Chapter 48: The cursed Holy Sword
Max has set his next destination to be Asuka Island, where the Seven Star Sword is located, the only magical sword in the One Piece world. The Seven Star Sword is considered to be the world's most beautiful sword and a valuable treasure, despite its cursed legends. The sword is a two-handed double-edged sword with an eight-petaled design guard, a somewhat elaborate hilt, and a red tassel at the end. The blade itself is emerald green, with a wavy design and seven glowing points spread evenly across it; these designs glow green when the blade is active.
If one is not careful, they will be controlled by the sword instead. It was a holy sword, but after three princes battles caused their entire kingdom to be destroyed, the holy sword absorbed all the negative emotions from the destroyed kingdom and became cursed.
Max is aiming for this very sword; he is confident in his conqueror Haki, which is enough to subdue that sword and make him his master.
Soon after Max reached the Upside Down Mountain, he called everyone to see this wonder of nature.
"Woah, how is this possible?" Felicia exclaimed, seeing the reverse water flow. The water flow is going upwards on the mountain instead of flowing downwards.
"This is totally unbelievable," Bucky also exclaimed upon seeing it.
"So this is the entrance to Grand Line," Ace said, seeing the upside-down mountain.
"The water flow from all directions converges, creating an updraft flow; that's how this exists," Max said.
"And buckle up, because we are going to ride it," Max said to others, and they went to grab something.
"Hey, didn't you say this ship can fly, so why are we riding the currents?" Felicia shouted, remembering that their ship could fly.
"This ship can also fly. Awesome!" Ace cheered upon hearing Felicia's words.
"It can, but what's the fun in it? We should enjoy this instead," Max grinned and said.
Soon after, the ship began to go up the mountain, causing Felicia and Nojiko to shout constantly while Ace, Max, and others cheered.
Felicia and Nojiko exhaled in relief as their ship passed over the upside-down mountain, but Felicia abruptly kicked Ace out of the ship after hearing him shout, "We should do it one more time."
Everyone laughed at Ace, and Felicia and Ace began to laugh as well.
Max then wished for Captain Jack's compass to show him the way towards Asuka Island, and the ship began to move towards it.
"It's a pity I didn't meet Laboon," Max sighed as they left the upside-down mountain without meeting Laboon.
After some more days of sailing, they reached their destination, Asuka Island, where the Seven Star Sword is sealed.
"What are we doing here?" Felicia asked after they disembarked from the ship.
"Getting a sword," Max replied, and he started walking towards the location where the Seven Star Sword is sealed.
Reaching a temple-like building, guided by Jack's compass, Max said, "This is the place where it's sealed.".
"Sealed?" Bucky asked.
"Yes, Sealed, as it's a Demonic Sword, taking over its user and destroying the world," Max replied to Bucky's question and started entering the Temple.
Bucky and others looked at each other and followed after Max.
"You can control it, right?" Felicia asked in worry filled voice.
"Of course I can," Max replied calmly.
Reaching inside, they saw a blue-haired lady praying inside the temple, while a white-haired man was standing there. The white-haired man motioned for Max and his group to be quiet, pointing at the blue-haired lady.
Max nodded in response and thought, 'They must be Maya and Saga'.
After some time, when the lady finished praying, the white-haired man asked Max, "Who are you?".
"My name is Max, a bounty hunter, and this is my crew," Max replied politely.
"I am Saga. So, what brought you here?" Saga introduced himself and asked.
"We want that sword," Max said, pointing at the Seven Star Sword in the middle of the altar.
"No, that sword is cursed; if it's released, it will bring destruction to the world." The blue-haired girl this time said.
"Don't worry, I can easily control it," Max smiled and said.
"Many said the same thing, but they got controlled by the sword instead," Maya frowned and said.
"You should leave; you can't take the sword from here," Saga said, gripping his sword handle.
Max shrugged, used the Paralyze spell to immobilize both of them, and started going towards the sword.
Maya's eyes widen in terror as she sees Max approaching the sword, but she can't speak or stop him after Max pointed his finger at her and Saga, causing them to be paralyzed. Saga, too, stared helplessly as Max grabbed the sword, trying his hardest to break free from Max's influence but failing.
After Max grabbed the sword, he started hearing incomprehensible words. Max used Conqueror Haki, and the words stopped, but after Max stopped using Conqueror Haki, he again started hearing them.
Max frowned and asked, 'System, what's the solution?'
[It will cost 50 UP.]
"Take it," Max said. He no longer has 0 UP; after killing Colonel Mouse and his Marine branch, he received 120 UP.
[Bathe the sword in ashen flames, and it will complete its evolution. It is currently in a half-evolved state after absorbing the negative emotions, causing it to control its user to hunt for blood so that it can fully evolve, but after bathing in Ashen flames, it will fully evolve, no longer requiring blood, and will acknowledge a worthy swordsman as its master.
Host can become its master after showing Host's Swordsmanship and Conqueror's Haki.]
Max nodded and ignited the whole sword with his ashen flames. After sensing the flames, the sword greedily started absorbing them. After 10 minutes of continuous absorption, it finally stopped and started glowing. After the glow subsided, the sword remained unchanged except for its blade, which became crystalline white; previously, it was emerald green.
Max nodded and took the sword outside the temple. He also freed Maya and Saga and prompted them to follow him.
Maya and Saga gazes at the new Sword and the sane Max, and followed after Max.
Coming out of the temple to open ground, Max started using sword moves one after another. After 5 minutes of continuous sword dancing, Max fell into a trance; his movements became smoother, and his swordsmanship now started feeling more sharp.
Finally, at sunset, Max stopped. "Huh? What happened?" Max mumbled, seeing the orange sky.
"You fell into an Enlightenment state," Saga replied with visible jealousy in his voice.
"Enlightenment State, huh? System, what did I gain?" Max mumbled and asked the system.
[Swordsmanship (S) to swordsmanship (SSS)]
Ashen Flame Sword Art (Unique) (New)
Demon Sword: Baran (Unique) (New)]
"Hmm, a new sword Art, and a new sword," Max thought and told the system to show its complete explanation.
[Name: Ashen Flame Sword Art]
Rank: Unique (in development)
Description: A sword art created by Max by combining Grand Cross sword art, Crimson Sun art, Dark Knight art, and Ashen Flames. Currently, it contains only one move, Cross of No Life.]
[Cross of No Life: A cross-shaped slash attack that annihilates everything on his path]
"Cool, I made my own art." Max smiled as he saw his self-created art.
[Demon Sword: Baran]
Rank: Unique (growth)
Ability: Sword Grand Master, Unholy Flames, Devour
Description: Once a Holy Sword-Seven Star Sword has now evolved into a Demonic Sword, it can make his wielder into a sword grand master and can devour other swords to evolve. Grant Unholy flames to it's wielder.
Unholy Flames: Flames created after Holy Flames were infused by human sins and Devil Flame. Capable of burning soul of the victim]
"A growth-type sword; the harvest here is better than I thought." Max smiled happily, seeing the sword information.
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