Time flew by in a flash.
Five days later.
Castle Space. Smithy
Moses removed his gas mask, observing the semi-solid golden-red alloy within the three molds in the forging furnace:
"The alloy has finally been successfully smelted. Now, let's begin."
He poured the semi-solid alloy solution into the cooling pool.
Hiss—
Thick white steam billowed up.
Moments later,
three dark iron ingots emerged. Moses picked up the slightly larger one with iron tongs and placed it back into the furnace to reheat. Soon, the glowing-red ingot was positioned on the anvil.
Clang—
Swinging the forging hammer, Moses began striking the alloy repeatedly, aligning its internal grain patterns and altering the metal's internal structure.
In a state of Unity of Heaven and Man,
his Observation Haki perceived the internal textures, guiding the hammer's precise strikes—combing the grain, gathering spirituality, composing a flawless symphony.
Everything flowed seamlessly.
The alloy was elongated, folded, and forged again. As time passed, the internal grain patterns unified, and the material's spirituality coalesced, gradually taking the shape of a longsword.
Strike after strike, he shaped the blade, sensing the connectivity of its internal grain. At the moment spirituality peaked,
he lifted the blade with tongs and plunged it into the quenching pool.
Quenching
Hiss—
Intense steam erupted.
Spirituality stabilized at this very instant.
Moses examined the blade with satisfaction before returning it to the furnace.
Tempering
With this final step completed,
he set the blade aside to cool.
Then, he resumed forging the remaining two ingots.
...
Three days later.
Moses gazed at the three completed weapons before him, pleased.
First was Bogart's longsword—its blade a pale cyan with a gentle curve, adorned with delicate ring-like grain patterns and an exceptionally sharp edge.
The spine was thick, making it ideal for slashing.
A weapon born for battle, a true instrument of war.
Yet, it was not a cursed blade.
Not because Moses couldn't forge one, but because the materials didn't permit it.
To match the blade's color, Moses had coated the scabbard in the same pale cyan.
As for its quality:
[C+ Grade Longsword (Good Skillful Blade): A high-quality longsword forged from special meteorite iron, possessing extraordinary toughness.]
The weapon's traits were excellent, perfectly showcasing the meteorite iron's high strength and resilience.
Next was a shortsword.
Matching the longsword in color, it was forearm-length—like a paired mother-and-son blade.
Finally, Moses turned his attention to the weapon he had forged for himself.
A multi-functional hand axe, forged as a single piece in pale cyan—similar to the one he had given Ace.
One end featured a triple-edged axe head, while the other had a spike with dual edges.
The handle was sanded to a matte finish,
offering a perfect grip.
Moses was thoroughly satisfied with this forging session.
Sheathing the two swords,
he tidied the furnace,
then left with the weapons, soon arriving at his room in the Residential Area.
Placing the three weapons casually on the table,
he headed to the bathroom to wash up.
Over the past week, Crow Dabao had found a spring on the island, and the castle's water storage system was now filled with clean spring water.
They had achieved water independence.
After washing up and glancing at the sky outside—already evening—Moses decisively collapsed onto the bed.
Soon, snores filled the room.
These past few days had utterly exhausted Moses.
Every meal had been brought to him by Perona.
Bogart wasn't permitted to enter the forging room.
...
The next day.
He woke up early—
Because he couldn't hold it anymore.
Moses went for a morning run around the island and had breakfast.
The moment he returned to the warship, he spotted Bogart, who was staring at him with desperate anticipation. Moses' expression darkened as he said,
"Sorry, old man. There's been a bit of a situation with your weapon."
Bogart's face immediately twitched, his eyes filling with bitterness. "Little Moses… did it fail? Tell me straight—can my weapon still be salvaged?"
"If it's just a matter of money, name the materials. I'll go buy them right now."
Moses gave him a puzzled look. "Did I say the forging failed?"
Bogart's face darkened. "Then what do you mean?"
Moses sighed. "See for yourself."
With that, he waved at Crow Dabao in the sky. The crow landed in front of him, rasping,
"Moses, what's up?"
Moses pointed. "On the table in my room—bring out those two swords."
Crow Dabao nodded. In less than ten seconds, ripples shimmered over its body before it spat out two swords—one long, one short.
Moses caught them effortlessly.
He tossed the long sword to Bogart, who caught it smoothly.
Hands trembling slightly, Bogart drew the blade.
A pale-blue blade, intricate patterns, a solid weight—exactly the same length as his previous sword.
Perfectly balanced.
A grin spread uncontrollably across his face.
Gripping the hilt, Bogart's eyes flashed with sharpness. In the next instant, Moses watched as an inky blackness spread from the hilt, engulfing the entire blade.
In the blink of an eye, a sinister black sword pulsed with dangerous energy.
Armament Haki.
Chuckling under his breath, Bogart swung the blade toward the distant sea.
Humm!
A pale-blue Flying Slash, a hundred meters in diameter, tore through the air.
Following its trajectory, Moses watched as the ocean hundreds of meters away split open, leaving a deep trench in its wake. His eyes widened in surprise.
"Old man… are you a master swordsman?"
A hint of pride flickered in Bogart's eyes as he chuckled. "Something like that, something like that."
Sheathing the sword and securing it at his waist, Bogart rubbed his hands together, his face flushed with excitement. He stared at Moses like a lovestruck fool. "Moses… mind letting me take a look at that short sword too? Let's see if it's also a top-tier Good Skillful Blade."
By now, he'd realized Moses had just been teasing him earlier—the forging had been a complete success. This was the absolute pinnacle of Good Skillful Blades.
Watching his expression, Moses' lips twitched before he tossed the short sword over. Bogart caught it eagerly.
Soon, the old man was giggling like a maniac. Moses subtly inched away.
"By the way, old man, has my grandpa and the others finished their mission? I haven't seen him in days."
Bogart thought for a moment.
"They're done. That big-shot pirate, Hafnerza, agreed to become a Warlord. Just waiting on the official appointment papers now—once he signs, it's a done deal."
"Does signing even matter?"
Moses couldn't help but deadpan.
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Bogart gave an awkward smile. "Probably... maybe it's useless, but that's just the procedure."
"Oh. So where do we go next?" Moses asked curiously. "What about those two? I didn't sense their presence on the warship."
"Oh, them? I heard Gekko Moria got into a conflict with the new Warlord Hanafuda on the other side of the island. They went over to watch the fight."
"Why didn't you go?" Moses asked. "Left here to guard the ship?"
Bogart shot Moses a resentful look. "Well, my sword's with you, isn't it? Without my blade, I don't feel secure."
"Oh~ So you're one of those mediocre swordsmen who lose half their strength without their sword, huh?"
"Who told you that?" Bogart's face darkened. "Nonsense! There's some impact, sure, but not as bad as you say. Do you know why a swordsman is called a swordsman?"
Without waiting for Moses to respond, Bogart continued, "Physique, Hegemony, and swordsmanship—only when all three fundamentals are met can one be called a swordsman. None can be lacking. Even without a sword, there's still physique and Hegemony. Even with just a wooden stick, a true swordsman remains formidable after a brief adjustment."
"Then what's this 'Breath of All Things' that swordsmen talk about? And 'To Cut or Not to Cut'?"
Moses seized the chance to confirm whether his understanding of "Breath of All Things" and "To Cut or Not to Cut" aligned with that of a true swordsman.
Bogart paused, giving Moses a surprised look, unsure where he'd heard these terms. "Those concepts are still a bit too advanced for you right now. But since you're curious, I'll explain. First, 'Breath of All Things' is essentially a special kind of perception..."
Listening to Bogart's unique explanation, Moses gained fresh insights into the so-called swordsman's "Breath of All Things" and "To Cut or Not to Cut."
To summarize simply:
What swordsmen perceive as the "Breath of All Things," in Moses' view, resembles a mental state akin to the "Unity of Heaven and Man." It's about breaking through one's limits in life-and-death struggles, sublimating one's will on the brink of death, and sensing the natural world—developing an emotional connection with all things. This allows one to perceive the fluctuations and rhythms of existence. Thus, "Breath of All Things" is a spiritual realm.
At the same time, this elevation of the mind and transformation of perception often accompanies the awakening of innate Observation Haki.
As for the average swordsman's "To Cut or Not to Cut," it's a manifestation of Armament Haki. Those who comprehend the "Breath of All Things" have usually undergone rigorous training, tempering both physique and willpower, meeting the prerequisites for activating this physique-linked Hegemony. Life-and-death trials often awaken innate Haki, and upon unlocking Armament Haki, they mistake its defensive and offensive properties for the "Breath of All Things," believing it to be the swordsman's realm of cutting steel.
"So, generally speaking, even without comprehending the 'Breath of All Things,' one can still be called a swordsman as long as they've awakened Observation Haki and Armament Haki and can perform a Flying Slash?"
Moses summarized his thoughts to Bogart with these words.
Bogart smiled and said, "Well said. The Breath of All Things isn't so easily comprehended. On the other hand, Hegemony—once the foundations of Physique, mental willpower, and spirit meet the standard—can be awakened as long as you grasp the method.
'Brute force creates miracles'—with that, even steel can be easily severed."
"So? Doesn't it suddenly make swordsmen seem less impressive?" Bogart asked with a grin.
Moses didn't answer the question, merely asking curiously, "Then have you comprehended it? The Breath of All Things?"
Bogart smiled proudly. "Of course. I'm not some fake swordsman from outside."
"But what's the use of the Breath of All Things? Can it be applied in battle?" Moses pressed. "After all, being able to sense the breathing rhythms of all things in nature—if it doesn't serve any purpose, wouldn't that be awkward?"
Bogart suddenly smirked mysteriously, looking smug as he said to Moses, "Want to know? Beg me. Beg me, and I'll tell you."
Finally catching an opportunity, he couldn't resist showing off a little.
"Hmm. If your sword ever gets broken by someone, don't come crying to me."
Bogart's eye twitched.
Moses watched him with a calm expression, continuing, "I'll definitely forge a Great Grade Blade—no, a Supreme Grade Blade in the future. Do you... want to touch it?"
Bogart pressed a hand to his forehead, looking resigned. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have gotten carried away. I apologize. I'll show you right now."
Flexible in both advance and retreat.
Drawing the short sword at his waist and wrapping it in Armament Haki, Bogart took a deep breath. The blade, now pitch-black, suddenly erupted with a dazzling flame—whoosh—
"Single Sword Style: Flame Severing."
Swinging his arm, flames surged as a blazing slash tore through the air in front of Moses.
Watching as the sea in the distance was split apart, sending up plumes of steam, Bogart flicked his blade, dispersing the flames.
He looked at Moses with a smug grin, the corner of his lips quirking up. "So? Cool, right? A flaming slash, huh?"
Moses's eyes widened slightly. Seeing this, Bogart couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from rising further, lips parting as he prepared to speak.
But at that moment, Moses raised his right index finger to his lips, his eyes filled with understanding as he cut in first:
"Armament Haki, right? And some manipulation of flame's breathing rhythm mixed in."
Having spent days around the forge, Moses was deeply familiar with the breathing rhythm of flames.
"I get it now. Armament Haki is an extraordinary power that manifests when the endless vitality and life force within the body are ignited by intense willpower and fighting spirit.
And all things in existence have their own unique breathing rhythms. Just now, you simulated the natural breathing rhythm of flames within yourself through the Breath of All Things, using Armament Haki as fuel to materialize the intangible, unleashing that flaming slash."
"Am I right?" Moses looked at Bogart's dumbfounded expression and, seeing his stunned face, nodded in satisfaction. "Seems my guess was spot on."
Then—
Bogart suddenly narrowed his eyes suspiciously, staring unblinkingly at Moses as he activated his Observation Haki to sense him.
"You're not wrong. That feeling—the unique resonance between swordsmen. No mistake. You've definitely comprehended the Breath of All Things. Otherwise, you wouldn't have such insight."
At this point, Bogart's expression was utterly shocked as he stared at Moses like he was looking at a monster. After a few seconds, Bogart sighed with exasperation:
"Mind explaining? How did you comprehend it? And when?"
Moses, however, gazed at him with serene calmness. "Uncle, your stare is quite rude, you know? I'd rather not talk about it.
Oh, by the way—I'd like to spar with you. I know I'm no match for you right now, but I want to give it a try."
With that, Moses drew a shortsword from his waist and took a slight step back, offering Bogart a small bow.
"Please guide me."
His eyes remained steady on Bogart as he spoke.
He took a deep breath.
Bogart's eyes gleamed with amusement, and he nodded. "Sure, I've got nothing better to do anyway. Might as well kill some time. Come at me without holding back."
The next moment—
Moses shifted his stance and closed the distance swiftly. As he neared, his right arm swept upward in a decisive slash, carrying the chill of Cold Dew.
A flash of cold light arced from Bogart's waist, rising in a sharp crescent.
Clang!
Bogart's right arm pressed downward, his blade meeting Moses' slash with perfect precision.
A smirk curled his lips as he exerted force, instantly deflecting Moses' shortsword aside and leaving his guard wide open.
With a twist of his wrist,Bogart thrust his blade straight toward Moses' chest.
Unfazed, Moses flicked his right wrist, hurling his shortsword diagonally downward to the left.
At the same time, his left hand shot out in a grabbing motion, catching the spinning hilt midair with flawless timing.
His left arm swung upward, the sword clashing once more against Bogart's blade.
Clang! A crisp metallic ring echoed.
A tremendous force surged through the blade, sending Moses skidding uncontrollably backward.