One Piece: My Crew Uses Zanpakuto

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'She's finally become a novice swordsman.'

Ikki glanced at Hina as she was knocked back, then quickly moved behind her to catch her body before she could hit the wall of the training room.

Over the past few days while guiding Hina, who wasn't particularly talented with Flame Breathing, Ikki had fought with her numerous times.

He'd defeated her no less than 50 times, but there had never been a system notification until now.

"Thanks," Hina said, standing upright and glancing at Ikki.

Although she still maintained her cool demeanor toward him, Hina could appreciate Ikki's dedication to teaching her.

For that, she was grateful.

"Let's continue," Hina turned around and pointed Sandai Kitetsu at Ikki.

"No need. You've completely mastered the basics of Flame Breathing, Hina. From now on, you're a qualified swordsman," Ikki said, patting her shoulder and extending his hand. "Whether you advance further depends on your own practice."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing, just that I plan to leave Alabasta today, so I need to take Sandai Kitetsu back."

"Leave? Is it time already?"

Hina frowned, then realized that she had been training under Ikki for ten days.

She thought about how Ikki had used Flame Breathing to engulf her in fire every day during that time, inevitably letting him see her body.

'Whatever, just consider it payment for his teaching,' Hina thought, shaking her head as she handed Sandai Kitetsu back to Ikki.

She knew her own affairs, and her strength had grown significantly over the past days.

Although she'd only learned the basics of swordsmanship, thanks to Flame Breathing, her physical abilities had improved dramatically.

She'd even obtained basic Armament Haki during her training.

Ikki took Sandai Kitetsu and immediately uploaded it to his system.

The system notification sounded in his mind right on cue.

[Ding! Host uploaded Medium Grade Sword 'Sandai Kitetsu', congratulations on winning one lottery chance.]

"Come on, Hina, let's head out," Ikki, in a good mood after successfully gaining a lottery chance, waved to Hina and led the way out of the training room.

Though Hina was curious about how Sandai Kitetsu seemed to vanish from Ikki's hands, she didn't ask any further questions.

She knew Ikki wouldn't answer her anyway.

"Congratulations, Hina," Smoker said, coming over with a smile on his face. "Congratulations on successfully mastering Flame Breathing."

"Compared to Vice Admiral Gion, Hina's learning took much longer," Hina shook her head and looked at Gion with mixed feelings.

Compared to her, Gion had already mastered the essence of Moon Breathing and had even integrated her original swordsmanship into it.

If Gion hadn't been waiting for her, she could have left Alabasta and returned to Marine Headquarters long ago.

"It was worthwhile being guided by Ikki," Gion said, looking at Ikki with complex emotions.

Because Ikki had used a special guidance method, although Gion had learned Moon Breathing, she couldn't figure out how to teach others the general method.

She hadn't left early just so she could try to learn from Ikki how others might learn Moon Breathing through regular methods.

Unfortunately, Ikki hadn't shared that information.

"Ikki!"

At that moment, a clear voice came from the door of the Sword Training Room.

Gion, Ikki, and Hina turned to look and saw Nami running in with quick steps.

"Ikki, look at this!" Nami quickly came to Ikki and pointed to the right side of her neck.

There, a small lightning-shaped mark was clearly etched into her skin.

"Is that... a Demon Slayer Mark?" Gion looked at Nami in surprise, suddenly noticing that the orange-haired girl's aura seemed more concentrated.

Confused, she looked at Nojiko and Vivi who had followed Nami into the Sword Training Room.

'These two haven't changed much,' Gion thought. 'But Nami... her aura is changing too quickly.'

'Just a Demon Slayer Mark shouldn't cause such a significant change in someone's presence.'

Gion looked at Ikki with questions in her mind. Recalling the interactions between Ikki and Nami over the past days, she suddenly realized that Ikki seemed to have been intentionally helping Nami train separately.

'I remember Ikki mentioned he gave Nami a challenge. Is that why he's going out of his way to help her train?'

Ikki touched the Demon Slayer Mark on Nami's neck with his finger, and a smile spread across his face.

"Not bad. It looks good on you, Nami," he said. "Congratulations. Your swordsmanship has taken a significant step forward."

"Even though your Demon Slayer Mark was influenced by mine, it won't shorten your lifespan. But when using it, your physical strength will be consumed intensively. Be more careful in future battles."

Ikki put his hand on Nami's shoulder, looking pleased.

"Yeah, I got it, Ikki," Nami replied. "By the way, I want to try completing the challenge you assigned me earlier. Is that okay?"

Nami raised her head and looked at Ikki seriously.

"You've finished your preparation? I understand," Ikki nodded slightly and turned to look at Hina and Gion.

"Sorry, you two. I need to help my crewmate get familiar with her powers. This involves my Devil Fruit ability," Ikki explained. "You two are my friends, but not my crewmates, so I need to keep certain abilities secret. Could you please wait outside or go to the gym for about ten minutes?"

Since he was going to use Gion's Sword Shadow, Ikki didn't want to let Hina and Gion see it.

If Gion were to see Nami rapidly improving her swordsmanship by challenging a 20-year-old version of herself, Ikki felt it might cause unnecessary complications.

"I understand, Ikki," Gion smiled and nodded, pulling Hina toward the exit. "In that case, Hina and I will wait outside."

Though she wanted to know what Ikki was planning, she had to respect his wishes. Considering that Ikki was essentially her teacher, Gion felt obligated to comply.

As the two left, the door to the Sword Training Room immediately closed.

Even if Gion tried to use Observation Haki, she wouldn't be able to perceive anything inside.

"Being able to block Observation Haki perception... what a strange Devil Fruit ability," Gion sighed.

"It must be some kind of fruit that can quickly increase his companions' abilities," Hina observed. "Hina noticed that Nojiko, Nami, and Vivi all have the same mark on the backs of their hands."

"Perhaps Ikki is using that mark to give Nami and the others the ability to grow stronger rapidly," Hina held her chin with one hand and looked at the door of the Sword Training Room thoughtfully.

"Maybe so. It seems our mission can only be completed to this extent. As for mastering Ikki's teaching method, that appears impossible," Gion shook her head calmly.

"That man deliberately prevented us from learning the orthodox methods of Flame Breathing and Moon Breathing swordsmanship styles," she added.

"Vice Admiral Gion, is it really wise to teach this man all of Rokushiki?" Hina asked, taking out a cigarette from her pocket. She raised her hand and snapped her fingers, using Flame Breathing to create a small fireball to light it.

'A convenient ability,' Hina thought to herself as she took a drag.

"The Rokushiki techniques aren't particularly special for a swordsman like Ikki," Gion replied. "Even if I taught him how to learn all of Rokushiki, he might not put in the effort to master it."

"All he wants is Geppo from Rokushiki. Giving him a relatively minor power can be considered our investment in him."

Gion understood the situation more clearly than Hina.

Ikki's friends were growing stronger at an astonishing rate. Even she and Hina had improved significantly since learning breathing techniques.

Of course Gion was willing to befriend someone with such power.

After all, Ikki might be able to help her and Hina develop Demon Slayer Marks in the future.

Meanwhile, inside the Sword Training Room...

"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"

With a roar of thunder, Nami, who had activated her Demon Slayer Mark, quickly passed by the 20-year-old Gion Sword Shadow with her Shikai-released Gonryōmaru in hand.

After a few seconds of seeming stalemate, the Sword Shadow's body dispersed into a warm energy flow that merged into Nami's body.

[Ding! Congratulations to Host's partner Nami for defeating 'Mountain-Cutting Realm Swordsman Gion' and reaching the Mountain-Cutting Realm in swordsmanship!]

[Tip: Nami's life force has reached S level, and her swordsmanship has reached the Mountain-Cutting Realm. Her Zanpakutō Gonryōmaru can achieve Bankai by absorbing Devil Fruit energy.]

'Finally won. Even 20-year-old Gion is quite formidable,' Ikki thought, breathing a sigh of relief. At the same time, he felt even more excited about seeing Nami's Bankai.

"Ikki, I did it! I defeated her shadow!" Nami exclaimed, walking out of the arena and jumping straight into Ikki's arms.

"Congratulations, Nami," Ikki said, patting her back. "You used Thunder Breathing and your Demon Slayer Mark, so you've consumed a lot of energy. Go to the gym and rest well. When it's time to leave Alabasta, we'll let you know."

"We're leaving?" Nami raised her head and looked curiously at Ikki.

Nearby, Vivi and Nojiko also turned to listen.

"I've spent enough time in Alabasta," Ikki explained, the corner of his mouth turning up as he addressed the three women. "I've also fulfilled my agreement with Hina and Gion. It's time to collect new famous swords."

"I received news that there's an excellent sword in the territory of another Shichibukai, Gecko Moria."