One Piece: Path to Power - Chapter 86

[2046 words]

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[2 Weeks Later]

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Another half a month has passed as I have worked on my Armament to the point where I can use it as I wish. Using Ryou obviously drains more stamina than normal hardening so that is the only cost for a huge damage boost.

The thing is, I am still only 16 and a half and my body has yet to fully mature so my stamina is bound to continue increasing.

I should also be able to evolve my skills once more by the time I’m ~18.

—

I walk towards the Old Man’s resting area.

*Knock* *Knock*

A voice calls out, “Who’s there?”

“Lettuce.”

“Lettuce who?”

“Lettuce in.”

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*Cough* It’s Damien.” I answer.

“Come in, child.”

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I see the geezer sitting behind a low table as he drank some hot tea while slurping loudly.

“Sensei, I need your thoughts on something.” I request.

He raises an eyebrow in reply.

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“I hope you can enlighten me on the Meito,” I said as I sat before him.

He hummed.

[A/N: Meito – Famed Blades]

*Slurp*

He finished his tea and looked at me.

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“The Meito are priceless weapons made by world-renowned blacksmiths. They are The 12 Supreme Grade Swords, the 21 Great Grade Swords, and the 50 Skillful Grade Swords.”

[A/N: There is a 4th category but it was never mentioned hence its exclusion.]

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He went on,

“I take it that you are familiar with this so far?” He asked.

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I nodded.

“Considering your question, I take it that you wish for your own weapon?”

I nodded once more.

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“My powers along my Haki can craft certain weapons but they fall apart when clashing with stronger enemies. I need a proper frame, a proper weapon to channel my powers into.” I answered him.

The geezer nodded sagely.

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“Listen, boy, there may be 12 Supreme Grade Swords but the Great Grade Swords can also almost reach that level if they are trained into a Kokuto (Black Blade).”

“But there is a problem, child.” He said while shaking his head.

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“Oh?” I squinted my eyes in curiosity.

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“These swords were made many centuries ago, the Supreme Grade Swords were made even before. But they were made to be held in the hands of certain swordsmen. Anyone using them now can only use a limited amount of their potential.”

“If you want a sword to maximize your power, you must craft it.” He said while putting down his cup.

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He got up and shuffled his deck and took out a scroll.

“Take this map, it will lead you to a relic of Wano that we all revere with our hearts. Study the relic and understand it. It is currently in the realm of the Supreme Blades, you will know what I mean then.” He said.

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“What relic do you refer to, old man?”

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“It is a sword that rests beside its wielder, the one who it was crafted for. His duels many years back shook all of Wano as he defended us from the invaders you call the World Government.”

This of course made me shocked.

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“He also used this blade to slay a dragon. It is called ‘Shusui’, used by the Sword God – Shimotsuki Ryuma!”

———————————————-

[A While Later]

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It’s now 8 o’clock as I arrived home early, rustling through the scroll the old man gave me.

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It was a list of the 12 Supreme Grade Swords and some other important information.

‘Sibyl, can you absorb this into a display?’ I asked.

[Yes, I can also display the names with their wielders based on your knowledge.] She responded.

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I gave the ‘okay’ as the scroll vanished into a beam of light.

*DING*

[The {Meito Index} has been added to the System Features.]

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I nodded as I opened it up.

>=-=—-[]—<>—[]—=-=<

[Meito Index]

—

Saijō Ō Wazamono (The Supreme Grade Swords)

(In the order of their creation)

*Only 4 of these weapons are canon*

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1) ‘First Blade’ Ace

Type: Cutlass

Current Wielder: Gol D. Roger

Location: The New World

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2) ‘Molten Blade’ Mokushiroku

Type: Katana

Current Wilder: Rocks D. Xebec

Current Location: Death Valley, The New World

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3) Murakumogiri

Type: Naginata

Current Wielder: Edward Newgate

Location: The New World

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4) ‘Divine Axe’ Rhitta

Type: Battle Axe

Current Wielder: Escanor

Location: Superbia, The New World

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5) ‘Cursed Blade’ Shodai Kitetsu

Type: Katana

Current Wielder: Gorosei Elder

Location: Mariejois, The Red Line

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6) ‘Black Blade’ Yoru

Type: Unique Sword (Oversized Kriegsmesser)

Current Wielder: None

Location: Yozora Island, Paradise Sea

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7) ‘Pure Blade’ Hikari

Type: Katana

Current Wielder: ???

Location: ???

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8) Sabaku no Arashi (Desert Storm)

Type: Saber

Current Wielder: ???

Location: ???

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9) Nageki no Sora (Wailing Sky)

Type: Bow

Current Wielder: ???

Location: ???

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10) ‘Weeping Blades’ Kurushimeru

Type: Twin Daggers

Current Wielder: ???

Location: ???

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11) ‘Blessed Blade’ Hyoga

Type: Katana

Current Wielder: ???

Location: ???

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12) ‘Blood Blade’ Nisshoku

Type: Two-Handed Sword

Current Wielder: ???

Location: ???

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>=-=—-[]—<>—[]—=-=<

The 12 Supreme Blades eh?

Hmm, right Roger, Xebec, Whitebeard.

Oh, so that bald Elder’s sword is indeed the Shodai Kitetsu!

Escanor has his weapon.

Mihawk will get Yoru and that leaves a few other swords.

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That aside, I guess the geezer had a point, none of them seem to resonate with my power which means they can only show a limited amount of my power.

*Creak*

My thoughts were disturbed as the door slid open.

—

“The most beautiful woman in Wano is here.” I teased her as she stepped in.

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“Mou! Damien-san, you keep bringing that up…” She pouted as her cheeks became slightly red.

I chuckled while she started giggling as well.

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“You are home early today?” She asked as she set down her books and bag.

I nodded, “Yes, there is something I need to inform you about.”

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She tilted her head and nodded as she went to change into something more comfortable.

—

We sat a few meters away from each other with a small table in between.

*Steam*

2 teacups were ready as Toki smiled in patience…

*Slurp*

Tea is not really my thing but Wano’s tea is quite good.

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I then looked at the green-haired girl and asked, “I am going on a journey to Ringo very soon to study the Black Blade Shusui, will you accompany me?”

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Her eyes brightened, “Oh! I haven’t been to Ringo yet so of course I will go!”

Her earlier excitement to go to Wano returned as she hoped to go to every region here, Ringo being one of them.

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She was in her own world as I smiled at her behaviour, finishing my tea.

———————————————-

[The Following Day]

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I bid farewell to the old man, Hyogoro, and Sukiyaki and all the maids and guards who seemed adamant to say goodbye.

Even though we will return, it may take a few weeks.

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Unlike the girls from Earth, Toki likes to carry very few things with her and doesn’t waste half the day with makeup as her natural beauty shines the servants blind, making for a swift leave.

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Sukiyaki had prepared a couch pulled by steeds as Toki and I left for Ringo.

—-

Ringo is located in the north. It has a wintry climate. It contains the Northern Cemetery in which Ryuma’s body, alongside his sword, is buried.

———————————————-

[14 Hours Later]

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It was a pleasant ride to Ringo as Toki was greatly amazed by the changing geography and the rare trees as she talked endlessly about her country.

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[A/N: Ringo]

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Well, now it was an area of large mountains and lots of snow as we neared the Northern Cemetery.

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We then arrive at a settlement, a small village, some guards walk towards us.

I stepped out while Toki waited inside.

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I took out a scroll written by Sukiyaki and directed it to the Daimyo of Ringo as a request of entry.

I raised it into the air as the guards saw the Kozuki Clan symbol.

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They nodded and gave us entry to meet the Daimyo.

I looked towards the couch and said, “Toki, we are allowed in.”

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She walked out, so naturally I gave her a warm jacket. She usually wears a yukata with her legs, thighs-down, fully uncovered to her shins, not something to wear in the cold.

My skin was thick as a mountain so I didn’t need much.

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I offered her a hand as we walked towards the Daimyo’s estate.

—–

Entering in, we go through some checks and are led to a large room.

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“Welcome, young ones. You come with the words of Lord Shogun, please come in,” the Daimyo said.

He smiled, “My name is Shimotsuki Ushimaru, the Daimyo of Ringo.” He introduced himself.

[A/N: His image.]

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After the usual shock of the Amatsuki name, we finally made it to the request.

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“Ushimaru-san, I came here to study the sword used by the Greatest Hero of Wano. You are also of his name and I hope you can accommodate my request.” I said straightforwardly.

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He hummed and nodded, “Usually the revered blade is only to be seen by Wano’s best and noblest of people, but since you are the partner of the Amatsuki Heir then of course you can see it.”

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I didn’t care much for his assumption but Toki seemed to look down while sneaking some glances towards me in embarrassment.

———————————————-

[Northern Cemetery]

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Toki and I came here alone as the Daimyo was very trusting, I suppose the Amatsuki family was more powerful than anyone could have guessed.

Well, I see many graves, that much is to be expected.

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Wandering through the mass of earth, I see Toki with a solemn expression.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

She looked at me, “No, I was just thinking… All these graves, I wonder how many died without regrets.”

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I raised an eyebrow at her query, “Don’t think too much, death is ruthless to all. But not when I’m done with it…”

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Thinking of Pure Gold, I need to make my way to the Sky Island and find what I was informed about back at the Amethyst Kingdom Catacombs.

—

We eventually reach the core of the cemetery and find a giant obelisk.

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[Here rests the Greatest Hero of Wano.]

[A man revered for slaying a dragon and protecting his home with his blade.]

[The Sword God – Shimotsuki Ryuma.]

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Under the plaque was a simple grave and embedded upon the gravestone was a katana.

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Shusui is a black blade that has a distinct reddish-purple reverse wave hamon pattern. Its scabbard was lying flat as the sharp edge of the blade was exposed, cutting the air around it with a soft hum.

[A/N: Shusui Image.]

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Toki was enraptured by the blade as she studied its beauty.

I was trying to listen to its voice though the sword did not speak as it was resting with its master in the cold region of Ringo.

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I used my Observation Haki, my {Ancient Voice} and {The Eye} to study it to its finest detail.

The sharpness, the coolness, the weight, the width, the length, the size, it was all created to match a single person.

It was a Kokuto so it had jumped to the point right before Supreme Rank, a powerful sword to say the least.

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*Sigh*

I shook my head in understanding.

Every blade was created for someone. I can try to find a Supreme Sword that fits my hand but it will never be a perfect match.

Not unless I create my own…

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‘Sibyl, is there any way to make my own sword?’ I asked her.

[Hmm, the Supreme Grade Swords are special, very special. If you want to create them then it would take a powerful blacksmith to create. I suggest you ask the Daimyo for further information.]

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Wano is known for its craftsmanship, if I can find a proper smith then it should be possible.

———————————————-

[Daimyo’s Estate]

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“Ushimaru-san, you come from the same clan as the Sword God, do you have any idea where I can find a man to craft a powerful blade for myself?” I asked the blue-haired man.

He scratched his chin and nodded.

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“If you seek a proper craftsman then I suggest you ask my cousin. He is a Daimyo as well and has a large array of knowledge when it comes to blacksmiths.”

I was quite happy with his words as I asked, “Where can I find him?”

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“He is the Daimyo of Hakumai.”

“They call him: ‘The Hedgehog’.”

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Shimotsuki Yasuie.”

.

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[The following is excluded from word count]

Author’s Corner:

So, the only canon Supreme Quality Weapon is Ace, Murakumogiri, Shodai Kitetsu and Yoru, the rest are my own little spices.