Leaving Shiki's palace island behind, Sora and Indigo rode a door panel, speeding toward Loguetown.
Nearing their destination, they spotted the Freedom.
The journey from Prosius to Loguetown should've taken a day, but with the ship packed with villagers and massive waves slowing the first leg, Kuina's group took a day and a half.
They'd dropped the villagers in Loguetown without entering the town, then swiftly turned back.
As Sora landed the door panel on the deck, Kuina, at the bow, broke her icy demeanor with a radiant smile.
She rushed to Sora, grabbing his arm and gazing up at him, barely noticing Indigo. Her eyes, rarely drawn to anything else, stayed fixed on Sora.
"Sora, you're finally back! I thought you'd be fighting forever!"
"That old geezer had some fight in him," Sora said, ruffling Kuina's hair—a habit he loved. "Even on his last legs, he battled me for a day and two nights, all on willpower."
Kuina squinted, cat-like, nuzzling his hand, savoring the moment.
She let him mess her hair, knowing he'd comb it back neatly. She cherished the ritual.
After a moment, she glanced at Indigo. "And this is?"
"This is Dr. Indigo, our new ship's doctor," Sora introduced.
"Oh, Dr. Indigo, hello," Kuina said, her voice cool—not cold, but not warm either.
Outside training and fighting, little held her interest. But if Sora vouched for Indigo, he was a crewmate, and she was kind to allies.
"Hey there!" Indigo said, spinning in place with a "poof" and bowing like a gentleman. "Leave your health to me!"
"Whoa, you're so weird!" Alo slid down the mast.
"Like a circus performer!" Ahua added, emerging from the galley, pushing up his glasses. Who knew what he was always doing in there—he lingered in the kitchen whenever idle.
"You two, quit gawking and trim the sails!" Ata's head popped out of the helm, barking.
With Sora back, they were turning for Loguetown.
Alo and Ahua scrambled to adjust the sails.
Once the course was set, the trio swarmed Indigo, bombarding him with oddball questions.
Indigo hit it off with them, tossing out magic bombs that sparked whoops and hollers.
You'd swear he was a magician.
At the bow, Sora sank into his custom lounge chair.
He shot Ahua a look. Clueless kid. Doesn't see the boss is back? No juice offered?
Gotta "look after" him later.
Glancing at Kuina, he sat up, pulled her to sit beside him, and recounted his battle with Shiki—every swordsmanship lesson, every Haki trick.
Kuina had been a swordsman for over a year. With these techniques, a few big fights, and more Armament Haki practice, she'd soon reach great swordsman.
The gap between swordsman and great swordsman was vast, beyond just slash power.
Great swordsmen infused slashes with Haki, excelling in close and long-range combat.
Swordsmen's slashes, however, were weak—far less damaging than direct blade strikes.
That's why swordsmen favored melee over slashes.
To become a great swordsman, one needed to master cutting steel—the "breath of all things"—a step toward advanced Observation Haki, plus high-level Armament Haki.
A quick note on Armament Haki:
Its fluid nature allows varied techniques: Hardening, Wrapping, Emission, and Internal Destruction.
These techniques differ in skill, not Haki strength or overall power. In Wano, its fluidity earned it the name "Ryuo" (Flowing Cherry).
- Hardening: Coating the body in Haki, tougher than steel, boosting defense and attack. Usable on objects too. New World's most common, basic technique.
- Wrapping: Enveloping the body or weapon in gaseous Haki, enhancing defense and attack. Can coat weapons or briefly linger on projectiles (arrows, bullets). Combinable with Hardening.
- Emission: Advanced. Releasing concentrated Haki from hands or weapons as tangible force—blasting foes, forming shields, or blocking intangible attacks.
- Internal Destruction: Rare, mastered by few globally. Emitting Haki through surfaces to wreck internals. Combinable with Hardening, Wrapping, and Emission.
Sora had just reached Emission-level Armament Haki.
His Shiki fight boosted his Haki, but he wasn't at Internal Destruction yet. More training needed.
He constantly tempered Zankuu with Haki, believing a Black Blade would mark his Haki's peak.
A great swordsman's slash—high-level Armament Haki plus unmatched swordsmanship—created ultra-long-range, high-speed, high-damage attacks, even harming Logia users.
That's why great swordsmen were feared.
New World's weapon-users might mimic slashes, but true swordsmen were rare.
Their slashes, honed over years, carried unique insights.
Each swordsman's slash was a personal creation, distinct from others.
You could learn to condense slashes from others, but not replicate their essence.
That's why every swordsman's, and great swordsman's, slashes were unique.
To reach great swordsman, you trained from childhood, progressing until no further steps remained.
With decent talent, you'd awaken Armament Haki and grasp the breath of all things, becoming a swordsman.
Great swordsman, though, demanded exceptional talent.
Advanced Armament Haki was for monsters and geniuses.
Monsters, with innate gifts, easily hit Emission through combat and training, given they weren't lazy.
Take Luffy and Zoro—newly awakened, yet nearly maxing Armament Haki.
Haki, like forging steel, grew denser with use, improving control until mastery came naturally.
Normal folks struggled to awaken Armament Haki, let alone use it endlessly—they lacked the reserves.
That's why swordsman and great swordsman realms stumped so many.
The gap was heaven and earth for most—not bridged by effort or grit, but by innate limits.
Kuina, though, had the talent.
Beating Zoro in 10,000 bouts wasn't top-tier, but it was elite.
Training with Sora from youth, armed with great swordsman insights and relentless effort, she was destined for greatness.
Zoro, training under Sora, could hit swordsman soon with Observation Haki.
His Armament Haki might awaken before Luffy's journey, not needing two years.
Would Luffy, two years later, still charm a swordsmanship powerhouse like Zoro onto his crew?
(End of Chapter)