One Piece: Holy Light Swordmaster

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Seeing is Believing



"What an idiot I am. Got distracted by Shanks and didn't even notice the merchant ship crew in the tavern…"

Wright turned to leave, realizing the loudmouth from earlier was one of the merchants selling alcohol from the ship. It made perfect sense for him to be in a tavern, especially since he was treating his crew. Those same crew members were also among the people Wright had healed before.

"Doctor! I propose a toast! No—three toasts!"

"Three? That's nothing. I'll toast the doctor with a whole barrel! To thank him for saving my life!"

"Get out of the way! I was the first to offer the doctor a drink!"

One man staggered forward with a glass of wine, only to trip over the second man, who then toppled onto the third. The scene quickly devolved into utter chaos.

"Good thing they're all drunk. If they latched onto me, it'd be a real headache."

Wright slipped into a nearby alley, intending to make a quiet exit. Shanks… there'd be plenty of opportunities to deal with him later.

Just as Wright was about to step out of the alley, he froze in place.

"Hey there, young man!"

Shanks appeared at the entrance, waving cheerfully.

"Damn it! I didn't extend my Observation Haki earlier, and now Shanks is right on top of me!"

"What kind of monster is he? After drinking so much, he looks completely fine!"

Wright rubbed his forehead in exasperation and muttered, "I'm not a doctor, okay? Don't listen to their nonsense. I don't know anything—I'm just a swordsman. See? I carry a sword…"

Shanks' eyes lit up. "A swordsman, huh? Judging by your quick reflexes earlier, you must be pretty skilled. And so young, too! You've got a bright future ahead of you. Why don't you join my crew?"

"I'm Shanks, a pirate!"

"Fine, I'm a doctor. And my dream is world peace."

"...Hahahaha! You're such an interesting guy!"

With his characteristic boldness, Shanks threw an arm around Wright's shoulders. "It's rare to meet someone as fun as you. Come on, let's go drink!"

"Didn't you just finish drinking?!"

In the end, Wright couldn't escape Shanks' infectious energy and was dragged back to the tavern. Between Shanks' insistence and the enthusiastic toasts of the merchant crew, Wright found himself drunker than he'd ever been in his life. After all, his years of disciplined training had never involved drinking so recklessly.

The next day, Wright awoke with a pounding headache and followed Shanks to a clearing in the mountains far from the town.

A gentle breeze rustled the nearby trees, and the sounds of nature filled the air. Orange Town occupied only a small portion of the island's coastline, with the rest of the land remaining untouched wilderness. Forests, grasslands, and rivers spread across the island, providing the resources that supported the town's trade.

"Wright, come sail with me! The East Blue is just one of the Four Seas, and beyond them lies the Grand Line—a place filled with countless islands, extraordinary people, and breathtaking wonders. The ocean's marvels are beyond imagination."

As Shanks gazed out at the island's stunning natural scenery, he spoke with genuine passion, once again extending his invitation.

Having confirmed that Wright was indeed the "interesting doctor" he'd heard about, and discovering that Wright also possessed advanced swordsmanship and unparalleled healing abilities, Shanks became relentless in his efforts to recruit him into his "soon-to-be-formed" pirate crew to explore the Grand Line together.

It had been two years since Shanks' captain, Gol D. Roger—the Pirate King—was publicly executed by the Navy in Loguetown. At the time, a 15-year-old Shanks had stood at the execution site, clutching Roger's straw hat as he wept silently. Years earlier, Shanks had voluntarily stepped away from Roger's final journey to care for a gravely ill man whose name no one dared to pronounce backward, missing the chance to reach Laugh Tale.

Although Shanks had once resolved to sail to Laugh Tale aboard his own ship, something Roger had told him after returning from that journey seemed to have given Shanks a new perspective. Regardless of his ultimate decision, he knew it would require forming his own crew. Two years earlier, on the day of Roger's execution, Shanks had invited his "friend"—the man with the unmentionable name—to join his crew. However, the offer was declined, as the man refused to serve under anyone.

Since then, Shanks had wandered alone, experiencing untold adventures. Now, he was ready to assemble his own pirate crew and return to the seas where he had once fought alongside his captain.

"Shanks, it's too early for that. I've only just grasped the basics of the 'Cutting Steel' stage, and I have almost no combat experience…"

Wright sighed. This world wasn't some anime; it was real. There were no plot-armored characters immune to harm. Even though his Holy Light powers gave him a better chance of survival, a fatal strike would end him just as easily. Forget the Grand Line—even the Four Seas hid masters capable of killing him outright.

Wright understood his limits. He wasn't invincible, so he couldn't afford to be reckless. If he made a wrong move and lost his life, who knew if he'd get another chance? Playing it safe was the smarter choice. Grinding in the newbie area until he'd maxed out his experience was the only way to ensure survival in new territories.

Besides…

"My dream is world peace! How can I become a pirate?"

"Ahahaha…"

Shanks burst into uncontrollable laughter, clutching his stomach and doubling over. "Sorry, sorry! I know I shouldn't laugh, but I can't help it! Hahaha…"

Wright glared at the red-haired man who was laughing so hard he could barely stand. "Laugh all you want, idiot! Paying for your drinks wasn't an invitation to mock me!

"You're not much older than me, but it's clear you're much stronger! And it's rare to meet such a pure swordsman. I can sense that aura we swordsmen share!

"Draw your blade! Let's see how far apart we are in skill!"

"Shing—"

The sword Ashes slid from its sheath, imbued with the power of Holy Light. Golden-red divine flames ignited along its length, illuminating the air with their brilliance. Wright gripped the sword with both hands, his stance resolute as his Observation Haki flared to its fullest.

"Oh~! So this is your ability? What a dazzling effect! I'm so jealous~"

Shanks straightened up, his expression turning serious as he steadied his own blade—a seemingly ordinary weapon, not yet the legendary saber Gryphon.

"Your ability is truly remarkable, Wright. I've heard of Devil Fruit users who can heal injuries and even use their powers offensively, but I've never seen anyone as efficient as you.

"And damn it, why do all you healing types have such flashy abilities? That guy's powers are just as eye-catching. I'm so jealous…"

What "heard of"? Wright knew Shanks had likely crossed paths with that man countless times. The mythical Zoan Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Phoenix, belonged to Marco the Phoenix, the ship doctor of the Whitebeard Pirates.

Thanks to Marco's existence, Wright's Holy Light powers wouldn't stand out too much in the Grand Line. He could simply claim to be a unique Paramecia user. After all, he couldn't turn into an element like a Logia-type user—say, the notorious Glint-Glint Fruit.

Although… wouldn't that catch the attention of that guy?

Wouldn't it be troublesome if Kizaru came looking for him?

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