At The Peak of One Piece

After both had calmed down from the battle, Koushirou led Victor back to his small courtyard. Passing by Kuina, Victor made a funny face at her, making her giggle.

They entered a simple room. In the center was a low tea table with a tea set on it. Along one wall was a row of small cubbies, and that was it. This was Koushirou's usual spot for receiving guests and meditating.

Koushirou and Victor sat facing each other where Koushirou normally meditated, his face wearing a gentle smile.

"Victor, I've already seen the solid foundation you have—it's impressively deep, almost ridiculously so. I don't know how you trained, but your techniques are a bit basic. That's because you've only been practicing foundational swordsmanship without further guidance. That's easy to fix. From now on, you need to free your mind—don't let yourself be trapped by sword forms. Turn the basics into instinct, then build on that to create anew."

Koushirou spoke slowly. "Most master swordsmen's ultimate moves are extensions of the basics. They may combine several techniques or add personal insights, body movements, footwork, spatial changes, or even the number of weapons... and so on. When a swordsman reaches true mastery, they return to simplicity—every movement carries immense power."

Victor listened carefully. He had to admit that having a teacher made a big difference. This was a completely different world; the rules of nature and the universe differed from his past life. That's why he had been stuck in confusion, unable to break into a new realm of swordsmanship. So instead of practicing sword techniques often, he mostly meditated on sword philosophy and worked on strengthening his body.

Victor was silent, waiting for Koushirou to continue.

"In this world, some swordsmen have swords that can't be broken, yet those same swords can cut through steel and anything else. Using just one blade, the strongest swordsmen wield their swords with the power to protect what they want to protect and cut through what they want to sever. A sword that harms everything it touches—I don't consider that a true sword. This is the next realm you must grasp." Koushirou's words were somewhat vague.

Victor thought to himself, "This is exactly what Koushirou told young Zoro. It sounds mysterious—no wonder little Zoro didn't understand. To me, it means using strong conviction to wield the sword at will. But when Zoro broke through the Steel-Cutting Realm, he said he felt breathing—the breath of stones, trees, swords, even Mr. 1's steel breath. That's Observation Haki. Later he said, 'You won't cut me anymore. Now it's up to me to see if I have the power to cut steel.' That's clearly an awakening of Observation Haki. But Observation Haki alone can't let him cut steel. What else did he realize at that life-or-death moment?"

Some might say Zoro awakened Observation Haki then, so why did he still get hurt often later? This was probably Oda's initial design for Observation Haki. The concept didn't fully exist in the manga at that time. Early Observation Haki was unstable, sometimes present and sometimes not. Zoro hadn't heard of Observation Haki, had no concept of it, and hadn't trained it specifically—mostly relying on instinct.

In later battles, Zoro showed many moments of predicting and dodging attacks. But having Observation Haki doesn't make one invincible. Some Devil Fruit powers bypass it. Also, you might foresee an attack but still be too slow to avoid it, so you can't help but get hurt.

Even Enel's priests on Skypiea used Observation Haki (called Mantra there), yet they were still defeated by the Straw Hat crew. Emotional fluctuations can also affect Observation Haki perception. So it makes sense Oda didn't emphasize Zoro's Observation Haki, and fans didn't notice it. Unless someone deliberately shows off by standing still (like Luffy) and dodging with subtle body movements, who would recognize it as Observation Haki? Plus, Zoro is an aggressive fighter—once he locks on to his opponent, he goes all out.

Victor understood that to break through his current limits, he needed to master Observation Haki and the ability to "cut steel." 

From his discussions with Koushirou and Kouzaburou, he knew that "cutting steel" was tied to unshakable conviction—belief in oneself and in the blade. 

Victor had no shortage of conviction. With his photographic memory and rapid mastery of skills, he carried the unyielding confidence of a future legend. 

Yet, something was missing. 

His belief was broad, but not yet refined—a general determination rather than the razor-focused will required to transcend the current realm. 

"This breakthrough must come from within," Koushirou had said, sitting calmly in meditation. "Your foundation is solid. No more repetitive drills. Meditate. Reflect." 

With that, the dojo master fell silent, leaving Victor to his thoughts. 

Victor accepted it. He had the direction—now he needed the method. 

Standing, he left the room, focusing on the blade at his waist—Yubashiri. 

'To cut steel, I must first understand my sword completely.'

He found Kuina sitting at the edge of the training hall, watching sparring matches with keen interest. 

Victor approached and ruffled her hair. "Kuina, come with me. I need your help." 

Her face lit up as she grabbed his sleeve, following him outside. 

"Is there an empty room I can use for meditation?" he asked. 

Kuina pouted slightly—disappointed he wasn't here to play. "Most rooms are storage. The attic's free… or my room." 

Noticing her expression, Victor chuckled. "Tell you what—I'll meditate in your room after I tell you a story. Deal?" 

"YES!" Instantly brightening, she tugged his arm. "Let's go!" 

Victor scooped her up with a laugh. "Lead the way." 

Her room was small—barely 15 square meters—and strikingly austere for a child's space. A narrow bed, a bookshelf, a wardrobe, and a tiny desk. No toys. No frivolity. 

'Koushirou's discipline runs deep.' 

Seated at the desk, Victor spun her a tale—a modified version of "Doctor Strange." 

In his version, the Ancient One was a frail young girl who, through sheer will and study at Kamar-Taj, became the Sorcerer Supreme, defeating the dark entity Dormammu through unyielding belief in herself. 

Kuina listened, eyes wide, fists clenched. 

Victor's goal? To rewrite her mindset. 

In the original timeline, Kuina's drive stemmed from her father's unconscious bias—his traditional view that women couldn't master the sword. That insecurity had festered in her, pushing her to obsessive training. 

'Without Zoro's rivalry, she might've suffocated under that pressure.' 

Victor wouldn't let history repeat. 

If subtle changes failed, he'd take her with him when he left. 

No accidents. No wasted potential. 

After the story, Victor handed Kuina a lollipop and sent her off to play. 

Alone in her room, he closed his eyes, Yubashiri across his lap. 

'Steel is not just metal. It carries intent.' 

'To cut steel, I must first become one with my blade.' 

The path ahead was clear. 

Now, he just had to walk it.