Time flowed by.
An incredibly long time passed.
It had been an extraordinarily long time since Rengoku joined the Navy.
During that time, Rengoku endured countless life-and-death battles under Garp's guidance.
The intensity and tension of those battles were hardly different from his time fighting demons on Earth.
Rengoku's skill had already surpassed that of the original Rengoku Kyojuro, who died at the age of 20, by the time he was just 13.
Perhaps because the world was different, injuries that would have been devastating on Earth were easily healed here, and physical recovery was much faster.
Moreover, the Navy's promotion system in this world bore similarities to the Demon Slayer Corps.
It was based on one thing: meritocracy.
Although Rengoku lacked extensive experience, his overwhelming strength compensated for it.
Thanks to this system, Rengoku was promoted to the rank of Colonel just one year after enlisting, and by his second year, he became a Rear Admiral.
In his third year of service, at the mere age of 16, Rengoku achieved the rank of Vice Admiral at the Navy Headquarters.
Initially, Rengoku questioned this merit-based promotion system, but he quickly came to understand it.
The Navy isn't about acting alone.
There are subordinates under a leader, and the majority of tasks are handled by individuals assigned to their respective duties.
A leader's role is simple: to be strong and capable.
Navigation is carried out by the deck officer and crew,
Cooking is managed by the chef and kitchen staff,
Administration is handled by the officers responsible for it.
The only thing expected of the leader is to stand at the forefront and take responsibility!
Rengoku found this approach appealing.
The idea of protecting everyone by leading from the front as the strongest resonated deeply with him—it aligned with his late mother's teachings in his previous life.
"It is the duty of those born strong to protect the weak. It is a mission that must be fulfilled with responsibility. Never forget that."
Years had passed since Rengoku came to this world, but his mother's words still echoed in his ears.
Now, Rengoku had his own private office at the Marineford naval headquarters.
After returning from a mission and enjoying some personal time, he heard a Marine's voice from outside.
"Vice Admiral Rengoku! Your father has sent a letter and a gift!"
Father?
His father, who had left him years ago in the care of Vice Admiral Garp and disappeared into the Navy's workshops to craft swords.
Though he felt more like a stranger than family due to their lack of shared memories, the blood connection between them prompted Rengoku to quickly request the letter and the gift to be brought in.
"Thank you for your efforts."
"Thank you, sir! For justice!"
Leaving the saluting Marine behind, Rengoku received the letter and the gift box, opening them immediately.
The contents of his father's letter were somewhat shocking.
"So, he left without saying a word in the end."
When boiled down, the letter contained only one message:
[I'm sorry.]
Rengoku had no memories of Wano Country.
As such, the letter's mentions of the tyranny in Wano elicited no emotional response from him.
However, the sincerity of the apology conveyed through the letter was undeniable.
After finishing the letter, Rengoku opened the gift box.
He had a good idea of what it might contain.
Slide.
A sword.
A single, finely crafted sword.
A masterpiece of a sword, hidden within a crimson scabbard.
Shrring.
To inspect the blade, Rengoku gently drew the sword from its scabbard.
"This is...!"
Was this merely a coincidence, or a twist of fate orchestrated by the gods?
Rengoku had already come to terms with the fact that his name and appearance remained identical after reincarnating into this world.
But now, even the sword his father had left behind...
It was identical.
The sword was exactly like the Nichirin Blade he used as a Demon Slayer.
The blade, the hilt, the handguard, the grip, the scabbard—every detail was the same.
The only difference was the absence of the engraving [Evil Demon Slayer] on the blade.
The sword was longer than the original Nichirin Blade, likely adapted to suit this world's influence.
In his previous life, Rengoku had grown to 177 cm, but in this world, he had reached a towering height of 192 cm.
As such, the weapon had been adjusted to match his enhanced physique.
The weight was perfect, and the grip fit snugly in his hand.
The blade was long and exquisite, with a hamon pattern that strongly resembled the Nichirin Blade of Flame Breathing.
The pattern was known as Enpajin Shochoji (炎波刃小丁字)—a wave-like flame design (炎波刃) that gradually diminished into smaller, delicate shapes (小丁字) in a vibrant red hue along the hamon (刃紋).
As Rengoku admired the precious blade, he noticed a note included in the package.
Yang Blade No. 51
Enrin Kitetsu (炎輪鬼徹)
Annotation: Cursed Blade (妖刀)
The ranking of famous swords:
Supreme-Grade Swords: 12 blades
Great-Grade Swords: 21 blades
Fine-Grade Swords: 50 blades
"Sometimes, it's best to focus on the good," Rengoku mused.
Enrin Kitetsu (炎輪鬼徹)
Among the 83 high-grade swords, this one ranked at the bottom tier of the Fine-Grade Blades, specifically as the 51st.
Though it did not reach the level of a Great-Grade or Supreme-Grade Blade, the sword's ranking meant little to Rengoku.
"When Armament Haki is mastered to its peak, any sword can become a Black Blade."
These were the words of Gion, also known as "Momousagi," one of the Navy's most skilled swordswomen.
Over the years, Rengoku had honed his mastery of Armament Haki, finding it to be an invaluable skill.
Black Blade (黑刀).
When a sword is fully infused with Armament Haki, it transforms into an indestructible Black Blade.
This technique served as a method of upgrading a weapon's power, much like the evolution of a Nichirin Blade into a Crimson Blade.
However, unlike the Crimson Blade, which amplified attacks only against demons, the Black Blade rendered a sword entirely unbreakable, allowing for stronger, unrestricted attacks.
As Rengoku ran his fingers along the blade of Enrin Kitetsu, he felt an overwhelming aura emanating from it, as though a fiery demon were roaring from within.
The original Kitetzu I belonged to the Supreme-Grade Swords, Kitetzu II was among the Great-Grade Swords, While Kitetsu III, unlike the other two, failed to reach the Fine-Grade level, instead being considered an inferior sword.
Whether due to the curse associated with it or the declining skill of the Kitetsu line, the drop in quality was evident.
Yet, for his father—supposedly someone who merely assisted with forging the Kitetsu III—to have created a cursed blade at the level of a Fine-Grade Sword left Rengoku puzzled.
He briefly entertained his suspicions but quickly brushed them aside, clearing his mind of distractions.
"This is a cursed blade..."
Rengoku held the sword firmly, not forgetting the ominous aura it exuded.
Gripping it with both hands, he assumed the middle stance of Flame Breathing.
Fwoosh!
Already in a state of Total Concentration Breathing, Rengoku steadied himself and exhaled deeply as he reactivated his Flame Breathing.
The Enrin Kitetsu began to hum and unleashed flames from its blade.
He didn't use any techniques. He simply performed a few basic slashes with the blazing sword.
The flames were unstable, scattering around him whenever his concentration wavered even slightly.
From what Rengoku had learned, cursed blades each possess their own unique characteristics.
Some cursed blades absorb the user's Haki at will.
Others cut indiscriminately, even when the user doesn't intend to.
Still others refuse to recognize their wielder, making it impossible to cut even a piece of paper.
It was as if these swords were living beings—that was the nature of cursed blades.
As for Enrin Kitetsu, it seemed to be a blade that spewed flames.
"If the flames aren't scattering everywhere, does that mean you're willing to acknowledge me?"
With that thought, Rengoku steadied his grip, sheathed the sword, and attached Enrin Kitetsu to the belt that had come with it, fastening it to his waist.
"Thank you for the gift, Father."
Crash! Bang!
"...!!...!"
"...!!...!!"
"...!...!!"
Loud commotion erupted outside his office.
"What's all this ruckus?"
Rengoku opened the door and asked the Marine stationed outside.
"Justice...!"
The Marine began to salute noisily, but Rengoku stopped him.
"Vice Admiral, this person said she's here to see you..."
The Marine whispered softly, pointing to a female Marine who was rubbing her head.
"What should I do?"
At the Marine's cautious question, Rengoku gestured for him to leave.
The Marine quickly took the hint and made a hasty retreat.
Now alone, Rengoku turned his attention to the female Marine crouched in front of his office, fumbling around on the ground.
Judging by her actions, it seemed like she was searching for her glasses.
Rengoku scanned the area to help her find them.
Tap.
"Hm?"
"Ah? Are you the person I bumped into earlier?"
Earlier?
Her words reminded Rengoku of the Marine who had been standing outside his door just moments ago.
"Don't just stand there staring! Hurry up and help me find my glasses! By the looks of it, you're just a regular soldier. If you bump into an officer, you should at least apologize, don't you think?"
What's with this woman?
She must have terrible eyesight.
The uniforms of regular Marines and high-ranking officers were distinct.
Rengoku, as a Vice Admiral, was wearing the signature Justice Coat that only officers of his rank or higher were allowed to wear.
Even a child could tell he wasn't just a regular Marine like the one standing outside earlier.
"And your glasses... They're hooked on my coat."
Rengoku finally spoke up.
"Oh, you're right!"
She quickly retrieved the glasses from his coat, wiped them clean, and put them back on.
"Anyway, bumping into me means you should—uh?"
As her vision cleared and she finally saw Rengoku's face, the female Marine instinctively snapped into a salute.
"Justice!"
"Good! Now, what brings you all the way to my office?" Rengoku asked.
"Sergeant Tashigi! As of today, I have been assigned as Vice Admiral Rengoku's personal aide!"
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