One Piece: The True Codex

In the courtyard, Koushirou had planted several cherry trees. By April, the trees were in full bloom, their pink blossoms radiating a delicate fragrance and vibrant beauty.

William stood silently under the cherry trees, staring blankly at the blossoms. He was still dressed in a black suit, having just attended Vallon's funeral.

Since Vallon's body could not be recovered, they had placed his usual clothing into the coffin instead.

Aramis, still harboring resentment toward Edmond, had left quietly after the funeral. Edmond, on the other hand, lingered at Vallon's grave, muttering to himself for a long time, his words incomprehensible.

William, however, sought solitude. As the core and pillar of the team, he had no room to falter. Tony could collapse into despair, Gin could sink into melancholy, Aramis could rage, and Edmond could wallow in self-pity. Anyone else in the group could vent their negative emotions in front of others. But in these dire circumstances, William could not afford such luxuries.

He had to stabilize morale—both within and beyond the team.

Two sets of footsteps approached from behind, prompting William to turn around. It was Koushirou, holding Kuina's small hand as they walked toward him.

"William!" Kuina called out. She had also attended Vallon's funeral, dressed in a plain-colored dress.

Her eyes were swollen from crying. Now, seeing William standing alone under the cherry tree with a sorrowful expression, she inexplicably began to cry again.

Among their small group, William, with his much older mental age, treated Kuina like a child. Aramis was sharp-tongued, Gin was too reserved, and Edmond was too prideful. Only Vallon, with his simple and kindhearted nature, treated Kuina the best. The two had shared the closest bond.

"Aramis said he's going to set sail to avenge Vallon," Kuina sobbed as she rubbed her eyes. "Please don't go out to sea. I don't want anything to happen to you too."

The sadness on William's face receded as he looked toward the open space, remaining silent. Seeing this, Koushirou sighed and gently patted Kuina's head, instructing her to fetch the Wado Ichimonji.

"I can feel the heavy killing intent in your heart," Koushirou said in a somber tone once Kuina had left. "You are the most talented student in this dojo. One day, you will undoubtedly become an extraordinary swordsman..."

William interrupted, "Sensei, you must have realized by now—I have never been a mere swordsman. Edmond, Vallon, even Kuina might aspire to be pure swordsmen, but I never will."

A trace of disappointment appeared on Koushirou's face, but he did not try to persuade William further. From the way William had risen to become a local smuggling kingpin within just a year, it was evident that, despite his youth, he possessed a resolute will, clear goals, and the ability to achieve them. He was not someone easily swayed by others.

The atmosphere grew heavy with silence. Moments later, Kuina returned, carrying the Wado Ichimonji. Only then did Koushirou speak again.

"Since you've decided to set sail, William, let me teach you something more."

"Anger is a form of power!"

Koushirou raised the Wado Ichimonji before him and slowly drew the blade. "But you must control it, rather than letting it control you!"

As the blade gradually emerged from its sheath, Koushirou's demeanor grew increasingly cold. Gone was his usual gentle air, replaced by an aura of steady determination.

Once the sword was fully drawn, Koushirou approached one of the cherry trees, standing still for a moment before suddenly striking the trunk with the hilt of his sword.

The force was applied with such precision that the cherry tree merely swayed gently, yet its blossoms fell like snowflakes, drifting softly to the ground.

Amidst the cascade of cherry blossoms, Koushirou began to perform a sword dance. He slashed, hacked, thrust, and parried, his movements gradually accelerating. As his footwork shifted, he abandoned the rigid forms he used when teaching students at the dojo. His sword strikes flowed freely, ever-changing yet never chaotic, imbued with a unique rhythm.

Koushirou's sword movements grew faster and faster, the wind generated by his blade lifting the falling cherry blossoms around him. The petals swirled and danced with his movements, enveloping him in a mesmerizing shroud of pink.

Kuina watched with her mouth agape, while William stared intently at Koushirou, his expression solemn.

As Koushirou's speed gradually slowed, the cherry blossoms around him began to settle on the ground. None of the petals remained intact; each had been neatly sliced in half, blending into the soil.

Eventually, all the blossoms had fallen, save for a single pristine petal. This lone petal floated up and down with Koushirou's slow, deliberate sword movements, never straying more than half a foot from the blade of the Wado Ichimonji. It danced around the sword like a living butterfly.

Koushirou's movements were so deliberate that William could clearly see the "butterfly" landing on the blade multiple times. Each time, Koushirou skillfully adjusted his force, ensuring that the razor-sharp Wado Ichimonji never harmed the petal in the slightest.

William was no longer the novice he had been when he first transmigrated. After years of study, he had gained a deep understanding of swordsmanship. He fully grasped the brilliance of Koushirou's technique, his eyes shining as he watched the sword dance without blinking.

After a while, Koushirou exhaled softly and ceased his movements. The cherry petal began to fall, but before it could touch the ground, Koushirou caught it between two fingers. Then, to William's astonishment, he blew gently on the petal, causing it to disintegrate into tiny fragments that scattered into the soil.

"The heart is the measure of one's world," Koushirou said after steadying his breath.

With that, he casually swung the Wado Ichimonji—a motion even more relaxed than his earlier sword dance. Yet as he did so, a decorative stone five meters away from the three of them was sliced cleanly in half as if by an invisible blade.

"When your heart is strong enough, you will naturally master the sword in your hand."

"At that point, the blade in your hand will no longer be a lifeless object. It will become a part of your body. You must see it as an extension of your own hands, capable of striking with the force of a clenched fist or caressing with the gentleness of an open palm. The balance between strength and softness depends entirely on the wielder." Koushirou sheathed the Wado Ichimonji with a soft click.

William instinctively glanced at his own hands, then at the katana at his waist, a look of contemplation crossing his face.

As William pondered Koushirou's exquisite swordsmanship and philosophy, a familiar notification appeared in his mind from the Plaza of Fate. Several lines of text materialized out of thin air:

"[Beginner Swordsmanship] has advanced to [Basic Swordsmanship]."

"The path of [Sword Prodigy] has been completed."

"Acquired the special feat: [Zen Sword Arts]."

"Acquired the achievement feat: [Sudden Enlightenment]."

William's heart trembled.

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