AutumnXd
patreon
Chapter 54: Pirate Hunter
🕑 Added 2025-06-30 14:12:51 +0000 UTCRussell settled into his chair, fingers flying across the keyboard as he accessed the secure trading website dedicated to cardmaking materials. His eyes scanned the listings with focused intensity, searching for the bronze-level items essential to his next creation. It didn't take long before he spotted one of the materials he had previously encountered in the Association's vault—a piece he had reluctantly passed on during his earlier selections.
The listing read: Bronze-level [Nameless Demon Sword] (Gold). Price: 1.6 million Federation Credits.
A thoughtful expression crossed Russell's face as he leaned back slightly. "As expected, most of the premium materials from the Association's stock eventually filter out into the open market," he murmured to himself, confirming a hunch he had held for some time. However, his satisfaction was short-lived, quickly giving way to frustration. "But why is there only one available? This won't cut it." The card he envisioned required at least three distinct sword-type materials to reach its full potential. Without them, he'd be forced to compromise, substituting inferior alternatives that would dilute the overall quality and power of the final product.
This dilemma was all too familiar in the world of cardmakers, a constant hurdle that separated the novices from the masters. Bronze-level materials were already a rarity, their scarcity only amplifying as one climbed to higher tiers. Veteran cardmakers seldom parted with their acquisitions for mere currency; instead, they bartered them directly for other specialized items that aligned with their own intricate narratives and designs. In the elite circles of the profession, Federation Credits held little sway, reminiscent of ancient currencies that had lost their value in historical texts—useful for the masses, but dismissible as trivial by those at the pinnacle. The true bottleneck for crafting high-level cards wasn't just the mental fortitude or creative prowess required; it was the relentless hunt for compatible materials. Even a cardmaker boasting the mental reserves of a master would find themselves stymied if the perfect components eluded them, rendering their ambitions inert.
Yet, Russell possessed a unique edge that set him apart from his peers: an innate flexibility in storytelling. He could gaze upon nearly any material and weave a compelling narrative around it, adapting on the fly to maximize its potential without being rigidly bound by conventional constraints.
Shaking off his momentary irritation, he swiftly completed the purchase of the [Nameless Demon Sword], his cursor hovering briefly over the confirmation button as a precautionary measure. He recalled all too vividly how quickly the colonization suit had vanished from listings before, snatched up by another eager buyer in the blink of an eye. There goes half my savings, he thought with a twinge of melancholy, watching his account balance plummet in real-time. Factoring in the recent influx from selling the pirate-derived materials, he had started with nearly three million credits. Now, a mere one and a half million remained—a sum that wouldn't even cover the cost of two additional purple-quality materials at current market rates. Bartering appeared to be his only viable path forward.
Fortunately, sword-themed materials were perpetually in high demand, making it relatively straightforward to locate a willing seller. Russell offered up his gold-quality [Bloody Devourer] as trade bait, engaging in a brief but pointed negotiation. In the end, he secured two identical bronze-level [Family Heirloom Sword] (Purple) materials, with the seller compensating him for the value differential. On paper, the exchange represented a minor loss for Russell, but he viewed it pragmatically: materials held no inherent worth unless transformed into tangible strength on the battlefield. Sacrificing a bit of perceived value was a small price for unlocking greater combat utility.
Before long, a prompt delivery from Metro Express arrived at his doorstep, the package securely wrapped and verified. Russell carefully unpacked the items, arranging them neatly on his workspace for inspection.
Before him lay: [Family Heirloom Sword] (Purple) x2, [Nameless Demon Sword] (Gold), and [Elite Pirate Swordsman] (Gold).
This assortment represented the most extensive collection of materials he had ever assembled for a single card creation, a testament to the ambition of his current project.
With deliberate care, he selected a blank card from his supplies and began sketching upon it, his hand steady as he captured the essence of a determined teenager crowned with a distinctive mop of green, algae-like hair. As his mental energy infused the drawing, the familiar shift occurred—the boundaries of reality blurring until he found himself immersed once more in the enigmatic, shadowy realm of card compilation.
【Please begin compiling your story.】
【Roronoa Zoro was born in the humble Shimotsuki Village nestled in the East Blue, a place steeped in the traditions of swordsmanship. From a young age, his extraordinary talent with a blade caught the eye of Shimotsuki Koshiro, the revered master of the Shimotsuki Dojo, who took him on as a disciple to hone his raw potential.】
【Zoro's path was forever altered by the tragic death of his childhood friend and fierce rival, Kuina, who shared his burning ambition to claim the title of the world's greatest swordsman. In the wake of her untimely accident, Zoro's resolve crystallized into an unbreakable oath, fueling his every action from that day forward.】
【He dedicated himself to relentless training, subjecting his body to trials that pushed beyond the limits of human endurance, innovating his signature Three-Sword Style—a technique as unorthodox as it was devastating.】
【Fate intervened in Shells Town, where Zoro, bound and on the brink of execution, was rescued by the irrepressible Monkey D. Luffy. Grateful and intrigued by Luffy's dream, Zoro pledged his loyalty, becoming the inaugural member of the Straw Hat Pirates. In the chaotic streets of Orange Town, he clashed with Kabaji of the Buggy Pirates, emerging victorious through sheer grit. In Syrup Village, alongside Luffy, he dismantled the cunning schemes of Captain Kuro. The battles escalated to the heights of Judicial Island, where Zoro unveiled his awe-inspiring Nine-Sword Style, overwhelming Kaku, CP9's premier swordsman, in a clash of unparalleled ferocity.】
As the narrative unfolded within his mind, Russell experienced a momentary surge of astonishment. He sensed an expanded capacity, allowing the story to extend further than before. During his creation of Luffy's card, the timeline had halted at this juncture, constrained by the materials at hand. Now, bolstered by superior quantity and quality, the tale had room to breathe and evolve.
【The crew's trials intensified at the Sabaody Archipelago, where Zoro faced near-certain death at the hands of Marine Admiral Kizaru, his lightspeed assaults proving nearly insurmountable. In the critical instant before the fatal strike, he was spared by the intervention of the legendary "Dark King" Silvers Rayleigh. Shortly thereafter, the Warlord Bartholomew Kuma scattered the Straw Hats across the globe with his mysterious powers, initiating a prolonged era of isolation and grueling self-improvement for Zoro.】
At last, the story reached its natural boundary, the limits imposed by the materials' potency. Russell accepted this without surprise; the Straw Hat crew's post-timeskip growth marked a profound evolution in strength, a leap that demanded even greater resources to capture faithfully. Given how seamlessly Zoro's arc intertwined with Luffy's, the mysterious space embraced the compilation without resistance.
In the ethereal haze of the creation realm, vivid visions materialized before Russell's eyes. He witnessed a young green-haired boy, teeth clenched around a massive stone weight, driving his body through exhaustive exercises with unyielding determination. The scene shifted to a teenage Zoro navigating treacherous seas alongside the boy in the straw hat, their adventures filled with boisterous laughter, heated arguments, and an unbreakable camaraderie forged in the fires of shared peril.
Gradually, the visions coalesced, solidifying into a tangible card that hovered serenely before him, its surface shimmering with latent power.
【Pirate Hunter · Zoro】
Rank: Bronze
Quality: Red
Category: Creature
Skills:
[One-Sword Style]: Itto-ryu: Flying Dragon · Blaze; Iai · Lion's Song; Thirty-Six Pound Phoenix.
[Two-Sword Style]: Nitoryu: Eagle Wave; Rhinoceros Return; Double Slash; Ox Needle; Seventy-Two Pound Phoenix.
[Three-Sword Style]: Santoryu: Demon Slash; Tiger Hunt; Crow Hunt; Tornado; 108 Pound Phoenix; Secret Technique: Three Thousand Worlds.
[Nine-Sword Style (Asura)]: Kiki Kyutoryu: Asura · Ichibugin; Asura · Makyusen.
Characteristics:
[Heart of a Swordsman]: As a lifelong swordsman who dreams of being the world's greatest, Zoro becomes excited when facing powerful swordsman-type enemies, slightly increasing his overall strength.
[Way of Ashura]: A scar on the back is a swordsman's shame. Zoro would rather die than be struck from behind. When facing an enemy head-on, all his abilities are enhanced.
[Peerless Physique]: Through years of inhuman training, Zoro's body has become a weapon. He is determined to prove that even without the power of a Devil Fruit, he can become the world's strongest.
Introduction: "I'm going to become the world's greatest swordsman!"
Advanced Route: Bronze [Pirate Hunter · Zoro] → Gold [Worst Generation · Zoro] → Emerald [Great Swordsman · Zoro]
Bonds:
When appearing with the [Mihawk] series, activates [World's Greatest Swordsman].
When appearing with [Luffy] and other series, activates [Straw Hat Pirates].
Activated Bond: [Straw Hat Pirates] (2/10)
Bond Effect: When all members of the Straw Hat Pirates are present, if one member is defeated, the remaining members will enter a state of Rage.
Note: Rage: At the cost of losing their sanity, the card's attributes will be greatly enhanced in all aspects.
Russell examined the card with a touch of surprise. "It actually achieved red quality," he noted, impressed by the outcome. In the source material, Zoro's prowess at this narrative stage didn't quite match Luffy's, underscoring that a card's ultimate quality hinged not solely on the woven story but profoundly on the caliber of the infused materials.
"Though the ceiling caps at Emerald?" he pondered aloud, finding it unsurprising upon reflection. As Luffy's steadfast first mate and subordinate, Zoro's trajectory naturally aligned beneath that of his captain, whose Diamond-level potential set a higher benchmark.
Setting aside further analysis, Russell channeled his focus, invoking the summons for his latest creations. In a swirl of ethereal energy, the boy adorned with the iconic straw hat and the resolute swordsman wielding three blades materialized before him, standing side by side in silent readiness.
(End of this chapter)
