Azrael's fingers brushed against the card in his mind, and in an instant, Zoro and Luffy materialized before him.
"Hey, Zoro!" Luffy's trademark grin spread across his face as he waved enthusiastically at the swordsman.
Their stories were intertwined, so Azrael wasn't surprised that the cards recognized each other. After all, without this connection, the Straw Hat Pirates' bond effect wouldn't activate.
"Oh, it's Luffy." The green-haired young man adjusted his position. The golden, teardrop-shaped earring on his left ear caught the light as he nodded in acknowledgnt.
Azrael's gaze shifted to the three swords hanging at Zoro's waist as he studied the blades that ca standard with the card. An idea began forming in his mind.
"Maybe I should craft so proper weapons for Zoro," he mused. As any swordsman knows, the quality of one's blade can an the difference between victory and defeat. According to Zoro's story, there were specific chain cards he could create—legendary swords like the Wado Ichimonji and the Enma from the original tale.
However, weapons from the One Piece world were fairly mundane, lacking special abilities and sotis betraying their wielders. Since he was already considering creating weapons, why not aim higher? The Sword of World Domination — Kusarigama-ya from Inuyasha would be incredible, as would legendary blades like Sky Crystal and Tiger's Soul from Divine Weapon Mystery.
Unfortunately, those weapons were far beyond his current crafting capabilities. He'd have to settle for sothing more reasonable for now.
This reminded him that he had quite a few prop cards at his disposal. The three treasure beads he'd made earlier were already falling behind his rapid developnt — he needed better defensive equipnt. He had been eyeing the magic-modified Seven-Fold Ring of Blazing Sky from a certain red-clothed, white-haired archer for a while, but it was clearly beyond his reach.
Even Pidgeot, useful as it had been in ergencies, was due for an upgrade.
Azrael had also considered Zanpakutō from Bleach, but they seed more like character abilities than craftable items. Could cards from the Bleach universe master Shikai and Bankai through training, even if he managed to create one? They wouldn't even possess basic spiritual pressure.
His contemplation was brutally interrupted when he checked his balance: 1.6 million. The cold reality hit him like a bucket of ice water.
He was broke.
Even worse, many materials couldn't be bought with money alone. He would have to work with whatever he could actually obtain.
Pushing aside his financial woes, Azrael called forth Yoriichi. The legendary swordsman appeared with his characteristic calm deanor.
Zoro's deanor shifted instantly, and his eyes sharpened to a razor's focus. "This swordsman is incredibly strong."
Every instinct Zoro possessed as a warrior scread warnings. If it weren't for the limitations of this world's power level, this man would be a formidable opponent indeed.
Azrael felt a pang of frustration at this limitation. Based on Yoriichi's performance in the original work, this man should be far more powerful. Unfortunately, the poor initial materials ant that he was a weakened, youthful version of the Sun Breathing master, with all his abilities diminished. The upper limits of the Demon Slayer world prevented any advancent beyond his current state.
"How about a sparring match?" Zoro's question carried the weight of a challenge; his right hand was already resting on his sword hilt.
Yoriichi imdiately recognized the formidable warrior before him, but sothing puzzled him greatly: "Why does he carry three swords?" In all his years of demon slaying, he had never encountered anyone who wielded three blades simultaneously.
"If you want to spar, wait until tomorrow," Azrael interjected quickly, seeing where this was heading. "I'll apply for a proper venue at school. If you fight here and break sothing, I'll be the one paying for damages."
Zoro's battle-ready tension gradually eased as Azrael's words sank in. As a summoner, he understood the practical concerns behind the refusal.
Yoriichi felt quiet relief. Despite his incredible skill, he had never enjoyed the sensation of steel cutting into human flesh. It made him deeply uncomfortable. The demons in the secret realms were different — they were no better than Muzan's cannibalistic spawn. That was why Azrael typically had Kaneki handle the cleanup work.
The next morning, Azrael made his way to school after an extended absence. He hadn't attended classes for over half a month, not since the joint examination involving four schools. Not that high school courses held much value for him anymore.
After a night of ditation, he felt refreshed and alert. Seeing Gabi slumped over her desk like a deflated balloon, he couldn't resist comnting,
"Long ti no see, Gabi. You look terrible. What happened?"
It had really been a while since they'd last t—not since they entered the Black Flag secret realm. They had missed each other at the Elite Talent Cup because she was still trapped in the realm at the ti.
Gabi lifted her head wearily and fixed him with a tired stare. "Oh, it's you, Azrael. Long ti no see."
"Congratulations on winning first place in the Elite Talent Cup, great genius." Her congratulations dripped with her trademark sarcasm.
Azrael confird his suspicion — Gabi's talent for backhanded complints was as sharp as ever.
"I look like this because I didn't sleep well last night," she mumbled, resting her chin on the desk.
Azrael's eyebrows shot up in shock. "That's illegal for a minor!"
Gabi blinked at him in genuine confusion. "What's illegal? What are you talking about?"
Then realization dawned on her, and she rolled her eyes in exasperation. "What kind of perverted thoughts are running through your head?"
"It's about my father."
Azrael's expression imdiately sobered. Uncle Gustav? What could possibly trouble a gold-level Lore Cardian?
Sensing his concern, Gabi didn't bother hiding the details. "He ca ho upset after work last night. He tried to hide it, but I'm his daughter — I can tell when sothing's bothering him."
Azrael remained quiet for a mont before asking, "Did Uncle Gustav ntion what was wrong?"
Gustav had been incredibly supportive recently, and Azrael couldn't stand by if the man was in trouble. Realistically, though, if a gold-level Lore Cardian couldn't solve the problem, a bronze-level one like himself probably couldn't either.
Gabi slumped back down onto her desk. "That's exactly what's driving crazy—I couldn't get him to tell anything."
Azrael felt helpless. Family matters were delicate, and there wasn't much he could do from the outside.
He understood the challenges of single parenthood. Gustav had undoubtedly faced countless struggles raising Gabi alone. Middle-aged n carried burdens that sotis beca overwhelming. It was simply part of life.
Azrael returned to his seat and endured another day of classes that taught him nothing new.
After school, he approached Miss Victoria about borrowing the battle arena.
She had no reason to refuse such a reasonable request.
At the designated combat site, Azrael summoned all his cards simultaneously.
Across the field, Yoriichi studied his opponent and finally understood the mystery that had puzzled him.
"So this is how soone uses three swords."
The legendary swordsman's eyes widened in fascination and disbelief as he witnessed Zoro's unique three-sword style for the first ti.
...
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