[2734 words]
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"He is the Daimyo of Hakumai, Shimotsuki Yasuie."
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I was a bit shocked by his words as I recalled Yasuie from the anime and his execution. He was a good man but not the best father.
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Toki and I bid farewell to the people of Ringo and made our way to Hakumai.
The way to Hakumai was directly east of our current location as we left right away.
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[8 Hours Later]
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Hakumai was located Northeast of Wano and is currently under the power of Yasuei the Hedgehog. The land is well-kept with large colourful homes with curved roofs. The location takes on an autumn-like environment with many maple-like trees.
[A/N: Hakamai]
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Walking through the area, we go through the same process as I show the Kozuki symbol to meet the Daimyo.
-----
We enter the estate and appreciate the simple yet elegant decor and furniture.
*Creak*
The door slides open as a blue-haired man walks in.
A blue afro, some facial hair and a round face of age ~30. He was wearing a red kimono with a sword to his hip.
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"Welcome, guests. I am the Daimyo of Hakumai, Shimotsuki Yasuei." He says with a plain face.
[A/N: Shimotsuki Yasuei]
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I nod to him as Toki smiles and introduces herself.
"Amatsuki? It's no wonder Ushimaru-dono was so open with his words in this letter." He commented as he gestured to the page in his hand, "What can I do for you?"
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I was about to speak till I heard a loud yell.
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"WHERE IS HE!?"
"I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU, COME!"
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It was a male yelling his heart out with great amounts of battle spirit mixed in.
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Yasuei facepalmed as he clenched his hand in frustration.
"That fool..."
---
I walked out from the estate and saw the commotion.
I saw a trail of dust around 200 meters away as I saw 1 man rushing forwards with no signs of slowing down and another 2 younger men tailing him in desperation.
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"I'VE BEEN WAITING!"
He yelled as I saw him reach for the swords at his side.
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The rushing man squatted down a bit as he leaped into the air, at least 20 meters as his two swords shined in the evening sun. The man reeled back both hands above his head as the swords were pointing backwards, waiting to be slashed down.
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"I HAVE HEARD OF YOUR TALES OVER WANO, YOU SMELL LIKE A BEAST!"
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He then glowed red as his face warped into a grin as he brought down both blades upon my shoulders. I saw the thick coating of Armament over his swords and smiled in return.
I waved my left hand as my Vanquisher materialized in my hand.
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The oncoming attacker just laughed in surprise as he seemed to become a shooting star, blasting through the sky towards me.
I twirl around my weapon as it generated some winds and knocked down the nearby wooden decorations.
The 2 crimson blades boil red as I shot it forth towards his attack.
.
BOOM!
Sparks of energy rain down as I press my Vanquisher with a single hand as he uses his entire body to try and overpower me, failing in the process.
His attack runs dry of power as he shoots back a few meters and lands directly in front of me.
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I look at him.
He was a very tall man with long, wild hair of black colour that was notably gathered into a large, flat, circular plane at the top, and also included a prominent widow's peak and triangular sideburns.
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"My name is Oden, I have heard of your strength! I am glad to finally meet you!" He roared out with his grin.
I squinted my eyes, "You have an odd way of expressing a greeting…"
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"WAHAHAHAHA! This is the way of the Samurai!"
[A/N: Kozuki Oden]
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With that said, Oden's Enma and Ame-no-Habakiri blasted in a cold black colour as he raged out once more.
[A/N: Oden's 2 swords.]
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*Clang* *Clang* *Boom*
He waved down his swords in wide and quick arcs, very aggressive with his strikes as they each carried great power. I just spun around my weapon as I used a single arm to parry and block them all.
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"Hehe…" He grins as he jumps into the air and twirls around and uses his momentum from spinning and brings it down upon me.
I just hum at his attack and reel back my left hand.
The weapon boils with its residual pulverizing power as I shoot it forth once more at his oncoming attack.
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BOOOOOOM!
Arcs of energy blast out in all directions as the estate and the nearby houses start to break apart and fall apart. Yasuei just sighs in anger as Toki watches from afar.
Oden is blasted back once more as he lands on the ground, a stream of blood flowing down the side of his lip.
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By now, the 2 kids running after him had caught up as I recognized them,
Kin'emon and Denjiro, the two that followed him after his exile from the capital.
[A/N: Kin'emon Image.]
[A/N: Denjiro Image.]
"Oden-sama, are you alright?" Dejiro asks as he readies his weapon.
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"WAHAHAHA! Stay out of this, you two! This guy is awesome!" He yells out.
Oden then crossed his arms over his chest as the 2 swords point out.
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"Oden Two-Sword Style…"
…
I see the prior imbuement of Armament as another flowing stream of Haki follows out. He was now fully using the Ryou of Samurai as he grins like Kaido during battles.
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"Great Samurai Spirit!"
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He yells out as he flies forth with great momentum, at this point, his entire body was glowing red as he injected his Advanced Haki all over his attack.
2 crossed-swords shake in impatience as they are ready to cut down everything in their way.
I see his attack, it was what he would use against Ashura Doji as it carried decent power.
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*FWMMMM*
My Vanquisher's blades boil with my fruit power as it suddenly is wrapped around by a warm flow of Ryou to cross blades with Oden.
Yet again, I use a single arm to hold my weapon and it radiates with Haki.
BOOOOOOOOOM!
A grand explosion fills the region as the nearby glass is shattered as a ripple of shockwave bubbles out in all directions. The people watching were trying their best to hold on as their bodies started to be pushed back.
Oden was trying to cross-slash his swords to get the Ryou to practically cut me into 4 pieces yet failing to even move my Vanquisher. My own Advanced Haki pushed him back as he slowly ran out of momentum.
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I saw him grit his teeth in stubbornness as I observed an opportunity.
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I will my Vanquisher to disappear as the fruit power and haki sustaining it vanishes.
This causes Oden to stumble forwards, his swords aimlessly cutting in the air as he had lost all of his speed.
His body was now completely open as he fell forwards, unable to do anything as I smiled evilly.
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My right fist is clad in Haki as I then add the red bubble around it as I extend it forth with absurd speed as it rages out to Oden's face.
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He has the 'Uh-oh' face as my right-hand smashes into his open face, driving in the excess Haki as it echoed through his skull, crumbling it from within. All the while my pulverizing energy rushed all over his nervous system.
BOOOOM!
"Puah!" Blood streams out of his mouth as his eyes dance in his sockets, unable to keep conscience as he goes rolling and ripping through the nearby homes, smashing through everything.
A few destroyed houses lead to even more as he slows down.
*Thud*
Alas, he stops.
Kin'emon and Denjiro run towards the tunnel of destroyed walls, searching for their boss.
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I turn towards the Daimyo, "Yasuei-san, apologies for the destruction…"
He just shakes his head with a sigh, "It is alright, Damien-dono, this is not the first time Oden has made a mess."
We then went back to the estate to resume our conversation.
---
"So, state your request, young man."
I nodded at him and asked, "I am in need of a craftsman to create a weapon for me. Ushimaru-san directed me to you and so here I am."
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He hummed at my request and thought for a bit, "I suppose I could refer you to one of our best craftsmen but if you truly want to make the best blade then I suggest for you someone else…"
He was frowning as he thought over something.
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"Something troublesome?" I guessed.
*Sigh*
"That old man is very stubborn and likes to keep to himself. He is the best of the best as his ancestors were responsible for crafting renowned swords."
My eyes widened at his words.
"Don't get your hopes up too much, he is just a senile old man who rarely even comes out of his smithy." He said in disappointment.
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"But his craftsmanship is beyond human. He taught Shimotsuki Kozaburo, the man who crafted 2 of the Great Grade Swords, Wado Ichimonji and Enma."
[A/N: Kozaburo is Koushiro's grandfather and Kuina's great grandfather.]
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I shook my head, "You needn't worry about that, I would be grateful if you just took me to him. I'll find a way to convince him."
Yasuei didn't seem to buy it but complied nonetheless.
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"His name is Shimotsuki Katsuyoshi." (OC)
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'This geezer, Katsuyoshi, taught someone who was able to craft 2 of the Great Grade Meito? Doesn't that mean this old man can make something even better?' I wondered as I made my way to an isolated area in Hakumai.
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Toki stayed with Yasuei as he wanted to know more about her past and I doubt she would want to meet some cranky old geezer.
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*Knock* *Knock*
I knock on the crappy doors as they creak in worry of collapse.
…
Silence.
"Old man Katsuyoshi, are you there?" I asked out loud.
…
Quiet once more.
*KNOCK* *KNOCK*
"Are you still alive or did you pass away in your sleep?" I asked once more.
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*KNOCK* *KNOCK*
"Who are you, brat! Don't you have any respect for the old? Yelling so loud..." An aged voice called out.
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I smiled and yelled back, "I wasn't sure if your hearing was still working so I didn't hold back."
"Damn brat! What do you want?"
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"I want you to make me a sword," I said with seriousness.
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"Scram away brat, I'm busy." He replied as I grew impatient.
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"I hear you are the best swordsmith out there. Tell me, can you craft a Saijō Ō Wazamono?" I asked.
I heard a loud scoff, "I can make anything, I just lack the ingredients."
The old voice seemed sour and annoyed.
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"What if I can get you those ingredients?"
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Silence prevailed.
*Creak*
The door slid open as it shook in pain while I saw the man.
He was only 3 feet in size with a long beard and a very aged face. He looked 300, at least!
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"Damn, old man, I almost mistook you for a corpse."
He seemed pissed, "Brat, I'm still in my early 180's!" He roared back.
*Cough*
He then started coughing.
*Crack*
"AH! MY BACK!" He yelled in pain as he crouched to the ground.
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I deadpanned. "Are you sure you can make it if I get you what you need?"
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He looked up in pain and scoffed, "I can make it with one eye closed and one hand tied to my back. If only I had what I needed I would have made at least 50 by now!"
"I refuse to die before I can make one with my own two hands!"
His words were laced with ambition and regret as I felt some Haki stir around him.
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'This geezer has Conqueror's Haki? I guess a swordsmith's pride is not to be taken lightly…' I thought as I looked at him.
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"Can you make this?" I asked, it felt wrong to continue joking about a man as my own Haki did not allow me to taunt such resolve.
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I gave him a loose picture of the Vanquisher as it was quite perfect for me to use and considering its shape, I should be able to wrap around my pulverizing power to turn it into the other configurations as well.
Another thought was that if I unlock subatomic crushing then I should be able to break it apart and mould it into something else.
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The geezer studied the weapon and started murmuring,
"...Unique staff grip followed by a broadsword body and topped with 2 swirling blades…"
"...Wood for the grip and metal for the top half…"
"Brat, what's all this red stuff?" He asked with curiosity.
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I extend my hand.
*FWOOOO*
The air starts to radiate as I release some of my fruit powers.
"I want to add my powers into the blade," I said.
He nods, I guess he had seen fruit powers before in his long life.
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"It is possible to imbue other powers into a weapon but you must be there with me to add it in while I am crafting it. Otherwise, it would never work to its full potential." He said with a plain voice.
I nodded as it made sense.
"What do you need for a Supreme Grade Weapon of this design?"
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"The grip is made of wood, you would need wood from the First Tree." He started.
*VWOOO*
A purple flash went off as a large slab of wood landed in my hand.
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[Adam's Oak (Wood from the Treasure Tree Adam)] {REFINED}
[Strongest Wood in the seas]
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Naturally, I had my own stock of rare things I had collected.
I used a refiner to bump it to its absolute potential as it pulsed with some heat.
[A/N: And no it doesn't work on fruits as every fruit has a maximum star count that it cannot cross.]
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The man looked at it and nodded.
"This will do." He then squinted his aged eyes.
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"For the other half of the weapon, you need proper metal. We in Wano can easily find thick and light ores, but this exact ore, even if refined to its potential, can only ever reach the level of Ō Wazamono (Great Grade)." He said while shaking his head.
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I frowned, "Is there better ore than the one that's available here? I assure you, I can get it if it's out there."
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He shook his head.
"That's not how it works. Even the best of metal will only make an Ō Wazamono, that's why no one has made a Supreme Grade sword in centuries."
"Those 12 use metal from the beyond called the 'Heavenly Rocks'."
"It is said these rocks came from the sky and crashed down over a thousand years ago. The masters of swordsmithing found them and used them to make 12 swords. And that was it." He sighed.
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"The Great Grade, the Skillful Grade, these are just replicas of the 12, yet to never actually reach it. Not without that ore."
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I scratched my chin in dissatisfaction, "So, no matter what, they are impossible to make?"
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He nodded and turned around to make some tea or something.
"I can make a Great Grade Weapon since I find this design interesting, it will be the best out there but never enough to become of the 12."
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I could hear the sadness in his voice, his ambition to make a peerless weapon was still there, just weathered from a century's worth of failure.
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I was sitting inside as the man went to make some tea.
My eyes suddenly widened as I put a few things together.
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'Heavenly Rocks are probably a special meteoric ore that crashed here a long time ago. But who says there aren't more of them out in space?' I questioned myself.
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*VWOOOO*
The air warped as I took out a single item from my {Inventory}.
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I smiled at the brown fruit as I read the description.
>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<
Balance Balance Fruit (Zandaka Zandaka no Mi)]
[Paramecia Fruit | Special Type]
[Fruit Rating: ??????⭐]
[Allows the user to freely switch anything of equal value. This can be a physical, phycological, spiritual or cosmical exchange.]
[The System will generate all things needed for an equal exchange at any time.]
[User becomes an All-Conserving Human]
>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<
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[The following is excluded from word count]
Author's Corner:
The Heavenly Rocks take the idea from Vibranium but in a very small amount; enough for the 12 blades.
All the other Meito are failed replicas of the original 12.
And he's using the Vanquisher as the base form but his idea is to 'shift' it using his powers to take different forms.
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