In the wide-open dojo training yard, two figures clashed with intense force.
One of them was Bane. The other, Roronoa Zoro.
Bane gripped a long sword in both hands, defending quickly in front of him—but Zoro was pressing the attack with ferocious momentum. Wielding his signature Three-Sword Style, Zoro gave Bane almost no room to counterattack.
Though Bane's physique was larger and more imposing, Zoro's strength was nothing to scoff at. Every time their blades met, sparks danced through the air from the impact of their strikes.
Then, in a flash of motion, one of Zoro's swords suddenly slipped forward—intentionally thrown from his hand. It spun toward Bane's neck like a deadly projectile.
Caught off guard, Bane instinctively raised his blade to block. But in doing so, he exposed an opening in his guard.
"It's over!" Zoro roared.
In one swift movement, he grabbed the sword that had been clenched in his mouth—Wado Ichimonji—and his aura surged. His arms flexed with explosive power, muscles bulging.
"Two-Sword Style… RHINO CHARGE!"
Like twin rhino horns, the two blades in Zoro's hands lunged straight toward Bane's chest with terrifying force.
In that instant, Bane understood: in terms of swordsmanship alone, he'd lost.
It had been six months since Bane had officially become a student of Koshiro, joining the Isshin Dojo.
Originally, Koshiro had no intention of teaching Bane anything related to Haki. He clearly wanted to keep his past hidden. But Bane had shamelessly pulled out a trump card:
"Master Koshiro, I assume you wouldn't want people knowing you're good friends with the Revolutionary Army's leader—Monkey D. Dragon?"
That underhanded bluff worked. Koshiro accepted him not just as a guest—but as a student.
Bane had expected the man to be distant or resentful about the forced arrangement. But to his surprise, Koshiro had taken the role seriously, diligently teaching him the foundations of both swordsmanship and Haki.
Of course, it was only the basics. Koshiro had made it clear that techniques like Ryuo (Advanced Armament Haki) would only be taught at the end—if ever.
Unexpectedly, Bane found that he actually had talent for swordsmanship. With his natural strength and training, only Zoro remained capable of consistently defeating him in duels.
But that made sense. While Bane had potential, Zoro had true genius—and years of experience. In pure swordplay, Bane was still no match.
As Zoro's blades closed in, Bane made a bold move—he tossed his sword aside.
The fight was no longer a sword duel.
Zoro was already used to this. It was their usual rhythm.
"Soru!" Bane's footwork blurred, and he vanished from view. Zoro's blades struck nothing but air.
A split-second later, Bane appeared behind Zoro, his hand crackling with dark energy as he reached out with clawed fingers.
But Zoro reacted immediately. Without turning, he growled: "Soru!"
He too vanished, dodging Bane's counter.
That's right—Bane hadn't hidden any of his abilities at the dojo. He had asked Smoker beforehand, and Smoker hadn't objected to him teaching Rokushiki, so long as it wasn't to someone untrustworthy.
So, shortly after arriving, Bane began training Zoro in the Navy's combat arts.
Zoro had originally planned to leave the dojo and travel the world, but when Bane arrived—with powers and techniques Zoro had never seen—his curiosity was reignited. He stayed and began training in Rokushiki as well.
Unlike Bane, who practiced all six styles, Zoro focused only on five: Soru (Shave), Geppo (Moonwalk), Rankyaku (Tempest Kick), Tekkai (Iron Body), and Kami-e (Paper Art). He'd dismissed Shigan (Finger Pistol) outright after trying it once.
As Zoro reappeared from his high-speed movement, Bane didn't hesitate. He spun in place, unleashing a powerful roundhouse kick aimed backward.
Thud! Right where Zoro landed.
Zoro crossed his blades to block—and took the full brunt of the kick.
To his surprise, the impact rang out like clashing metal. Bane's leg had a faint black sheen…
Armament Haki.
After months of practice, Bane had finally achieved a basic mastery of Haki—not advanced, but solid enough for real combat.
Balancing on one leg in a tense pose, Bane pressed down on Zoro's crossed swords. At the same time, he brought his hands together and shouted:
"Dark Abyss—Tidebreaker!"
Darkness erupted from his body, expanding in all directions like a tidal wave. The black element consumed everything—ground, air, and light itself.
From the second-floor veranda overlooking the dojo, Koshiro sipped a cup of tea, watching the spectacle.
Within seconds, the entire training yard had been swallowed by darkness. Neither Bane nor Zoro were visible.
"Logia-types… they're always terrifying," Koshiro murmured with a smile.
Every duel went the same: in swordplay, Zoro crushed Bane. But the moment Bane unleashed his true powers, Zoro never stood a chance.
As the black mist receded like a retreating tide, Koshiro watched as the yard slowly reappeared—along with the two combatants.
Bane stood calm and centered, hands pressed together in a meditative pose.
Zoro, on the other hand, was stuck inside a floating black orb, only his head poking out from the inky cocoon.
"Damn it! Let me down, you bastard!" Zoro barked.
"Do you yield?" Bane asked with a smirk.
"I'll admit defeat when you do!" Zoro snapped.
Bane chuckled. "In swordsmanship, you've clearly bested me. I yield."
Zoro's face twitched—but after a brief silence, he growled back: "You overpower me in raw strength and ability… I yield."
With both acknowledging defeat in their respective fields, Bane finally released the dark orb, letting Zoro drop to the ground with a thud.
Zoro picked up his swords, grumbling. "Your Devil Fruit is such BS. You shut out all light. I couldn't see anything. Unless someone masters Observation Haki, they've got no chance."
He wasn't wrong.
Though both he and Bane had some aptitude in Armament Haki, neither had made much progress in Observation Haki.
As for Conqueror's Haki, neither of them had awakened it—yet.
"If you're interested, I could get you a Devil Fruit once you're out to sea," Bane said with a grin. "What kind of big brother wouldn't look out for his little bro?"
"I'm older than you, idiot," Zoro shot back.
"Didn't we agree? Stronger one's the older brother."
"I thought we were talking about swordsmanship, not… this!" Zoro snapped.
"Power is power. You really think your enemies will only fight you with swords?"
Zoro's eye twitched. He wanted to retort—but he knew Bane was right.
"Just wait," he muttered. "One day, when I'm stronger than you…"
"I'll call you 'big bro' then," Bane said smoothly. "I'm a man of my word—unlike someone."
"Who's not a man of their word!?" Zoro exploded.
"Then what do you call me?"
Zoro's jaw clenched. Veins bulged on his forehead. But in the end, he muttered through gritted teeth: "...Big bro."
From the second floor, Koshiro chuckled at the scene. Watching the two of them argue like true brothers, he felt a quiet warmth in his chest.
Taking Bane as a student… might not have been such a bad idea after all.