Chapter 264: The Concept of Presence
Zephyr completely ignored Axel's answer, along with his so-called judgment based on facts.
Instead, he asked directly, "Why did you learn the sword?"
Axel was not actually sure of the reason himself.
Perhaps it was because of Tsuru's recommendation.
Perhaps it was because he had been worried about the strange Devil Fruit abilities in this world.
Or perhaps it had simply been a whim, something he had started in a daze without thinking too deeply.
But no matter what the original reason was, it ultimately came down to two words.
"To become stronger," Axel said.
It was a very standard answer, and Zephyr was not surprised by it.
"Then do you know where a swordsman's strength lies?"
Axel thought for a moment, then replied flatly, "Lethality."
In the One Piece world, powerhouses generally fell into several types.
The first relied on physical strength.
The second relied on techniques, such as those who used tools or special combat methods.
The third were Devil Fruit users.
The fourth were swordsmen.
Among them, the most prominent characteristic of a swordsman was their unparalleled lethality.
What was a sword?
A sword was a weapon meant to kill.
Momousagi had once told him that.
A swordsman was someone who took such a lethal weapon into their own hands, using sword energy to cut through anything that blocked their path.
There was nothing a sword could not cut.
If there was, it only meant the swordsman's skill had not reached its peak.
To cut tangible things and intangible things.
To split islands.
To sever steel.
What all of that displayed was lethality and destruction.
Zephyr nodded.
"That is indeed the common view, but it is not absolute."
He looked at Axel and continued, "There may be individuals whose physical bodies are stronger than sword energy. There may also be Devil Fruit users who have developed their abilities to such a level that their destructive power is no weaker than a swordsman's."
"That is not where the problem lies."
"In terms of sword technique and destructive power, you should already be considered first class."
That point surprised Zephyr somewhat.
The growth of a swordsman was no easier than anyone else's.
On the contrary, it was often even more difficult.
It required time, constant training, and talent.
But even among swordsmen with astonishing talent, no one had reached Axel's level at his age, especially not after such a short time since picking up the sword.
This no longer fell within the category of genius.
If Zephyr had to choose a word, monster would be more fitting.
Only that term suited him.
"Then what am I lacking?"
Axel asked, "Could it be that I don't see myself as a swordsman? Or that I think too much during battle?"
During battle, he was always analyzing his opponent's moves, as well as the gains and losses of each action.
He rarely used his wooden blade recklessly, because he worried that losing the flexible use of his ability would lead to defeat.
Just as he had thought before, when using the sword, he lacked a certain spark.
Zephyr shook his head.
Then he nodded.
Axel was confused, but he did not grow impatient.
He only waited silently with a cold expression for Zephyr's answer.
"You truly have not treated yourself as a swordsman."
Zephyr's voice was steady.
"But that is not the issue."
"Any fighting style is a good one as long as it can protect you. Your analysis is not wrong either, because it allows you to fight cautiously and avoid mistakes."
Then his tone sharpened slightly.
"But think carefully. While you are analyzing, what exactly are you considering?"
"How to better deal with the opponent's attacks," Axel replied.
"That is exactly the problem."
Zephyr looked at him.
"You focus too much on analysis."
"In other words, you are always deliberately trying to avoid putting yourself in danger."
"This cautious approach is not necessarily bad. Only the living can claim victory."
"Even for a swordsman, that mindset is not unacceptable. Many swordsmen specialize in defensive stances and win through patience."
"But your problem lies right there."
"Your rational analysis makes you focus too much on your own advantages."
"You always handle combat based on what you believe to be your strengths, but you overlook the most important thing."
Zephyr's eyes became serious.
"The presence of battle."
Axel was not unfamiliar with the word presence.
In a battle between equals, the side supported by presence would generally win.
There was a saying: when the brave meet on a narrow path, the braver one wins.
That referred exactly to this.
It was also why people who roared during battle could often defeat calm opponents.
Why some hot-blooded protagonists could break through difficulty after difficulty by shouting.
That was why there was even a saying that damage output depended entirely on roaring.
That was what presence meant.
"So you're saying that as long as one has presence, it's enough?"
Axel paused, then said, "But Aokiji doesn't look like someone with presence. Does that mean there is also a problem with his fighting?"
"Are you talking about Kuzan?"
Zephyr snorted.
"Don't let that lazy appearance fool you. When it is truly time to fight, that guy's presence will not be lower than anyone else's."
"Presence?"
Axel thought for a moment, then said, "I think Aokiji still looks lazy even when fighting. Could it be that his opponents do not make it worth his effort, so he does not show his presence?"
Zephyr smiled slightly.
"It is not necessarily something that must be shown openly to be called presence."
"In fact, another form of presence is the heart."
"The will to win."
"For example, my presence is the heart to protect justice and my students."
"And although Kuzan looks lazy, his heart for protecting justice is no weaker than anyone else's."
Zephyr's voice slowed.
"Once a person has a reason to fight, they gain an inexplicable power in battle."
Zephyr explained with more patience than ever before.
It was simply because he wanted to use this explanation to help Axel return to normal.
After hearing Zephyr's words, Axel seemed to realize something.
But then, his expression returned to that cold, machine-like calm.
"Although what you said sounds very impressive, I find it difficult to understand."
His voice was flat.
"According to my analysis..."
Zephyr interrupted him before he could finish.
"Enough with this analysis and that analysis."
His patience was wearing thin.
"Just leave the fighting to your heart."
"...I don't understand."
Axel paused briefly.
"But I can try."
Then he asked, "However, how should I try?"
"What has been your reason for fighting all this time?"
"Showing off, face-slapping, and survival."
"...?"
Zephyr looked completely bewildered.
"What do you mean?"
"Those are the simplest terms my brain analyzed."
Axel explained calmly, "To break it down: performing in front of others, retaliating when provoked, and the last point is survival."
"Although I do not understand why I would do the first two, I can still understand the third."
The most basic and clearest expression of all human actions was survival.
Looking back at his previous actions, there were many things Axel could no longer understand about his former self.
But he could tell that most of them had been done for survival.
When he first arrived in this world, his battles with the pirates at the Gray Terminal had been partly for practice, but mostly because he wanted to survive in this chaotic world.
The series of battles after that, including the slaughter of pirates and his involvement with Donquixote Doflamingo, had all been for survival.
To the current him, the memories of this world were like data.
The pirates who came to provoke him were like invading viruses.
And his task was simply extermination.
To protect himself.
.....
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