Shallow Swordsmanship

"W-Wait, let me explain!" said Doflamingo, bloodied and bruised, lying on the ground.

"What is there to explain?" Kaguya said coldly. "Isn't it obvious? You couldn't even handle a group of nobodies. How can someone like you ever accomplish anything worthwhile?"

Doflamingo's expression shifted.

"Now then, it's time to clean up the trash." Kaguya's sharp, clear gaze turned icy.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" Luffy shouted angrily from a distance. "Why are you treating him like that? Weren't you allies?!"

"Allies?" Kaguya stepped off of Doflamingo and walked over, her tone full of disdain. "He was just a tool to be used. Only someone like you would naively think of him as a comrade."

Doflamingo's expression flickered with a trace of bitterness, but he didn't say a word in protest. He knew all too well he was nothing more than a pawn. Becoming her true comrade was impossible.

"But weren't you working toward the same goal?!" Luffy clenched his fists, shouting with anger.

"Are you stupid?" Kaguya raised a brow. "Not everyone wants to be someone else's comrade, nor is everyone worthy of being one. Don't assume everyone thinks the way you do."

"Damn you! What do you take friendship for?!" Luffy slammed his fists together. "I'll knock you far away!"

With a burst of compressed air, he shot forward at high speed, winding up a punch.

"Gomu Gomu no Kong Gun!"

"Didn't you say you value your friends?" Kaguya raised a brow and smirked. "Then I'll just start by killing them one by one."

She suddenly vanished in a blur, a ghostly flash of speed heading straight for her target: Usopp.

Crap!

Luffy's heart sank. He shot forward at full speed, but Kaguya was far too fast. Before he could react, she was already standing before Usopp.

"Aaaaaah!" Usopp screamed in terror, falling back on his butt and scrambling away.

"So this is the famous Sniper King?" Kaguya said playfully. "Doesn't look like much. I guess I'll start with you."

She raised her hand. A black and red sword appeared in her grip.

Just then, Usopp, panicked but quick, pulled out his slingshot and fired in one smooth motion. "Idiot! Take this! The great God Usopp's special bullet! Must-kill Firebird Star!"

A black projectile shot out and exploded mid-air, transforming into a blazing firebird that flew straight toward Kaguya.

"Hmph, think you can take me out? You're a hundred years too early!" Usopp said smugly. "I've been through hellish training—no way I'd go down that easi—"

"Is this your idea of a circus act?"

A melodic voice interrupted. Usopp blinked and turned his head, and what he saw made his eyes nearly pop out.

The firebird he took such pride in was now clenched in Kaguya's hand. She crushed it effortlessly. The flames scattered into ashes.

Usopp's face turned pale. He frantically dug into his pouch for more ammo and fired rapidly.

"Must-kill Green Star: Carnivorous Plant!"

"Must-kill Green Star: Sleep Herb!"

"Must-kill Green Star: Bamboo Javelin Barrage!"

A flurry of colorful projectiles shot through the air, exploding mid-flight into a swarm of carnivorous plants with gaping maws, all lunging toward Kaguya.

"Is this the extent of your circus tricks?" Kaguya said, her face expressionless. "You should consider joining a carnival. That's where your talent belongs. To think these petty tricks could defeat me—are you trying to insult me?"

She gripped her sword tightly and swung her arm. A slash of pitch-black light tore through the air like a tidal wave.

"Excalibur."

BOOM!

The deafening roar resounded as the dark light swept forth.

At the same time, a figure was blasted backward, slamming into a wall with a loud crash, debris flying in all directions.

He was in terrible shape—his clothes were tattered, black smoke rose from his body, and he reeked of burning. After taking a direct hit from "Excalibur," it was a miracle he wasn't dead.

"Usopp!" Luffy shouted in panic. Air burst from beneath his feet as he sped up to rush to his friend's side. But before he could get close, pain shot through his chest. He clutched his heart and plummeted from the sky, crashing hard into the ground.

Crap!

Zoro immediately realized something was wrong. This was a sign of Haki and stamina depletion. Luffy had exhausted too much energy in his fight against Doflamingo, and now the side effects were showing.

Zoro sprang into action, launching himself forward like an arrow from a bow, racing toward Kaguya.

Kaguya raised a brow. "Don't get in my way."

With a wave of her arm, golden ripples materialized in the air, from which a storm of swords, spears, and blades emerged. A rain of weapons came down upon Zoro like lightning.

"So annoying."

Zoro held both swords firm and, gritting his teeth, slashed upward with a flurry of spinning winds.

"Three Sword Style: 108-Pound Phoenix!"

Clang clang clang!

A symphony of metallic clashes rang out as Zoro's whirlwind of blade energy deflected the incoming rain. He tried to charge forward, but the endless storm of blades blocked his path.

"A third-rate swordsman trying to make noise?" Kaguya sneered. "I guess it makes sense. You're just a band of nobodies."

"Damn it!" Zoro growled through clenched teeth. "As long as I'm here, you won't hurt my friends!"

Kaguya gave him a dismissive glance. "Let's talk when you can break through my Treasury of the King."

She looked down at Luffy, who lay exhausted on the ground, and smiled. "You care about your friends so much. I wonder what you'll do if they all die in front of you."

Luffy forced his eyes open, struggling to raise his head. "You... can't... hurt my friends..."

"Is that so?" Kaguya said playfully. "Then I'm very sorry."

She smiled faintly. And before the eyes of Luffy, Zoro, and the others—wide with shock—she raised her sword and plunged it into Usopp's body.

Lying on the ground, Luffy widened his eyes and struggled to lift himself, crying out in agony, "Usopp!"

Nearby, Zoro and the citizens watching the live broadcast were equally shocked. Many covered their mouths, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.

"Usorando!" The Tontatta dwarves were especially frantic, racing toward Usopp's side.

Kaguya drew her sword, a trail of blood following its withdrawal. She turned with a calm smile. "It's just one more dead weakling. What's all the fuss about? Don't worry, you'll be joining him soon enough."

"How dare you hurt my comrade!" Zoro roared, veins bulging from his forehead. "You've got to be kidding me!"

With a loud stomp, the ground beneath him cracked as he launched forward like an arrow. In a blink, he was in front of Kaguya.

"Go to hell!"

He let out a battle cry, slashing down both swords like lightning.

"Sending me to hell?" Kaguya sneered. "With just that?"

She raised her arm, her sword meeting his strike in a burst of sparks.

Clang!

Their weapons collided violently, a brilliant shower of sparks erupting on contact.

What incredible strength!

Zoro's eyes narrowed. He'd used all his power, plus the momentum from his descent, yet she blocked him with ease.

"Haaaah!"

Zoro shouted, spinning rapidly. He raised both swords high, crossing them before bringing them down in an arc.

"Purgatory Oni Giri!"

But Kaguya suddenly looked up, her tone cold. "Enough with these cheap tricks. Trying to use such crude swordplay against me—are you insulting me?"

What?!

Zoro's eyes widened.

Suddenly, Kaguya vanished in a flash.

"You think you can be the world's greatest swordsman like this? Don't make me laugh."

A chilling voice echoed in his ear.

"What?!"

Zoro was shocked. Kaguya had somehow appeared behind him like a ghost. Her sword slashed down in a fierce arc.

At the last second, Zoro gritted his teeth, twisted his body, and crossed his blades in front of his chest. The black-and-red sword clashed with his defense.

CLANG!

A deafening crash rang out. Sparks flew as Zoro was hurled downward like a cannonball, smashing into the ground with a thunderous boom.

Debris scattered. Dust choked the air.

Zoro's eyes bulged. Blood welled up and spilled from his mouth.

But before he could recover, a cold flash of sword light pierced the haze, shooting toward him with terrifying speed.

Zoro's pupils shrank. He stomped the ground, leapt backward, and raised his sword to intercept.

Clang!

A crisp, sharp sound rang out. A powerful shock traveled through Zoro's sword, numbing his grip and almost knocking the blade from his hands.

His body was thrown backward uncontrollably, sliding more than ten meters before finally coming to a stop. Cold sweat poured down his back as he looked up.

What incredible swordsmanship!

Zoro panted heavily, sweat beading on his brow. His arms felt weak and heavy. Just a few exchanges had already exhausted him.

"Such shallow swordsmanship," Kaguya stepped from the haze, her voice cold. "Thinking you could defeat me with this? Come back after training for a hundred more years."

With that, she stomped forward. Her form flashed like a streak of lightning, darting straight toward him.

Gritting his teeth, Zoro gripped his twin swords tighter, launching himself to meet her.

Clang!

Sparks flew.

Their blades collided again in a flurry of violent strikes.

Kaguya's swordplay was swift and ruthless, her strikes raining down like a tempest. Zoro responded with powerful, sweeping swings, his aura fierce and commanding.

Metal clashed against metal in a frenzy, sparks lighting up their duel.

But it didn't take long for Zoro to falter. Her swordsmanship was uncanny, precise and swift. She struck at his weakest points as if she could read his every move. Each attack forced him to block mid-strike, breaking the rhythm of his offense. The frustration was suffocating.

What is going on?

Cold sweat streamed down his forehead. He had three swords, she only had one—yet he couldn't keep up.

Noticing his doubt, Kaguya smirked. "Who said more swords means better swordsmanship? This isn't just about quantity."

Zoro's eyes narrowed.

At that moment, a flash of black and red light pierced through his defensive arc, darting toward his chest.

Crap!

Startled, Zoro stomped the ground to halt his momentum and darted backward.

But her blade stuck to him like a shadow, closing in no matter how he dodged.

Clenching his teeth, Zoro's eyes sharpened.

Looks like I have to use that technique.

He stilled his breath, biting down on the third sword while his arms crossed his blades. A massive wave of energy surged from within, forming a violent whirlwind around him.

A dark haze cloaked his three swords—the manifestation of Armament Haki.

"Three Sword Style Secret Technique," Zoro's eyes flashed with icy resolve, "Ichidai Sanzen Daisen Sekai!"

With his cry, an overwhelming silver slash tore through the air like a bolt of lightning, speeding toward Kaguya in a flash.

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