After breaking through and becoming a Master Swordsman, Dicken's strength and combat methods improved noticeably. Excited by his progress, he immediately rushed to the Dawn to ask Ash for a famous sword from his collection.
Ash naturally had no objections.
Unfortunately, after searching through the collection like a starving rat in a warehouse, Dicken found nothing that truly suited him.
Having grown used to short blades, none of the Supreme Grade Blades, Great Grade Blades, or even the many Skillful Grade Blades in Ash's collection felt right in his hands.
When Ash heard this, he immediately decided something had to be done.
Without hesitation, he picked up the golden dagger that Dicken liked the most. With a flick of his wrist, Ash manifested a Paramecia-type Tai'e Fruit and infused it into the blade.
"Take it and train with it."
"If you develop it properly, even a Supreme Grade Blade can be split apart with a single strike."
"Don't ask why. Some weapons are just built differently."
Dicken's eyes lit up with excitement. He could not wait to find a worthy opponent and let his beloved blade taste blood.
At that exact moment, Wang Zhi arrived at the perfect time.
...
When it came to swordsmanship alone, Dicken was still no match for Wang Zhi.
Fortunately, his dual elemental control over wind and poison gave him an overwhelming mobility advantage. With superior speed and aerial movement, he managed to maintain a deadlock against Wang Zhi.
The crew aboard the Dawn watched the battle unfold like entertainment, though that was hardly the important matter at hand.
In the meantime, Tsuki, Fidel, and the others had already wiped out every pirate on Hachinosu, from minor crews to major forces.
The difference between ordinary people and Devil Fruit users became painfully obvious.
Even elite pirates stood no chance against a group whose weakest members were already comparable to Sweet Commander-level fighters. Before overwhelming strength, they fell like crops waiting to be harvested.
Watching the ten thousand pirates gathered at the port disappear in such a short time, Wang Zhi finally realized he had seriously underestimated his enemies.
Now, everything depended on whether he could hold out until the arrival of the Big Mom Pirates.
If Big Mom arrived in time and trapped Ash's group in a pincer attack, he still had a chance to turn things around. At worst, he would simply have to hand over more benefits afterward.
In Wang Zhi's eyes, Big Mom had never cared about the so-called dignity of a powerhouse.
Ambushes, flanking tactics, and overwhelming weaker enemies were normal methods for her.
Someone like Whitebeard might disdain such tactics, but Big Mom certainly would not.
If she ignored an opportunity like this, she would hardly deserve her title as a Yonko.
The irritating brat before him was difficult to deal with, but Wang Zhi could not afford to end the fight quickly.
If he defeated Dicken too early, the others might swarm him all at once, and surviving that situation would be nearly impossible.
At least there was one small advantage.
Most of Ash's strongest fighters were Devil Fruit users.
If things truly went south, Wang Zhi could still attempt an escape through the sea, though abandoning the empire he had built on Hachinosu over so many years would be painful.
Countless thoughts flashed through Wang Zhi's mind.
"It's too early to think about escaping. Keeping up the appearance of an even fight is the best way to buy time."
...
Dicken enjoyed cutting down enemies, but in the past, he had mostly relied on his Devil Fruit abilities.
Now, facing Wang Zhi, a genuine Master Swordsman, in his first battle after his breakthrough, he finally felt real pressure.
Still, thanks to his Devil Fruit enhancement and ability to fly, maintaining a stalemate while learning from Wang Zhi's swordsmanship was the perfect opportunity.
Originally, Dicken thought he would need to rely heavily on his Devil Fruit powers just to keep up.
Yet, strangely enough, the longer they fought, the lighter Wang Zhi's pressure became.
That feeling...
It almost felt like Wang Zhi was deliberately helping him improve.
As the battle dragged on, Dicken could clearly sense his swordsmanship becoming sharper and more refined.
"Could Wang Zhi actually be a decent guy?"
Meanwhile, Wang Zhi's expression darkened.
"How is this brat improving so quickly?"
His brows furrowed deeply.
"And that flying ability... what kind of Devil Fruit is that? Every time I see him in the air, I think of that bastard Shiki !"
Seeing the fight continue without much change, Tsuki and the others, having already cleaned up the area around the port, quickly grew bored and headed deeper into Hachinosu.
...
Midnight, aboard the Dawn.
The New Beast Pirates stationed in Wano Country contacted Ash with fresh intelligence.
The Big Mom Pirates had invited them to join a coordinated assault on Hachinosu, hoping to wipe out Ash and the Dawn in a single decisive battle.
Judging from Big Mom's attitude, they had likely already departed.
The New Beast Pirates wanted instructions.
"It doesn't matter. Just put on a show," Ash replied casually.
In his eyes, Big Mom was merely bringing her crew over to die.
If things worked out, it would even save him the trouble of clearing over thirty islands after entering Totto Land.
What Ash did not know was that his offhand comment instantly ignited the enthusiasm of the New Beast Pirates, who had been waiting in Wano for nearly ten months.
The moment the Den Den Mushi call ended, the fake Kaido leapt to his feet.
"Everyone, move out and prepare for battle! Our destination is Hachinosu!"
"ROAR!"
Inside the great hall of Onigashima, just over twenty people released a roar powerful enough to sound like an army of hundreds.
Back aboard the Dawn, Tsuki and the others happened to return.
Ash quickly put the matter of the New Beast Pirates aside.
After sweeping through Hachinosu, Tsuki and the group had brought back an unexpected surprise.
Three unknown Devil Fruits.
Judging from their appearance, they were almost certainly Zoan-types.
Regardless of what they turned out to be, Ash happily stored them away.
Unique Mission: Devil Fruit Collection Progress [87/500]
Besides the Devil Fruits, Tsuki also reported the island's situation.
After listening, Ash rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"So, aside from a Poneglyph, there are thousands of slaves and a bunch of traffickers and gangsters on the island?"
"Did you figure out who they belong to?"
"The traffickers work for the Donquixote Pirates," Tsuki answered.
"The gangsters are under the Shipping King, Umit."
"There are too many slaves to count exactly. Pirates, criminals, rare races, ordinary civilians, it's a mix of everything."
Ash glanced at Robin, whose face had practically lit up at the mention of a Poneglyph.
He clicked his tongue.
"Tsuki, take Robin to the Poneglyph."
"Sort out the slave situation. Comfort anyone who needs immediate help first. Once Dicken finishes his fight, we'll decide what to do next."
Hearing this, Tsuki, Robin, Fidel, and the others immediately headed back into Hachinosu.
Youki, who had just woken from a nap, scratched his head.
"There are dozens of ships at the harbor. Why not just let the people who want to leave sail home?"
Ash rolled his eyes.
"This is the New World, not the Four Blues."
"If they're nearby, fine. But for people from distant islands, sending them off alone is the same as feeding them to Sea Kings."
"Then what do we do?" Youki asked.
"We're about to reach Totto Land. We can't turn back just to escort people home, right?"
Hearing that, Nami frowned.
It was not that she lacked compassion. The map of Totto Land meant her dream of completing a chart of the New World was finally within reach.
Naturally, she felt anxious about delaying the journey.
Ash smirked.
"Who said we had to send them ourselves?"
"We wiped out the major pirate forces in the New World."
"It is only fair that the Marines handle the cleanup and send innocent civilians back home."
Youki's eyes immediately brightened.
He laughed and slapped Ash on the shoulder.
"Now that's smart, Ash!"
Pini, however, remained focused on the battle outside.
Standing near the dragon-head figurehead, he narrowed his eyes at the clash between Dicken and Wang Zhi.
"Something feels off."
"Aside from the beginning, Wang Zhi looks like he's been holding back the entire time."
Ash smiled faintly.
"He's stalling for time."
"Dicken wants to use him to improve his swordsmanship anyway."
"When Wang Zhi stops being useful, Dicken will end the fight."
"There should be a result soon."
Ash stretched lazily before changing the subject.
"Standing around waiting is boring."
"Let's head ashore and prepare dinner."
"No reason for everyone to starve while Dicken uses someone as training material."