The wind grew heavier as Zoro and Shadow faced each other, their weapons gleaming under the sun. The clearing seemed to shrink as the tension between them grew. Zoro grinned, a mixture of excitement and frustration bubbling within him.
"Don't hold back," he growled, tightening his grip on his swords. "I'll show you why I'm going to be the world's greatest swordsman!"
Shadow remained silent, his calm, composed stance more threatening than any words he could have spoken.
Zoro dashed forward with Oni Giri, his three blades cutting through the air with immense force. Shadow responded with a sharp upward slash, perfectly timed to intercept the attack. Their blades met in a violent clash, the shockwave shaking the trees around them. Sparks flew as Zoro pushed harder, only for Shadow to deflect his swords with a fluid twist of his wrist.
"Not bad," Zoro muttered, stepping back. "But let's see you handle this!"
He charged again, this time with Tora Gari, the attack roaring forward like a feral beast. Shadow sidestepped, his movements precise, and countered with a quick horizontal slash. The force of the counter grazed Zoro's arm, drawing a thin line of blood. Zoro's grin widened, the sting of the cut fueling his resolve.
"You've got some skill," Zoro admitted, shifting his stance. "But skill won't save you from this!"
He unleashed Hiryu Kaen, his blade engulfed in a fiery aura as it roared toward Shadow. For a moment, the air around the battlefield seemed to ignite. Shadow's blade cut through the flames with startling ease, the attack dispersing as if it had never existed.
Zoro followed with Sanzen Sekai, his ultimate three-sword attack. Shadow didn't falter. His blade met Zoro's with incredible precision, parrying each strike with minimal movement. The sheer speed and control of Shadow's counterattacks forced Zoro to retreat again.
As the fight wore on, Zoro began to notice something unsettling. No matter how ferocious his attacks, Shadow's blade always seemed a step ahead, moving with a precision and sharpness that made even Wado Ichimonji feel inadequate.
"That sword of yours," Zoro said through gritted teeth, "it's… better than Wado Ichimonji. How is that possible?"
Shadow didn't respond, his silence cutting deeper than any words.
Frustrated, Zoro lunged forward with Karasuma Gari, a sweeping attack designed to overwhelm his opponent. This time, his blade connected with Shadow's body—only to slide off harmlessly.
Zoro's eyes widened in disbelief. "What the hell?"
He swung again, this time with Nigori-zake, his twin swords crashing down with brute force. Once again, his attack slipped off, the frictionless nature of Shadow's body rendering his strikes useless. Zoro gritted his teeth, pouring more strength into his attacks, but every move ended the same way: with his blade deflected or sliding off ineffectively.
"What is this?" Zoro spat, backing up as he tried to make sense of what was happening. "Why can't I hit you?"
Shadow finally moved, stepping forward with a calculated grace. He delivered a quick slash to Zoro's shoulder, the blade cutting through his shirt but leaving his skin untouched—a deliberate move to demonstrate control.
"You're not strong enough to break through it," Shadow said, his voice calm and unshaken.
Furious, Zoro lunged again, channeling all his strength into Rashomon, an attack meant to cleave defenses in two. Shadow, for the first time, activated his Armament Haki, his blade turning pitch black as it clashed with Zoro's. The resulting collision sent a shockwave through the clearing, and the force shattered two of Zoro's swords, leaving only Wado Ichimonji intact.
The sound of the breaking blades echoed, and Zoro froze, staring at his broken weapons. His breathing was ragged, his body tense as he tried to process what had just happened.
"What… what is that?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "That black aura… it felt like death itself."
Shadow sheathed his sword, the black aura fading. "That's Armament Haki," he said simply.
"There are three types of Haki," Shadow continued, his tone matter-of-fact. "Observation Haki, which lets you sense movements and intentions. Armament Haki, which strengthens your attacks and defends against even Devil Fruit users. And finally, Conqueror's Haki, the rarest type, which lets you dominate the wills of others."
Zoro's eyes burned with determination, despite his exhaustion. "Teach me," he demanded.
Shadow tilted his head slightly, studying Zoro. "Haki isn't free," he said. "I'll teach you Armament Haki, but it'll cost you—10 million Berri."
Zoro scowled. "Ten million? You're insane!"
"Then figure it out yourself," Shadow replied coolly, turning to walk away.
Zoro clenched his fists, then let out a resigned sigh. "Fine. I'll pay. But don't think this is over. Next time, I'm breaking that sword of yours."
Shadow's lips curved into a faint smirk beneath his mask. "Good luck with that."
Understood! Here's the revised version where Rashed doesn't reveal the existence of the system:
Two days after upgrading his Armament Haki and Observation Haki to Level 4, Rashed stood across from Zoro, the tension between them dissipating after their fierce battle. Rashed's voice was calm yet commanding as he began to explain.
"You need a strong body to control Haki," he said, his gaze unwavering. "It consumes stamina, especially when you're continuously using it. Your physical strength and endurance will dictate how far you can push it."
Zoro listened intently, his curiosity piqued. Rashed continued, "Armament Haki is the ability to create invisible armor or harden one's body or weapons. It increases both offensive and defensive capabilities. At its core, it's the manifestation of one's willpower—a mental fortitude that channels intent and focus into a physical form. This strengthened resolve allows the user to overcome external defenses, such as Devil Fruit abilities, with ease."
With that, Rashed activated his Observation Haki, his eyes faintly glowing as he demonstrated his ability to see two seconds into the future, dodging Zoro's mock sword swings with uncanny precision. "With advanced Observation Haki, you can see the flow of actions before they happen," he explained, smirking at Zoro's growing frustration.
Rashed then addressed Zoro's readiness. "To unlock your potential, I'll use my abilities to strengthen your body and guide you. Your body is already strong, so this won't take long."
Zoro flinched as Rashed placed a hand on his chest, guiding energy through his body. In minutes, Zoro could feel his strength multiplying, his muscles burning with newfound power. "What the hell is this?" he muttered, his fists tightening.
Rashed smirked. "Just a bit of help. Now, I'll guide you through the pathways to activate your Haki."
Over the next 15 days, Rashed meticulously trained Zoro, using his abilities to train his body at the same level as his and unlock the basics of Armament Haki. Through gritted teeth and unrelenting effort, Zoro finally managed to coat his sword with the faint black sheen of Armament Haki.
"Not bad," Rashed said with a nod. "You've got the basics down. But that's just the start."
As a final gesture, Rashed handed Zoro two swords. Zoro's eyes widened as he examined them. "These… they're as good as your blade," he said, confused. "Why would you give me something this valuable?"
Rashed didn't answer directly, but his inner thoughts betrayed him: "He he! Keep feeling grateful for me. When you join the crew, I'll work you for my bounty money, my minion number one."
Finally, Rashed removed his mask, revealing his face for the first time. "This is a token of friendship," he said, his voice softer. "We will meet again soon."
Zoro stared at him, confused. "What do you mean by that?"
Rashed didn't reply, turning away and disappearing into the horizon, leaving Zoro to ponder the cryptic farewell.
Sytem show me the Gain.Ding!
Total SP Earned:
300 (Beating Zoro) + 200 (Teaching Haki) + 400 (Timeline Alteration) = 900 SP
sweet. another harvest. I should beat up Luffy too and teach him gear 2nd/3rd and some haki.
If he unintentionally produces a little bit of conquer haki it will be a huge gain.
System!
Open the status window.
status window.
Name: Rudeus D. Rashed (D clan is self-made)
Body: has iron-like bone, nerve reaction of 1 millisecond, concentrated muscle, blood cells are 100 times more potent than normal humans on earth, mitochondria produce 80 times more energy in cells.
Age: 26
skill:
Armanent- level 4
Observation -level 4
Kendo -level 10
Martial arts -level 10
Marksmanship -level 10
Tactical analysis - level 10
pattern recognition -level 10
Combat recording -level 10
Accelerate learning-level 10
reflex copy -level 10
Biomechanical insight-level 10
Eidetic memory- level 10
neural synchronization -level 10
endurance optimizer - level 10
Immune body version 4 ( cutting/detachment/iron/slippery)
Stealth Techniques v.4 ( shave+ kendo footwork+ Kuros technique + Frictionless motion)
piercing gun v.2 (finger gun + blade thrust)
Smoke manipulation - smoker's ability to manipulate smoke.
wallet: 220 million
SP: 4513 SP