Outside the royal capital, a street that should have been lined with exotic, ornate buildings now lay in ruins, entire blocks reduced to rubble.
Zoro's brows furrowed tightly. The green bandana he usually wore on his arm was now tied firmly around his head.
This was something he only did when facing a mighty opponent. And right in front of him stood one: a tall, dark-skinned, bald man with a massive build and a scar running across his face like a menacing centipede crawling at the corner of his eye.
There was only one opponent who could make Zoro take things this seriously—
Baroque Works' strongest agent after their boss: Mr. 1.
Former West Blue assassin Daz Bones—the Supersonic Slice-Slice Fruit user.
"It's useless, Roronoa."
Daz's deep voice carried a touch of disdain, his calm expression backing up his words. Crossing his arms before his chest, his fingers curled like claws—except the insides of those fingers gleamed like razor-sharp blades.
"I ate the Slice-Slice Fruit. As a swordsman, you can't possibly defeat me."
"Heh. You sure like to talk big."
Zoro's cold eyes narrowed as he replied in a low voice. His body was already covered in blood.
Though his words sounded fearless, the truth was obvious—up until now, he hadn't managed to land even a single damaging hit.
"A swordsman who looks down on swordsmen… you're a strange one."
"I am not a swordsman. Don't use that title on me."
Daz's face remained expressionless, like a cold-blooded killer stepping straight out of a movie. With a sudden stomp, he shot forward like a bullet.
His torso leaned low as his arms crossed before him—
"Splitter Slash!"
Clang!
Ssshh! Ssshh!
The ring of clashing steel and the tearing of flesh echoed at once. Zoro raised two of his swords, catching Daz's bladed fingers, sparks flying—
But slashes still pierced through, opening several deep cuts across his body, blood spraying into the air.
Gritting his teeth, Zoro forced his battered body forward. Biting down hard on Wado Ichimonji, he twisted and swung all three swords in rapid succession.
"Three-Sword Style… Spiral Strike!"
"Steel Body!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The air exploded with sparks.
Daz stood firm in a horse stance, his body turned completely into steel, tanking Zoro's blows head-on without leaving so much as a scratch.
"I told you—it's useless. My body, as a man of blades, is harder than steel itself."
His voice was still calm, almost bored, as he turned toward Zoro, who had staggered past. Step by step, he walked forward, unhurried.
"Give up, Roronoa. I admit—you are one of the few truly powerful swordsmen I've met. But in the face of ability, your efforts are meaningless."
"Khff—!"
Zoro coughed up a mouthful of blood, clutching his chest, but his eyes never wavered.
His mind flashed back to his fight with Mihawk—the day his swords were shattered to pieces.
Steel hard as iron… but even steel can be cut.
Zoro straightened, forcing himself to stand tall despite his wounds.
He wanted to face that man again.
He wanted his name to echo into the heavens.
He wanted to stand at Luffy's side, to watch him become Pirate King.
He could not fall here!
"Even if it's steel… I'll cut through it!"
An invisible pressure radiated from Zoro's body, his three swords gleaming with a terrifying light.
"Such spirit. Yes… There are rumors of swordsmen who can cut even steel.
"But I've never seen it. And you won't be the one either, Roronoa!"
Daz's fingers became blades once more as he charged. Crossing his arms into an "X," he swung down with murderous precision.
But at that very instant, Zoro slid his blade back into its sheath. His right foot stepped forward, knees bent, one hand on the hilt, the other steadying the scabbard.
"Atom Splitter!"
Daz roared, his slashes splitting the air.
The building behind Zoro suddenly shattered into countless diamond-shaped fragments, collapsing into dust.
But there was no joy of victory on Daz's face—only shock. Zoro had vanished.
And then—
"All things have their breath. When that breath ceases… There is only death.
"Find the breath of all things. Cut the breath of all things. And you can cut anything."
—Shhhk.
The chilling sound of a blade sliding into its sheath echoed.
A deep gash ripped open across Daz's chest, steel body and all.
"One-Sword Style… Iai."
"Lion's Song!"
Shing!
The blade clicked into its scabbard. Blood burst like a crimson spray.
"A swordsman… who can cut steel… really exists!?"
Daz's voice trembled in disbelief as he staggered forward, forcing his head to turn back toward Zoro—before collapsing face-first into the ground.
Zoro didn't spare him a glance. Dragging his exhausted, bloodied body, he walked straight toward the palace.
Meanwhile, deep beneath the funeral hall in the underground chamber—
Two massive spears shot toward Crocodile. Just as his sand-form body began to disperse to dodge—
BANG!!
A sudden gunshot cracked from a dark corner no one had noticed.
Crocodile's sand instantly recoiled, his body snapping back together. A wave of weakness spread through him before he could react.
His face froze in shock as the spears punched through his body, carrying him like a rag doll as he was blasted back.
BOOM!!
The sand crocodile's body smashed into one pillar after another, snapping them in half, before being pinned to a massive stone column.
Blood dripped down, running along the carved lines of ancient murals, staining the mysterious Poneglyph a crimson hue.
Everyone's eyes widened in shock, their gazes snapping toward the source of the gunshot.
There, crouched behind a boulder, stood a blond man in a blue shirt, smoke still rising from the barrel of his gun.
It was him. He had done it.
Precise. Ruthless. Cold-blooded.
Reiner broke into a grin of triumph. Seeing Crocodile struck by a seastone bullet and pierced through by the twin spears of the Blue Oni and Red Oni, he couldn't resist leaping out from cover.
His shooting wasn't great. Even at this range, he hadn't wanted to risk missing. So he waited—waited for Crocodile to reform his body in sand before pulling the trigger.
He hadn't even aimed for a killing blow. He just needed the seastone to pin Crocodile down. Against three enemies working together, that would be enough to finish the fight.
"Well done, Reiner!!"
"We won!!"
From behind another rock, Nami, Chopper, and the others burst out cheering, waving their arms in delight.
Nami and Vivi hugged each other tightly, soft curves pressing together—Reiner's heart skipped a beat at the sight.
"Khff—Khff—"
Pinned against the bloodstained pillar, Crocodile coughed violently, hair loose and face twisted in a wretched mess.
His gaze dropped to the spears skewering his shoulder and stomach, and the seastone bullet embedded in his arm. His eyes dimmed with despair.
He thought of everything—
Three years of plotting from the shadows.
Three years of stirring rebellion in Alabasta.
Three years of hunting down Nico Robin and her knowledge.
"All… three years… for the ancient weapon, Pluton…
"And in the end, I've fallen so low… that even trash like you can toy with me?"
"Kehehehe…"
Crocodile let out a low, twisted laugh, lifting his head just enough to glare down at Reiner. Strands of hair fell across his snarling face, his expression deranged.
"Ahahahahaha!!"
"…Is he insane?" Nami muttered, completely bewildered by the sight of Crocodile laughing like a madman.
But Reiner's blood ran cold. His face froze.
The hell!? That crooked smile…?
A reversal!?
"Finish him!!" Reiner roared, panic twisting his voice. His strength was draining fast, like water spilling through a hole in a bucket.
The Blue Oni and Red Oni tossed aside their shields. Side by side, their massive greatswords clashed together, gathering a horrifying aura of destruction.
The chamber trembled as their killing intent filled the air.