C3 Frost Moon Village's Koshiro's Temptation

The Devil Fruit, also known as the ocean's secret treasure, is the embodiment of the sea demon. Its flavor is indescribable, yet it bestows powerful abilities upon those who consume it. The drawback, however, is a curse from the sea itself, rendering the eater unable to swim.

Consequently, seawater and sea prism stone, which represent the solidified essence of the sea, are tools that can be used to subdue and capture Ability Users.

Beyond its formidable powers, the Devil Fruit harbors an even higher state of being, known as 'awakening.' This awakening isn't a level one can reach through mere practice of the fruit's powers; it demands specific catalysts and a stroke of fortune.

Hence, the individuals who manage to awaken their fruit are exceedingly rare.

Lin Mo's mastery of the Three Haki at his tender age had already earned Red Hair's respect. Now, to Red Hair's astonishment, the young upstart seemed to possess a Devil Fruit ability—no ordinary ability, but a formidable force of nature.

And the skill with which he wielded it was not only adept but immensely powerful. A true gem, indeed.

If only the boy were willing to come aboard.

With a flourish, Red Hair turned and beckoned, "Lads, off we go to drink some more."

As the villagers shook off their astonishment, Lin Mo's boat had already made its way into the distance.

"What just happened? Did that kid really defeat the King of the Seas?"

"Good heavens, am I seeing things? How old is that kid?"

"To think he took down the King of the Seas with a single blow! Incredible! Does anyone know who he is?"

"I'm clueless. He seemed like just another kid when he arrived in the village a few days ago. Who would've guessed he was concealing such strength?"

"Now it's coming back to me! I saw him at the tavern. I even ridiculed him for trying to drink like an adult... I hope he didn't take my words to heart."

Meanwhile, Lin Mo sat on the boat, content with the potency of his entry-level Fire Dragon Flame.

The voices of the villagers on the dock, though hundreds of meters away, reached him. He heard them all, but naturally, he didn't let them bother him.

Lin Mo activated the built-in navigation system.

He set out toward his next destination, Frost Moon Village.

As evening approached, the small island that was home to Frost Moon Village came into view.

He docked the boat at the shore.

No sooner had Lin Mo disembarked than a system alert chimed in his mind.

"Beep! Congratulations, host, for successfully reaching the sign-in zone at Frost Moon Village. Sign-in progress: +10%. Total progress is now 10%. Reward: Demon Blade Star Fragment. Swordsmanship skill level 1 unlocked."

Demon Blade Star Fragment?

The name had a certain allure.

Lin Mo was somewhat familiar with the names of legendary blades, but this Demon Blade Star Fragment was new to him.

Well, he'd have to check out the blade first.

With that thought, Lin Mo willed it into existence.

In his hand materialized what appeared to be an ordinary wooden sword.

Yes, a wooden sword.

He noticed the words "Lake Toya" inscribed on the handle.

Lin Mo fell silent.

He may not have known about the Demon Blade Starcrash, but Lake Toya? That was the iconic sword of Gintama's protagonist, Sakata Gintoki.

"Beep! System notification: The Demon Blade Starcrash, also known as Lake Toya, is forged from a Diamond Tree that's over ten thousand years old. It can slice through rocks and meteorites, shatter bullets, and even possesses the power to cleave stars and destroy all things."

Cleaving stars and destroying all things...

It sounded quite impressive.

Lin Mo swung the Lake Toya, finding it surprisingly well-balanced.

He secured Lake Toya to his belt and stood up, heading into the village.

When he thought of Frost Moon Village, Zoro and the Isshin Dojo immediately came to mind.

Given Zoro's age, he should already be training under Master Koshiro at the Isshin Dojo.

Moreover, the initial rewards of swordsmanship and Lake Toya suggested that this sign-in task was closely tied to the way of the sword.

With that in mind, Lin Mo decided his first stop would be the Isshin Dojo to assess the situation.

Guided by the warm hospitality of the villagers, Lin Mo swiftly found himself at the entrance of Isshin Dojo.

Despite the late hour, the dojo was ablaze with light, the sounds of children practicing their sword strikes echoing from within.

*Beep! You have arrived at Isshin Dojo. Sign-in progress: +10%. Total progress: 20%. Swordsmanship level increased to +1.*

A surge of warmth flowed through Lin Mo's veins, and the knowledge of various Level-2 sword techniques spontaneously filled his mind.

The advancement to Level-2 was a noticeable improvement over Level-1, giving Lin Mo a tangible sense of increased strength.

A slight smile played on his lips as he confidently strode into the dojo.

Inside, a girl with short blue hair was leading a group of eager young children in their chopping drills.

Lin Mo's gaze was immediately drawn to a boy with short green hair among the children, and a middle-aged man sitting at the edge of the dojo, glasses perched on his nose and eyes squinting, his face perpetually graced with a smile.

The green-haired boy was Zoro, and the smiling man was Guina's father and the proprietor of Isshin Dojo, Koshiro.

Koshiro was a master of the sword, and Lin Mo was aware that this hermit had never truly shown his full power. With Lin Mo's own swordsmanship now at Level-2, he knew he was no match for Koshiro.

The faint noise at the entrance drew Koshiro's attention, and his eyes also caught the wooden sword at Lin Mo's side.

A glint of light flashed off Koshiro's glasses.

That wooden sword.

It seemed extraordinary to him.

He rose to his feet.

Koshiro approached Lin Mo.

The children, who had been diligently practicing their sword cuts, paused and turned their attention toward the doorway.

"You're from out of town, aren't you? A swordsman as well?" Koshiro inquired, his voice warm with curiosity.

Lin Mo gave a small nod but chose not to directly address Koshiro's question.

His visit was meant to be a brief encounter with Koshiro and Zoro, and with that objective met, it was time to depart.

As Lin Mo turned to leave, Koshiro watched his retreating figure with a puzzled look.

Many details escape the notice of the average person, but Koshiro is an exception. With a lifetime of observing people, he could discern the extraordinary nature of Lin Mo's strength from the young man's confident stride and composed demeanor alone.

Furthermore, from the moment he laid eyes on Lin Mo, Koshiro perceived a profound tranquility in the youth's steady gaze—a mindset that transcended the mundane.

Impatience plagues most who pursue the art of swordsmanship. Those who can achieve true serenity are rare indeed. It is only by deeply immersing oneself in the essence of the world, unaffected by emotions and desires, that one can attain the pinnacle of sword mastery. Koshiro saw such potential in Lin Mo's future.

"Hold on a moment," Koshiro called out to Lin Mo.

Lin Mo stopped in his tracks and turned, his voice even-tempered, "Yes?"

With a warm smile, Koshiro inquired, "What's your name?"

"Lin Mo."

"Do you enjoy tea?"

"Perhaps you could join me for a cup of tea and some snacks? We could have a chat. How does that sound?"

"There's no need," Lin Mo declined. "I have a preference for wine over tea."

Koshiro was momentarily taken aback. "Wine?"

"Mhm."

"Heh, you're quite the interesting lad. I have some aged wine here that's been cellared for years. Would you care to try it?"

The mention of aged wine piqued Lin Mo's interest.

"Sure."

No sooner had he agreed than Guina approached, visibly displeased. "Father, what are you doing? He's already turned you down. Why insist on keeping him here?"

"Guina, you're missing the point," Koshiro said with a smile. "There's much you could learn from Lin Mo."

"Learn from him? Father, could you be confused? He appears younger than I am!"

"Age doesn't define everything," Koshiro continued. "His prowess far exceeds your own."

"What! Based on what?" Guina protested, brandishing her shinai at Lin Mo. "I challenge you!"