One Piece: Holy Light Swordmaster

"What is a 'Great Swordsman'?"

On a deserted island, Wright wielded his blade, Ashes, practicing stroke after stroke.

"To understand the breath of all things, to reach the realm of 'cutting steel,' where nothing is uncuttable yet nothing is unnecessarily cut—that is the mark of a qualified swordsman."

Clang!A massive boulder was sliced apart as effortlessly as cutting tofu, yet the grass and trees nearby remained untouched.

"To master the 'Flying Slash,' integrating Haki, swordsmanship, and strikes as one, treating the sword as an extension of one's body—such a powerful slash can cleave mountains and part seas. Among swordsmen, such a skill places one among the best."

Boom!

With a single swing, a golden slash surged forth, severing a mountaintop, which rumbled and collapsed beyond the horizon.

"Taking it further… the sword ceases to be merely an extension of the body. It truly becomes part of the body."

"Hah… the legendary 'unity of man and blade'?"

"How does one achieve such unity?"

The resplendent blade of Ashes, almost semi-ethereal, shimmered faintly, undergoing subtle transformations.

"Mihawk's attacks… his blade and body seem perfectly synchronized, utterly seamless. When he wields Yoru, it's as if Garp throws a punch—natural and effortless."

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Wright completed a set of sword techniques, exhaling deeply.

"The Black Blade, to him, is like an extension of his arm… that's the realm of mastery where every motion is as natural as instinct."

"But my movements… my swings with Ashes have too many unnecessary actions."

Golden-red sacred flames enveloped Ashes, blazing fiercely as Wright scrutinized the blade.

"Even with the infusion of Holy Light, it doesn't flow as seamlessly as Haki… as naturally…"

Wright paused, wrapping Armament Haki around Ashes.

"Haki? That's it…"

"Armament Haki is a manifestation of one's own power. In a sense, it's an extension of the body!"

Wright carefully observed the interaction between his Armament Haki and Ashes.

The Haki not only reinforced the blade but also sharpened it further, causing the edge to faintly blur, as if bordering on the immaterial.

"Techniques in martial arts that project Haki outward… aren't they remarkably similar to the Flying Slash of swordsmen?"

"Could it be that a swordsman's Flying Slash, facilitated by the advantage of their weapon, is essentially a precursor to projecting Haki?"

Wright flicked his blade, swinging it once more. The Armament Haki coiled around Ashes faintly materialized into the shape of a slash.

This strike was far more ferocious than his previous Flying Slashes, with destructive power on an entirely different scale!

"So, achieving the ability to project Armament Haki through a weapon essentially marks the pinnacle of swordsmanship…"

Having fought Mihawk, Wright had gained profound insights into the application of Armament Haki with weapons.

"Then… what if the Haki and the blade became indistinguishable?"

"Haki is the concentrated essence of one's power. If it becomes inseparable from the blade, does that mean the sword, through Haki, becomes part of the wielder?"

"But how does one achieve this inseparability between blade and Haki?"

The Supreme Grade Black Blade, Yoru, was Mihawk's crowning achievement as the World's Greatest Swordsman.

The Great Grade Black Blade, Shusui, was forged through the legendary exploits of the swordsman Ryuma.

The Great Grade Sword Enma, while not yet a Black Blade, had the potential to become one, having been wielded by the renowned swordsman Kouzuki Oden.

True Black Blades appear to require years of refinement, with a swordsman pouring their experience, strength, Armament Haki, and willpower into their blade to transform it.

Forging one's own Black Blade—is it the ultimate manifestation of a Great Swordsman's unity with their blade?

However, Shanks' sword Gryphon isn't a Black Blade, nor does Vista, the Fifth Division Commander of Whitebeard's crew, wield one.

Even Kouzuki Oden's Ame no Habakiri and Enma, both Great Grade Swords, were not Black Blades.

"It seems there isn't only one path to becoming a Great Swordsman. But for my current state… Holy Light has already become inseparable from me."

"Integrating the power of Holy Light into my swordsmanship—this might be the way to forge my own 'Black Blade.'"

"After all, Ashes has accompanied me through my growth. If I don't truly understand my closest partner, how can I hope to achieve the realm of a Great Swordsman?"

Wright smiled faintly. By reforging Ashes into a 'Golden Blade,' he could test his theory and determine if this path would lead him to the domain of the Great Swordsman!

Sitting cross-legged, Wright placed Ashes on his lap and entered a deep meditative state.

Wright's Armament and Observation Haki, both influenced by the power of Holy Light, had undergone qualitative changes in both nature and strength.

Ashes had been continuously infused with Holy Light, undergoing a process of "Lightforging."

However, Ashes, at its core, had humble origins—originally an ordinary longsword. Even after being reforged by Koushirou, it was merely a high-quality blade.

Reaching its current level, nearing that of a Great Grade Sword, was largely thanks to Holy Light, which had reforged the blade to a semi-ethereal state.

Now, it was time to imbue this blade of light with new power—Wright's Haki, and even his will!

After countless battles, Wright's Haki and Holy Light had become inseparable from Ashes.

With his swordsmanship nearing the realm of a Great Swordsman, Wright quickly sensed Ashes on a spiritual level during his deep meditation.

Golden Armament Haki enveloped Ashes, as the physical Holy Light fused with the transformed Haki, seeking a harmonious integration.

A dense golden glow encased Ashes, while faint golden light spiraled around Wright, making man and blade seem like they had stepped out of a painting.

One day, two days…

A week passed.

Finally, the golden glow enveloping Wright surged and exploded outward.

Shards of golden light scattered like slashes, shredding everything in the vicinity into dust.

Wright opened his eyes, the blinding golden radiance in his gaze slowly dimming. On his knees lay the dramatically transformed Ashes.

The blade now measured 160 centimeters, with a 120-centimeter edge that seemed forged from pure gold. Its slightly curved body shimmered with a crystalline gold transparency, while flecks of golden-red sacred fire flickered along its length.

"It's done!"

A trace of joy flashed in Wright's eyes as he lifted the reborn Ashes, sensing the blade's razor-sharp aura.

The once-ordinary longsword, reforged by Wright using Holy Light and Haki, had ascended to a quality that rivaled the finest among Great Grade Swords!

Now, Ashes had achieved a level where its aura could be freely restrained or unleashed. Depending on Wright's intent, the blade could exude a menacing sharpness or appear as an unassuming weapon.

With a casual swing, Wright immediately felt the difference—Haki and Holy Light flowed through Ashes effortlessly, transforming into a powerful slash without the slightest hindrance!

As he wielded the blade, it was as though some unseen barrier had been broken. Wright could feel the will of the blade, its desires, as if it was now a part of him.

His current self was far stronger than before. Facing Mihawk again, while his swordsmanship might still lag behind, he wouldn't be so easily suppressed!

Perhaps this… was the realm of a Great Swordsman!

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