This retelling takes place in the Sabaody Archipelago Arc before Rayleigh comes to save Zoro, but after Kizaru steps on Zoro to stop him from moving. You may be able to tell after this first chapter, that I am basically changing the outcome completely to the way that makes Zoro even more badass. If you love Zoro and don't really care how much I change this episode arc, well… you're going to love this story.

Chapter 1

Killer Instincts

"Zoro!" Luffy, the captain of the Straw Hat crew, screamed with all his might.

This was a desperate time for the Straw Hats. In all of their years battling evil and such, they have never witnessed one of their own being killed. Fear and hopelessness was in the atmosphere, and no one could stop it. No one.

"Hey, he can fire beams too!" Franky informed everybody, but it seems they all learned it the hard way. "This is bad! We've gotta do something!" He gestured towards Zoro. "If he's hit at such a close range, he'll die!"

Kizaru's foot was growing brighter and brighter, just above Zoro's head. Usopp and Brooke, whom have stood helplessly, couldn't figure out what to do.

"Oh no!" Luffy screamed, the terror cracking his voice. "Zoro's in trouble!" Luffy turned to see Usopp staring at Zoro and Kizaru with wide eyes and a trembling body. He was almost scared to death.

"Usopp!" Luffy's voice cried out, causing the natural perm sniper to jump with the sudden realization of his fear. Usopp could immediately tell what his captain was trying to order him to do.

"You… Stop it!" he yelled to the marine, pulling back his slingshot. "Why, you…!" He let go of the rubber, but his bullet went right through Kizaru. Usopp, terribly confused and helpless, shot at him over and over again.

"Damnit! Why?" Usopp yelled to no one in particular. Brooke charged forward and stabbed Kizaru, but even his sword went right through him and didn't phase the marine.

"I can't stab him either! What do we do?" Brooke asked, obviously terrified as well. Both Usopp and Brooke continued to fire, but to no avail. Zoro was still on the ground beneath the admiral's foot, feeling death creep upon his shoulders.

"That's no use," Kizaru spoke with a calm tone in his voice, but loud enough for everyone to hear. "I ate the Pika-Pika fruit, I'm a light man. I'm a Logia."

Nami gasped and covered her mouth with both hands. She was trembling wildly and she couldn't stop it.

"You're kidding, right? He's gonna die!" Nami cried, feeling afraid for her nakama. However, being hundreds of feet away, she, Franky, Luffy, Chopper, and Robin were of no use. Only Usopp and Brooke could even have a chance of saving their swordsman, but even they had no idea what to do.

"Zoro!" Chopper screamed, tears streaming down his furry face. "Run! Zoro!"

Zoro, who had been in and out of this whole situation, heard Chopper's desperate cry. He attempted to lift his face off the ground, immense pain following such a simple movement.

My body… won't… he thought, struggling just to breathe.

"It's no use!" Sanji said, frowning. "That guy is at his limit already!"

From almost a mile away, Robin crossed her arms and chanted, "Veinte Fleur!"

Her arms suddenly grabbed Zoro and began to roll him away from the marine admiral.

Usopp let out a heavy sigh and grinned. "Nice thinking, Robin!"

However, the second Usopp congratulated her with a job well done, Kizaru disappeared and then reappeared above Zoro again, stomping down on his back before Robin could bring him any further away. Robin frowned, her arms desperately trying to pull Zoro, but the marine's weight was too much. All the while, the admiral had not moved from his position of raising one leg in the air, in which was glowing, about to shoot a beam at Zoro.

"He just… got over there in an instant!" Usopp yelled, gripping his slingshot tighter. Things seemed even more hopeless.

"I won't let you get away," Kizaru's easy-going voice rang out, striking fear in every Straw Hat crew member around. "It's useless. You'll die now."

That was when it was obvious he was going to shoot the beam. Hope had disappeared. Only fear remained. Zoro, however, felt a little different than everyone else.

Regret.

Now he would never become the strongest swordsman, as he had promised. Would Zoro truly break a promise to someone who was currently dead? He was disgusted with only the thought. He didn't want to die. No. Not yet. He had to keep his promise! He had to. If he didn't, well… you could say that he would much rather bite off his own tongue.

Kuina.

Would he see her when the marine admiral shot the light beam? Hopefully. He really didn't want to die and not see her. But then again, he wouldn't be able to face her. After all the years he's been killing, he could at least show his enemies some pride and become the strongest swordsman. It's odd how much one little childhood promise can change the course of your life so much. He didn't want to die. It was as simple as that.

And that was when something broke. Something snapped. It could not be heard, but Zoro definitely felt it. He heard his heartbeat pulse in his ears and his eyes widened at a wide range. You could say that Zoro broke.

Zoro reached up, gripping Kizaru's ankle, and punched it with his other fist. You might be thinking, a punch could hardly do much to a Logia man, but, Zoro had just broke the man's ankle. Blood spurted from his ankle and the light from his raised foot disappeared.

"Zoro!" Usopp cried, suddenly aware that his nakama was moving and on top of that… fighting. However, his happiness deflated quickly when he looked down at Zoro's face. His eyes widened at the sight and his knees finally gave way to fear. "… Zoro?"

There was a sadistic smile spread from ear to ear on Zoro's face. His eyes were happily wide and trembling, as if he himself were scared and happy at the same time. Zoro's common sense had broken, and only his killer instincts remained.