Training

Hello everyone! Thank you for your votes and power stones. As I promised this new chapter since I recieved twenty power stones I will upload another chapter today.

The votes are still open; if you didn't vote, go and vote. I don't want to disappoint any of you when the vote poll closes..

After the chapter, I will present to you the results of the voting thus far.

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After Ray and Oliver exited the Greenery blacksmith shop, Oliver looked at Ray and asked, "So where are we going now?"

Ray smiled at Oliver, and he said to him, "We are going to the forest near the mountains. There, I will start teaching you swordsmanship. Let me tell you, the training is going to be hard, so prepare yourself."

Oliver smiled when he heard what Ray just said; he nodded his head to him, and then he followed him towards the forest.

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In the forest 

After arriving in the forest, Ray looked at Oliver and said to him, "Listen, Oliver, before I start training you and teaching you swordsmanship, I will need to explain to you about the types of swordsmen."

Oliver nodded his head and listened carefully to what Ray was about to say to him. Ray continued, "There are many types of swordsmen; some focus only on mastering swordsmanship skills, and I myself belong to this type."

"Some other swordsmen focus on pure strength when they wield their sword; their sword style focuses on overwhelming their opponent by using pure strength."

Oliver nodded in understanding, and Ray continued, "There are other swordsmen who focus only on speed. Their sword style revolves around speed; their goal is to overwhelm their opponents with their fast sword swings and their fast footwork."

When Oliver heard this, his eyes brightened with excitement. Ray, noticing his excitement, chuckled softly and proceeded with his explanation: "These three types of swordsmen are known as the main swordsmen types."

Oliver was confused and asked, "Why are these three types called the main swordsmen types?"

"Many swordsmen have created their unique sword styles, drawing inspiration from the main swordsmen type sword styles because it is impossible to abandon the fundamentals of swordsmanship no matter how hard they tried." Ray explained to Oliver.

Ray continued his explanation, "I will give you an example so you can understand what I mean: if the cornerstone of a building is destroyed, the whole building will collapse because the foundation of the building is the cornerstone that was supporting the building."

Oliver widened his eyes in realization when he heard this, and Ray continued, "Let me give you another example so you can fully understand what I mean." There is a famous sword style that revolves around defense and counterattack. The style is called countersword style; if you study it carefully, you will realize it revolves around mastering swordsmanship defensive and counterattacking skills."

Oliver fully understood Ray's explanation and nodded his head in agreement. Ray continued, "Every day, your training will revolve around three parts; the first part will focus on strengthening and speeding up your body, beginning tomorrow." You will assist the old man we met today in constructing our restaurant. This will help your body become stronger, kid."

Oliver was surprised and asked, "Really?"

Ray nodded. "Yes, you will carry a lot of heavy equipment and wood; your body will get stronger if you helped in building the restaurant, trust me."

Oliver smiled and nodded. "With my innate strength physique, my body will get stronger at a faster rate." He thought to himself.

Ray then continues, "The next part of your training, I will be teaching you the basics of swordsmanship."

Oliver beamed when he heard this. He was waiting patiently to start learning swordsmanship.

"In the final part of your training, you will venture into the forest to engage in combat with the forest animals." Ray said to him.

Oliver, perplexed, questioned, "Why should I fight against the forest animals?"

Ray sighed and started explaining to him, "Oliver, you lack fighting experience; the best way for you to gain fighting experience is by fighting against others. I am too strong for you at the moment. Your best option right now is to fight against forest animals."

Oliver nodded his head in understanding. After Ray saw that Oliver understood his words, he said to him, "Alright, let's start by running around the forest." Follow me You better keep up with me, kid. I will not hold back."

Oliver smirked and nodded. Both Oliver and Ray started running around the forest.

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After 2 hours

Ray and Oliver ran for two hours, and Oliver was drenched in sweat but was standing on his two feet; he wasn't exhausted at all, thanks to his innate strength physique and the training he did when he was at Commy Island before he met Ray.

Ray was surprised to see this; he smiled nervously and thought to himself, "This kid has an incredible talent." If I only judge him according to his physical potential, he is only 7 years old and can keep running for a whole two hours without getting tired. His potential is really scary."

Ray quickly calmed his beating heart and said to Oliver while smirking, "Good work for keeping up with Oliver. Now I want you to do 1000 pushups, 1000 sit-ups, 1000 squats, 1000 pull-ups, and 1000 squat jumps."

When Oliver heard this, his eyes widened in shock. Ray then smiled disdainfully and asked, "What is it too much for you?"

Oliver's eyebrows twitched in irritation as he heard what Ray had just said: "Hey, don't you dare look down on me. I will do these dumb exercises of yours while you watch."

Oliver quickly began his pushups, while Ray sat under a tree, observing his training with a smile on his face. Ray then thought to himself, "This kid needs to learn to control his emotions; he is too proud for his own good."

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After 3 hours

After Oliver finished doing the exercises, he fell on his back. His whole body aches, but he has a smile on his face. The smile was full of satisfaction.

Ray walked towards Oliver and smiled when he saw the small smile on Oliver's face. Then he said to him, "So how are you feeling, kid? Do you want a break before I teach you the basics of swordsmanship?"

Oliver's eyes lit up when he heard that Ray was going to teach him the basics of swordsmanship. He quickly stood up and said, "Let's start, Ray. I want to learn swordsmanship."

Ray laughed when he heard Oliver's response; he unsheathed Suigetsu and said to Oliver, "Listen well, Oliver, before I start teaching you the basics of swordsmanship, you need to understand something important."

Oliver looked at Ray and paid attention to what he was about to say. When Ray saw Oliver was paying attention to him, he said to him, "My sensei, the one who taught me swordsmanship, told me something before he ever started teaching me the basics of swordsmanship; he told me every sword has its own personality and spirit; a true swordsman can tell the sword personality with his or her first swing."

Oliver was confused and asked, "Are you telling me that swords are alive?"

Ray chuckled when he heard Oliver's question and said to him, "Hehe, I asked the same question to my sensei when he told this, and my answer to you is the same answer my sensei gave me back then. You will need to discover this answer by yourself if you ever wanted to be a true swordsman."

Oliver was confused when he heard this, but he nodded.

Ray then said to him, "Now I will show you the basic stances and the basic sword strikes in swordsmanship." Stand next to me and observe carefully."

Oliver nodded and stood next to Ray; he observed carefully the attacking stance, defensive stance, overhead strike, horizontal strike, and thrust.

After Ray finished his demonstration, he looked at Oliver and said, "Now it is your turn. Give it a try. Don't worry if you don't get it on your first try; it is normal."

Oliver nodded his head, unsheathed his training sword, then closed his eyes and began to recall the stances and the sword strike that Ray had just demonstrated.

"When I observed Ray's sword stances and strikes, it was so clear to me: is this because I gained the copycat talent? Oh, well, it doesn't matter; let's give it a try first." Oliver thought to himself.

Oliver took a deep breath then started executing the sword stances and sword strikes that Ray showed him.

Ray was shocked at what he was witnessing. Oliver was currently performing the stances and sword strikes, demonstrating them flawlessly and without any flaws. He had previously trained others in swordsmanship when he was in the Navy, but no one had demonstrated the monstrous talent Oliver was demonstrating now.

An excited grin appeared in his face while at the same time he was sweating nervously. After he calmed down, Ray said to Oliver, "I want you to perform the sword strikes and stances a thousand times; kid, don't slack off."

Oliver's eyes widened and his jaw dropped when he heard this, then he yelled at Ray, "Are you insane, old man? A thousand times again, get real."

Ray burst out laughing when he heard this. He sat down on the ground and said to Oliver, "Listen, Oliver, let me explain to you about muscle memory."

Oliver was perplexed upon hearing this and inquired about "muscle memory?"

Ray nodded his head and said, "Yes, it is a martial arts term." This term signifies that your muscles will retain the ability to execute punches, kicks, and defensive maneuvers due to the repetitive training you've received in the past. You should now incorporate these muscle memories into your training to instill swordsmanship in your body and soul."

Oliver's eyebrows twitched when he heard this, but suddenly he heard the system notification in his head.

Ding, host, the system detect that the host needed to make a choice.

1. Listen to Ray and train the sword stances, and strikes thousand times reward the voice of all things.

2. Refuse Ray; follow Ray's instructions; reward Emo personality

Oliver, perplexed, asked the system, "What is the voice of all things?"

The Voice of All Things is a mysterious and incredibly rare ability that allows the user to communicate with people, creatures, and objects in the world around them without the need for a physical message, such as speech or writing.

Oliver was taken aback by what the system had just revealed, and he smiled. He then grabbed his training sword and began to train.

Ding, Host decided to listen to Ray. Does the host want to claim the reward now?

Oliver nodded and said to the system, "Yes."

Suddenly, Oliver felt warm sensations in his brain for a few moments. After the warm sensation disappeared, he heard the system notification again.

Congratulation Host, you have gained the voice of all things ability.

Oliver smiled while continuing training diligently under Ray's watchful eyes.

Ray smiled as he watched Oliver train diligently and thought to himself, "This kid is special; he had the potential to be the greatest swordsman in the world."

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After 2 Hours

Oliver was sweating profusely as he swung his sword; after one final swing, he collapsed onto the ground.

He was so exhausted his arm was numb, then he heard a clap, "Clap, clap."

Oliver turned his head. Oliver turned his head to see Ray smiling fondly at him and clapping to him. He then said, "You did well, kid." From now on, your first task is to repeat this training every morning when you wake up. Before you assist the old man in building the restaurant, do I make myself clear?"

Ding, the system detect the host need to make a choice.

1. Listen to Ray reward is Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto swordsmanship notes manual.

2. Don't agree with Ray; reward stubborn personality

Oliver then asked the system, "System, is this Yamamoto guy a great swordsman?"

Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto is the Captain of the 1st Division and Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13.

Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto is a master swordsman. His skill in swordsmanship is outstanding enough to take down his opponent with a single, precise strike. He has mastered all the different styles and techniques of Zanjutsu, or swordsmanship, and has a high impenetrable defense. He also possesses an incredibly powerful offense, performing all his attacks with flawless precision.

Oliver smiled and thought to himself, "With this manual, I might improve faster."

Oliver then said to Ray, "Alright, I will do it, Ray."

Ding, Host decided to listen to Ray. Does the host want to claim the reward now?

Oliver responded to the system's query by saying, "No system." I will claim the reward later."

As you wish, host.

All of a sudden Oliver's stomach growled, and Ray burst out laughing.

Oliver blushed and scowled when he saw Ray laughing.

Ray smiled and said to Oliver, "Rest here and wait, kid. I will go hunt and bring us something to eat."

Oliver nodded to Ray, who then ventured deep into the forest to find some food for both of them.

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Aright guys I hope you enjoyed this Chapter

The voting results thus far, please don't forget to vote the vote poll is still open

1. Oliver, same generation of Shanks and Hawkeye he create his own crew.

8 votes)

2. Oliver joins revolutionary army (2 votes)

3. Oliver, part of worst generation, create his own crew

(10 votes)

4. Oliver joins STH (2 votes)

5. Oliver, first mate of Law (1 vote)

6. Oliver, first mate of Hawkeye

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For the next update

I also decided to do few things for all my stories because it take a lot of work and planning to write new chapters.

10 power stones, [ a new chapter will be uploaded in 24 hours.]

20 power stones [ 2 new chapters will be uploaded in 48 hours ]

40 power stones [ 3 new chapters will be uploaded in 48 hours]

1 review [1 new chapter will be uploaded in 24 hours]

thanks for reading guys take care