"It's been a long ti… powerful swordsman!"
The aura around Ryuma completely changed.
His hair was gray-white, and bandages wrapped around his entire body. Nurous stitched seams could be seen across his corpse-like fra.
A blue scarf hung around his neck. He wore a white kimono with the character "Dragon" printed on both sleeves, a blue sash with spiral patterns tied around his waist, and traditional wooden sandals on his feet.
He looked the sa as before—but…
The sword intent that had settled over hundreds of years was incomparably sharp.
"Yohohoho! I'm… truly delighted!"
A purple sword aura wrapped around Shusui, and in an instant he slashed forward.
Zoro crossed his two swords to block!
Purple energy rippled as sword intent raged through the air.
Zoro was blasted away instantly, spinning several tis in midair before landing heavily on the ground.
He's strong… I'm completely outmatched!
To focus one's will into the blade—that was the threshold of a Great Swordsman.
Even though Ryuma had been dead for hundreds of years, the lingering sword intent alone could force Zoro back.
One could only imagine just how powerful he must have been when he was alive.
Ryuma did not rush forward. He simply stood where he was.
Powerful sword intent surrounded his body before finally condensing onto his blade. The purple aura was both elusive and terrifying.
"Co!"
Zoro spun the swords in his hands. A violent wind pressure swept through the entire room.
He did not use Armant Haki.
This was a pure swordsman's duel.
Three Sword Style Secret Technique: Three Thousand Worlds!
Humming Three-Step: Arrow Notch Slash!
The two figures crossed past each other.
A deep slash tore across Zoro's chest, blood spraying into the air.
The bandages across Ryuma's chest silently split apart, revealing decayed flesh underneath. Several sword strikes had cut through bone—bone fragnts scattering outward.
The two locked eyes.
Battle intent intertwined.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Zoro and Ryuma had already reached speeds the naked eye could barely perceive. Only two blurred figures could be seen weaving together in combat.
…
anwhile, elsewhere—
Sanji, Usopp, and Chopper arrived in a spacious room.
There was a green lawn inside, and on a pink bed sat a small girl.
She had pink twin-tails, large eyes lined with thick black eyeliner, and a red crown on her head. She wore Gothic-style clothing paired with black-and-white striped stockings and red high-heeled boots. In her hand she held an umbrella decorated with a ghostly face.
She looked both sweet and mysterious.
"Oh? Visitors."
The little girl—Perona—waved her hand casually.
A swarm of white spirits filled the room.
"Milady! Beautiful milady!"
Sanji's heart pounded wildly. Once again, he felt the sensation of love.
"Ugh, how greasy."
Perona looked at him with disgust.
Negative Hollow!
Several white ghosts rushed toward the three.
Sanji dodged with a quick sidestep.
The other two were pierced straight through.
"I'm… a worthless sea cucumber…"
Chopper collapsed to the ground, his face filled with gloom.
Usopp looked at his hands, then his feet.
"…Huh? I'm fine."
"Huh?!"
Even Sanji was stunned by this.
Negative Hollow!
Dozens of Negative Ghosts rushed toward Sanji and Usopp.
"Bouff!"
Sanji dashed away at high speed, dodging every ghost while carrying the depressed Chopper.
"Sorry, Usopp! I don't fight won! She's all yours—but don't bully her!"
Sanji's voice echoed through the hallway as he disappeared.
"Sanji! Take with you!" Usopp shouted.
But the girl on the bed froze in shock.
"Impossible! My Negative Ghosts make people depressed. Why doesn't it work on you?!"
"Because…"
Usopp paused dramatically.
"I'm already an extrely negative person!"
Both of them froze.
Then Usopp suddenly realized sothing and revealed a wicked grin.
"So that ans… your power doesn't work on anymore!"
"W-What are you planning?!"
Perona backed away instinctively until she hit the wall.
"Kehehehe…"
Usopp's grin twisted as he slowly approached her.
Suddenly—
A figure flashed past and threw a punch at Usopp.
Usopp's pupils shrank. His Observation Haki scread a warning—
But it was too late.
He wasn't Sanji; he didn't have that kind of speed.
BAM!
Usopp spun two and a half tis in the air before crashing onto the ground.
"You are not allowed to harm Lady Perona!"
A stuffed bear raised its arms and shouted.
"Kumashi! At a critical mont, you're the only reliable one."
Perona instantly returned to her arrogant attitude.
"Beat that long-nosed guy up for !"
"Yes!"
The bear Kumashi marched toward Usopp.
Firebird Star!
A flaming bird shot toward Kumashi, instantly setting it ablaze.
"It's hot! It's hot!"
Kumashi scread while rolling on the ground.
But the flas didn't go out—instead they spread across the lawn, the fire growing larger and larger.
Kumashi ran out of the room while burning.
Perona's expression froze.
"That stupid Kumashi! Idiot bear!"
Then she glared at Usopp.
"And you! How can soone be as negative as you?! Don't think I'm out of tricks!"
"Oh? You still have sothing else?" Usopp asked smugly.
"Damn it!"
Exploding Ghost!
Several ghosts identical to the Negative Ghosts rushed toward Usopp.
Usopp hurriedly dodged sideways. Though clumsy, he managed to avoid them.
"Why are you dodging?!" Perona shouted angrily.
The ghosts slamd into the wall—
BOOM!
They exploded instantly.
Usopp stared at the massive crater in the wall, cold sweat forming on his forehead.
Good thing I used Observation Haki… I knew I couldn't take that head-on.
"Now then… kehehehe!"
Usopp loaded a round pellet into his slingshot.
Cockroach Star!
The pellet landed near Perona's feet and split open.
Countless cockroaches crawled onto her body.
"AAAAAH—! Get them off !!!"
Perona scread hysterically.
anwhile, Usopp pulled out a "10-Ton Golden Hamr" and smashed it down onto her head.
"AAAAH—!"
Perona's eyes rolled back and she fainted instantly.
The hamr burst apart upon impact.
"Tsk… young people these days are so fragile."
Usopp sighed while releasing the air from the hamr's handle.
"She fainted from a balloon…"
He looked at the spreading fire with concern.
"Better get out of here soon."
But when he looked back at the unconscious Perona, he hesitated.
Then he rembered Sanji's parting words:
Don't bully her!
Usopp sighed.
"Well… she's just a young girl. She probably hasn't done anything truly bad."
He raised his slingshot.
Water Bird Star!
A water ball shot upward into the air before bursting open, extinguishing the flas.
Usopp slung the slingshot over his shoulder and walked away proudly.
"I'm such a good guy."
…
anwhile—
Sanji and Chopper arrived at the entrance of Dr. Hogback's courtyard.
At the sa ti, an unexpected visitor arrived at Thriller Bark.
As for what happens next—
Stay tuned for the next chapter!
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