Demon Slayer Virgil [Isekai One Piece]

"Hmm..."

In the Marine Headquarters, Marineford, in a certain training room on this island's military academy, a white-haired man with a back swept haircut was holding a long blade, placed horizontally at his waist.

'Yamato - Azure'

Zheng! 

With a slight exhale from the white-haired man, a faint azure glow appeared in his eyes. An azure sword strike charged out.

The speed of the azure sword energy was extremely fast. As it flew, one could vaguely hear the sound of air rupturing. Even space itself seemed to be slightly torn open by the slashes.

Ding! 

1.29 seconds later, the azure sword energy flew to a black wall 6 meters ahead, making a clear ringing sound.

"Hmm, as expected of a wall made from sea prism stone. It really is quite firm. If it was anything else, it would probably have been sliced open already."

Looking at the black wall that was slashed yet didn't have any damage at all, the white-haired man narrowed his eyes appreciatively.

"Hmm, but of course. It's sea prism stone after all. Having such firmness is only natural. Still, this move can be considered a success."

The white-haired man was naturally our protagonist Zavia. He sheathed Yamato, recalling the earlier slash in his mind. A satisfied look appeared on his face.

The sword skill Zavia just used was one he created himself. Why? It was simply because Zavia felt all sword users should have their own unique sword skills, yet all he had was Dimension Slash. That was a bit too shabby. So he started trying to create his own unique sword skills.

The earlier move 'Azure' combined his sword skill with Soru from the Six Powers.

Although Soru itself was already like a slash, attacking the opponent by spinning the legs at ultra-high speeds to slice open space itself.

Perhaps for ordinary people, no one would think to apply it to sword skills. After all, they were both slashes. So even if they thought of it, they would feel it was unnecessary.

But was Zavia an ordinary person? No, he was extra-ordinary...

In fact, not only Soru, Zavia combined the other Six Powers skills with his sword skills too. But clearly the effects weren't very good.

Take Tekkai (Iron Body) for example. That ability combined with sword skills didn't allow Zavia to unleash some kind of slicing slash like with Soru. At most, Zavia could only make Yamato firmer and less prone to breaking.

Well, it wasn't like Yamato was easy to break in the first place.

As for Shigan, (Finger Gun) that was even more useless. Frankly put, it was just using Yamato to stab instead of slashing. But Yamato was a sword, not a rapier. Stabbing wasn't very suited for it compared to slashing.

Naturally, the remaining three techniques were even less useful. Rankyaku, Geppo, and Kami-e didn't have any applicability with sword skills.

However, those three techniques weren't without use for Zavia. To him, they actually had other areas of use...

"Hmm, like this I have another minor killing move besides Full Swing Dimension Slash, which is 'Azure'. Tomorrow is the trial day. I wonder how those three are doing."

Zavia put Yamato back into his spatial bag. His eyes glanced at the doorway. Not long later he retracted his gaze and sat down cross-legged, beginning to meditate.

As for the doorway, a over 2 meter tall old man with gray-white hair stood there with his hands pocketed, gaze solemn as he looked at Zavia.

***

"How is it? Did you find where he is?"

In a luxurious 5 star hotel far away from the Pirate World, a middle-aged man in white robes stared at the black clothed man before him, his face full of delight.

"Not yet, but soon. Although he is in the dimensional realm, there are still methods to find him." Sitting before a laptop, the black clothed man pushed up his glasses and slowly spoke.

"Hmph, that Demon God is really cautious huh. To actually send his inheritor to the dimensional realm. Does he not want others finding him that much?"

Hearing the black clothed man's words, the middle-aged man shrugged and sat down on a nearby sofa, picking up a wine glass filled with red liquid on the table. His words carried a mocking tone.

"No, I don't think it was the Demon God who sent the inheritor to the dimensional realm." Hearing the middle-aged man's words, the black clothed man directly denied it.

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"I feel that it should be his most trusted subordinate, Raul Valona." The black clothed man pushed his glasses up once more and gave his own answer.

"Valona? What does that guy have to do with this? He's nothing more than the Demon God's dog."

Facing the black clothed man's reply, disdain showed on the middle-aged man's face. His tone was filled with contempt for Valona.

"Mr. Moran, I don't know what special sentiments you harbor towards Valona, but I have to say one thing. Don't look down on Valona. He is definitely a formidable foe!" The black clothed man stopped his typing hands and turned to face the middle-aged man called Moran, speaking seriously.

"Hmph, no need for you to say!" Moran coldly snorted. He drank the red liquid in his wine glass in one go, anger showing on his face.

It seems this Mr. Moran harbored an abnormal hatred towards Valona.

"Sigh, good that you understand, Mr. Moran." Lightly sighing, the black clothed man turned back around to continue pressing the laptop keyboard.

***

Time passed in a flash. In the blink of an eye, the second day swiftly arrived. On this day, Zavia got up early to train as usual, until sunrise.

Around 7am, he returned to the dorm. He discovered Robbie and the others were already awake and changed, preparing to head out.

"Yo, Zavia. As always you got up so early." In dorm room 233, Robbie put on his last article of clothing and smiled at Zavia.

"I guess so. Today's the trial day. How are your preparations?" Walking to his bed, Zavia picked up the wooden sword leaning against the wall and put it into his spatial bag. Then he turned and asked.

"I'm still alright. I plan to display my Six Powers during this trial!" Hearing Zavia's question, Robbie excitedly spoke about what he planned to do. Looks like he wanted acknowledgment.

"Me? I should be fine, but I don't have much confidence for this trial." Terry was without much emotion, only a bit unconfident.

"As for me, I'll definitely fail the selections. After all I'm a brainy type, fighting and killing doesn't suit me." Chris pushed up his glasses, speaking indifferently. He didn't seem to hold much expectations for this trial.

But that was only from an ordinary perspective. In Zavia's eyes, his words were clearly lies. However, he wasn't interested in poking holes in it. After all he didn't have any connections with him.

"Alright, since you guys are prepared, let's go."

Hearing their replies, Zavia only lightly nodded his head. Then he opened the dorm door and headed for the drill grounds.

…

The drill grounds were packed with people at 7am. In the middle were three circular platforms that were set up, surrounded by students from all grades sitting down.

And to the east of the platforms was a building. Inside sat 5 big figures: Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, Kuzan, and Vice Admiral Crane. They watched the trial grounds below from this VIP suite-like room.

"Welcome students to the 11th selections trial. As the name suggests, this competition is mainly to select talents useful for the Marines. I won't ramble on excessively and get right to the point.

The trial is split into the preliminaries and finals. Those who are victorious in the preliminaries enter the finals. The victor of the finals will obtain the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade as well as become Admiral Zephyr's disciple.

I won't elaborate much on the rules. All weapons are allowed, but you cannot injure your opponent heavily, disable them, or kill them. Losing consciousness means elimination. Ringing out also counts as eliminated. That will be all. Now the first group, head on stage."

At the center circular platform, a Lieutenant Referee stated some of the competition's rules without dragging things out. Very quickly, the competition began.

The first group of contestants went on stage. There were 4 people in total. The middle platform was for the finals while the other two were for the preliminaries. It was very simple and clear.

The 4 divided up and headed to the two side platforms after saluting each other. Accompanying the bell ringing, the competition officially started.

There were referees at both side platforms since it wasn't known which would conclude first. So two referees were prepared.

"Hey, which side do you think will win?" In the spectator stands, Robbie watched the fight below and spoke to Zavia beside him.

"How would I know? Don't ask me." However, Zavia didn't entertain Robbie much. He wasn't interested in such guesswork over who would win or lose.

"I see..." Seeing that Zavia didn't have any interest, Robbie tactfully stopped asking. His gaze moved to watch the fight below.

"Sigh." Zavia lightly sighed. He moved his gaze from the arena to the building at the side with the 5 figures.

(I won't mention those 3 old guys, but when did Kuzan and Vice Admiral Crane return to Marineford?) Seeing the suddenly present Kuzan and Vice Admiral Crane, Zavia couldn't help feeling doubtful.

(There was no news within the academy about Kuzan and Crane's return ah. Could it be they deliberately hid the news of their return?) Seeing the somewhat distracted Zavia, he was suddenly called back by Robbie. Robbie reminded him that it was almost time for him to head on stage.

Zavia only absentmindedly agreed before leaving the spectator stands.

***

Inside a dilapidated hotel, a man in black and white clothing sat at a bar counter, swirling a wine glass in hand.

And next to him, a youthful looking man dressed in a black coat with a red lotus insignia at the collar. On his back was an inverted black cross. He quietly looked at a book in hand, exuding a scholarly temperament.

"Now isn't this a rare guest. The infamous leader of the 'Blood Lotus Group' has something to discuss with me?" After drinking a mouthful of wine, the black and white clothed man suddenly spoke.

"Valona, do you know of 'Blood Trade'?" The youthful man didn't even glance at the black and white clothed man called Valona. Instead he lightly asked.

"Blood Exchange? What is it? Are you looking to trade with me?" Valona put down his wine glass and rested his chin on hand, looking at the youthful leader of the Blood Lotus Group beside him.

"Ah, you should know of the 'Wheel of Time' right?"

"I do, what about it?"

"I need it."

"So what does that have to do with me?"

"Don't pretend. I know you have the location information for it."

"Hmph, even if I do, why would I tell you? That 'Wheel of Time' is the one and only artifact that can harm the Demon God.

"Is that so...then I guess our trade has failed huh."

"What else could it be? Don't think that just because I don't know you've already dispatched your group members to kill the Demon God's inheritor that it'll succeed. As long as I'm here, don't even dream about it!" After drinking the final mouthful of wine, Valona looked at the youthful leader with a smile. Although that smile didn't contain any good intentions.

Facing this, the youthful leader only smiled before his figure started becoming illusory. Soon he completely vanished.