One Piece : Bounty Hunter King! Chapter 8: Entering the Dojo! Zoro and Kuina

But that was only relative to his previous life.

In this world, it might just be catching up to the normal standard.

And Cyrus was well aware of this.

Fortunately, the "undergoing rapid transformation" prompt hadn't disappeared, which ant his body was still continuously getting stronger.

It was most likely due to the Devil Fruit, since its description ntioned that it would continuously strengthen the body.

As for Swordsmanship, he knew very well that he didn't know any real sword styles, but the basic actions like slashing and stabbing, as well as the honing and training of his strength, had raised the evaluation by one level.

And for the next period of ti, he would be improving his strength in Shimotsuki Village.

Of course, he wouldn't be overly ambitious.

As for his constitution, it was already good enough that it could continue to improve.

He naturally wouldn't hope for an awakening of his Devil Fruit right now, but his training would not stop.

Therefore, his goals for coming to Shimotsuki Village were to improve his Swordsmanship to the realm of cutting steel, becoming a true Master Swordsman, and to at least comprehend two types of Haki.

As for Conqueror's Haki, he wasn't sure if he had that.

But with the confidence his data panel gave him, even without Conqueror's Haki, he would absolutely not be weaker than anyone on this sea.

Being able to master two types of Haki was enough.

As the ship docked, Cyrus stepped onto the gunwale and turned to look at the group of people on the deck behind him.

"The employnt is over everyone!"

After speaking, Cyrus leaped from the ship, landing on Shimotsuki Village's small pier.

There were a few people on the pier, but not many.

They didn't pay too much attention to the arrival of a rchant ship, each busy with their own affairs.

Cyrus asked for the location of the Dojo and headed straight there.

Aboard the rchant ship, the crew stared at each other as they watched Cyrus's retreating back.

"What are you looking at? We're not the sa as that lord. Hurry up and get ready. We need to purchase so supplies, and I'm going to see if I can pick up so cargo."

The captain's loud shout sent the crew scrambling to work.

...

Thwack!

A bamboo sword struck a head, producing a hollow echo.

Zoro, a large bump now on his head, clutched the spot where the bamboo sword had hit him, his face full of defiance.

"That's 1,959 tis. You lose!"

A girl of about ten years old, holding a bamboo sword, said with a calm expression.

This had been happening almost 2,000 tis since Zoro joined the Dojo. She was already used to it, or rather, numb to it.

"You just wait! I'll definitely defeat you!"

Letting go of his head, Zoro picked up the bamboo sword he had just dropped and stared daggers at Kuina, looking quite passionate.

However, with his bruised and swollen face and the big bump on his head, he looked utterly comical.

So comical, in fact, that laughter erupted from the Dojo's entrance.

Then, the laughter drew Zoro's angry glare.

Hearing the laughter, Zoro turned his head, annoyed, and looked toward the Dojo entrance.

He saw a boy of about fourteen standing by the gate, leaning against the Dojo's main door and watching the two of them.

The boy was dressed in loose white clothes, his black hair looked a bit long, and his features were gentle and well-proportioned.

He didn't look fierce at all; judging by his face alone, he seed like an easygoing person.

However, the smile on his face right now made Zoro feel like he was being mocked, and he was naturally indignant.

"Who the hell are you?" Zoro sized up Cyrus at the gate and asked directly.

"Here to learn the sword."

Hearing the question, Cyrus stepped inside, his eyes sweeping across the Dojo's spacious courtyard before finally settling back on Kuina and Zoro.

"Learn the sword? Wait a mont, I'll go tell my father!"

Kuina wasn't surprised, as many people ca to the Dojo to learn the sword.

However, it seed this person wasn't a local.

After Kuina left, Zoro walked up to Cyrus, tilting his head back to look up at him with a defiant expression.

"What are you looking at?"

Cyrus looked down at Zoro, comparing the little green-haired kid before him with the image of the future First Mate who withstood a combined attack from two Emperors on Onigashima and defeated King the Wildfire.

He couldn't help but laugh out loud again.

If he have a cara Den Den Mushi on him, he would definitely take a picture of Zoro's current state.

This would absolutely beco part of Zoro's dark history!

"Why are you still laughing? I'll beat Kuina one day!"

Zoro wiped the blood trickling from his nose and said defiantly.

Cyrus shook his head.

Defeating her was impossible since she will be defeated by God D Stairs.

However, since Kuina wasn't dead yet, it wouldn't hurt to save her while he was at it.

As for whether it would change Zoro's destiny, who cared.

"If you're going to join the Dojo to learn the sword, then I'll be your senpai."

Seeing Cyrus in thought, Zoro's mind turned to the matter of seniority, and he imdiately spoke up.

"Since we're all here to learn the sword, naturally, whoever is stronger is the senpai." Cyrus shook his head directly.

"Naruhodo, so that's how it is. Doesn't that an if I defeat Kuina, she'll have to call senpai too?"

Zoro's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Cyrus.

"Impossible! You'll never defeat !"

Before Cyrus could even reply, Kuina's voice rang out.

Then, Shimotsuki Koshiro and Kuina walked out together, with Kuina still looking annoyed.

"I challenge you!"

Zoro flew into a rage at her words, pointing his bamboo sword at Kuina.

Kuina, with the bamboo sword pointed at her, glanced at Cyrus and her father before walking directly out of the Dojo.

Zoro imdiately followed.

'It seed another contest of Swordsmanship was about to begin.'

"Please excuse the display. My daughter and this disciple of mine just like to fool around."

Shimotsuki Koshiro didn't stop Kuina and Zoro's match.

Instead, he smiled and spoke to Cyrus.

As he spoke, his eyes sized Cyrus up.

When he saw Cyrus's eyes, a hint of surprise flashed in his own eyes behind his glasses.

"It's fine. After all, they're learning the way of the sword. One side has to win or concede for it to end. From what I can see, neither of these two is the type to concede easily," Cyrus said with a light laugh.

"You see things quite clearly, young sir."

Shimotsuki Koshiro nodded lightly at his words, then made an inviting gesture, which Cyrus naturally did not refuse.

After entering a room inside the Dojo, Shimotsuki Koshiro knelt down and invited Cyrus to sit.

Cyrus sat down casually with a relaxed expression, his eyes sizing up Shimotsuki Koshiro.

[Top-tier Master Swordsman (Extrely Dangerous)]

A blood-red marker hovered over Shimotsuki Koshiro's head.

Recalling the markers above the heads of those pirates and other people, the Koshiro before him was the most dangerous person he had t so far.

"You are not from Shimotsuki Village, sir?"

Koshiro was puzzled by Cyrus's gaze, but he did not lose his manners and asked the question.

"No, I arrived today on a rchant ship. I heard elsewhere that there was a Dojo here that teaches Swordsmanship, so I ca over."

Cyrus nodded slightly, giving a calm explanation.

"Then, why do you want to learn swordmanship?" Koshiro asked again.

"Is that important?"

Cyrus raised an eyebrow, asking in surprise.

"I suppose so," Koshiro nodded.

His attitude, however, made Cyrus fall into thought.

He lowered his head slightly to think, and after a mont, he looked up and gave his answer.