Trader In The World Of Pirates!!!

"It's like a damn dream..."

Zoro muttered quietly to himself, staring at the point balance on his screen. His eyes gleamed with excitement.

A year ago, Zoro had been lost, unsure of how long it would take to gather the points needed to resurrect Kuina. The path ahead seemed endless. But today, not only had he brought back his fallen friend, but he had also gained the strength to challenge the world.

His ambitions were slowly becoming reality.

The dream of becoming the world's greatest swordsman felt closer than ever.

Everything was falling into place.

But Zoro would never forget...

It was his encounter with Leo a year ago that had set him on this path. All his current achievements, his power, his fulfilled desires, were thanks to that fateful meeting.

Zoro valued loyalty and friendship above all else. The idea of repaying those who had helped him was deeply ingrained in him.

Leo had given him everything, and Zoro hoped, with all his heart, to one day repay that kindness. Yet, he knew that with Leo's stature, there wasn't much Zoro could offer in return. He wasn't even at a level where he would be needed—how could he ever repay such a debt?

Whenever this thought crossed his mind, he couldn't help but think of Ace, who had earned the privilege of joining the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce.

If only he had been stronger then, it might have been him standing by Leo's side, not Ace.

But Zoro had already set a new goal for himself:

"One day, I will join the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce and become Sir Leo's right-hand man!"

He wasn't sure if the Pokémon League Champion next year would earn the same privileges as this year's winner, but Zoro planned to be prepared.

All he needed to do was keep trading, growing stronger with every step.

With renewed determination, Zoro turned back to James and said, "I apologies, Sir James, my mind wandered for a moment. Let's continue the transaction. The things I want to buy might be a bit complicated, so please bear with me."

"Complicated? Hahaha..."

James let out a hearty laugh.

"What are you talking about, Mr. Zoro?"

"As an assistant to a dimensional merchant, handling complex orders is all in a day's work. In fact, I should be thanking you. You've helped me meet my quota, which will surely please Sir Leo!"

James half-jokingly waved a hand and summoned a Rotom tablet that floated in front of Zoro.

"Alright, Mr. Zoro, go ahead and tell Rotom what you'd like to purchase. If you're unsure of the specific products, just give me your requirements, and I'll assist you."

When Zoro had first become a level 5 member of the Dimensional Chamber of Commerce, James had transferred all the merchandise and item information directly into Zoro's mind. No further explanations were needed.

Zoro nodded gratefully, "Thank you, Sir James."

Without hesitation, he dove into the catalog, aiming directly for items that would upgrade his two Pokémon with MEGA evolution, Z-Moves, and Gigantamax abilities.

His Scyther already had a MEGA evolution, so there was no need to purchase that again. But the other enhancements—each costing 5,000 points—brought his total to a hefty 25,000 points.

However, Zoro wasn't done yet.

Switching to the abilities section, accessible only to VIP level 5 members, his gaze settled on a unique power.

Due to the introduction of bond evolutions, many special abilities had lost their appeal. Abilities like "Dragon Control" that boosted the combat power of specific Pokémon types were less attractive now, especially when compared to the bond evolutions, which were far cheaper and more potent.

As a result, abilities like these had fallen out of favor, barely mentioned unless specifically requested.

Yet, there were always exceptions to every rule.

Zoro's eyes gleamed as he selected one of those rare exceptions—the Power of Viridian.

In the Pokémon world, the Power of Viridian was immensely powerful, offering heightened Pokémon affinity, healing capabilities, the ability to boost potential, and enhanced combat strength. A versatile and comprehensive ability.

However, in the world of pirates, this power was not as useful.

First, the Pokémon given by Leo were specially selected, so affinity wasn't an issue. As long as a trainer treated their Pokémon well, there was no need for any additional bonding.

Second, the medical standards in the pirate world were advanced enough that injuries to Pokémon were rarely a concern for those with status and means.

Lastly, the temporary battle boost provided by Viridian Power paled in comparison to the explosive power of bond evolutions.

The only real benefit was the ability to unlock a Pokémon's potential. But even that could be achieved through rigorous training at a fraction of the cost.

Despite all this, Zoro didn't hesitate. He purchased the Power of Viridian for 5,000 points and added it to his cart.

The moment he confirmed the purchase, several beams of light shot from the void, enveloping Zoro, the Pokéball containing his Scyther, and Doublade on his back.

Suddenly, a bond of immense energy formed between Zoro and his Pokémon, surging with raw power. At the same time, the soothing energy of the Viridian Power nourished his body, and Zoro instantly mastered its use alongside the other abilities—MEGA evolution, Z-Moves, and Gigantamax.

On his Pokémon bracelet, Zoro's Z-Crystal and Wishing Star materialized, completing the set.

"This... is the Power of Viridian?"

Feeling the gentle energy flowing through him, Zoro closed his eyes as faint green particles shimmered around him, only to be absorbed by Doublade at his back.

"It works!"

Zoro's eyes snapped open, and a confident grin spread across his face.

"With this, I'm always training!"

Zoro had a specific reason for purchasing the Power of Viridian. While the ability required physical contact with a Pokémon to activate, Zoro's unique bond with his Doublade—a part of him as much as any Pokémon—meant he could channel the power constantly.

During battle, he could boost the strength of his Pokémon and heal them without needing to be physically close, a tremendous advantage.

The Power of Viridian was the perfect ability for Zoro, a special trainer bound to his blades.

Perhaps it was fate, the alignment of a green power with the green-haired swordsman.

"Come out, Scyther!"

After getting accustomed to his newfound power, Zoro wasted no time and called forth Scyther to share in the experience.

Though this method of power-up wasn't as rapid as intense training, they had recently absorbed fifty years' worth of life essence just a month ago, enhancing their latent potential. This was the perfect time to push their abilities even further.

With consistent daily training and stimulation, Zoro knew that their strength would only continue to grow.

But this was just the beginning.

Having tested the bond evolution, Zoro signaled to James and opened the door, stepping out into the open air. A group of onlookers followed him eagerly to the dojo.

The expanded training grounds were now three to four times larger than before—though it might still be somewhat cramped, it would suffice for the demonstration.

As Koby and the others watched in anticipation, Zoro raised his wrist. Instantly, two bright lights flashed, one from the MEGA keystone and the other from the Wishing Star.

But the smile on Zoro's face shone brighter than the two lights combined.

"Let's see just how strong we've become!"

"Doublade, Scyther, MEGA Evolution! Dynamax! Bond Evolution!!!"

BOOM!

As Zoro's words echoed through the air, the entire dojo—no, the entire island—began to tremble. The wind howled fiercely as the sky darkened under looming shadows.

"What's happening!?" 

Koushirou, who had been teaching a lesson to his students, rushed over in shock, his apprentices trailing behind. What they saw left them speechless—three gigantic swords hovered ominously in the air above the dojo, like sentinels from the heavens, their gazes fixed on the ground below.

After MEGA evolution, the Doublade were virtually identical to their bond-evolved form, but under the influence of Dynamax, their size had ballooned to a colossal 50 meters.

Scyther too had transformed, now hovering mid-air in the form of an enormous sword.

If, before this transformation, Zoro and his Pokémon could unleash power comparable to a level-80 fighter, now, with the enhancements of these buffs, Scyther and Doublade alone could reach level 80.

Zoro's previous peak combat strength had doubled in an instant. Now, with these two mighty Pokémon at his side, Zoro himself had risen to a level close to Four Emperor.

However, such overwhelming power came with a price.

In their Dynamax state, the sheer size of Scyther and Doublade meant Zoro could no longer wield them as traditional swords in battle. No one, except perhaps the giants, could possibly handle a sword towering more than 50 meters tall.

But if Dynamax was canceled, Zoro could once again control Scyther and the Doublade like before, and the unleashed power would still exceed the level 80 threshold, placing him among the elite fighters on par with a naval admiral.

Whether to fight separately or as one depended on the battle's circumstances.

"Not bad! Not bad at all!" Zoro muttered happily. Then, with a thought, he commanded, "Cancel Dynamax!"

Instantly, the gigantic weapons shrank back to their original size. Scyther and Doublade returned to Zoro's side, and he grasped them effortlessly—one sword in his mouth, and the other two in hand.

Zoro smiled once more, his eyes gleaming with determination.

"Now, let's test the Z-Move."

The Z-Move he had chosen for Scyther was the Ultimate Invincible Crash—a straightforward yet devastating physical attack that unleashed all of his Pokémon's energy at once.

For Doublade, he selected Endless Night's Seduction—a special ghost-type attack that impaired the opponent's spirit, causing paralysis and damage.

"First up... the Ultimate... Invincible Crash."

Zoro gathered his strength, feeling momentarily awkward calling out such an over-the-top move. But he quickly refocused on Scyther, who began to radiate a dazzling light.

The bond evolution amplified this energy, and in an instant, Zoro felt it surge through him.

An intense realization dawned on him. His body moved instinctively, muscle memory taking over.

His muscles tightened. An overwhelming sword intent surged around him, and swordlight began to coil around his body.

At this moment, Zoro looked almost divine, emanating a power capable of reshaping the world.

Something was wrong.

From a distance, Koushirou's eyes widened in alarm. Realizing the danger, he shouted, "Zoro! Don't aim forward! That's the direction of Shimotsuki Village!"

His urgent call snapped Zoro out of his trance, just as James was about to step in. Zoro immediately redirected his attack upward.

"HAAA!!!"

With a mighty shout, Zoro swung his sword toward the sky.

BOOM!!!

The earth quaked, and a deep crater formed in the training ground, sending rocks and debris flying in all directions.

"What... what just happened!?"

Kuina, her clothes whipped by the wind, instinctively glanced at the massive pit ahead. But Zoro was nowhere to be seen.

Her eyes quickly darted upward.

High in the sky, a deafening boom sounded. A tiny figure began to grow larger as it plummeted downward.

Above him, the very sky itself had been split apart by a devastating slash.

In the space cleaved by the attack, clouds, air currents, and even light itself were forced to part, as if a massive wound had been inflicted upon the heavens.

"It's Zoro!"

THUD!

Zoro landed back in the pit as the sky slowly returned to normal, the cracks in the clouds gradually fading.

"Zoro, are you okay!?" Kuina, worried, ran to the edge of the pit.

Without missing a beat, Zoro's voice called back from the crater: "I'm fine."

Climbing out, covered in mud but otherwise unharmed, Zoro grinned sheepishly at Kuina, who let out a relieved sigh.

"What just happened?" she asked. "Why did you suddenly unleash such incredible power?"

The dojo's students and onlookers, all wide-eyed, awaited Zoro's answer.

Scratching his head, Zoro looked puzzled. "I... I'm not really sure what happened. It was like all the power inside me surged at once, and then..."

He trailed off, still in disbelief.

Then, a soft, humble voice interrupted: "Perhaps it was a Pokémon move?"

Zoro and Kuina looked up, and when they saw the source of the voice, puzzled expressions appeared on their faces.

"Koushiro-sensei (Father)?"

The two exchanged confused glances.

Koushirou slowly approached, his eyes lingering briefly on the three swords in Zoro's hands with a hint of envy. He then spoke slowly:

"Although I'm not entirely certain, Zoro, it seems that just now, you had your Pokémon use a special move, didn't you?"

"A Pokémon move? You mean a Z-Move?" Zoro nodded thoughtfully.

"Yes, that should be it," Koushiro sighed and nodded in agreement.

"If my guess is correct..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "That move likely required your Pokémon to exert its full strength."

"And because you and the sword in your hand have reached a state of perfect unity with your Pokémon—your bond has grown so deep that the sword and your Pokémon have essentially become one with your mind and body."

"It's as if the sword is an extension of your body, and your body has become an extension of the sword!"

"Moreover, it seems you have also gained a unique power, one that allows you to synchronize with your Pokémon. That's why you were able to activate that move just now."

Though Koushiro had never dealt with Pokémon before, in the past few days he had learned much about them. In a matter of moments, he had deduced the nature of what had occurred.

"That's correct," James chimed in at just the right time, confirming Koushirou's theory with a smile.

"As expected of Zoro's teacher. Your insight is truly remarkable."

"Even I had to consult Sir Leo to understand this ability, but Mr. Koushirou saw through it in an instant."

"You flatter me," Koushiro replied, offering a faint, bittersweet smile. He performed a swordsman's bow and then gazed toward the distant sky.

Far in the distance, a small black dot could still be faintly seen, stubbornly resisting being swallowed by the vastness of the heavens.

Koushiro thought to himself:

"I don't know whether I'm fortunate or unfortunate to have taught such a disciple."

At this moment, Zoro's talent in swordsmanship had reached a level that even made Koushiro envious.

He had only ever read about the legendary realm of the "fusion of man and sword" in ancient texts passed down through his clan. Until now, he had thought of it as either a myth or the speculation of past masters.

He never imagined that someone could actually achieve it.

Though the circumstances were complex, swordsmen only concern themselves with the results, not the process.

Zoro had likely already surpassed all the swordsmen in the pirate world, taking a giant step toward a higher plane of swordsmanship.

"The world's greatest swordsman... I'm truly looking forward to that day..."