Thou Shall Not Die

A day had passed since Zoro and Kuina received the swords crafted by Taiyo, and both were already eager to spar with him. They wanted to grow accustomed to the feel of the new blades in their hands. Kuina, who had originally wielded the Wado Ichimonji, returned it to Koushirou, recognizing it as the symbol of the Isshin Dojo and the primary sword her father had once used. Meanwhile, Zoro, who practiced the Three-Sword Style, was given two practice swords by Taiyo.

Now, both Zoro and Kuina were coordinating their attacks, launching a relentless assault on Taiyo with an intensity that carried the intent to kill. It was a mindset Taiyo had always encouraged in their training—"Always swing to cut, or don't swing at all."

Taiyo calmly parried their strikes, fluidly wielding his enormous sword, one that seemed ill-suited to his relatively short frame. Yet, with his overwhelming strength, he controlled it effortlessly. Though he couldn't execute his usual iaido techniques due to the sword's size, it hardly mattered. Even while facing both of them, Taiyo wasn't using even ten percent of his strength.

He had grown far stronger after waking from his three-month comatose state. Pushing himself past the brink of death had unlocked new potential within him. He had gone beyond his limits, and now, he was reaping the results.

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A few hours had passed since Taiyo sparred with Zoro and Kuina. Now, the three of them sat together around a small campfire they had built. They had agreed not to return home tonight, choosing instead to sleep beneath the stars. It was one of the simple joys Taiyo missed during the five long months he spent forging their swords.

In his previous life, before being transported to the world of One Piece, Taiyo had dreamed of becoming an astronomer. The stars had always fascinated him—distant, mysterious, beautiful. But that dream had died the day he was pulled into this new world. Still, he wasn't bitter. If anything, this world gave him something the last one couldn't.

In his old city, pollution often shrouded the sky. There were nights he couldn't see a single star. But here, in this world, the sky was clearer, purer. The celestial bodies shimmered like jewels scattered across a velvet sky, and Taiyo had made it a habit to look up at them every night before falling asleep.

Tonight, though, was special. He wasn't just stargazing alone—he had invited the two most important people in his life to share this moment with him. Zoro and Kuina, who had both become more than just sparring partners. They were family. And now, under the endless night sky, they sat in peaceful silence, letting the warmth of the fire and the glow of the stars remind them that, for all their battles and hardships, there was still beauty in the world worth pausing for.

While they sat around the crackling campfire, Taiyo suddenly noticed a meteor shower streaking across the sky. His eyes lit up with awe—it was the first time he had seen one in person. Even in his previous life, meteor showers had remained elusive, always hidden behind clouds or city lights.

"Hey, look up," Taiyo said softly, pointing to the sky.

Zoro and Kuina turned their heads and immediately caught sight of the breathtaking meteor shower painting the night sky. Their faces lit up with quiet wonder as they took in the beauty above.

For several minutes, the three sat in silence, watching as streaks of light danced across the heavens. When the final meteor faded and the sky returned to its usual starlit stillness, only the moon remained above, bathing them in silver light. The campfire crackled gently, the only sound in the serene silence of the night.

Then, Taiyo spoke.

"Both of you… promise me something."

His sudden seriousness made both Kuina and Zoro sit up straighter. It was rare—almost unheard of—for Taiyo to speak like this, and his tone carried weight.

"Promise me that once you reach your peak, the two of you will meet me again for a final duel, when we're sixty years old. No matter what titles we carry then. We'll fight with everything we've got, with no regrets."

Zoro and Kuina looked confused.

"Why?" they asked in unison.

Taiyo's gaze turned toward the firelight. "We all know that we'll leave this island eventually. The sea is calling to us. And it's dangerous out there. This promise—this duel—it's your motivation. A reason to live, no matter how hard things get. A reminder to survive, so we can all stand together again… one last time."

Zoro grinned. "Is that it? I don't plan on dying until I become the world's strongest swordsman."

"Me neither," Kuina added. "I'll be the strongest swordswoman the world has ever known. I won't die before that."

"Then swear it," Taiyo said, unsheathing his massive blade. "Seal it with blood."

Without hesitation, Zoro and Kuina followed suit, drawing their swords.

"I swear," Taiyo said solemnly, his voice low but resolute, "that from this moment on, I will not lose—until both of you are strong enough to challenge me."

As he spoke, thunder cracked overhead, a deep rumble rolling across the sky as if the heavens acknowledged his vow. He slashed his palm with the blade, letting blood drip onto the ground.

"I swear that I will become the strongest swordsman this sea has ever known!" Zoro declared. Thunder rolled again. He cut his palm and let the blood fall.

"I swear I will become the strongest swordswoman the world has ever seen!" Kuina said, voice unwavering. The third thunderclap answered her declaration. She too drew blood with her blade.

Then, the three pressed their bloodied hands together, sealing the oath. With solemn reverence, they wiped their shared blood across the blades of their swords.

In the quiet that followed, it felt as though the stars themselves bore witness to their promise—an unbreakable vow forged by fire, blood, and ambition.