"The Swordsman Against Death"

"The Swordsman Against Death"

"Where do you think Kara went?" asked Chopper as he ran alongside Zoro behind the others.

"No idea, but she looked pretty serious. Let her handle her own stuff," Zoro said calmly.

As everyone ran, they noticed someone ahead of them walking slowly, almost lazily, while dragging a sword by a thread tied to its handle.

"Ah, death. The end of life and illusions, the end of dreams and failures. The beginning of an eternal punishment for sinners. Facing death is like receiving the embrace of an old friend. Why don't all criminals want to accept that embrace with a smile?" he said while looking at the Straw Hats, who stopped, staring at him in confusion.

The man wore an elegant white suit and a mask that hid his face. The mask was painted with a face full of sadness, along with painted tears.

"Who are you?" asked Luffy quickly.

"Me? It doesn't matter what my name is. After death, it won't matter to anyone. But for you who want to know, I can be considered... your death," the man said as he raised the rope, making his sword dangle, and with his other hand, he hesitated before taking it, staring at it intently.

"A sword. A weapon meant to kill. Once in the hands of a killer, there's no turning back. This filthy weapon will be used to send you where you belong," he said as he gripped it tightly, then drew it from its sheath, gazing at the Straw Hats.

"That's something pretty ruthless for a sword. If you consider yourself a swordsman, it should be your companion, not just a tool for killing," said Zoro as he walked to the front of the group and drew both of his swords from their sheaths.

"A samurai? Masters of swords. Weapons used to kill. Filthy weapons for killing... but useful for dirty work," the man said as he looked at Zoro with interest. "I'll have to kill you and then destroy those filthy swords so no one else dies by their blades. Only my sword has permission to kill," he said quickly while launching a flying slash that cut the ground in its path.

"A quick death is the only thing I can offer you," he said as he watched his slash advance.

But Zoro quickly brought both swords together and launched his own flying slash, clashing with the other's and canceling them both out.

"Why do you stop it? You should embrace death with joy," the man said in a voice full of annoyance.

"Don't say nonsense," Zoro replied quickly as he prepared to fight. "You guys, go ahead."

"Sure!" Luffy said as he led the others away.

"As I said, I am death. No one escapes death," said "Death" as he quickly moved, disappearing from the others' sight and appearing in front of Nami, ready to cut her. But before he could, a flying slash rushed toward him, forcing him to quickly jump back.

"Hey. I'm your opponent," Zoro said as he ran toward Death with a grin under his mask.

"Aaah, insolent. Stopping death's work," Death said angrily while glaring at Zoro.

"Run!" Chopper shouted to the others as they continued on their way.

After a few seconds, the others had disappeared while Zoro and Death stared at each other.

"Sigh. Just let me send you to where you belong. Since you're a sinner, it's surely to hell," Death said with delight.

"Sorry, I'm not fond of hot places," Zoro quickly said and charged at him, slashing with both swords at the same time.

But Death raised his sword and blocked them easily while still staring intensely at Zoro.

"Swords meant for killing shouldn't be pointed at death," he said while, with his free hand, he aimed a finger at Zoro's chest.

"Shigan!" he shouted, trying to stab his heart.

Zoro quickly moved to the side while lowering one of his swords to cut the arm trying to stab him. But just when it was about to make contact, the spot where his sword touched turned black, stopping the cut.

Zoro was surprised but moved his sword toward Death's neck, only for the same thing to happen.

"A slash to the neck? Foolish, trying to kill death," Death said while looking at him with disdain.

Zoro took some distance while staring intently at Death.

"Armament Haki," he said with a bit of understanding. After all, he had been training with Zephyr for a week, and the latter had explained Haki to him well. Although Zoro could barely use Observation Haki, he hadn't even stepped into the threshold of Armament Haki yet.

"Quick Slash: Massacre," Death said as he swung his sword rapidly, launching several flying slashes toward Zoro.

Zoro had to jump multiple times, dodging the slashes moving at high speed.

Then, Death appeared in front of Zoro while swinging his sword horizontally at his chest.

"Maguma," Zoro said as he positioned his swords vertically to defend against the attack.

But the slash was so powerful that Zoro was sent flying.

"Tsk. Looks like I have to train Armament Haki when I get back," he said as he looked from the ground at Death, who was preparing another attack.

"Quick Shot: Hundred Spears," Death said as he thrust his sword forward, and the tip of the blade, as if they were bullets, flew toward Zoro, who was still in the air.

Seeing the air bullets quickly approaching, Zoro focused while breathing deeply. Then, with both swords in hand, he began cutting each bullet as he moved his arms swiftly.

He then landed on the ground, softening the fall with his bent legs. Using that momentum, he rushed at Death at full speed.

"Outourou!" he shouted as he slashed downward with both swords, directing the attacks at Death.

Death swung his sword forcefully in a horizontal motion, destroying both attacks, but Zoro kept advancing and was close enough to strike him with his swords.

"Nigiri," he said as he touched the ground and swung both swords horizontally to cut Death.

Once again, the sound of striking Armament Haki was heard, but only from one of his swords, specifically the one aimed at Death's neck. However, the one that aimed at his stomach left a large, bloody gash.

"You bastard!" Death shouted as he lifted his left foot. "Rankyaku!" he yelled as a slash came from his leg, grazing Zoro's mask and leaving a cut on it.

"Seems like you're not that skilled at Armament Haki," Zoro said as he took some distance, realizing Death could only protect one part of his body at a time.

"Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!" Death started repeating while staring at the blood dripping from his stomach in fury.

"Hey, did you break?" Zoro said, looking at Death, confused.

"Soru!" Death appeared in front of Zoro. "Rankyaku!" He quickly lifted his leg, aiming a kick directly at Zoro's chest.

But Zoro ducked to avoid the slash from the kick. Then he saw Death spinning after the kick, his sword approaching, trying to stab him right in the neck, so he had to roll to the side.

"Rankyaku: Massacre!" Death shouted as he used the spin for momentum, lifting his leg again and launching alternating flying slashes with each spin.

Zoro saw several flying slashes approaching, so he started moving sideways, dodging them while trying to get closer to Death to attack. Some of those slashes grazed Zoro, leaving marks on his samurai armor and also on his skin.

"Sai Kuru!" Zoro said, creating a small whirlwind that rushed toward Death, who was filled with rage and full of openings.

This attack distracted Death, who stopped to dodge. Then, Zoro appeared in front of him with both swords horizontal.

"If it worked before..." he murmured. "Nigiri!" He used the same attack as before.

Since Death was completely distracted, two gashes appeared on his chest, blood pouring out.

"Damn, damn, aaah!" he screamed in fury, filled with pain.

Then he turned with his sword to strike Zoro and saw that he was about to make another attack, but he had no time to defend himself.

"IAI: Rashomon!" Zoro used the same attack he had previously used to slice the carriage in half. Death fell to the ground, dead.

"Sigh. Kara said we shouldn't harm the Marines too much since they're just following orders, but this guy doesn't seem like a Marine," Zoro said as he looked at the body covered in cuts. "Tsk. I also need to improve my Observation Haki," he said with some annoyance. Then he began running in a certain direction... well, actually in any direction, since the others were too far away to follow them.

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