Chapter Sixty-Three: The Three Steps of the Swordmaster
What? Just yesterday... he only just comprehended the Sword Intent for the first time?
The former first mate of the Pirate King’s crew, the “Dark King” Rayleigh, was not only a master of Haki, but also possessed an extraordinary mastery of swordsmanship. Moreover, even if he had never eaten pork, hadn’t he at least seen a pig run? With all his experience, how could Rayleigh not understand the hierarchy within swordsmanship?
For those beginning their journey in swordsmanship, as long as they persist in their training, becoming an ordinary swordsman is not difficult at all. Even someone entirely lacking talent, if they can endure the harshness of training, will one day cross the threshold and become a competent swordsman—just like Zoro when he first set out to sea.
But the true watershed in swordsmanship is the comprehension of Sword Intent.
Only by grasping Sword Intent can an ordinary swordsman take that crucial step in their lifelong pursuit, becoming a swordmaster worthy of making a name for themselves across the four seas. Take Zoro, for example. At the start of his journey, his swordsmanship was at the level of a swordsman. When did he become a swordmaster, then?
Zoro's most significant transformations occurred in two battles.
The first was in Alabasta, in the fight against the Baroque Works led by Crocodile. In that fierce clash, Zoro defeated the formidable Mr. 1, who possessed the Dice-Dice Fruit, and, by comprehending his own Sword Intent, enabled his blade to cut through steel.
The second was in Enies Lobby. There, in his battle against Kaku, who wielded the power of the Ox-Ox Fruit in giraffe form, Zoro—having just grasped Sword Intent—underwent his first major transformation in swordsmanship and formally entered the ranks of swordmasters.
Yet, thanks to his monstrous physique and innate talent for swordsmanship, Zoro remained at the swordmaster’s level for a long time. Without a true master’s guidance, he spent years unable to touch the threshold of a great swordmaster. Only when Bartholomew Kuma, one of the Seven Warlords, intentionally intervened to save the Straw Hat Pirates from Kizaru, did Zoro unexpectedly become Dracule Mihawk’s apprentice. With the world’s greatest swordsman's guidance, Zoro finally ascended from swordmaster to one of the rare great swordmasters of the seas.
Even so, with Mihawk’s instruction, it still took Zoro two full years to become a great swordmaster.
And what about Chu Yi?
One day!
With the advantage of his Shadow Clone technique, he managed to leap from a novice swordmaster to someone who had touched the threshold of a great swordmaster in just a single day!
Such an astonishing rate of training left both Tiger and Rayleigh utterly shocked!
A strange light flickered on Rayleigh’s reflective glasses. Having learned that Chu Yi had truly jumped from the level of a fledgling swordmaster to the verge of a great swordmaster in only one day, Rayleigh had no doubt that Chu Yi’s earlier words were genuine.
He truly wouldn’t need long to possess the strength to protect Tiger, Hancock, and the others!
However...
Thinking of this, Rayleigh took a deep breath and then turned to ask Chu Yi, “Chu Yi, my young friend, I admit you have the potential to grow strong quickly. But to train both in Haki and swordsmanship at the same time—can you really manage that?”
“Don’t worry, Rayleigh.”
With the Shadow Clone technique as his trump card, what did he have to fear from taking on multiple disciplines?
Chu Yi smiled at Rayleigh with casual confidence and replied, “When it comes to talent, I don't think I’m any better than Hancock. But as for training speed...”
“Ha! I doubt anyone in this world can progress faster than I can!”
As he spoke, Chu Yi withdrew his smile, his tone growing earnest. “All right, enough about that, Rayleigh. Since I’ve made up my mind and know the path I’m going to take, can you now teach me how to train Observation Haki?”
“No.”
“Huh?”
Rayleigh’s resolute answer left Chu Yi momentarily stunned. He quickly asked, “Why not?”
“Because the Sabaody Archipelago is too dangerous—a terrible place to train Haki.”
Rayleigh explained with patience, “Chu Yi, your Observation Haki has only just awakened. Even if you want to master it, no matter how fast you train, it will take at least a few months. The Navy is certainly targeting you now. If you train within their sphere of influence, you’ll face constant trouble, which will definitely hinder your progress, right?”
Hearing this, Chu Yi nodded silently, admitting to himself that Rayleigh was correct.
He could easily imagine that if the Navy came looking for trouble, his opponents would surely be of the caliber of Aokiji, Akainu, or Kizaru. In that situation, even just dealing with them would be difficult, let alone trying to focus on Haki training at the same time.
Indeed, with his Shadow Clone, Chu Yi could split his focus—one clone to fight, another to train. But that was too risky. After all, using the Shadow Clone weakened his physical condition. Facing the likes of Aokiji, Kizaru, and Akainu would be challenging even at his peak. If he tried to train and battle at the same time, he’d be courting death.
While Chu Yi was feeling somewhat disappointed that Rayleigh couldn’t teach him Haki for the time being, Rayleigh suddenly grinned and said, “However, while I can’t teach you Haki here, your fish-man companion can!”
“If I’m not mistaken, your fish-man friend is skilled in Haki as well, isn’t he? He just might not be great at teaching, which is why you came to me. Here’s what I’ll do: When I return, I’ll write down the training methods for Observation Haki at each stage and give the notes to your fish-man friend.”
“With the combined guidance of myself and your fish-man companion, I’m sure that with your talent, Chu Yi, you’ll become a master of Observation Haki in less than a year!”
With that, Rayleigh smiled at Tiger, earning only a cold snort in return.
As for Chu Yi, he couldn’t care less if the proud Tiger was reluctant to use Rayleigh’s methods to teach him Haki. As long as he could master Observation Haki, so that he could one day stand against the likes of Aokiji, Kizaru, and Akainu, that was all that mattered!
Next—
Just as Chu Yi was about to urge Rayleigh to hurry and record the Haki training methods—
Suddenly!
Rayleigh drew a plain wooden sword from behind him. As a blade-like aura surged around him, he addressed Chu Yi with a serious tone, “All right, Chu Yi, since the Haki training is settled for now, let me use this opportunity to explain the training of swordsmanship to you.”
“A swordmaster who has comprehended Sword Intent and wishes to advance to the level of a great swordmaster must take three steps!”
“The first step...”
As soon as Rayleigh spoke, there was a sharp sound—a swish!
Slashing his wooden sword downward, Rayleigh, as if imitating Chu Yi, cleaved through the rising waves ahead. His voice echoed once more in Chu Yi’s ears.
“The first step—cutting through the waves. That marks touching the threshold of a great swordmaster!”
“The second step...”
Following Rayleigh’s gaze, Chu Yi saw that it landed on a Marine warship docked at the distant shore!
The next instant—another swish!
His sword energy blazed like a rainbow!
The wooden sword in Rayleigh’s palm fell once more. The surging blade of energy shot out and, in the blink of an eye, struck the distant Marine warship, slicing it cleanly in two!
Undoubtedly, the second step in a swordmaster’s training was the very strike Rayleigh had just demonstrated—shattering a ship with a single slash!
Just as Chu Yi marveled and wondered what the third step for advancing from swordmaster to great swordmaster could be—
Suddenly!
The wind howled and the clouds surged!
Before Chu Yi could even react, Rayleigh’s wooden sword swept down with explosive power!
And then, under the widening eyes of Chu Yi and Tiger, the sword energy unleashed from Rayleigh’s palm-cleaved the very sea before the Sabaody Archipelago in two!
“One sword divides the sea...”
“So... this is the mastery of swordsmanship possessed by a great swordmaster?”