"Zoro, you have to stay close to me. I don't want to be looking for people in the snow at night!"
"Don't underestimate me! Do you think I would get lost? I'm not a child."
Under the cover of night, Usopp walked ahead, leading the way.
Suddenly, Zoro's footsteps stopped. His right hand grabbed the hilt of his sword, and he swiftly moved forward.
At the same time, his left hand grabbed Usopp's collar and pulled him back.
A figure suddenly emerged from the snow ahead, its four-fingered right hand holding sharp blades.
Hidden under the snow, taking advantage of the cover of night, the target of this deadly attack was none other than Usopp's throat.
The assassin was aiming for a fatal blow!
However, Zoro's sword blocked the surprise attack.
CLANG!
The sound of clashing metal echoed.
It was only at that moment that Usopp's face turned pale, realizing what had just happened.
I almost died!
"The Baroque Works killer? How many?"
Zoro smiled, the blade of his sword locked with the assassin's fingers, holding each other in a momentary deadlock.
As the assassin's attack failed, his left leg was immediately thrown forward.
In that instant, a sharp blade shot out from the lower part of his leg.
He was, in fact, a Devil Fruit user!
Zoro released Usopp, drew a second sword with his other hand, and held it to his right side.
Another clash of blades resounded.
"I can hear it! Your breathing rhythm, your attack pattern! As an opponent to pass the time, you're perfect," Zoro said, narrowing his eyes slightly.
The assassin quickly backed away, creating some distance between them.
At that moment, the two finally saw each other's appearance.
He was a tall man with a shaved head, dressed in monk's robes. Snake patterns decorated the sides of his chest, and the character "吉" was tattooed in the center.
"Number one?"
Zoro, who was practically illiterate, still recognized the character.
Mr. 1 remained silent, his gaze shifting from Zoro to Usopp.
Roronoa Zoro, member of the Straw Hat Pirates, with a bounty of 19 million, and a pirate hunter.
The big nose next to him wasn't on any wanted list.
Instead of facing the more difficult opponent, he chose to eliminate the other first.
With that thought, he rushed forward, approaching Zoro.
Zoro counterattacked immediately, slashing with his blade from top right to bottom left.
But Mr. 1 didn't dodge.
Instead, he used his body to absorb the attack, while his dagger-like right palm stabbed straight at Usopp's chest.
"Your target is me?!"
Usopp cried out, leaning back and catching himself with his hands.
The sharp fingers barely grazed his abdomen, nearly cutting through his clothes.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Zoro's expression turned cold, and he immediately thrust the sword in his left hand.
Yes!!
Like sparks flying, Mr. 1 was pushed back several meters by the sword strike, rolling twice in the snow before quickly rising to his feet.
"So hard! What is this?"
Zoro frowned.
"Usopp, step back."
"Ah, leave the support to me!" Usopp rolled away, quickly finding cover behind a tree.
He took out his slingshot, ready to assist Zoro at any moment.
"Roronoa Zoro, with your sword, you can't hurt me."
Mr. 1 finally spoke, his tone calm.
"I am Mr. 1, who ate the Supa Supa no Mi. Any part of my body can turn into a blade."
Zoro scoffed. These Devil Fruit users loved bragging about their powers, often explaining them mid-fight just to show off.
For the past few days, he had been using Yosaku as a training partner, trying to reach the state of "cutting iron."
"Don't be so arrogant, pirate!"
Mr. 1 wasn't interested in small talk. His only mission was to kill all the Straw Hat crew—and the princess.
With a stomp of his right foot, the snow exploded beneath him as he launched forward like an arrow, gliding across the air.
Seeing this, Zoro sheathed his two swords and drew Wado Ichimonji, whispering to himself:
"Sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch are a person's five senses! Along with good, evil, and neutrality! Each of them has its own tranquility and pollution, totaling thirty-six afflictions in a person's life."
He swung his sword through the air.
"Three Swords Style: Thirty-Six Calamities of the Phoenix!"
Like a descending flash of light, the slash resembled a Rankyaku.
Mr. 1's pupils contracted, and he quickly crossed his arms in front of his chest.
Woosh!
The blow struck his forearms, sending him flying.
A trail of blood followed through the air.
Rolling across the snowy ground, Mr. 1 spun to lessen the impact.
"You've actually reached the level of cutting iron!" he exclaimed in shock after regaining balance.
Why does a swordsman like him only have a bounty of 19 million?!
It's worth mentioning that even he, with his Devil Fruit powers, couldn't cut steel.
Yet his bounty was already 75 million!
"I failed... Looks like my flying slash isn't enough to cut through iron," Zoro muttered with dissatisfaction.
Mr. 1 scoffed and raised his hand to his back, where a thin wound bled.
He stuck out his tongue and licked it.
The taste of blood fueled his ferocity.
"I take back what I said earlier. You're actually quite strong, pirate. I apologize. If your swordsmanship improves just a bit more… maybe you won't have to die here."
As soon as he finished speaking, he advanced again.
His feet turned into blades, like ice skates, gliding swiftly over the snow.
Both hands and all ten fingers opened into blades—even his palms turned into cutting weapons.
Zoro sheathed his sword and assumed an Iaido stance, displaying his expertise.
He even closed his eyes.
The pressure stirred the cold night air around him.
"Zoro!!" Usopp gasped. "You're going to die!"
"No, I won't lose."
Zoro smiled, eyes still closed.
In the darkness, he heard his opponent's breath—he could "see" his figure.
Is this the power of Observation Haki?
In a quiet corner, the two clashed at lightning speed.
SLAASH!!
Mr. 1 froze mid-attack. A deep wound, visible to the bone, extended from his lower right abdomen to his upper left chest.
Blood sprayed forth.
In that moment, Zoro's voice rang out, calm and powerful:
"Ittōryū Techniques: Iai - Shishi Sonson!"
(End of chapter)
Give me some power stones there you go~😉