In the eerie hall, candle flames flickered, stretching shadows that grew long and short unpredictably.
The zombie warrior Ryuma—imbued with Brook's shadow—stood motionless, the famous sword Autumn Water at his waist gleaming coldly. The chilling aura radiating from him seemed capable of freezing the very air.
Opposite him stood Mr. 1, his body already transformed into blades by the power of the Dice-Dice Fruit. His slightly crouched posture resembled a leopard ready to pounce, his hands raised with palms morphed into razor-sharp edges that glinted ominously in the dim light.
His hawk-like gaze locked onto Ryuma, waiting for the first move.
Ryuma's figure blurred as he moved with inhuman speed, Autumn Water slicing through the air with a piercing whistle. The slash left a visible rift in the air, aimed straight for Mr. 1's face.
Unfazed, Mr. 1 tilted his body slightly and raised his bladed arm, perfectly parrying the heavy strike.
A deafening clang reverberated like a tolling bell, sparks flying from the collision of metal, dazzling in the darkness.
Seizing the moment as Ryuma retracted his sword, Mr. 1 counterattacked. His fingers morphed into claw-like blades as he slashed forward, the sharp edges tearing through the air in an attempt to bisect Ryuma.
Ryuma reacted swiftly, stepping back to evade before leaping high into the air. Gripping Autumn Water with both hands, he brought it down in a devastating overhead slash, as if intending to cleave Mr. 1 in two.
Mr. 1 hardened his body to steel-like durability, adopting the "Man-Slaying" stance. Autumn Water struck with a screeching grind, leaving only a shallow mark.
Bahr leaned against a stone pillar nearby, arms crossed, watching the battle with keen interest. He turned his head slightly toward Nico Robin beside him. "Who do you think will win?"
This duel was his deliberate arrangement.
Mr. 1 had followed him for so long—quiet but reliable—and deserved a chance to test his skills.
Back in Alabasta, Mr. 1 had lost to Zoro, but his strength was undeniable. Now, facing this zombie version of Ryuma—who was originally defeated by Zoro—it was hard to predict the outcome.
Nico Robin stood beside Bahr, also with her arms crossed, her expression calm. "I don't know."
Bahr glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "Then let's make a bet. If you win, I won't touch you until we reach the New World. But if you lose..."
He deliberately paused, cutting off any escape route. "You don't get to refuse."
Robin's lips twitched as she looked back at the fight, frowning slightly in analysis. "Mr. 1's Dice-Dice Fruit lets him turn his body into blades—offense and defense are both solid. But that zombie isn't simple either, especially with that black sword of his. It's not an ordinary blade. This fight... I bet on the zombie."
Bahr didn't argue. That zombie was Ryuma's corpse, and the Autumn Water in its hands was one of the 21 Great Grade Swords, a national treasure of Wano.
His reason for coming to this island was precisely for that Black Sword Autumn Water. Keeping Perona around was just to gather intel on its whereabouts.
After all, the New World was packed with powerhouses. His current longsword was just an ordinary blade—he needed a proper weapon. And Autumn Water was right there for the taking.
As for Zoro losing his sword... that wasn't his problem.
Noticing Robin's indifferent demeanor, Bahr couldn't resist teasing her. "Look at you, not even supporting your own ally. Cold."
Robin replied flatly, "We're just in a cooperative relationship."
Bahr shrugged and didn't press further.
Robin had grown up in darkness—she wouldn't open up to anyone easily. He wasn't like Luffy, born with the ability to melt hearts. He had no talent for unraveling emotional knots.
But when it came to "unraveling" women in other ways... he was quite skilled.
Just then, a thunderous boom erupted from the direction of the central castle, as if the sky had collapsed.
Dark clouds churned violently above the castle, swirling ominously with blue-white lightning crackling inside. Bolts of electricity occasionally split the sky, illuminating half the horizon.
The thunder rumbled like war drums, shaking the castle walls and making the windows vibrate. The lightning writhed within the clouds, sometimes gathering into spheres, other times stretching into silver serpents, casting the sky in flickering light and shadow.
Bahr watched the storm with a smirk. "Seems Enel's clashing with Gekko Moriah."
No sooner had he spoken than a bolt of lightning as thick as a barrel struck down, slamming into the central tower with a deafening crack. Flames erupted, heating the air, and the sound of crumbling stone echoed from afar.
Nico Robin gazed up at the roiling storm, her fingers unconsciously tracing the lace on her sleeve. She let out a soft scoff. "I thought he only knew how to play god."
She had always known Enel's Rumble-Rumble Fruit was formidable, but when she last saw him effortlessly crushed by Bahr, she hadn't witnessed its true power.
But now, watching the lightning dance in the clouds... with Bahr and Enel as allies, at least they wouldn't have to worry too much about the World Government's pursuers.
Perona cowered behind a pillar, only half her face visible, her rabbit plushie clutched so tightly its ears were bent.
Every time the golden-blue lightning flashed, her eyelashes trembled. She muttered under her breath, "That guy's terrifying... Will Moria-sama be okay?"
Though she trusted Gekko Moriah, the lightning-wielder and that Bahr guy were no pushovers. The fact that they dared to act so boldly despite knowing Moriah was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea made her increasingly uneasy.
Hearing the commotion, Robin turned and walked toward Perona.
"W-what do you want?" Perona stammered, flinching.
"Don't be afraid. I mean no harm." Robin smiled "kindly," but then added leisurely, "But when that lightning guy comes back, I can't guarantee he won't settle scores with you. He's petty—if Boss hadn't stopped him earlier, you'd already be charcoal."
The words struck Perona like a thunderbolt. She vividly remembered Enel's murderous intent, crackling with electricity.
If he came back... Perona's hands shook around her plushie. "Shut up! Moria-sama will deal with him soon, and then he'll take care of you first!"
"And if Moriah loses? Have you thought about that?" Robin's tone was as calm as if discussing the weather, as though genuinely considering Perona's perspective.
Perona opened her mouth to retort, but another deafening boom from the storm outside silenced her, the golden-blue lightning illuminating her face starkly.
"When that guy returns," Robin leaned closer, her voice dropping lower, "knowing him, he'll fry you to a crisp."
The terrifying words, delivered so matter-of-factly, were more chilling than any outburst. Perona froze, her eyes wide as saucers, her plushie nearly crushed in her grip.
Seizing the reaction, Robin's eyes glinted shrewdly. "You should leave yourself an out. The only one who can protect you from him now is Boss... though, it'll come at a price."
"A price?" Perona's heart skipped a beat. "What price?"
Robin smirked, whispering a few words into Perona's ear. In the dim light, their shadows stretched across the stone wall—one smiling mysteriously, the other listening with widening eyes, her rabbit plushie nearly deformed from her grip.
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