Luffy held his flaming sword tightly, not given a single moment to catch his breath. Just as he clambered up from the sandy pit, the note soldiers were upon him, three spears aimed at his torso.
He rolled to the side, lifted his sword, and struck at their legs. But one soldier planted its shield into the ground, raising a cloud of sand that blocked his path, scattering his attack.
The relentless clashing sounds of metal filled the air.
Against the soldiers, whose spears granted them a significant reach advantage, Luffy found himself at a disadvantage. A single sword, even wielded skillfully, struggled against spear-wielders who could keep him at bay with their extended reach.
He needed to be careful, very careful. This was a hard lesson for any swordsman—to overcome those whose weapons naturally outmatched their own.
And yet—
Luffy's sword wasn't ordinary.
The flames he'd painstakingly trained to control weren't just for show—they were as deadly as a blooming mandrake.
His flame-imbued sword slashed through the air, leaving trails of fire that glimmered like a raging red dragon.
Despite the sand's attempt to smother the flames, the fiery embers scattered, clinging to the soldiers' bodies.
If this battle were fought in a more combustible setting, Luffy's flames could easily spread, transforming the battlefield into a sea of fire.
With each slash, the flames from Luffy's sword latched onto the soldiers, gradually building up until the blaze could be detonated all at once.
With a fierce yell, he swung his flaming blade, sending a ball of fire towards the soldiers.
"This ends here."
As the fireball ignited upon impact, the buried Haki within it surged, creating an explosive column of fire that engulfed three soldiers.
Five soldiers remained.
The remaining soldiers, unhurried, advanced on Luffy, dragging their spears through the sand. They didn't rush; instead, they circled him, clearly understanding the concept of strategy. They moved in a way that exuded confidence—a silent declaration of their impending victory.
One soldier broke from the formation, spear leveled, legs moving with a speed that belied its size. Luffy focused on the flaming sword in his hand, a thought flickering to life in his mind—a spark of inspiration, born from the heat of battle.
This was a battle in a virtual world, a place where real insights held invaluable worth.
The fire in his grip burned hotter as his thoughts converged on a new idea. Fire, Haki, the sword skills he'd learned, the sparks of clashes, the glowing embers falling from the blade, the ash and dust rising around him—all these fragments began to align, connecting in his mind.
It was all coming together!
His eyes blazed with newfound clarity as he faced the charging soldier.
"This is my last bit of Haki, Uta!"
Flames danced in Luffy's dark eyes.
"Do you like fireworks? Then dim the lights a bit."
Uta, puzzled but intrigued, swapped out the sun for a moonlit sky. The world around them grew dim and silent.
Her voice softened, her attention focused solely on him, curious about his intentions.
Fireworks? Where would he get those here?
With a determined look, Luffy gripped his sword with both hands.
"Watch closely; this is for you!"
He raised the blade, took a running step forward, and brought it down in a powerful strike.
The soldier raised its spear and shield to counter. Luffy's face split into a grin.
A beautiful arc of fire collided with the spear.
The impact scattered the flames into the sky, forming a constellation of embers that floated like stars.
Those stars didn't simply vanish; they hovered above, shimmering briefly before descending. What first seemed like a gentle cascade of lights soon transformed into a fiery rain, each ember growing into a blazing comet that crashed into the ground, forming an expanding field of flames.
The soldiers were caught in the fiery rainstorm, each one becoming a blazing torch.
Beautiful, deadly.
"Sword Technique: Fiery Blossoms and Silver Flowers—Endless Night!"
His voice, steady and confident, echoed through the battlefield like a gentle murmur.
The flames on his sword were spent—that had been his last reserve of Haki.
In the glow of the firestorm, Luffy twirled his sword and sheathed it with a flourish, standing tall as the flames illuminated the night.
He didn't even look back at the soldiers; that was irrelevant.
Style was everything.
Hit hard, look cool doing it.
And one more thing: Uta was right—he'd never truly bested her in direct combat.
In this world, Uta reigned supreme. She was gradually honing her skills, mastering the art of summoning and controlling her creations.
With her note soldiers surrounding her, she was practically untouchable, nearly invincible.
Her Devil Fruit's potential was one that could shake worlds.
Uta stood still, her legs pressed together, entranced by the sight of the falling flames. She had forgotten to sing, her gaze fixed on the stunning firework waterfall and the blazing soldiers below, utterly captivated.
It was breathtaking—a sword technique at its most dazzling.
Kuina's eyes sparkled, captivated by the stunning display. Though Luffy was only a beginner, he had unleashed a display of beauty and power she'd never imagined possible.
Zoro, standing closest to Luffy, was entranced by the fiery spectacle before him. He never knew swordsmanship could create something like this.
"One day," he muttered, "I'll learn to wield a sword like that!"
The dazzling flames had burned through the note soldiers, leaving them to dissolve into shimmering particles. Despite technically losing, Luffy had already won the admiration of his friends.
Unable to contain her feelings, Uta ran to Luffy, tackling him to the ground with a joyous hug.
"Luffy! Luffy! Luffy!"
Her voice overflowed with emotion as she clung to him, a wide smile lighting up her face.
"You were incredible!" She snuggled close, radiating happiness.
"It was so beautiful… I never knew swordsmanship could be like this."
Kuina walked slowly towards the last traces of the fiery blossoms, her voice filled with admiration.
"I'll learn it too, one day!" Zoro called out to her, his face determined.
Kuina gave him a calm, assessing look. "You've got a long way to go. Beat me first, then we'll talk."
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