Chapter 31 – Great Swordsman
So Dante Voss ignored [Blood Fiend Tide] and looked straight at [Swordsmanship].
[Swordsmanship (Intermediate Sword Master)]
[Description: A deeper comprehension of the sword; strikes are fiercer. Cutting Iron further improved, ordinary iron can be split effortlessly, and you can wield aura to attack foes.]
[Next Rank: Advanced Sword Master]
[Description: The pinnacle of the Sword Master realm, swordsmanship godlike. The blade obeys the will; every move holds tremendous power and exquisite skill.]
[Upgrade Cost: 2,000 slaughter points.]
He was already an Intermediate Sword Master; he intended to push his [Swordsmanship] even higher.
After all, raising [Swordsmanship] made him stronger without reducing his [slaughter points].
And he didn't plan to stop at [Advanced Sword Master]; he aimed to leap straight to the next major realm.
Only a jump between major realms would bring a true surge in power.
Dante Voss chose to upgrade without hesitation.
[Swordsmanship upgraded to Advanced Sword Master; 2,000 slaughter points consumed.]
As the notice appeared, a torrent of sword knowledge poured into his mind.
Dante Voss shut his eyes tight, absorbing the surging sword lore with everything he had.
In his mind countless blades seemed to dance and cross.
Every stance embodied the ultimate truth of the sword, skyrocketing his swordsmanship.
At this moment he felt he understood the blade better—his sword faster, surer, deadlier.
After digesting the knowledge, Dante Voss slowly opened his eyes and looked at the next rank's description.
[Next Rank: Junior Great Swordsman]
[Description: Steps into the Great Swordsman domain, swordsmanship transcendent. Blade might can cleave mountains and stone; sword-Energy sweeps in all directions. Possesses a powerful aura to daunt foes, can grasp rudimentary sword intent, and launch faint Flying Slashes.]
[Upgrade Cost: 5,000 slaughter points.]
"As expected, the next rank is Great Swordsman."
Reading the description, Dante Voss's heart burned hot.
In this world Great Swordsman is the highest realm for swordsmen; only upon reaching it can one count as a true powerhouse.
Publicly known Great Swordsmen are few—only Hawkeye Mihawk, Flower Sword Vista, Kozuki Oden, Shiryu of the Rain, the later-period Zoro, and the like.
The whole world might not hold more than ten; each is a world-renowned titan, proof of their might.
The [sword intent] of a Great Swordsman is what truly empowers the realm; with intent a swordsman's offense grows stronger and Flying Slashes become possible.
That is why most people in this world favor the sword.
At this tier, a swordsman is in no way inferior to a Devil Fruit user and has no weaknesses.
Yet each time swordsmanship leaps to a new major realm, the slaughter points cost skyrockets.
Glancing at his remaining five-thousand-plus points, Dante Voss unhesitatingly clicked upgrade.
[Swordsmanship upgraded to Junior Great Swordsman; 5,000 slaughter points consumed.]
As the upgrade finished, an even vaster tide of knowledge and insight flooded his mind.
It felt as though he was drowning in an ocean of swordsmanship; everything around him turned into sword intent.
Not only did his mind roil, his body began to change as well.
Crimson ripples emanated from him, gathering into a red energy field that enveloped his body.
The bloodthirsty sword at his waist sensed the rise in swordsmanship and quivered lightly.
"This is…?"
Zoro was drawn by the commotion, staring fixedly, his heart trembling.
He could sense it.
This wasn't the product of an Ability; it was power expressed through pure swordsmanship.
Such swordsmanship had reached a transcendent level, able to materialize itself.
At Advanced Swordsman level, Zoro couldn't even comprehend how mighty this realm was.
He only knew that right now Dante Voss was terrifying—perhaps a single move could kill him!
"The gap is this huge!"
Clenching his fists, Zoro felt powerless, as if he were back when he faced Hawkeye—no chance of victory.
The blow left him disheartened, his dream of becoming the world's strongest Great Swordsman clouded in doubt.
But thinking of his late best friend, he regained his resolve.
"No matter how hard the road, I must become the Worlds Greatest Swordsman—that's the dream I share with Kuina."
Dante Voss's disturbance grew so great the whole ship began to sway, drawing the rest of the Straw Hats over.
"So cool! Is that a Devil Fruit power?"
Luffy curiously stepped forward, wanting to touch the red glow around Dante Voss.
"Don't go near it!"
Zoro blocked him and said gravely,
"That's the external manifestation of Dante Voss's swordsmanship; it's dangerous—do not touch it."
"Oh, alright!"
Disappointed, Luffy still trusted Zoro's words.
Usopp and Chopper backed away in fright.
They too had wanted to feel that red energy.
"Is Dante Voss training his swordsmanship?"
Nami asked in surprise.
Vivi studied Dante Voss curiously; even as a princess she had never seen someone's training appear so terrifying externally.
Not even her kingdom's two guardian deities had reached this level.
At this moment Vivi too wondered just how strong Dante Voss was.
"I'm not sure—he should be raising his swordsmanship realm!"
Zoro watched Dante Voss intently, eager to learn and to grasp a higher swordsman realm.
"Whoa! Swordplay can reach this level?"
Luffy's eyes bulged; this seemed even cooler than his Gum-Gum powers!
Usopp and Chopper nodded vigorously, fully agreeing with Luffy.
They had assumed swordsmen were like Zoro—just wildly swinging blades.
"Ah…"
Eyes shining with excitement and longing, Zoro continued,
"Exactly—this is a swordsman's power. One day I'll reach this realm too."
Sanji walked over carrying several glasses of juice, handing them to Nami and Vivi while glancing at Dante Voss.
As Dante Voss kept absorbing the insights of a Great Swordsman, his own sword intent gradually formed within his mind.
The Great Swordsman insights, shaped by his experiences, let him comprehend the sword intent [Blood]—an extremely potent concept.
Flower Sword Vista's intent is [Flower], symbolizing versatility; Zoro's is [Demon Path], representing all-out offense.
And [Blood]?
It signifies killing intent, mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
As long as Dante Voss keeps slaughtering, it will grow stronger, gradually overwhelming all other forces.
With the sword intent formed, the surrounding intent poured into his body; his eyes snapped open, gleaming blood-red.
He sprang to his feet, drew the bloodthirsty sword, and slashed toward the surging sea.
"Bzz—"
As sword intent surged out of him and into the bloodthirsty sword, a colossal red slash shot across the ocean.
"Boom!"