One Piece: The Strongest Asura

Centuries ago, the Zhuo family was a prestigious clan known for their mastery of the blade. However, as fewer people adhered to the ancient ways, the family began to decline. Despite their efforts to preserve their traditions, an unexpected invasion shattered their legacy. They were defeated, losing not just their freedom but the relevance of their ancestral heritage.

In secret, the Zhuo patriarch had recently unearthed one of the family's treasured relics: an ancestral blade. Though it was a risk to reveal it, he believed it might awaken extraordinary potential in Zallor. After all, this young man had surprised him in many ways, even requesting not just one sword but three—a stark contrast to the Zhuo family tradition of wielding a single blade.

Crafting three blades in this era, where swords had been abolished, was impossible. But the patriarch had one ace up his sleeve: a legendary blade passed down through the family. Though there were other renowned swords in the world, this particular one, the Hidden Snow Blade, was unmatched in its legacy and power.

As Zallor trained relentlessly, the Zhuo patriarch approached him. Though Zallor recognized the man's role in saving his life, he still struggled to see him as a father. To Zallor, the patriarch was merely the benefactor of his borrowed body.

But then, Zallor's sharp eyes caught a glint of something in the patriarch's hand—a weapon. His heart skipped a beat. Could it be a sword?

"You've been asking for a blade," the patriarch said, stepping closer. "I don't have three, but I do have this: the ancestral treasure of our family—the Hidden Snow Blade. This sword was forged centuries ago by a master smith. It combines mystical black iron with eternal frost and was sealed in ice for eighteen years before being unleashed. Its blade measures three feet in length, six inches in width, and weighs twenty-one jin and four liang. See if you can handle it."

With that, the patriarch tossed the sheathed blade toward Zallor.

The moment Zallor caught it, a biting chill shot through his hand and up his arm. He gasped softly, feeling as though the blade itself was alive, emanating an unwelcoming, icy aura. Even without drawing it, the sword exuded an overwhelming presence, a cold force that seemed to reject him outright.

Gripping the sword tightly, Zallor muttered, "Such a dangerous blade... it feels like it's challenging me." Yet, deep down, he was exhilarated. A weapon like this was exactly what he needed.

Curious to see the blade, he attempted to unsheath it. But as he pulled, a sharp, freezing sensation struck him, almost as if the blade itself threatened to encase him in ice.

"Interesting," Zallor murmured through gritted teeth. "You resist me, do you? No matter. Once a blade is in my hand, it has no choice but to obey. You're mine now."

But despite his determination, the sword refused to yield.

The patriarch chuckled. "It seems the Hidden Snow Blade hasn't accepted you yet. That's no surprise—this sword is notorious for its temperament. Even our ancestors struggled to master it."

Zallor scowled, his pride bruised. "I don't care how difficult it is. I'll make it submit. A swordsman who can't draw his blade is a disgrace, worse than one who bears a scar on his back."

Seeing the fire in Zallor's eyes, the patriarch nodded approvingly. "That's the spirit. You've got the resolve our family needs. Here, take this as well—it's our family's swordsmanship manual. Study it. I don't know where you learned your techniques, but this might give you a new perspective."

Zallor glanced at the manual briefly but returned his focus to the sword. He could feel its power calling to him, even as it resisted. "This blade is mine. I'll prove it."

The patriarch smiled, a rare softness in his expression. "Good. And starting tomorrow, you'll begin training in qi. Without it, you'll be at a disadvantage in this era. Qi will not only enhance your strength but open the door to powers you can't even imagine."

As the patriarch left, Zallor stood alone with the Hidden Snow Blade. Its frosty aura pulsed in his hands, as if daring him to continue.

"This is just the beginning," Zallor whispered. "I'll master you. And when I do, you'll become the blade that leads me back to my crew."

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