28 Chapter – 28 A New Form of Companionship
"Kuina-chan, can you give me a hand?" Ryuma asked as he walked into Kuina's room.
She was engrossed in a book on Sword Techniques. Upon hearing Ryuma's request, she calmly set the book aside, showing no surprise. She nodded and said, "No problem. Is it for the testing again?"
"Yup," Ryuma nodded, revealing the bag he carried, filled with a dozen Katanas he had crafted.
"Alright," Kuina agreed. She then tied her hair into a small ponytail and said, "Let's go, Aniki." The two switched places and headed to the practice field.
It has been a month since their small adventure. Considering the three weeks she spent in her room after their hundredth duel, and this additional month, Kuina noticed her hair had grown a bit. To avoid interference during sword training, she now needed to tie it up.
However, during other times when she wasn't training, Kuina would let her hair flow freely. She was no longer hesitant to embrace her femininity, evident in the shifts in her temperament.
In the past month, there has been a profound shift in Kuina's demeanor. The words Ryuma shared with her amid the captivating scenery of the White Sea ignited a new sense of hope within her. As a result, she's no longer plagued by the deep depression and hopelessness that consumed her a month ago.
Kuina has come to terms with the daunting challenge of aspiring to be the World's Greatest Swordsman, especially considering the biological obstacles of being a woman. However, she has also embraced the reality that such an achievement has never occurred in this world. Inspired by Ryuma's perspective that 'Just because something has never been done before does not mean it is impossible,' Kuina has internalized these words. With determination, she is now on a path to shatter conventions and become the first person to turn the impossible into reality.
The notion that 'grown women cannot match men in terms of strength' was a belief instilled by her father. While these words still trigger anxiety, Kuina has come to the realization that there's little she can do to change this perception except to work harder.
As Ryuma wisely put it, 'If something appears to be impossible, then your vision is narrow, in which case you need to broaden your horizon and gain more experience.'
Ultimately, whether she can attain the title of the World's Greatest Swordsman despite being biologically a woman is a journey she's determined to navigate. Kuina has decided to move forward with the mindset that if the potential lies within her, she will achieve her dream. Conversely, if it doesn't, she's prepared to persist until the end.
A notable shift in their relationship is that Kuina has begun calling him 'Aniki,' and this has deeply touched Ryuma. Having never had a younger sibling in either this life or the previous one, he felt genuine happiness and warmth when Kuina started treating him like an elder brother.
Even though Ryuma had established strong connections with individuals like Ace, Sabo, Luffy, and Uta in the Kingdom of Goa, he wouldn't categorize them as siblings. Ace and Sabo were apprentices whom Ryuma trained in response to their request. In the case of Luffy and Uta, he sees them more as friends than siblings. Consequently, they hold the roles of apprentices and friends in Ryuma's life, but not that of siblings.
Ryuma had always harbored a desire for a younger sister, and Kuina, fittingly, filled that role perfectly.
Now, Ryuma and Kuina share a sibling bond, supporting and assisting each other in their endeavors. This newfound connection has brought a unique and cherished dynamic to their relationship.
…
At the Training Field.
Ryuma placed the bag he was carrying on the ground, and after a few stretches, he selected one of the swords from the bag. Kuina followed suit, stretching her body before retrieving a sword from the bag as well.
Their reason for being on the training field was to put the swords Ryuma had crafted to the test in a real-life battle simulation. This served the purpose of identifying any issues with the blades and determining potential improvements that could be made.
Certainly, this pretext of testing swords is just a guise Ryuma devised to assist with Kuina's training. Observing the shift in her mindset after their little adventure, Ryuma is optimistic about her future. Thus, he's actively supporting her development. Moreover, knowing that she will be a valuable member of his Pirate Crew in the future, Ryuma believes that all the effort put into her training will ultimately prove worthwhile.
No, Ryuma hasn't explicitly discussed his intention to recruit Kuina into his pirate crew with her, at least not officially. Nevertheless, this remains an unspoken understanding between them. While Ryuma hasn't formally extended the invitation, Kuina is aware of his aspirations to become a pirate and set out to sea in the near future, and she has already expressed her interest. Ryuma is confident that she would accept his offer should he recruit her, making her the second member of his Pirate Crew. Of course, the first member is none other than Rio, Ryuma's irreplaceable first friend in this world.
Turning to the testing and practice at hand, Kuina takes on the role of the attacker, wielding her sword to 'test' the point of balance, edge sharpness, and tip control of the blade. These three factors are crucial in evaluating a sword's effectiveness during an attack. In the meantime, Ryuma assumes the defensive stance, working to 'test' the cross guard (tsuba) and the blade fortitude of the sword. These aspects are of utmost importance when gauging a sword's defensive capabilities.
The duo engaged in this collaborative practice, each focusing on specific aspects to refine and assess the quality of the swords Ryuma had crafted all while improving their skills, though it was mostly Kuina since such a form of practice is not that fruitful for Ryuma and only serves as a light warmup.
Continuing their training, the duo eventually switched roles. Now, it was Kuina's chance to 'test' the 'defense' aspects of the sword, concentrating on factors like the cross guard (tsuba) and blade fortitude. On the other hand, Ryuma took on the role of the attacker, focusing on 'testing' the 'attack' aspects of the sword, such as the point of balance, edge sharpness, and tip control. This rotation allowed both of them to gain a comprehensive understanding of the swords' capabilities from both offensive and defensive perspectives.
Once again, the two of them continued their practice until it was time to switch to the next pair of swords and 'test' their respective qualities. With a total of a dozen swords Ryuma had brought, they needed to go through six pairs.
The entire 'testing' process took more than three hours to complete, and by the time they finished, Kuina was thoroughly drenched in sweat and extremely fatigued. This was entirely reasonable, considering she had been engaged in continuous attacks or defenses for the past three hours, and all of this against Ryuma, who was significantly stronger than her!
…
"This place should do..." Ryuma muttered as he and Kuina arrived at the cliff.
It was the very same cliff where Kuina had contemplated ending her life a month ago. Standing there again, she couldn't help but reflect on the foolishness of that moment. Simultaneously, a profound sense of gratitude welled up within her as she acknowledged the impact of Ryuma and Rio, who had come to her rescue.
Another source of immense gratitude for Kuina is the fact that, after preventing her from taking that drastic step, Ryuma also instilled hope in her. He didn't explicitly state that she could unquestionably become the World's Greatest Swordsman with sufficient effort. Kuina even believes that if he had directly said something like that, it might not have been as effective. Instead, Ryuma showed her a 'World' she had always dismissed as nothing more than a legend, something confined to fairy tales and deemed impossible in reality.
When she witnessed tangible proof of the existence of such a place, that's when Ryuma shared with her the profound statement, 'Nothing in this world is impossible.' At that moment, he wasn't specifically referring to her dream of becoming the World's Greatest Swordsman; rather, he was conveying the power of rejecting the notion of impossibility. It took Kuina a considerable amount of time to fully grasp those words, but when she did, a renewed sense of hope ignited within her.
Putting aside these reflections, the question arises: why are they here on the same cliff again? No, they aren't embarking on another adventure; it's too early for that, though Kuina certainly wouldn't mind accompanying Ryuma on such a journey. The purpose of their visit tonight is something entirely different.
As Kuina gazed thoughtfully at Ryuma's back, he turned around and asked in a serious tone, "Are you sure about this, Kuina-chan?"
Kuina nodded, replying, "Yes, Aniki. I really want to see it." She paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and with determined eyes, she continued, "To broaden my worldview, to expand my horizons, I want to witness your true strength. I know I'm not strong enough to make you go all out, but even a glimpse of your full power will help me understand where I stand and what I need to strive for in the future."
After a brief moment of silence, Ryuma nodded, saying, "Very well, since you've requested it, I suppose I have no other choice." He then unsheathed his sword, turning to face the serene ocean. It was an Odachi, not the Majin no Gekko, just a simple one he had crafted. Given that his Majin no Gekko is also an Odachi, Ryuma typically wields this type to familiarize himself with its handling.
Facing the ocean, Ryuma lifted the Odachi high, enveloping both the blade and hilt with his Armament Haki. It was apparent that Ryuma had acquired proficiency in not only applying but also hardening his Armament Haki around his fists and various objects at his discretion. The extensive hammering he had engaged in over the past five months since he began learning Swordsmithing was evidently proving beneficial in multiple aspects.
In addition to the enhancements in his Observation Haki, particularly in learning to sense the Breath of All Things, Ryuma has also made significant strides in his Armament Haki. While it's far from perfect and he has yet to delve into advanced forms such as emission and internal destruction, Ryuma recognizes that this is a journey for the future. With around four years remaining before he unfurls the Black Flag and formally steps into the world as a pirate, he has ample time to further refine and strengthen his Haki skills.
Setting aside those considerations, as Ryuma infused the Odachi with his Armament Haki, it took on a deep black hue. Kuina, not yet acquainted with the nuances of Haki, couldn't visually discern the change in the sword's color. However, she could sense an overwhelming and potent force enveloping it, sending palpable sensations through her nerves. Despite this, she gritted her teeth and stood her ground.
Following that, Ryuma activated his Moa Moa no Mi, augmenting his physical strength by a factor of sixty—the maximum limit his body could currently handle.
'More More Sixtyfold Physical Strength!'
Black Lightning crackled around the blade as the clouds thundered above in the heavens. Ryuma's gaze hardened, and with all his might, he swung the Odachi in a beautiful and perfect arc.
'One-Sword Style: Kaminari no Kenran!'
'More More Sixtyfold Flying Air Slash!'
Buzzzz!
Ryuma's Odachi unleashed a colossal flying air slash, slicing through the cliff and extending forward, dividing the sea into two halves down to hundreds of meters deep. The Flying Slash was undeniably massive, at least two to three hundred meters wide, and it carried an ominous, overwhelming power. Kuina didn't need anyone to explain that anything in the path of the Flying Slash would be severed, and the slash would persist forward relentlessly.
"This...this..." she was rendered speechless. Never before in her life had she witnessed such a terrifying attack. Though she couldn't precisely measure the full extent of the potential damage, she was certain that if Ryuma unleashed this attack in her village, it would effortlessly cleave the entire settlement in half. The sheer size and speed of the slash were staggering; before she could comprehend it, the slash had covered hundreds of meters, dividing the entire sea. It took a full minute before the slash vanished from sight, and the sea began to merge back together.
"Can I achieve such power?" Kuina murmured, her forehead coated in sweat.
Ryuma took a deep breath, sheathing the Odachi. He turned around and responded, "The answer to that question is something you'll have to discover on your own, Kuina-chan. What I can assure you is that, while this attack may seem incredibly powerful, it doesn't even come close to the level of power the Strongest Swordsman in the World possesses."
"You can't be serious, Aniki!" Kuina exclaimed, finding it difficult to believe that humans could attain such incredible strength.
Ryuma shook his head, "I am not. People like Hawkeye, Shanks, the Hero of Marines, Admiral Aokiji... these individuals can cut islands, destroy mountains, freeze the sea with their casual attacks. Heck, it's said that the strongest man in the world, Whitebeard, possesses enough power to destroy the world if he desires. Compared to these legends and emperors, I am just a frog in the well."
Kuina sighed, "Aniki, if you say you're a frog in the well, then what am I?" She had no immediate response to this question.
Ryuma scratched his cheek, then with a tilt of his head, he replied, "Maybe a tadpole?"
"Hihihihi..." a giggle bubbled out of Kuina.
Ryuma also chuckled, 'Morororororo!'
As the laughter echoed, unexpectedly, a child, not much younger than them, rushed to the cliff. Pointing a pair of steel swords at Ryuma, he issued a challenge, "You... the one with Oni's horns, I want to fight you!"
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Author's Note:
I know the story is moving forward at a snail's pace, however, I want to cover a lot of things, especially a bond between Ryuma and Kuina, along with many other things before this Arc comes to an end, so I apologize, but please bear with it.
And yes, Ryuma and Kuina will share a sibling-like bond, which also means that she is not the love interest.
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As always, drop your power stones, leave comments and reviews to share your opinions and ideas about the story and for the story, and if you like the story so far, add it to your library.
