[Due to your heaven-defying luck, you entered an epiphany. Your understanding has reached an unmatched level.]
[The essence of Body Control Arts was successfully extracted. Your comprehension of this art surpasses even its creator.]
[Your combat awareness is increasing…]
[You realize that the Body Control Arts can still be refined. With ease, you upgrade the technique. Your mastery of body control has now reached the cellular level. Your control over your body has achieved the mortal-level extreme, and your combat experience has been perfected.]
[Due to the extreme degree of your body control, other arts—swordsmanship, kicking techniques, cooking, medicine, shipbuilding…—are easily comprehended.]
[Each of your arts has now surpassed the understanding of their respective creators.]
[Your swordsmanship has reached the edge of the laws. You can cut 'anything' at will. In the realm of swordplay, no one is your equal.]
[Your mastery over…]
Xun finally awakened from his epiphany. As he focused on his body, a deep sense of astonishment filled him.
He could now manipulate his very genes at will, as naturally as moving his fingers. Every cell in his body was as perceptible to him as his hands, allowing him to control his secretions, hormones, defense mechanisms, and physical limits with absolute precision.
It felt as though he had undergone a transformation not just by hundreds but by thousands of times.
If before, his body could lift thousands of tons with effort, now he could achieve the same result with just a single fingernail. Using his full strength, he could push this limit by thousands or even tens of thousands of times. The only constraint was the durability of his physical body. As long as his body could endure the stress, there seemed to be no ceiling to what he could achieve.
Beyond physical changes, his mind brimmed with knowledge. Everything he had learned now existed at the law's edge, the peak of mortal comprehension.
Earlier, he had barely been a match for Vice-Admirals skilled in Haki. But now, he felt that even an Admiral would struggle to break through his defenses.
If he dedicated some time to mastering Haki, the implications of his newfound strength became almost unfathomable. Even without Haki, his swordsmanship—now at the extreme mortal level—was capable of cutting through natural Devil Fruit users.
As Xun admired his sudden leap in power, he couldn't help but wonder why, despite his newfound strength, he was still categorized as a mere Lifeform Level 1. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that the will of the One Piece universe was absurdly generous.
"Here you are,"
Nami's voice broke through his thoughts, and instinctively, he caught the bag she tossed at him.
The fact that she had approached him without him even noticing wasn't surprising. In his past life, Xun had developed a habit of sealing his senses. Even back then, he could hear sounds from kilometers away. Now, with his strength amplified thousands of times, his heightened senses would only flood his mind with unnecessary information. Sealing them was more a matter of convenience than weakness.
Turning his attention to Nami, he noticed that she had changed her outfit. She now wore a tight white shirt that emphasized her bust, her nipples faintly visible through the fabric, and a short black skirt that barely covered her hips. He couldn't help but be momentarily surprised.
'Is this kind of clothing normal in this world? So bold?'
At first, he had assumed her earlier attire was revealing only because it was soaked from the sea. Now, seeing her new outfit, he realized women in this world had a much more open-minded sense of fashion. Combined with Nami's overly mature physique, Xun had a growing sense that the One Piece world was even more provocative than the one he knew.
However, his train of thought was interrupted by the sour expression on her face.
"What's wrong with you? You look upset," he asked.
Nami hesitated for a moment before replying, "I just witnessed something… unpleasant."
Curious, Xun opened the bag she had brought him. Inside, he found a pair of fashionable black boots, tight black pants, and an open white vest.
Noticing the carefully matched colors, he teased her. "Couple outfits, huh?"
Nami's face turned red with embarrassment as she snapped, "If you don't like it, go buy your own clothes!"
Xun quickly raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, I'll wear them!"
As he dressed, he caught Nami watching him intently, her brows furrowed in thought.
"What is it?" he asked.
"You seem… different," she said, still scrutinizing him. "You look more refined, like… a noble, elegant or something?"
Excuse her lack of vocabulary—she wasn't exactly well-versed in describing things like this. If Xun had previously carried a wild, handsome aura, now he exuded the grace and dignity of a prestigious noble. In fact, he seemed even more poised and elegant than the actual nobles she had encountered in her travels.
"More handsome, huh? Are you falling for me?" Xun smirked teasingly.
Nami quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks reddening. "Tch! Don't flatter yourself," she muttered, refusing to answer directly.
Once Xun finished dressing, he turned to her, his tone more serious. "Alright, now tell me—what happened to upset you so much?"
Nami clenched her teeth as she recounted the incident she had just witnessed.
The son of the Marine Captain, Morgan, had been bullying the residents. His pet wolf had nearly attacked a young girl before being killed by none other than the infamous pirate hunter, Zoro. However, instead of being thanked, Zoro had been deceived and was now crucified by the Marines, left to die as punishment.
Xun frowned, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"I didn't expect someone like him, who's been called a monster and a villain, to be so kindhearted," he remarked.
Nami nodded, her expression softening as Xun gently patted her head. She didn't move away, instead leaning into his touch as though savoring the gesture. For a moment, she looked up at him in a daze, her usual sharp demeanor melting away.
She didn't say anything, but the quiet moment between them spoke volumes.
Xun removed his hand from Nami's head, his expression turning serious. "So, Zoro saved a child and is being punished for it? That's ridiculous."
Nami reluctantly backed down, crossing her arms and nodding with feigned indifference.
"The Marines in this town are corrupt, especially Morgan's son, Helmeppo. He's a spoiled tyrant who abuses his father's authority to do whatever he pleases. Zoro's the only one who stood up to him."
Xun's eyes narrowed.
'So it's this earlier in the plot, Zoro just got played by the butt-chin guy, if so, I have a lot of tme to empty my favorite. Luffy's crew
"If that's the case, there's no need to let this slide."
He stepped off the boat and adjusted the white open vest Nami had brought him, the light fabric contrasting against his defined frame. He took a moment to stretch, the aura of his newly enhanced body subtly radiating power.
"Wait—what are you planning to do?" Nami asked, her tone wary but curious.
Xun smirked. "I'm going to meet this Zoro. Let's see if the so-called 'Pirate Hunter' is as interesting as they say."
Without waiting for a reply, he began walking toward the town square, his pace calm but relaxed. Nami hesitated, then hurried after him.
On the way, noticed how the townsfolk avoided the plaza, their gazes filled with fear and resentment.
It didn't take long for Xun to find the plaza where Zoro was being held. The large Marine base loomed in the background, casting a shadow over the area. In the center, tied to a wooden cross under the blazing sun, was Zoro Roronoa. His arms were spread, and his green hair was unmistakable even from a distance.
Zoro's condition was rough—his body bore signs of injury, but his gaze was sharp and defiant despite his predicament. A thick aura of stubbornness and pride surrounded him, as though he'd rather die than admit defeat.
"What a stubborn guy," Xun muttered to himself.