As they spoke, Matsumoto Rangiku displayed yet another ability—her technique known as Kidō (Demon Arts).
Seeing her effortlessly chant a few incantations and unleash fire, lightning, and other elemental energies, Luffy's eyes immediately turned starry with excitement.
Nami crossed her arms and rested her chin on one hand, marveling aloud.
"She's amazing… Zoro, why don't you just pick her template?"
"She can summon flames and lightning, and even turn her sword into smoke to attack."
"Her abilities seem even stronger than that Kokushibou guy."
Before Zoro could respond, Luffy, who had just been dazzled himself, shook his head at Nami.
"Nami, let Zoro choose for himself. Rangiku might look stronger than Kokushibou, but that doesn't mean she's the best fit for him."
"Huh? Why do you say that? Didn't you just say her powers were stronger?"
"You haven't experienced choosing a Heroic Spirit template yet, so you wouldn't understand. When Genrou had me pick between Toriko, Drake, and that rubber guy, I just knew that Toriko was the right one for me."
Luffy paused and continued under Nami's puzzled gaze:
"I really wanted Drake's power too, but I could tell I wouldn't be able to use it well."
"Even if I forced it, it'd probably be like Genrou said—I wouldn't be able to truly harness that power."
"On the other hand, I felt this clear pull toward Toriko. Like if I picked him, I'd be able to grow into his power really fast."
Hearing that, Nami glanced at Genrou with uncertainty.
Genrou smiled. "That's exactly how it is. Choosing a Heroic Spirit has to come from within."
"Sometimes, a power that seems weaker on the surface can turn out to be far more valuable in the hands of the right person."
"Alright, I was just saying," Nami shrugged. "It's your call, Zoro."
At this point, Rangiku's illusion faded.
Zoro, after a moment of thought, reached out and touched the name Zaraki Kenpachi.
"Tch, let's see what kind of power this directionally-challenged guy has."
As Zoro made his choice, the scene around them changed once more.
In the blink of an eye, they were standing on a silent street.
Zoro looked up and quickly spotted a towering, muscular man with a fierce face and spiked hair walking erratically down the street. He crashed into walls and corners, and just a few minutes later, he was right back where he started.
"Tch, really is a road idiot," Zoro muttered, arms crossed as he watched the illusion of Zaraki Kenpachi.
"You've got no right to talk," Genrou said, expression full of exasperation. "You're even worse than him."
"No… scratch that. I don't think there's anyone on this planet more directionally challenged than you."
Zoro's eye twitched.
"What the hell?! I'm not worse than him!"
"So you admit you're directionally challenged then, Zoro?" Genrou smirked.
"No! I never said that—Damn you, Genrou! Let's duel! I want to test your swordsmanship!"
"Hah, forget a duel. You've got a decision to make first."
Genrou snapped his fingers, and the scene shifted again.
This time, they found themselves on a quiet battlefield.
On one side stood Zaraki Kenpachi with his massive sword slung over his shoulder, and on the other was a tall, thin man wielding twin crescent scythes.
"Come on! Hit me and see what happens!"
Kenpachi bared his chest, taunting the enemy with a wild grin.
"Is he… asking the enemy to attack him first? Is he crazy?" Luffy tilted his head, thoroughly confused.
But the moment the scythe struck Kenpachi, all confusion turned into shock.
The violent impact stirred up a cyclone, showing just how strong the attack had been—yet not even a scratch was left on Kenpachi's body.
"Kenpachi's spiritual energy, called Reiatsu, is so dense it forms a natural barrier over his skin."
"Unless your strike surpasses a certain threshold, it won't even leave a mark."
"On top of that, the same energy makes his own attacks terrifyingly powerful."
As Genrou explained, Kenpachi raised his blade.
Shuua!
With one slash, he cleaved through the air, landing a devastating blow on his opponent.
A thunderous crash echoed across the battlefield as his enemy was slammed into the ground, the sheer force fracturing the earth around them.
"So strong! That was just a normal strike—how can it be this powerful?!"
Zoro's eyes widened in disbelief.
As if one blow wasn't enough, Kenpachi raised his blade again—but this time, he gripped it with both hands.
"Kendō: Ryōdan!" (Swordsmanship: Dual-Cut)
BOOM!
The next swing crushed the rising enemy once again, and the resulting shockwave was multiple times stronger than the first.
"Kenpachi practices a style of swordsmanship that focuses on two-handed swordplay."
"He loves battle so much that he usually fights with just one hand to prolong the fight and avoid killing enemies too quickly."
"But once he goes all-out with both hands, almost no one can withstand his blade."
Genrou clapped a hand on Zoro's shoulder.
"And just like Rangiku, Kenpachi also wields a Zanpakutō."
"That's where his real terrifying power lies."
Zoro gulped as he looked nervously at the massive blade in Kenpachi's hands.
"This guy… his regular strikes are already this monstrous."
"What happens when he actually uses that sword for real?"
As if to answer Zoro's question, Kenpachi suddenly lifted his weapon high, his Reiatsu exploding outward.
An ominous energy took shape behind him—an enormous, crushing skeleton of power.
"Devour, Nozarashi!" (Zanpakutō Release)
With a mighty roar, Kenpachi's slim blade transformed into a brutal cleaver—an executioner's sword with an extra-long hilt.
Just then, a meteor began plummeting from the sky.
Even knowing this was an illusion, Nami and the others jumped in fright at the sight of it.
"Hraaagh!"
Kenpachi swung the released form of his Zanpakutō, and with one mighty slash, the meteor shattered into pieces.
Aside from Genrou, who already knew of Kenpachi's strength, the others were all dumbfounded.
"S-So strong… he can even cut down a meteor?!"
Zoro's jaw dropped in sheer disbelief.
"Remember how I mentioned Zanpakutō have two levels of release?"
"For Kenpachi, cutting meteors is just child's play."
Genrou chuckled.
In the next instant, Kenpachi's Reiatsu surged again, engulfing both his body and blade in a terrifying transformation.
The giant sword became chipped at the front—yet its aura only grew stronger.
Meanwhile, Kenpachi's skin turned blood red, and he looked more like a raging demon than a human.
"RAAAH!!"
With a roar, he swung his broken Zanpakutō forward.
In an instant, the entire city before him crumbled into dust and disappeared.
…
(End of Chapter)
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