"Hey! Luffy! Usopp! Seriously, where did everyone run off to? Don't tell me they got lost?"
A green-haired, muscular three-sword-style swordsman with his chest exposed looked around in every direction. Judging from his extremely handsome appearance, he was surely not the sort of person who would ever get lost.
Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.
The flow of people around him had clearly thinned. By now, there was not a single figure visible on the street. As if sensing something, he turned his head and looked over.
A tall, bald figure gradually emerged from the shadows.
"Roronoa Zoro, the famous pirate hunter of the East Blue. I originally thought you were some third-rate nobody. I didn't expect you to notice me in advance and even separate yourself from the main group on purpose. Interesting."
The man's words were vague and strange.
Zoro frowned.
Separated from the main group in advance? When had that happened?
But…
"None of that matters. I recognize you. The assassin from the West Blue, Daz Bones! You suddenly vanished from the Underworld . I didn't expect you to show up in Alabasta as one of Crocodile's men."
As Zoro spoke, he drew all three swords at his waist.
Wado Ichimonji. Sandai Kitetsu. Yubashiri.
He bit Wado Ichimonji between his teeth and raised the other two blades into stance.
This powerful pirate hunter from the West Blue was said to possess an extremely interesting ability. He was one of the best opponents Zoro could face on his path toward becoming a master swordsman.
There was no reason to let this chance slip by!
"Oni Giri!"
A single exchange of looks was enough.
Both sides' fighting spirit boiled over at that moment. Zoro crossed his three swords and slashed toward Daz Bones, whose codename was Mr. 1, at tremendous speed.
However, his opponent merely crossed his arms.
Under Zoro's astonished gaze, Mr. 1's palms transformed into blades. The two sides collided, sparks flying everywhere, but Mr. 1 easily blocked Zoro's attack.
"I'm a Blade Human who ate the Supa Supa no Mi (Dice-Dice Fruit). Ever since I ate this Devil Fruit, no swordsman has been able to injure me in the slightest. Swordsmen cannot harm me. You are no exception."
Mr. 1 knocked Zoro away.
Spiral-shaped blades appeared on his arms and began rotating like drills. The attack was heavy and powerful. Zoro was caught off guard, and after a failed block, he was struck hard in the abdomen.
Blood splattered.
Yet when Zoro's blades cut into Mr. 1's body, they left only a shallow wound.
The Supa Supa no Mi had not only given him the power of blades, but had also made his body as hard as steel. One could say that, ever since Zoro set out to sea, Mr. 1 was the strongest enemy he had encountered aside from Hawk-Eye Mihawk.
So…
If he defeated him, wouldn't he be one step closer to becoming a true swordsman?
...
"Sorry, but this road is closed."
A strangely dressed figure blocked everyone's path.
Though clearly a man, he wore heavy blush, his face was pale white, lipstick covered his mouth, and his voice was somewhat shrill.
Mr. 2 Bon Kurei!
One of the top five fighters of Baroque Works, and a user of the Mane Mane no Mi.
Speaking of which, he had a bit of history with Luffy's group. He had once been saved by them by sheer coincidence. But he could not betray his boss. Even though he was unwilling, he still stood in their way.
"Luffy, you guys go on ahead. I'll handle this guy!"
Sanji lit a cigarette, exhaled a breath of smoke, and stepped to the front of the group.
They did not have much time left.
According to Vivi, the rebel army was already very close. The people she had arranged within the rebel army could delay them for at most two days.
In other words, they only had two days to defeat Crocodile.
"Got it. We're leaving him to you!"
Luffy and the others did not hesitate. They continued charging toward Crocodile's headquarters.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789