One Piece: Holy Light Swordmaster

As always, it was another sunny morning. The sea sparkled in the gentle light, its dreamy shallow blue hues reflecting the unique charm of coastal waters. Schools of small fish darted by, while larger underwater predators occasionally appeared, playing out vivid survival dramas reminiscent of scenes from a nature documentary.

Having bid farewell to Koshiro and his wife, Wright, now 14 years old, departed Shimotsuki Village aboard a merchant vessel.

"Whew..."

Stretching languidly, Wright dangled his legs over the ship's railing, his longsword resting behind his head as he basked in the morning sun.

Two years of training at the dojo had brought significant changes. No longer the "junior disciple," Wright now had younger trainees looking up to him. As the strongest among his peers, he'd become somewhat of a role model, much to the adoration of the newcomers.

Still...

"Every single kid from the dojo came to see me off—don't they have practice?!" Rubbing his eyes, Wright exhaled deeply. "Almost made me not want to leave."

Dressed in new clothes that Koshiro's wife had specially prepared for him, Wright's striking golden hair, now tied into a ponytail, complemented his confident, sharp features. His two years of growth made his use of a longsword appear natural rather than oversized.

Before his departure, Koshiro had taken Wright's training sword, promising a parting gift.

Initially puzzled why a gift required taking his old sword, Wright soon received his answer. Koshiro returned the blade, now reforged and elevated to the level of a high-quality weapon. While delighted, Wright wasn't entirely surprised—after all, Koshiro hailed from the famed blacksmith lineage of Wano Country.

Weapons generally reach their final form once forged, rarely benefiting from subsequent upgrades. However, since Wright's original training sword was an ordinary blade without unique craftsmanship, it could still undergo refinement.

In the world's vast seas, renowned swords were exceedingly rare and often unobtainable treasures. To wield one that perfectly matched its user was a privilege few could claim. Wright decided to name his sword Ashes.

In the two years at the dojo, Wright had remained his same youthful and occasionally dramatic self.

Although the longswords of the One Piece world bore little resemblance to the Blade of Radiance he once imagined, Koshiro's words piqued Wright's curiosity:

"Wright, this blade carries traces of your 'spirit.' It's like a unique 'mark'—likely tied to your abilities. This mark resonates with the aura your abilities emit. While it appears as a finely crafted sword, it may not yet rival some battle-worn legendary blades. However, when wielded by you, it might surpass the power of an ordinary Grade 50 Skillful Blade.

"This 'mark' is faint for now, but knowing of its existence, I emphasized preserving this feature during the reforging. As a result, while the blade could've been made stronger, it retains this unique characteristic. Over time, as your abilities grow, this sword may become a one-of-a-kind weapon, usable only by you.

"Its base power has limits, but its potential has no ceiling. Its growth depends entirely on how you 'nurture' it. Truly powerful swordsmen can temper ordinary blades into mighty black blades.

"The world-famous Supreme Grade Swords and Great Grade Swords include both masterpieces crafted by legendary smiths and ordinary weapons refined by their users' countless battles."

"…"

A sentient blade? A spirit-infused sword? A cursed weapon?

It was likely tied to his Holy Light abilities. Wright had chosen this sword merely because it was the longest and coolest-looking among the options. Over the years, he'd infused it with Holy Light during combat to enhance his strikes.

Tempering a blade into a black blade… Wright recalled Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, describing this phenomenon. Ushimaru of Wano Country had also provided a notable example: Shimotsuki Ryuma's sword Shusui, a Great Grade Sword, had evolved into a black blade through Ryuma's countless battles.

Could Mihawk's Yoru, a Supreme Grade Black Blade, have been forged by Mihawk himself rather than discovered?

If Wright continued imbuing Ashes with Holy Light and later with Armament Haki and Ryuo, could it too evolve into a formidable weapon?

A weapon that grows alongside its wielder—wasn't that the ultimate artifact template?

Excitement coursed through Wright at the thought.

The merchant ship sailed steadily under the noon sun. The aroma of food wafted from the galley, signaling lunchtime.

After a hearty meal, Wright returned to his cabin to meditate and strengthen his spirit. He planned to test infusing Ashes with Holy Light, both as practice and to experiment with its growth potential.

Suddenly, a cry for help disrupted the tranquility.

"Doctor! Is there… a doctor? Someone… help!"

"?"

The commotion outside drew Wright's attention. Activating his Observation Haki, he sensed chaos aboard the ship—passengers and crew were collapsing, foaming at the mouth. Poison?

Rushing to the scene, Wright found the source of the cries—a galley assistant who had barely managed to call for help. A quick Cleanse restored the man's vitality, allowing him to recount the grim events.

A poisonous fish had accidentally been included among the ship's ingredients, its toxin contaminating the soup served to the crew and passengers. Tragically, the ship's doctor, an avid fan of the fish soup, had consumed too much and was incapacitated.

As for Wright…

"Good thing I only eat fish, not fish soup," he muttered.

Ignoring the tearful gratitude of the assistant, Wright directed him to gather the poisoned individuals. With his Observation Haki, Wright quickly located everyone aboard and treated them with Holy Light, which excelled at detoxification.

By the time the rescue was complete, everyone had fully recovered, sparing the chef from an enraged mob's wrath.

The crew and passengers were overwhelmed with gratitude.

"Young as you are, your medical skills are unparalleled!"

"A miracle worker! Wright, thank you for saving us!"

"You're leagues above the so-called 'miracle doctors' I've heard of!"

"Wright the Miracle Worker! Please, let us repay you!"

…

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