Chapter 19: Two-Stage Swordsmanship, Cutting Open the Sea[1]
"Really, Rozi? You can really use Kenpachi Zaraki's power?"
Luffy pounced in front of Rozi, his eyes sparkling as he looked at him.
"Heh. Well… I can use it."
After feeling the power that belonged to Kenpachi Zaraki inside his body, Rozi answered Luffy.
He couldn't fully use Kenpachi Zaraki's power, but with his current strength, a basic level of use was still possible.
"Awesome! Then can you show that meteor-splitting power from earlier? Also—can you transform Kenpachi Zaraki's Zanpakutō?"
Luffy asked curiously.
But before he could finish, Nami grabbed him by the collar.
"Idiot Luffy, don't let Rozi use a sword technique that can split meteors here!"
"Do you want our little boat to flip over?"
Nami shouted angrily.
"So what if it flips? I've got Rozi, don't I?"
"Luffy! Didn't Rozi say earlier that summoning Drake's ship consumes stamina and isn't practical on the open sea?"
"But… we're not that far from our destination now, right?"
"Not far from our destination… wait, we're almost at Orange Town?"
Nami looked into the distance. Sure enough, deep out on the sea, she could see a faint island.
Judging by their heading, it really was Orange Town.
"Since we're almost at Orange Town, that's even more reason not to let Rozi show off meteor-splitting power."
"If he shows power like that, the commotion will definitely be huge."
"If it scares off Buggy's crew, I won't get the treasure."
"Luffy, Zoro—you two, row. We're going to Orange Town right now!"
With a big wave of her hand, Nami directly gave orders to Zoro and Luffy.
"Hey, I'm the captain. And why doesn't Rozi have to row?"
Luffy pouted, looking at Rozi with dissatisfaction.
"No choice. There are only two oars, so only you and Zoro can row."
"Stop whining and move."
As she spoke, Nami shoved the oars into Luffy's hands and into Zoro's hands—Zoro, who was still sensing his new power.
No joking around—Nami didn't dare let Rozi row using sheer strength.
Besides, she remembered Rozi saying he'd show her his treasure collection later.
Thinking of that, Nami rubbed her hands and looked at Rozi, her eyes already turning into Berries symbols.
"Rowing is fine, but I have a question."
Zoro looked at Rozi and spoke.
"Vice-Captain, I carefully sensed my power just now."
"When I breathe according to that strange breathing method, I can feel my physical strength increasing."
"But as for Kokushibo's swordsmanship… I can only remember the first six forms and how to use them."
"I have absolutely no concept of the latter six forms of Moon Breathing."
"Do those forms also require me to become stronger before I can remember them?"
Hearing that, Rozi nodded.
"The latter six forms of Kokushibo's Moon Breathing require a demon's power to truly bring out their might."
"In other words, you need to first comprehend Kokushibo's demon power before you can master the latter six forms of Moon Breathing."
"As for how to take your understanding of Kokushibo's power further, that will require nonstop training—especially training while using Kokushibo's power."
"Of course, if I use Devil Fruits to strengthen your Heroic Spirit template, your comprehension of Kokushibo's power will improve."
"With a bit of luck, you might even enter a pseudo Heroic Spirit form, and use Kokushibo's power more perfectly."
"But you don't need that. With your talent, you probably won't need me to spend my two Devil Fruits on you."
"I'm saving those two Devil Fruits for companions with weaker combat talent."
As he spoke, Rozi turned his head slightly and glanced at Nami.
"I understand."
"But… the pseudo Heroic Spirit thing you mentioned earlier—what does that mean?"
"Does it mean I can turn into Kokushibo?"
Zoro asked with a frown.
Rozi smiled without answering, then turned toward the sea.
Just as Zoro, Luffy, and the others were confused about what Rozi was doing—
A golden light suddenly wrapped around Rozi.
"What's—"
Zoro was about to speak, but a powerful pressure suddenly surged from where Rozi stood.
Zoro's eyes widened as he stared at Rozi and saw his body changing within the golden light.
Rozi's black casual clothes turned into a black Shihakushō and a white haori with "11" written on it.
A jagged long sword appeared in his empty right hand.
Even Rozi's hair turned into spiky hair, and the tiny bells tied at the tips jingled in the wind.
"Y-You're… Kenpachi Zaraki?"
Luffy gaped and shouted excitedly.
"What's called a pseudo Heroic Spirit state is directly projecting the Heroic Spirit template's power onto your body."
"Luffy, Zoro—you both have that mysterious emblem on your chest, right? That's the Heroic Spirit template's projection."
"When you become a pseudo Heroic Spirit, your clothing will shift closer to the Heroic Spirit's appearance."
"Just like me entering Kenpachi Zaraki's pseudo Heroic Spirit state right now—my aura becomes like Kenpachi Zaraki's, and my clothes become what he usually wears."
"The benefit is that I can use the Heroic Spirit's power more flexibly—like this."
Rozi raised the long sword high with both hands, then swung it hard at the sea ahead.
"Swordsmanship: Two-Stage!"
Slash!
A golden blade wave flew off the edge of Rozi's sword, shooting forward at high speed and vanishing from everyone's sight in an instant.
After a brief silence, the sea in front of Rozi suddenly trembled.
With a thunderous roar, under Zoro and the others' stunned stares, the sea slowly split apart.
At the same time, the small boat beneath their feet began shaking violently.
Luffy: "Wow! Just like Rozi—he even cut the sea open!"
Zoro: "Damn it… is the gap really that big?!"
Nami: "Idiot Rozi, the boat's going to flip!"
With a smile on his lips, Rozi looked at the split sea and nodded in satisfaction.
Using "Swordsmanship: Two-Stage" consumed a lot of stamina, but the effect satisfied him.
"Since the boat's going to flip, I'll just switch to another ship."
"Anyway, Orange Town isn't far now."
Rozi glanced toward Orange Town in the distance and released the pseudo Heroic Spirit state.
The moment the small boat flipped, Rozi jumped—one hand holding the suitcase of treasure, the other wrapping around Nami's waist.
"Come out—my Golden Hind!"
With Rozi's shout, the sea churned again.
A massive ship surged up from the seabed and happened to prop up the overturned small boat—along with Luffy and Zoro.
"Heh. I'm fine, you know, Nami?"
Rozi landed on the deck of the Golden Hind and asked Nami beside him with amused interest.
...