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The former Shichibukai were gradually losing their once-feared reputation. This was evident as the large crowd of onlookers on the passenger ship's deck murmured briefly upon hearing the news, then remained unfazed.
However, Fujitora's name still carried weight. The title "Benevolent Hero" was known across the seas, and even ordinary civilians had heard of him as the leader of Century City.
While he didn't inspire fear, the other figure present represented pure terror.
"Oh? What a coincidence?"
A calm voice emerged from behind the crowd. Everyone turned around, and instantly, someone screamed.
"It's Trafalgar Law! The Surgeon of Death!"
"Legend has it that everyone who enters the Florian Triangle has their heart taken by him and becomes his slave!"
"We'll be killed! Run!"
The simultaneous appearance of two Shichibukai was a major event for ordinary people!
The deck quickly emptied as the crowd fled in panic. However, no matter how urgently they ran, they all avoided the spot where Law stood, as if he were some kind of monstrous beast.
With his famed blade "Kikoku" resting on his shoulder, Law pushed up his spotted hat with a finger and looked at Zoro. "I'm talking about you. As a swordsman, you can't even tell directions? Isn't that embarrassing? Can you even hit anyone?"
Zoro: "..."
"Even our intelligence agents lost track of you several times. We were planning to wait for you at the next island, but you ended up here… I'm curious, when did you even board this ship? This is the return route!"
Sanji, Robin, Franky: "..."
'Σ(￣□￣||) What the hell?!'
'Right, how did he do that?!'
"None of your damn business, asshole!" Zoro's face darkened, and he bared his teeth in anger.
Especially with his comrades' shocked expressions, it only fueled his fury.
Clang!
He drew all three swords from his waist, biting Wado Ichimonji in his mouth, and stared at Law solemnly. "Want to fight? I'm ready anytime!"
"Perfect!"
Law grinned, slowly drawing Kikoku and resting it on his shoulder.
"It seems you've teamed up with Franky, Straw Hat crew… If we're going to take him away, I suppose we'll have to fight it out."
"After all, you've got a history of this sort of thing!"
Thud!
As soon as he finished speaking, Law took a step forward and swung Kikoku in a sweeping slash.
Kikoku's elongated nodachi-like blade had an overwhelmingly large attack range. Combined with the cutting ability of the Ope Ope no Mi, this slash could easily slice through half the ship's hull, even without a flying slash!
Similarly, Zoro, Sanji, and the others in its path would be cut in two.
'Santoryu·Oni Giri - Ghost Cutter!'
Zoro naturally wouldn't allow that to happen. With hawk-like sharp eyes, he focused on the blade and suddenly lunged forward, all three swords striking at once.
Clang…!!!
A crisp metallic clang rang out, and sparks flew everywhere.
Using the momentum of the impact and the force of his slash, Zoro managed to block the attack…
No, more than that!
Law's eyes narrowed slightly—a small habit he picked up from his greatly admired Rowen, used to focus his mind by narrowing his vision during rapid thinking.
"Haki!"
Seeing the faint black traces entwined around the edge of Zoro's blade, Law was startled.
After just a few months, Zoro had already learned to use Haki!
If not for that trace of Haki enhancing the slash's power, Zoro would have been sent flying even if he blocked the attack.
"But you have three swords. With the amount of Haki you currently have, how long can you sustain it if you apply it to all of them?"
Suddenly, Law's mind raced, landing on this thought.
ROOM·Shambles!
With his free left hand, Law gestured to the side, and chairs, tables, and umbrellas on the deck floated into the air, rushing toward Zoro.
This was a distraction tactic, but its power couldn't be underestimated.
If Zoro failed to block it, in the split second his vision was obscured, Law's Kikoku would pierce his heart.
As a swordsman, Zoro knew better than to hesitate with his blades.
Demon Spirit·Nine Sword Style!
Facing the incoming debris, Zoro took a deep breath. Two additional heads and pairs of arms sprouted from his shoulders, giving him three heads and six arms, like a demon god.
Seeing this, Law frowned slightly.
"Devil Fruit? No, that's not it! It's his aura, an illusion-inducing aura! Just like Dante Sama!"
Ashura·One Mist Silver!
As Law thought this, Zoro suddenly began slashing wildly. Sword energy transformed into a storm of slashes, shooting toward the incoming debris.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
After the flurry of slashes, the debris paused mid-air for a moment, then…
Boom… Crash!!!
Shattered into countless pieces of wood and debris!
However, before Zoro could catch his breath, through the dust, a nodachi wrapped in black light suddenly shot forward. The smoke exploded as Law charged straight out, gripping the hilt and aiming the blade's tip at Zoro's forehead.
"Not good!"
Zoro was instantly alarmed.
Law's speculation wasn't wrong. Applying Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) to one sword versus three swords was not the same level of difficulty. Even if Zoro had mastered the basics of Haki, he couldn't raise its intensity in such a short time.
Law's straightforward thrust was deceptively simple, but its power was concentrated to a single point, making it incredibly potent.
If Zoro failed to block it, he would die!
Swoosh…
Crash!!!
"Zoro!"
"Green seaweed head!"
Amid Sanji and the others' cries, the ordinary sword in Zoro's right hand shattered. The thin layer of Haki was completely unable to withstand Law's powerful thrust, and Zoro was sent flying.
Blood gushed from his forehead, and it was unclear whether his skull had been pierced.
"Although your control is precise, reducing Haki consumption by only wrapping it around the blade is a clever idea, but in this case…"
Swish! Swish!
Law twirled his sword in a cross pattern, looking disdainfully at the figure flying away.
"All flash, no substance!"
"You asshole…"
Sanji spat out his cigarette and stepped forward, ready to join the fight. But Fujitora swept his hand sideways, sending Sanji back to his original spot.
"Such terrifying strength!"
Sanji knelt on one knee, leaving a black mark on the deck. Clutching his throbbing left leg, cold sweat poured down his face.
With lifeless eyes, Fujitora looked at the group, who were now on high alert. He scratched the back of his head, wearing a harmless expression.
"Well, don't worry! Law won't kill him. He just wants to defeat him once."
"Last time, their fight at G-10 ended in a draw, which made Law feel guilty toward Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon). It's been bothering him for a long time."
"Besides… since we're here to take Franky, if we don't show some strength, you probably won't give up so easily, right?"
"You… you…"
At this point, Franky, who had been in shock, finally snapped out of it. Pointing at Fujitora, he asked, "You're here on Soryu (Azure Dragon)'s orders to find me, right? What do you want?!"
"I'm afraid I can't answer that question, and…"
Fujitora sensed the distance between them and spoke in a voice only they could hear. "I can tell, Franky San, that you don't want to drag the Straw Hat crew into this, do you?"
"Even though you've only known each other for a few days, it seems you've already come to see them as comrades."
Hearing this, Franky gritted his teeth.
"What are you talking about?!"
At this point, he understood everything.
What could possibly drag the Straw Hats into this?
His greatest hidden secret, the secret that even his master Tom and senior brother Iceberg took to their graves, the secret that even CP0 agents couldn't uncover— Soryu (Azure Dragon) had seen through it all, clear as day!
(End of Chapter)