Chapter 279: The Power of a Hundred
About two weeks later, when Ian had settled down on Travira Island, a small boat was preparing to set sail from the beach of Shimotsuki Village in the East Blue.
"Kuina, everything I've prepared for you is here!" Koushirou said, carrying a bundle and placing it on the small boat. "Once you set sail, head east, and you'll reach Loguetown. But you need to watch the weather. You've already eaten a Devil Fruit, so be careful not to fall into the water."
"Mm, I understand, Father!" Kuina nodded.
Compared to before, Kuina had changed somewhat. Now, for some reason, she looked even more beautiful. Yet, her demeanor carried a strong masculine air, which gave her a uniquely captivating charm.
All the disciples of the Isshin Dojo had come to see Kuina off. It wasn't just those her age; even the younger brats who had recently joined looked up to her with admiration and longing. Whenever they caught sight of Kuina's face, they couldn't help but blush and feel their hearts race.
Only one person was an exception: the green-haired idiot, Zoro. At that moment, he stood with a longsword at his waist, arms crossed over his chest, wearing a gloomy expression.
"I'm leaving now, Zoro!" Kuina greeted him. "When it's your turn to set sail, you'll have to find another boat!"
"Just go already!" Zoro snorted angrily. "I don't want to talk to you right now!"
"Hey! Are you a man or not? It's been this long, and you're still holding a grudge?" Kuina glared at him.
Mentioning this only made Zoro feel more frustrated. The day after Kuina ate her Devil Fruit, they had argued again over the boat. Kuina had cut in line to take his boat for her voyage, which infuriated Zoro. So, Kuina proposed they have their 2,002nd duel. If Kuina lost, she would leave Zoro's boat behind and find another one. If Zoro lost, he would willingly hand it over.
Zoro had agreed on the spot. Even though he knew Kuina had just woken up and hadn't fully recovered, making it an unfair fight, the temptation to finally defeat Kuina had somehow made him accept.
However, the outcome left Zoro regretting it deeply.
After all these years, Kuina, having just woken up, faced Zoro in battle and maintained her undefeated record, while Zoro suffered a crushing defeat!
That day, Zoro finally witnessed what a Devil Fruit was and saw Kuina's ability for the first time!
No one had expected that the Devil Fruit Ian had found for Kuina was an incredibly rare Zoan-type, Mythical Zoan: Human-Human Fruit, Model: Ashura!
It was a fruit appearing for the first time, not even recorded in the Devil Fruit encyclopedia.
Of course, since the scholars on the Grand Line had compiled the encyclopedia based on known fruits, some from older eras might not have been documented. So, no one knew if this fruit had existed earlier, but without a doubt, it was extremely rare.
The unique aspect of this Ashura Fruit was that its effects differed depending on whether a male or female ate it!
If a man or male animal ate it, their appearance would become extremely ugly! Calling it a disfiguring fruit wouldn't be an exaggeration!
But if a woman or female animal ate it, they would become even more beautiful! That was the case with Kuina. The moment she ate the fruit, her skin became smoother and more delicate, her hair grew glossier, and while her facial features didn't change much, she inexplicably looked far more attractive.
It felt almost like another Smooth-Smooth Fruit...
However, Kuina's transformation wasn't just about beauty. Zoan-type fruits all have transformation traits, and this Human-Human Fruit, Model: Ashura, was no exception. During her fight with Zoro, she revealed her transformation for the first time.
It was a form with three heads and six arms!
Mythical Zoan fruits are based on mythological legends. Sengoku's Buddha Fruit was one, and Marco's Phoenix Fruit was another. Kuina's fruit transformed her into the war god Ashura!
Ashura is known as the war god clan, possessing extraordinary power. The moment Kuina ate the fruit, she understood her ability: the so-called Power of a Hundred!
That meant, when she transformed into her Ashura form, she could wield a hundred times her original strength!
If Kuina's normal slashing force could reach 60 kilograms, then in her transformed state, she could achieve 6,000 kilograms—6 tons of slashing power! That kind of strength was terrifying!
Moreover, with three heads and six arms, Kuina could wield more weapons, and her defense was nearly flawless from all angles!
When Zoro challenged her, Kuina easily blocked his incoming sword strikes, then turned her blade's hilt and lightly—truly lightly—tapped him on the stomach. In an instant, Zoro was sent flying dozens of meters!
He lost so badly that he couldn't snap out of it for a long time, lying flat on his back on the ground.
In that fight, Kuina's Ashura form left a deep impression on Zoro!
It was an incredible coincidence. Kuina had once worried that her female body couldn't match a man's strength, but the Devil Fruit Ian found for her perfectly compensated for her greatest weakness!
So, when Kuina discovered her Devil Fruit ability, she was overjoyed, almost flying with happiness. At that moment, she felt immense gratitude toward Ian.
The Ashura Fruit wasn't like the Buddha Fruit, which could turn into a giant and emit shockwaves, nor like the Phoenix Fruit, which could regenerate through flames. It was a pure combat-type fruit, and that was exactly what Kuina needed most.
After his defeat, Zoro was deeply shaken, but he wouldn't go back on his word. He gave the boat to Kuina. Both of them had stubborn, unyielding personalities, so arguments were common. Hearing Kuina's taunt, Zoro couldn't help but say, "Just you wait! I'll defeat you one day, and even without a Devil Fruit's power, I won't lose to you again!"
"Fine! I'll be waiting!" Kuina replied.
Hesitating for a moment, Zoro said to Kuina, "If you ever see Brother Ian, tell him that no matter what he does in the future, I'll support him!"
"...Same here!" Kuina glanced at Zoro and added, "So, you can tell him that yourself when you see him. I don't want to repeat the same words twice!"
After bidding Koushirou farewell once more, Kuina stood on the boat, waving as it slowly sailed into the sea. A sea breeze blew, carrying her small boat farther and farther away.
Koushirou and Zoro walked back slowly. Seeing Zoro silent along the way, Koushirou thought for a moment and said, "Zoro, Kuina now has a Devil Fruit ability, and her strength has skyrocketed instantly. But that doesn't mean you can never defeat her. You know, the current World's Greatest Swordsman, Hawk-Eye, Dracule Mihawk, doesn't have a Devil Fruit, yet few can beat him!"
"Hawk-Eye?" This was the first time Zoro had heard that name. In truth, Shimotsuki Village was quite isolated. Though he had seen the news about Ian becoming a Warlord, he didn't even know who the other Warlords were! This single-minded idiot spent every day training relentlessly, striving to grow stronger.
"Yes. If you pay attention to the other Warlords, you'll understand!" Koushirou said with a smile. "Now, your senior brother Ian is also a Warlord, like Hawk-Eye Mihawk. But purely in swordsmanship, Ian might not be able to beat him!"
"Hawk-Eye Mihawk is that strong?" Zoro's eyes began to gleam after hearing this. "World's Greatest Swordsman, huh? That title sounds great. If I want to become the world's strongest swordsman, I just need to beat him, right?"
"Yes. So... keep striving to grow stronger!" Koushirou said. "As long as you don't die, keep getting stronger, and you'll become the world's strongest swordsman!"
Zoro suddenly bowed deeply to Koushirou and said, "Then, Teacher Koushirou, I'll take my leave now. I need to study my sword techniques."
Koushirou said nothing, watching quietly as he left.
As Zoro walked toward the forest, he rested his left hand on his right elbow, stroking his chin in thought.
"Kuina's Ashura form looked amazing! Maybe I can name one of my sword techniques after Ashura?"
"What should I call it? Ashura: One-Sword Slash? Hmm, that doesn't sound good. Too plain..."
"Ashura... Ashura: Mist Silver? Ah, that's nice... Alright, decided! I'll practice this first!"