a special charm that made people trust him involuntarily.
Then, his way of thinking and acting carried a mature, self-disciplined, and confident quality that the teenagers found cool.
Finally, Laino would occasionally use his [Sword Heart] talent to help them find their shortcomings and improve their strength.
Laino, eating a piece of fish, smiled and said, "I didn't see it with my own eyes, how would I know who did it?"
"That's true!" Saka scratched his head and didn't dwell on it.
Laino actually knew the cruel truth behind the great fire, but there was no need to tell Saka. Knowing too much might bring him trouble.
Laino checked his memory. The cadres of the Revolutionary Army would soon come to Shimotsuki Village to replenish their food supplies with the commoners they rescued from the Goa Kingdom.
This was an opportunity! The strength and talents of the Revolutionary Army cadres were definitely formidable.
Laino checked his system panel.
[Host Name: Laino]
[Actual Age: 17]
[Existing Talents: Gluttonous Lord, Conqueror's Haki, Sword Heart, Isshin Sword]
[Power Evaluation: Well-trained, equivalent to a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral in strength. Possesses a demon king's disposition and a heart of the sword. Your potential is limitless. Bide your time, young man, the future is yours.]