Shin stretched out his hand and took out the Eight-Headed Serpent Fruit he had separated, handing it directly to Kuina. "As long as you eat this Devil Fruit, and then I lift the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, you will be completely resurrected."
Kuina picked up the Devil Fruit curiously, but Koushirou was a little uneasy and said, "This is a Devil Fruit? It's truly precious."
Seeing his daughter's puzzled look, Koushirou continued explaining, "Devil Fruits are known as the sea's greatest treasure. Any Devil Fruit, even the most common one, can sell for over 100 million Berries. A Devil Fruit with the ability to resurrect, like the one just now, could easily fetch over a billion, with many willing to pay that price."
"One billion Berries?" Kuina's face changed immediately. As a simple girl from a small East Blue village, she felt such an amount of money would last several lifetimes. Without hesitation, she handed the Devil Fruit back. "It's too expensive—I can't accept it."
Shin shook his head and reassured her, "Don't worry. I have the ability to reclaim Devil Fruits. You can consider this a loan."
Hearing this, Koushirou glanced at Shin, only now remembering that the man before him was a great pirate with a bounty exceeding one billion Berries—one who could plunder and recycle Devil Fruits at will.
Realizing this, Kuina picked up the Devil Fruit again and glanced at her father. Seeing Koushirou nod in approval, she finally took a bite.
Shin formed a seal with his hand. "Impure World Reincarnation: Release!"
In an instant, Kuina's reanimated body began to dissolve into ash, revealing a golden soul. At the same time, the Eight-Headed Serpent Fruit's power activated, and flesh gradually formed around her soul.
Moments later, the cracks on Kuina's body from the Impure World Reincarnation, along with her lifeless, blackened eyes, vanished. Her body returned to how it was before her death.
Kuina felt her heartbeat and breathing again, the breeze brushing against her skin, the warmth of the sun. She clenched her fists twice, still finding it hard to believe.
"Is that it? Am I resurrected?"
Shin nodded. "Yes, you are fully alive now." As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, and black energy surged forth, pulling the Eight-Headed Serpent Fruit back out of her body.
Kuina moved her limbs, took a deep breath, and confirmed that she was no different than before. A bright smile spread across her face.
"That idiot Zoro went to sea with my Wado Ichimonji! I have to teach him a lesson!"
Shin looked at the confident Kuina and couldn't help but think, 'With your current strength, Zoro might end up on his knees, begging for mercy.'
Though Kuina was a swordsmanship genius on par with Zoro, her infamous backstory of slipping on a mere sharpening stone and dying left Shin skeptical of her durability. Regardless, that was her concern to deal with.
After parting ways and leaving the East Blue, Shin used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to Drum Kingdom.
He had only been in Drum Kingdom for a day or two when he received a call from Princess Vivi.
As soon as he answered, he could hear the sounds of battle and Vivi's panicked voice. "Captain Shin, help!"
Without hesitation, Shin activated the Flying Thunder God Technique once more. But this time, in addition to himself, he took Violet and Kyros along to Alabasta.
Violet, perhaps seeing a reflection of herself in Vivi, had long expressed her desire to assist Alabasta. So, she had already arranged with Shin to help.
In a flash of light, the three of them appeared before Vivi.
At that very moment, a silver blade flashed, and a towering, muscular man swung his sword at Shin's head.
A loud clang echoed through the air. Though the attack made direct contact, it merely sparked off Shin's skin, as if it had struck metal.
Even without using Armament Haki, Shin's physical toughness was now among the strongest in the pirate world. Aside from Imu, few could injure him. Ordinary swords—even supreme-grade blades—were useless against his bare flesh.
Slowly raising his head, Shin locked eyes with the attacker. The man's hand had transformed into silver metal, resembling a liquid-metal Terminator.
Frowning, Shin muttered, "A Devil Fruit user? Someone from Baroque Works?"
The muscular man looked startled. "Yes! I am Mr. 1 of Baroque Works! Who the hell are you? How did you withstand the power of the Dice-Dice Fruit?"
"My Dice-Dice Fruit can even cut through a Great Swordsman's famous blade!"
Shin sneered. "You've got a lot to learn. The Grand Line is full of monsters, and there are plenty who could shrug off your so-called ultimate attack."
"Besides, if you think you can cut through a Great Swordsman's weapon without even knowing Armament Haki, you're delusional. Any real Great Swordsman could decapitate you with a wooden stick."
It was unclear whether Mr. 1 had simply spent too much time in the first half of the Grand Line, but his arrogance showed a shocking lack of awareness. Did he truly understand what it meant to be a Great Swordsman?
"Captain Shin, leave this guy to me." Kyros stepped forward, his gaze sharp. "Let me show him what a real swordsman can do."
In the sea, the line between swordsmen and Great Swordsmen wasn't always clear. Generally, if one could unleash a flying slash, they could claim the title. However, only a handful were universally recognized as true Great Swordsmen.
Even with all his skill, Kyros wouldn't dare call himself one. Throughout the entire ocean, there were only a few undisputed Great Swordsmen—legends like the Golden Lion, Mihawk, and Kozuki Oden. Others who claimed the title weren't necessarily acknowledged by the world.
Now, it was time for Mr. 1 to realize just how wide the gap truly was.
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