It has been 10 years since Oliver started training under Ray in swordsmanship. He had surpassed Ray in terms of swordsmanship skill, but in terms of strength and speed, Oliver was way behind Ray despite all the training he did in the past 10 years.
One year ago Oliver had awakened his Observation Haki thanks to the Observation Haki training manual he received from the system.
His training to awaken his observation Haki underwent rigorous training in which he ventured into the forest blindfolded and engaged in combat with the forest animals. Oliver will always return to the restaurant bleeding profusely.
Ray noticed Oliver's injured state each time he returned to the restaurant and decided to follow him one day.
Ray was surprised to see Oliver fighting the animals while blindfolded, and after a moment he gave a proud smile before returning to the restaurant.
Oliver kept using this method of training to awaken his observation Haki, and after three months of training, he awakened his observation Haki.
When Ray noticed that Oliver awakened his observation Haki, sometimes he would train him in honing his observation Haki personally, and at other times Oliver would fight against the forest animals while blindfolded to hone his observation Haki.
Oliver started training his devil fruit abilities three years ago; he discovered that his devil fruit granted him the ability to control and generate wind and metals.
Moreover, the devil fruit bestowed upon him a high regeneration ability, great strength, and speed.
Oliver could also use his devil fruit ability to fly, thanks to the wings that appear on his back whenever he transforms.
Currently Oliver was in his room; he had grown tremendously from a 7-year-old kid.
He developed into a quite handsome young man, with long spikey blond hair tied in a ponytail, sharp blue sky-colored eyes, fair skin, and a lean, muscular physique.
Oliver is currently dressed in black and brown baggy pants, a red shirt with the buttons left undone, showcasing his muscular abs and torso, and black boots.
Oliver picked up his hat, which is a black cowboy hat. The hat has the drawing of a white tiger on it.
Suddenly Oliver heard a knock on his door.
"KNOCK, KNOCK"
"Kid, we need to go now. I will be meeting Dragon in east blue. If we don't move now, I will be late for my meeting with him." Ray said to Oliver
When Oliver heard this, he said to Ray, "I'm coming. Ray, give me a second."
Oliver wore his hat and left his room with his black coat and bag.
Ray smiled when he saw Oliver and asked, " Are you ready to leave now, kid?"
Oliver smiled and nodded to Ray. Ray nodded back, satisfied, and said, "Good, let's go to the merchant ship." The merchant ship will soon sail from here to East Blue. After consulting with the captain, he agreed to give us a ride."
Oliver nodded upon hearing this, at which point Ray seized one of his swords and handed it to him.
Oliver looked confused when he saw the sword and said, "Why are you giving me this sword, old man? You told me this sword means a lot to you."
Ray sighed and said, "I failed Reddopurinsesu when I was in the Navy. I don't deserve it anymore; you should take it with you."
When Oliver heard this, he scoffed, handed back Reddopurinsesu to Ray, and said to him, "You should show Reddopurinsesu that you have changed, old man; stop running away and face the world head-on so Reddopurinsesu can be proud of you."
Ray's eyes widened in shock when he heard this, then he laughed, "HAHAHA, you are right, son, I will show Reddopurinsesu that I changed."
Oliver nodded, and they both walked to the merchant ship. They got on board and waited for the ship to set sail.
Ray glanced at Oliver and inquired, "So, have you decided what you are going to do when we reach East Blue?"
Oliver shrugged and said, "Not sure. After hearing your stories and understanding why you left the Navy, I have developed a strong dislike for this organization. I will never join the Navy. I might consider becoming a pirate, as it would provide me with more freedom. I want to fight against the strongest in the world and beat them; being a pirate will help me achieve this."
Ray chuckled when he heard this and said to Oliver, "That's true, kid, but you also can join the revolutionary army with me if you want." Dragon would love for you to join the army."
Oliver smiled and said to Ray, "I am grateful to Uncle Dragon for teaching me about conqueror Haki Ray, but I can't see myself working under someone."
Ray chuckled and thought, "As expected from someone with the quality of a king."
Ten minutes later, the merchant ship started moving and sailing away from the Four Mountains Island.
______
One week later
The merchant ship arrived at Logue Town after Ray and Oliver disembarked the ship. Ray said to Oliver, "Kid, let's go to a sword shop. Your training sword is worn out. You need a new sword. I will buy you a new sword. Consider the new sword a farewell gift from me."
Oliver gave Ray a small smile and nodded to him before they began their search for a sword shop in Logue Town.
After 20 minutes, Ray and Oliver found a sword shop.
After Ray identified the sword shop, he said to Oliver, "Let's go in, kid."
Oliver nodded to Ray, and he followed him to the shop.
_____
Inside sword shop
When Ray opened the sword shop's door, the doorbell rang.
"Ding, Dong"
A short middle-aged man with a red nose smiled at Ray and Oliver when they entered the shop and said, "Hello, gentlemen, we have good-quality swords you can look around; I guarantee you our prices are the best in Logue Town."
Ray nodded to the middle-aged man, then he asked him, "Do you have Meito in your shop?"
When the shop owner and Oliver heard what Ray just said, their eyes widened in shock.
The shop owner then smirked quickly. He went inside one of the rooms and brought two swords with him.
He took the cloth covering one of the swords and said, "This is a Yubashiri long katana with a black handle." It had a cross-shaped guard and a black lacquered sheath. The blade itself has a normal appearance, but its pattern is irregular."
Ray nodded his head in understanding, then he grabbed the sword to examine it. The sword was very light and well balanced. He smirked and looked at the shop owner.
The shop owner narrowed his eyes and said to Ray, "I can't sell you this sword; this sword is my family heirloom."
Ray was disappointed when he heard this but nodded his head to the shop owner. He sheathed the sword back and handed it back to the shop owner.
The shop owner then gave Ray the other sword: "This sword is a skillful-grade sword; its name is "Amatsubu."
While Ray was examining Amatsubu, Oliver got bored and quickly started examining the swords in the barrels. When he grabbed the hilt of a sword, his eyes narrowed and he picked the sword from the barrel.
Suddenly, the system that was quiet for years says to Oliver.
[DING,] [ The system detected that the host grabbed sandai Ketitsu; the host need to make a choice.]
[Get this sword in any way possible. Reward cursed sword art manual.]
[Return the sword back to the barrel. Reward is Phoenix Claw martial arts manual.]
Oliver pondered briefly, "Well, the Phoenix Claw martial arts manual sounds interesting, but I am very interested in the Cursed Sword art manual; aside from that, I feel something evil from this sword."
Oliver unsheathe Sandai Kitetsu: Sandai Kitetsu is a moderately curved katana with a white edge and a distinct blue hamon that has the appearance of flames. The golden tsuba of Sandai Kitetsu resembles a rounded cross pattée, while the reddish-brown hilt features a golden clasp around its middle and a golden kashira pommel.
When the shop owner saw Oliver examining Sandai Kitetsu, he yelled at Oliver in fear, "Brat, put that sword back in the barrel right now."
Ray raised his eyebrows in surprise upon hearing the shop owner's words, then turned to look at Oliver.
Oliver smirked and said to the shop owner, "No way, old man. I want to buy this sword."
The shop owner started sweating in fear and yelled again at Oliver, "I will not be selling this sword; you don't know what kind of sword this one is."
Oliver smirked and said, "This is a cursed sword, am I right?"
The shop owner stood motionless, gazing at Oliver with a stunned expression. He then asked Oliver, "How did you know?"
Oliver looked at the shop owner and answered him truthfully, "When I first grabbed the sword's hilt, I felt an evil aura coming from this sword. After I swung the sword a couple of times, I knew it was a cursed sword."
The shop owner stood motionless on his spot, digesting every word Oliver said to him. He then thought to himself, "This guy is a real swordsman; he was able to identify that Sandai Kitetsu as a cursed sword with just a couple of swings."
He looked deeply into Oliver's eyes and said to him, "Look, kid, you are a true swordsman. I am willing to give you Sandai Kitetsu for free, but you need to prove to me that the Sandai Kitetsu curse had no effect on you. I don't want your blood to be on my hand. If you successfully prove that the curse had no effect on you, I will even give you Yubashiri for free."
When Ray and Oliver heard this, they were stunned, and then Olive heard the system notification in his head again.
[DING.] [The system detected that the host need to make a choice.]
[Accept the shop owner proposal: Reward lunarian bloodline.]
[Refuse the shop owner proposal Reward newest model shotgun.]
Oliver didn't care about the rewards; he only wanted Sandai Kitetsu because he really liked this sword.
"Old man, throw the sword at me and aim to stab my heart from where you are standing. Let's get the show on the road, Ray," he said to Ray after tossing Sandai Kitetsu to him. He then raised two arms to his side, taking 20 steps back and giving both the shop owner and Ray a bloodthirsty smirk.
Ray widened his eyes in shock, and the shop owner was sweating like a pig in fear.
The shop owner then yelled at Oliver, "Do you have a dead wish, kid?"
The shop owner then looked at Ray and said, "Don't do it; this kid is out of his mind."
Ray ignored the shop owner and looked deeply at Oliver. He saw his eyes shining with unwavering determination and courage. He then smiled when he saw this and said to himself, "I really raised you well, kid."
Ray unsheathed the Sandai Kitetsu, took a step forward, and threw the sword, aiming to stab Oliver in the heart.
The shop owner froze in shock, unable to believe what he was seeing.
"SWISH."
"PU."
"AAHH."
The shop owner grabbed Ray from his collar and yelled at him in anger, "Are you out of your mind? You killed the boy."
In the next moment, Oliver loudly exclaimed, shocking the shop owner once more, "Damn it, Ray, that really hurt!"
The shop owner looked at Ray like he was looking at a ghost.
Oliver stood up and removed the sword from his chest. After removing the sword, Oliver started bleeding profusely from his chest. He smirked at the shop owner and asked, "So, old man, did I prove to you that the curse had no effect on me?"
"You are the most craziest and courageous swordsman I have ever seen. I will keep my word and give you Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri for free," the shop owner said with a smirk.
Oliver shook his head and said to the shop owner, "I don't want to sound rude to you, but I only want Sandai Kitetsu, old man."
"Kid, please take Yubashiri with you. You are the most courageous swordsman I met. I know you will treat it well. Even if you decide to pass the sword to someone else, I believe you will pass it to someone who will treat Yubashiri well." The shop owner spoke to Oliver with conviction.
Oliver sighed and nodded to the shop owner, who then gave Yubashiri and Sendai Kitetsu to Oliver before Ray and Oliver left the sword shop.
_______
I hope you enjoyed the chapter
15 powerstones for the next chapter in 24 hours