Chapter 181: Let's Build Muscle

Zoro snorted coldly and rushed toward Karl.

"Three Sword Style: Ichi Gorilla, Ni Gorilla, Two Gorilla Slash!"

After chanting a bunch of names, Zoro finally finished his move. Karl didn't quite catch what it was, but it looked intimidating.

Karl casually held Raven across his chest, blocking Zoro's slash. The clash of weapons made a crisp sound.

"Technique is enough, but the power is lacking. Use more strength, I can still take it."

Zoro's face darkened. He roared and raised his two swords, slashing fiercely at Karl's shoulders.

"Clang~"

Karl blocked it again, then kicked Zoro in the chest.

Thump, Zoro flew backward and fell heavily onto the floor.

"Power is so-so, but there are too many openings. Continue!"

Zoro immediately bounced up from the ground, looking at Karl with angry eyes: "Damn it!"

"Three Sword Style: Oni Giri!"

Zoro held his swords in a cross-shaped stance with his left and right hands, unleashing a slash as if to clamp down on Karl, while the third sword was used to seal off Karl's space for dodging.

It was a pity that Karl had no intention of dodging at all.

Ding~

The tip of Raven's blade touched Zoro's two swords, and the sword he held in his mouth immediately collided with Raven's edge.

Karl twisted his wrist, drawing a circle with Zoro's blades, and then used a flick of skill...

Both swords flew into the sky and then fell onto the floor, making a clattering sound.

"A sword is a swordsman's life, yet you can't even hold onto your sword. Is this the courage with which you challenge me?"

Zoro looked at the swords on the floor with a pale face, his lips trembling slightly.

"As you are now, you don't even count as a third-rate swordsman. Young man, wanting to step onto the peak of the sword path isn't just about talking."

Zoro didn't speak, keeping his head down and his face dark.

After a long time, Zoro raised his head and asked in a hoarse voice: "Then, what should I do?"

"Your foundation is good, and your technique is also quite good, but your physique is too weak."

"Whether it's a swordsman or anything else, physique is of the utmost importance."

Zoro swallowed: "You mean, my training isn't enough?"

Karl didn't answer, his left hand condensing a ball of golden holy light, which merged into Zoro's body.

"This, this is..."

The moment the holy light merged into his body, Zoro felt warm all over, very comfortable, but that wasn't the point.

The point was that he clearly felt he had become stronger, as if he had endless energy all over his body.

"Now your physique has been improved by several levels. You can try again."

"Don't use your Three Sword Style or whatever Two Sword Style. Just use the most basic, most basic move. Come on!"

Zoro nodded, held the Wado Ichimonji he had been biting in his mouth in his hand, took a deep breath, and unleashed a plain, ordinary downward slash.

In the process of swinging, Zoro already understood why Karl said physique was of the utmost importance.

Just this ordinary downward slash had more power than his Three Sword Style ultimate move!

Is this the effect of an improved physique?

Ding~

"How is it? Does it feel different?"

A smile appeared on Zoro's face: "Yes, I feel it!"

"The stronger the physique, the stronger the power, and the stronger the slash I release!"

Karl had an expression of "a child worth teaching." For a swordsman to improve strength quickly, improving physique was the most stable method.

Look at Big Mom. She never claimed to be a swordsman, but she could rely on brute force to kill a bunch of so-called Great Swordsmen.

This was probably the power to break all laws.

Karl was also gradually developing in this direction, reaching the realm of returning to simplicity.

Clap, clap, clap~

Koushiro, who was watching from the side, couldn't help but applaud: "Vice Admiral White Raven's words are truly enlightening. Sigh~ I have seen too many swordsmen pursue technique for the sake of technique, eventually walking down the wrong path."

"Mr. Koushiro, the meal is ready. Please invite the guest to eat while it's hot!"

Koushiro looked at Karl and extended his hand toward the door: "Vice Admiral White Raven, please."

"Zoro, you come too!"

Zoro shook his head: "No, Master Koushiro, I, I want to be alone for a while."

"Mm, that's fine too."

After Karl and Koushiro left, Zoro sat cross-legged on the ground, staring blankly at the Wado Ichimonji in his hand.

"Kuina, do you know? Today I fought the Navy Great Swordsman Karl. Although I failed, I learned a lot from him."

"Give me a little more time..."

Behind the door, Koushiro took off his glasses, wiped away his tears, let out a long sigh, and left.

The next day.

"Vice Admiral White Raven, take care."

Karl grinned and waved at Zoro and Koushiro: "See you again if fate allows!"

"Raven, let's go!"

"Caw!"

Not until Karl's figure completely disappeared into the horizon did Koushiro look at Zoro and say: "Zoro, you'll be an adult soon. What are your plans for the future?"

Zoro looked at Koushiro calmly: "Kuina's death anniversary is coming up. After paying my respects to her one last time, I'm planning to go to sea."

"Oh? Going to sea? The sea is very dangerous! Are you prepared?"

Zoro's mouth curled slightly as he looked at the sea ahead: "Yes, but only in this way can I fight the swordsmen on the sea and defeat them."

"Step by step, I will walk to the highest peak of the sword path."

"Only then will I be qualified to face Mr. Karl, and face the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk."

A look of approval appeared in Koushiro's eyes, and he patted Zoro on the shoulder.

"Go, Zoro."

Sky Island, Upper Yard.

Through the efforts of all the Kuja people, the new home had already taken shape. In another month or so, they might be able to rebuild Amazon Lily here.

"Sister, this is the gold we found on the island. We're rich!!!"

Marigold pointed at the mountain of gold on the side with glowing eyes, extremely excited.

Hancock just waved her hand: "Calm down, it's just a little gold, no need to be so excited."

"By the way, take some gold to use as building materials! This is our new home, we must not let others look down on us."

"Yes, yes, Sister."

"Caw!"

Hearing this familiar call, Hancock looked up at the sky abruptly, her expression becoming very happy: "Darling! Why are you here?"

Karl had originally said he would come over in a few days. He didn't expect it to be so soon. Could it be...

Karl swore it was definitely not because he was craving Hancock's new uniform. He just came over to... er, supervise the work. Yes, that's it.

"Hehe, anyway, there's still a day or two until the knighting ceremony, no rush. I'll leave then."

Hancock's eyes crinkled into a line, and she hugged Karl's arm and acted coquettishly: "Darling, how about accompanying me for a walk?"

"It would be my honor!"