I, Kizaru, only came to the chat group after I became invincible

Chapter 467 Cheers to Zoro and Borsalino!
“One hundred more times,” Borsalino said calmly. “Whether you give up or persevere is the decision for you.”

"I will not give up," Zoro said, enunciating each word clearly, and then continued to swing his sword.

The last hundred attempts felt like pushing his limits. But in the end, Zoro succeeded.

“One thousand times,” he gasped, almost collapsing.

“Very good.” Borsalino handed him a jug of water. “Ten-minute break, then we’ll move on to the next training exercise.”

"There are more?" Zoro looked at him in surprise.

“Of course,” Borsalino laughed. “This is just a warm-up.”

Ten minutes later, Borsalino led Zoro to the cliff at the edge of the city.

“The next training exercise is speed,” he said. “Run from here to that mountain peak, and then run back.”

He pointed to a mountain peak in the distance, about five kilometers away.

“Five kilometers,” Zoro calculated the distance. “In this environment…”

“That’s right,” Borsalino said. “Running long distances in thin air can significantly improve your cardiovascular fitness and endurance.”

“I understand.” Zoro took a deep breath and then started running.

This long-distance run was even more difficult than swinging a sword. High altitude, thin air, and uneven terrain—every factor was testing Zoro's limits.

But he didn't give up, and kept running forward step by step.

Borsalino followed him at the speed of light, constantly observing his condition.

“Breathe! Take deep breaths!” he reminded them repeatedly. “Don’t let your muscles lack oxygen!”

Zoro adjusted his breathing as instructed, and despite the difficulty, he persevered to the summit.

“Very good, now return,” Borsalino said.

The return journey was even more difficult, as Zoro had already exhausted most of his strength. But he gritted his teeth and persevered, eventually running back to the starting point.

"The time is forty-two minutes." Borsalino glanced at his watch. "Not fast, but considering the environment and your condition, it's quite good."

Zoro collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. He felt like his lungs were about to explode.

"That concludes today's training," Borsalino said. "Go back and get some rest, replenish your nutrients and fluids. We'll continue tomorrow."

Zoro nodded and struggled to his feet.

The residents of Lavala who were watching were stunned.

"Is this what training for Nether warriors is like?"

"That's terrifying—to swing a sword a thousand times from that height!"

"And he even ran five kilometers."

Karen was also in the crowd, staring at Zoro in shock.

“Even our strongest warriors couldn’t do that,” he murmured.

The next day, training continued.

This time, Borusalino has increased the difficulty.

“Today we’re having live-fire training,” he said. “Not just casual sparring, but real combat. Of course, I’ll control my strength and won’t actually hurt you.”

"Come on." Zoro was ready. Although yesterday's training had left him sore all over, his fighting spirit was even higher.

Borsalino held nothing back in this battle. His swordsmanship was lightning fast, each strike precise and deadly. Zoro had to go all out just to keep up.

"Too slow!" Borsalino's sword tip touched Zoro's shoulder. "At this speed, he'd be dead long ago in a real battle."

"Again!" Zoro said defiantly.

They continued to fight, time and time again. Each time Zoro was defeated, but each time he discovered his shortcomings and improved upon them.

"Your three-sword style is powerful, but it also consumes a lot of energy," Borsalino advised. "In this environment, you need to learn a more efficient fighting style."

“Efficient?” Zoro repeated.

“That’s right.” Borsalino demonstrated a sword technique. “Look, every strike is necessary, there are no superfluous movements. The moves are simple yet deadly; that’s true efficiency.”

Zoro observed carefully and then tried to imitate him. Although it was awkward at first, he gradually began to understand this fighting philosophy.

His movements became more streamlined, no longer pursuing flashy moves, but focusing on effective attack and defense.

“Yes, that’s it.” Borsalino nodded in satisfaction. “You learn very quickly.”

During the lunch break, other crew members also came to watch the training.

"Zoro's really going all out," Nami said. "He's been fighting since this morning."

“This is the training of a swordsman,” Robin said. “Constantly pushing one’s limits.”

"Uncle Kizaru is amazing too," Chopper exclaimed. "His swordsmanship is so elegant."

“That’s the swordsmanship of a Marine Admiral,” Sanji said. “Although I don’t like the Marines, I have to admit that Kizaru’s strength is indeed formidable.”

In the afternoon, Borsalino began to teach Zoro some advanced techniques.

"The highest level of swordsmanship is not strength, nor speed," he said. "It is the state of mind."

"Meaning?" Zoro didn't quite understand.

“It's about infusing your will into the sword,” Borsalino explained. “Making the sword an extension of your will, not just a weapon.”

“My teacher said something similar,” Zoro recalled. “But I never quite understood it.”

“Then I’ll demonstrate for you.” Borsalino raised the Kusanagi Sword.

This time, he didn't make any fancy moves; he just stood there quietly. But the air around him seemed to have changed, and an indescribable sense of oppression enveloped the entire training ground.

Then, he gently swung his sword.

This sword strike looked casual, but the sword energy sliced ​​through the air, leaving a deep sword mark on the distant rocks.

“This is the power of intent,” Borsalino said. “When you can completely integrate your will into the sword, even a seemingly casual strike can produce astonishing power.”

Zoro stared in shock at the sword mark. He realized he was still far from reaching that level.

“Don’t rush.” Borsalino saw through his thoughts. “This requires years of practice and enlightenment. But you can start trying now.”

"How do we try?" Zoro asked eagerly.

“Calm your mind,” Borsalino said. “When you swing your sword, don’t just think about technique and power, but feel the connection between the sword and yourself. Treat the sword as a part of your body, as the embodiment of your will.”

Zoro closed his eyes and, following Borsalino's instructions, tried to feel the sword in his hand.

At first, he couldn't feel anything, but gradually, he began to realize the sword's weight, temperature, and shape. He began to understand that the sword was not just a sharp piece of iron, but a living companion.

“Very good,” Borsalino said. “Keep that feeling, then swing your sword.” Zoro opened his eyes, slowly raised the Wado Ichimonji, and then swung his sword.

This sword strike felt completely different from the previous ones. Although it wasn't fast or powerful, the air itself seemed to slice through wherever the blade passed.

“You felt it.” Borsalino smiled with satisfaction. “Although it’s only a little, it’s a good start.”

The training intensity reached its peak on the third day.

"Today we're going to train for a protracted battle," Borsalino announced. "From now on, we'll fight continuously with only short breaks in between. Keep going until you're completely unable to move."

"Understood!" Zoro's eyes burned with fighting spirit.

They began a marathon battle. One hour, two hours, three hours.
Zoro's stamina is constantly being depleted, but his skills are improving rapidly. Under extreme conditions, a person's potential is unleashed, and many things that are not usually noticeable become clear.

He began to understand Professor Borsalino's "efficient combat," began to feel the existence of "artistic conception," and began to understand the true meaning of swordsmanship.

"The Ultimate Technique of the Three-Sword Style—Three Thousand Worlds!"

Zoro unleashed his ultimate technique, but this time it felt different. His sword and body moved in perfect harmony, every movement precise and without a single wasted moment.

“Excellent!” Borsalino praised. “This move was executed much better than before.”

But the battle continued. Four hours, five hours, six hours.
The sun rose in the east, moved to its zenith, and then began to set in the west. Zoro had lost count of how many times he had swung his sword and how much sweat he had shed.

His consciousness began to blur, and his body acted entirely on instinct. But in this state, he actually reached a peculiar realm.

The sword was no longer a sword, but an extension of his arm. Swinging the sword no longer required thought, but was entirely instinctive. Attacking and defending became as natural as breathing.

"Stop!" Borsalino suddenly said.

Zoro stopped moving, then swayed and almost fell over. Borsalino caught him.

“You’ve reached your limit,” Borsalino said. “Continuing will harm your body.”

"I can still fight," Zoro said stubbornly.

“I know you can,” Borsalino laughed. “But now is not the time to fight to the death. Knowing when to stop is also part of training.”

Zoro finally relaxed and then collapsed to the ground.

“You’ve done very well,” Borsalino said. “Your progress over these three days of training has exceeded my expectations.”

"Really?" Zoro asked, panting, a smile spreading across his face.

The crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause. Over the past three days, more and more residents of Lavala had come to watch the training session, deeply impressed by Zoro's perseverance and Borsalino's guidance.

"That's amazing!"

"They fought continuously for six hours."

"This is a true warrior."

The Straw Hat Pirates members also arrived.

"Zoro! Are you alright?" Chopper rushed over to check on him.

"I'm fine," Zoro said weakly.

"No way you're alright!" Nami said with concern. "Look at you, you're completely dehydrated!"

“I’ll go get water and food,” Sanji said.

Soon, Zoro received ample supplies. After resting for half an hour, his strength recovered somewhat.

"How are you feeling?" Borsalino asked.

“Great,” Zoro said earnestly. “I feel like I’ve gotten stronger.”

“It’s not just a feeling,” Borsalino said. “You’ve definitely gotten stronger. These three days of intensive training at high altitude are equivalent to a month of training in normal conditions.”

"A month?" Nami exclaimed in surprise.

“Yes,” Borsalino explained. “High-altitude training is several times more effective for physical development than regular training. Furthermore, Zoro has a high level of comprehension; he not only improved his physical abilities but also made breakthroughs in his swordsmanship philosophy.”

“Uncle Kizaru, thank you,” Zoro said sincerely. “I’ve learned more in these three days than I have in the past year.”

“You’re welcome,” Borsalino said slowly. “Actually, I’ve learned a lot from you.”

"Me?" Zoro asked, puzzled.

“Yes.” Borsalino nodded. “Your dedication to swordsmanship, your desire to become stronger—this pure passion reminds me of myself when I was young. Sparring with you has also made me rethink many things about swordsmanship.”

"I see." Zoro understood.

“Moreover,” Borsalino chuckled, “I also trained at high altitude for three days. Although it was mainly to guide you, my own physical fitness improved as well.”

Indeed, these three days were not easy for Borsalino either. Although he was mainly a sparring partner, the high-intensity combat and long hours of instruction were constantly honing his physical skills and technique.

“Then we’ve all become stronger,” Zoro said contentedly.

“That’s right.” Borsalino extended his hand. “It’s a pleasure doing business with you.”

Zoro shook his hand: "It's been a pleasure working with you."

Karen walked over from the side.

“You two have truly opened our eyes,” he said sincerely. “The intensity of this training is simply beyond our imagination.”

“You’ll get used to it,” Borsalino said. “For a warrior, constantly pushing your limits is the norm.”

"May I ask you something?" Karen asked hesitantly. "Are our Lavala warriors also subject to similar training?"

“Of course,” Borsalino nodded. “But be careful to proceed gradually and don’t rush things. I can create some training plans for you.”

"That's fantastic!" Karen exclaimed excitedly. "With this training method, our guard's strength will definitely improve significantly!"

And so, Borsalino did something meaningful in Lavala—he developed a scientific training system for the warriors of Lavala.

That evening, the city of Lavala hosted a celebratory banquet for the two.

"Cheers to Sauron and Borsalino!" Elder Alva raised his glass. "Thank you for showing us what true warrior spirit is!"

"Cheers!" everyone responded in unison.

Although Zoro was exhausted, he still drank quite a bit of alcohol. He felt more fulfilled than ever before.

“Uncle Kizaru.” He raised his glass. “I will continue to work hard, and one day, I will defeat you!”

"Oh, what a boastful tone," Borsalino laughed. "Then I'll wait for that day to come."

“It definitely will!” Zoro said firmly.

The banquet proceeded in a joyful atmosphere. These three days and three nights of intensive training not only allowed Zoro and Borsalino to grow stronger, but also let the Lavala people witness the prowess of Netherworld warriors.

(End of this chapter)