Chapter 6: World Greatest Swordsmen? Wait, MEN?!
Dracule Mihawk has one of the coolest designs in the whole One Piece universe. I'm not sure what is it, but the way the coat, the hat and even the shoes all seems to scream badass. When he first appeared on the screen, he became one of my favourite character design ever, next to Erza Scarlet and maybe Todoroki. Nothing can beat fucking GARcher Emiya though. He is the definite number one!
But I'm getting off topic here. The point is, Mihawk is cool. He is the definition of the best in this world. If Whitebeard stands for sheer might, Mihawk stands for sheer skill.
And I can see it from him, it radiates off him.
I can't stop looking at him. Man, Oda is amazing for creating such a character, but he failed to completely capture the sheer terror of his eyes. Those eyes, it looks so unnatural yet natural at the same time. It's not hard to see how terrifying he can be just by standing and glaring.
"Don Krieg, it's him! The one who destroyed our fleet!"
"He followed us all the way out here! He's come to kill all of us!"
"That bastard…!" Don Krieg muttered in shock.
"I-It can't be… is that…?" Zoro stutters, he stuttered! "…the 'hawk-eyed man'…?"
"He's… the one who sank a fleet of fifty ships?" Patty asked confused.
"Then… he's the one who destroyed Krieg's ship just now…" Carne added.
"He looks like any normal guy…" One of the chefs commented, "And he doesn't seems to be carrying any unique weapons on him…"
"If it's the weapon, it's on his back." Zeff tells them.
"Wait, what?! You mean he cut down that gigantic galleon with just a sword?!"
"Yes, that hawk-eyed man is a renowned swordsman." He explained, "More renowned than any other swordsmen in the entire world."
"Damn it! What did we ever do to you?!" One of the pirates shouted at him, "Why the hell do you have to follow us all the way out here?!"
"…Just to kill some time."
Man, the fact that he says that so nonchalantly is scary.
"That's bullshit!" The pirate pointed and fired his pistols at him, the bullet calmly passed by him when he used his sword. I didn't even see him draw it! Damn, it's just scary. The fact that he did that and the fact that it could be physically possible for someone to actually do it.
And Zoro wants to become like him?!
"Wha- it missed him?!"
"He deflected it." Zoro stated standing behind the group of pirates. When did he get there, I didn't see him move! "It'll be the same no matter how many times you shoot. He changes the bullet's trajectory with just the tip of his blade. I've never seen such graceful movements."
"A sword without grace is not a strong sword." Mihawk explained.
"Did you cut this ship with that sword as well?"
"Yes, I did."
"No wonder… you really are the strongest!" Zoro said, "I've set sail to meet you!"
"Oh? And what're your aim?"
He undid his bandana around his arm and tied it around his head, "To be the Strongest!" He drew out his sword, "You said you want to kill some time, yes? So let's have a duel."
"That idiot! Didn't I say it is too early?!" Sen grumbled, "Even if you wish to reach the top, there's no need to rush in like that!"
"I doubt he would listen to reason…" I muttered. His goal is right in front of him. His greatest and possibly only chance to fulfil his dream. He wouldn't let it slip by.
"Pitiful…" Mihawk scoffed, "If you're a competent swordsman by any means, then I can demonstrate the clear difference in strength between you and I without the need to cross blades. But still, you dare to challenge me. Does your bravery come from your conviction… or your ignorance?"
"It comes from my ambition." Zoro stated, putting the Wado Ichimonji in his mouth as he draw out his other two swords, "And a promise to a friend." He took his stance, swords poise to strike, "But to be honest, I never thought I'd be able to meet you so soon."
"A waste, if you ask me." Mihawk sighed, sheathing his Yoru and taking his pendant off of his neck. He then pulls out a small knife from it.
"Just what are you planning on doing with that?"
"I'm different from all those brutes that go all out just to hunt a mere rabbit." He explained, "Though you may be a renowned swordsman, this is the East Blue, the weakest of the four seas separated via the Red Line and Grand Line. Unfortunately, I do not have any blade smaller than this at the moment."
Wow, that just sounds really cocky. If I didn't know his real strength, I would have call him out as a bluff.
"There's a limit to how much you can underestimate me!" Zoro growled, charging forwards with his swords, "You better not regret it when you die!"
"Hear me little frog, it's time you realise that the world is larger than it seems from your well."
"Three-sword style: Demon Cutter!"
Zoro slashes forward, but all his swords are stopped right at its tracks by a well-timed stab. To see such defiance of physics, I guess if you have the will, you can break the laws of physics like it was nothing.
The pirate hunter roars out (Now that I've seen it, his sword never left his mouth the entire time he talked) before clashing once more, all his strikes all parried away by Mihawk's knife. He even manages to push him on to his back one time.
The strikes became more desperate with each following strike. Less focus and more wild. Zoro is losing, I can see it, but to see it so one-sided…
"What burdens you so…?" Mihawk asked, "What do you still desire at the extent of your strength, weaking?"
He pushes him back once more, Zoro getting back and getting into another stance, "Tiger Trap!" He rushed forward, but before his swords could even connect, Mihawk entered and stabbed him in the chest.
"B-BRO!-!"
At first, I thought he was going to fall backwards, but the pirate hunter stood his ground, not moving an inch.
"Do you wish for me to pierce your heart?" Mihawk questioned, "Why do you refuse to step back?"
"Beats me…" Zoro panted out, "Not really sure myself… but I get the feeling… that if I take even one step back right now, I'll lose something very important to me… an oath, a promise or whatever it is, it would be irreversibly broken. And I'd never be able to return back to where I'm standing right now…"
"Yes, such is defeat."
"Haha, I see… then that's why I can't step back."
"Even if it means your death?"
"I'd much rather die."
Mihawk's eyes widen for just a moment, before pulling out his knife and sheathing it, "Kid, tell me your name."
"Roronoa Zoro." The pirate hunter positions his swords forward, as such his blades formed a somewhat of a tripod.
"I shall remember it, for you strength is not often seen in this world." The greatest swordsman then proceeds to pull out his sword, I can feel the atmosphere completely change. It's the end, the last bout. "And to pay my respects to such strength, from one swordsman to another, I shall end this duel with my Black Sword, the world's strongest sword."
Zoro take his stance, just as Mihawk rushed forward with his sword ready to strike, and his spun his swords, "Three-Sword Style, Secret Art: Three Thousand Worlds!" He then dashed forward to meet the attack.
The exchange was instantaneous. In a second, Zoro's swords broke, cuts appeared all over his chest. It was over.
"To think that he made Mihawk go serious for even a moment…" Sen muttered with a smirk.
Zoro sheathes the Wado Ichimonji, before facing Mihawk with his arms to the stretched out.
"What is this?"
"A wound on one's back is the shame of a swordsman."
"…Splendid!"
And with that, Mihawk slashes down on his chest. Blood sprayed all over, his body slowly falling backwards, and I then remembered what was going to happen. I immediately took off my shirt and jumped into the waters, ignoring Sen's cries as I dived.
I ignored the coldness and tries to find him. With luck, I saw a small inkling of a bloody cloud not far from here. I swam as fast as I could, barely managing to grab onto his arm before began my ascent. Johnny and Yosaku just dived in just as I'm about to break surface, they awkwardly swam aside allowing me to do just that, I inhaling as much as air as I could when I did.
I can feel his wounds, and the amount of blood leaking from him isn't healthy at all! How did this not paralysed him at all?!
"Quick, get him on the boat!" Usopp urged me, I swam up to the boat with Zoro in tow. With Yosaku and Johnny's help, we manages to get him on board just as the sniper took out a first aid kit, "Quick, apply the medicine to his wounds!"
"I am Dracule Mihawk!" Mihawk calls out, "It's much too early for you to die. Know thy self! Know thy world! And become Strong, Roronoa Zoro! No matter how many months or years passed, I shall stand here, at the top of the world and wait for you! So forge on ahead with that fierce conviction and try to surpass my sword!"
"Surpass me! Roronoa!"
I would have fanboy/girl so hard right then, if weren't for the near-dead Zoro on the floor in front of me. I manages to pick up stitching up wounds from Sen, but this is the first time I did it to someone else. With a steadiest hand I can muster, I slowly starts stitch up the large gaping wound on his chest.
"Usopp! Is Zoro alright?!" Luffy asked.
"Like hell he is!" Usopp cried, "But he'll live! Rein here is stitching up his wounds now!"
"Bro…!"
"Bro, please answer us!"
"Would the both of you shut the fuck up?!" I screamed at them. Damn, it's hard enough to do this on the swaying boat, but their crying is making it hard to concentrate!
And then, Zoro suddenly lift up Wado Ichimonji (When did he unsheathe the damn thing?!), and starts coughing out blood, "L-Luffy… can you hear me…?"
"Yeah!"
"Sorry for worrying you… I know… that if I don't become… the world's greatest Swordsman, it will only embarrass you…!" He coughed out some more blood as I try to get him to stay still, "I swear! I swear that I'm never going to lose again! Until the day I fight him and win… I swear! I won't lose again! Any problems with that, King of the Pirates?!"
"Shishishi, nope!" Luffy laughed.
"Yeah, yeah, it's beautiful and all that, but stop moving!" I cried, "It's hard enough to stitch you up as it is!"
"Hawk-eyes!" Krieg called him out, "Did you come all the way out here for my head? The head of the infamous ruler of the East Blue, Don Krieg?!"
"For while there, yes." Mihawk stated "But I've enjoyed myself plenty now, so I'll like to return to my nap."
"Wait, wait, wait right there!" Sen shouted, I looked a bit to notice him walking up to the swordsman with an angry scowl, "Before you even think of leaving, at least pay for my boat that YOU wrecked!"
"Hey, what's your mentor doing?!" Usopp asked, "He's going to get himself killed!"
"I… don't know. But I doubt he would kill him that easily." I tells him.
"…" Mihawk turned around and with one swift stroke, he drew Yoru and swings it down at Sen. He sighed a little before blocking the strike with his sword still sheathed, the shockwave of the clash rocking the waters slightly.
"Is that your answer to everything?!" He cried, "It's just a thousand belis!"
"…I'll pay you later."
"That's what you said the last time!" He pushes the sword back before wielding his sword by the sheath.
"…If you win."
"Just admit you don't have money on you!"
Without another word, the two starts clashing with each other, and I'm completely caught off-guard. I knew that Sen is good, but not good enough to take on Mihawk one-on-one! No wait, I think he's barely putting any effort at all!
"Whoa, your mentor is taking on Mihawk like it is nothing…!" Usopp commented.
"Hey! Quit ignoring me!" Krieg shouted as he unloads all of his rounds at them, the two of them took notice and leaped off. The bullets all took hit on the planks harmlessly just as Mihawk boards his boat.
"Next time, Sen." He stated as he slashes the water hard, creating a misty cover while shaking the waters again. I actually lose balanced and landed face first into Zoro's bare chest.
"Usopp! Go on ahead!" Luffy tells him.
"Alright!" The sniper calls back holding the signature straw hat, "Zoro and I'll definitely get Nami back! So you make sure to get us a cook! Once we have all five members, let's head to the Grand Line!" He tossed the hat right at him.
"Yeah! Let's!" Luffy shouted back, catching the hat.
"Rein, here's your belongings!" Sen called out, as a rucksack is tossed towards me as I barely catches it. "You go on ahead! I'll catch up!"
"Okay! You take care too!"
Soon enough, the Baratie disappeared over the horizon. I manages to stitch up most of the wounds, Johnny and Yosaku now sterilizing and bandaging up the green-haired swordsman. But now that that is done, that left me with Usopp looking at me curiously.
"Um… sorry for intruding, I supposed?"
"Okay, where in the East Blue did you came from?!" He cried, "First you punched Don fucking Krieg in the face, then your mentor goes toe-to-toe with the WORLD's greatest Swordsman, seriously?! Are you guys all monsters? Are you a monster?!"
"Well, Sen is technically a monster…" He is a dragon, after all…
"Either way, who are you guys?" He asked.
"Oh, I'm Rein. Me and Sen are just wanderers." I tells him, "We travelled aimlessly across the seas, mostly just sightseeing and all that."
"Wanderers…?" Usopp muttered with confusion, "In this era?"
"We mostly avoided pirates as much as we could."
"B-But still, why did you save Zoro? You barely know him!" He stated.
"No, but I want to see him succeed."
"Eh?"
Now how do I play this…? Might as well starts with the truth, "He and Luffy inspired me, their declarations and conviction actually moved me. It makes me want to see him accomplish his dreams. He and Luffy both…"
"Wow…" He muttered before taking on a bravado, "Well! They can't do anything without my help! For I am Captain Usopp for a thousand men!"
"You're lying."
"Ah! You found out?!"
"See?"
"Ah damn it! Caught again!"
I laughed slightly, if this is what it's like being on board the Straw Hats, I don't mind. As long as Sanji keeps his distance.
"Sis! We can't thank you enough!" Johnny said happily.
"Yeah! Thank you sis! We owe you big time!" Yosaku added in.
"Um… no problem, I guess?" Sis? When was I 'sis' to them…?
"Allow us to introduce ourselves!" They stated, standing back up into their poses, "We are Yosaku and Johnny! The bounty hunters whose names can just barely stopped babies crying! Pleased to make your acquaintance, Big Sis Rein!"
"Um… please to make your acquaintance too…" This is going to be so awkward… "So, where are we heading?"
After a couple of days of sailing, with an incident where Yosaku is attacked by a pandashark (I'm still surprised with how that happened. It's so out of nowhere!), we made it our destination.
Arlong Park.
Oda once again shows his artist prowess in this, the architecture of the place looked equally intimidating and goofy at the same time. With the pagoda-like building in the middle with the shark heads on the roof. Not to mention the stone walls surrounding the place with the name 'Arlong Park' written boldly for all to see.
"We've arrived but…" Johnny muttered.
"The real problem is from here." Usopp stated, "First, let's try to find where Nami docked the ship…"
"And then cut our way in?" Guess who said that?
"As if!" Johnny yelled.
"Are you an idiot?! We don't have the slightest clue of what's going on yet!" Usopp chimed in.
"Ah! Wait, before you bring out the ropes…" I tells them, the two of them already starting to tie Zoro to the mast, "… you know what, do as you will."
"Traitor!" Zoro screamed as the two cowards tied him firmly.
When they are doing that, I take first duty to take watch with the binoculars. After a few minutes of background screaming, I saw the familiar goat ship, "Hey, I think I found your ship."
"Really?" Usopp takes the watch glass from me, "…You're right, it's the Going Merry!"
"Hey! What's the meaning of this?! Untie me this instant!"
"Hmm… from what I can tell…" Johnny checked the map, "That's a strange place to dock a ship. It's a little off from a village called Cocoyashi."
"Oi! I said untie me!"
"Now, now, Zoro, enough already." Usopp tells his crewmate, "Look at yourself. You're about to faint just from talking!" He panted the bandaged part to prove his point, "You're just an inch away from death, remember? Just leave the rest to me! I'll bring back Nami no sweat!"
"You're oddly chipper, now that we're not going into Arlong Park…" Johnny stated.
"Starboard to Going Merry! Bring me up right next to her!"
"Aye aye…"
"Alright! The adventure about to unfold as I bravely step on these virgin lands will hereby be known as 'The Warrior Usopp's Great Adventure'! Fitting title, eh, Johnny?"
"Aye aye…"
Aren't he full of dramatics? But seriously, this is bad. I have no idea what I should do here. I could abandon Zoro along with Usopp and Johnny, and I might be able to meet Nojiko and handle the plot from there. But I would be abandoning Zoro.
I could get captured along with Zoro and then escape together with them, but then I won't know how Arlong is going to react to my presence. I've haven't meet Nami herself yet so the friend card is out. Maybe I can find a way to trick him…?
"The hell are you just passing by for?!" Zoro screamed, getting shushed by Johnny and Usopp.
Huh? I missed the fishmen? That's a shame, I kind of want to see what they looked like in real-life.
"Didn't you see them?! There were fishmen! The Arlong Pirates for crying out loud!" Usopp whispered-shouted, "I'm freaking scared out of my wits! You got a problem with that?!"
"The one who should be mad is me…" Zoro stated, "And Rein! Untie me already!"
"Nope, not risking it." Seriously, how is he still conscious?! He have lost way too much blood to be healthy!
"It's no good… this entire region seems to be under Arlong's control." Johnny stated, "What should we do, Brother Usopp?"
"Well, now that we know we can't bring Nami back…"
"Just hurry up and untie me you idiots!"
I then took notice of the unnatural splashing in the water, the fishmen seems to be swimming towards us. "Um, is that bad?"
"GAH! Abandon ship!" Usopp screamed as he and Johnny leaped into the water swimming away at top speed.
"Hey! You assholes, come back here!" Zoro screamed, "At least untie me first!"
…Staying with Zoro it is then.
"Heh heh, finally caught up to ya." One of the fishmen came aboard. If I were to describe what a fishmen looked like, it would be… uncanny. They looked human enough, but their skin looked more like scales and with the completely different jaw shape and the gills on their collar bones.
"Huh? It's just a couple."
Wait, what?!
"WE ARE NOT A COUPLE!" Zoro and I shouted.
"Could have fool us!" The fishman laughed, "Let me guess, your parents don't want you guys dating so you ran away from your boyfriend?"
"Fuck no!" I screamed. I liked Zoro, sure, but not like that! I'm still mentally a guy!
"Oh, a mouth on this one." He smirked, "Let's take them both to Arlong."
"Agreed."
…This better be worth it…
No, it's not.
"I told you already, I came here looking for a single woman!" Zoro stated angrily, "You half-fish mutant!"
"Oh? An inferior human dares to slight me…?" Arlong laughed, "I'll forgive you just this once, but don't you ever call us half-fish again!"
After being captured, me and Zoro are brought to Arlong Park to meet with the big man himself. They of course have to tie our arms to our back as prisoners and our weapons confiscated.
I just realized, I didn't even get a chance to use my sword against Don Krieg! Goddamn it!
"We fishmen are 'evolved humans' who gained the ability to breathe in the sea. With our abilities, we're beings of a higher order compared to you puny humans!"
Arlong is… peculiar to say the least. It have the same physic as the other fishmen, but you can tell the shark genes from him. His large sharp teeth to unusual jawbones, he more of an alien than fish, to be honest.
I tuned out most of his higher-than-thou speech and starts to strategize on how to escape. I doubt I can fight my way out, I'm not skilled enough to take on an army of fishmen. Maybe I can fool Arlong to letting me go? Or make use of Nami in some way?
"I'm sick of hearing you blab on about that pet theory of yours, Arlong."
A female voice caught my attention, I looked up to see Nami herself. Her cold look almost fool me into thinking her as a bitch she shows herself to be. But I got to admit, she looks rather beautiful for being only in her teens. No wonder that are a lot of porn of her.
"No need to make such a scary face, Nami!" Arlong laughed, "You're a different case of course! You're the Arlong Pirates' prized Cartographer! You make the most accurate nautical charts!"
"Of course! My brain is of a much higher order than any of yours!" She stated.
"Cartographer…? Oi, Nami!" Zoro cried, "Why the hell are you so chummy with these guys for?!"
"What? Are you three acquaintances?" Arlong asked.
"Don't be silly, he's just one of my victims." Nami stated, "I was able to swindle a huge fortune from these guys during my most recent haul. The girl though… I've never met before."
"Is that so?" Arlong chuckled, "She is quite a beauty, though. You hardly see human woman this fine. Mind if we keep her?"
"I'm no one's property!" I shouted at him, "Especially not to a racist fuck-face like you!"
"Hey, hey, this one's got quite a mouth!" He laughed. The others all starts laughing as well, "And Nami, girl! You completely got have him completely had! Shahahaha! This girl here would do anything for cold hard cash! Even forgetting the death of her own parent, and even her family! She's a cold-hearted witch!"
A slight crack in her mask is more than enough for me. Damn that Arlong, to think that he is stringing her along for all those years…!
"I see…" Zoro muttered, "Well, it's not like I really trusted her anyways. Wouldn't surprise me if she turned out to be a devilish cutthroat. Right from the beginning, I had a feeling you were a good-for-nothing woman."
"Hmph… well that makes things easier." Nami scoffed, "If you realised that I was only tricking you, then can you just give up on your treasure and my navigation skills and disappear already? You're an eyesore."
I took notice the look in his eyes, and then he leaped backwards into the water. I looked in shock, before remembering the same thing happening in the manga. It was his test for her, to see if she is truly the heartless bitch she shows herself to be.
And I know she isn't, as apparent as her face right now.
"So, you're going to let him drown?" I asked her.
"Come on, Nami. Just leave him." Arlong stated.
Without a second to lose, she kicks off her shoes and dived into the water. That leaves me alone with the fishmen, and I can see some looking at me lustfully. "Hey, Arlong, can we keep her?" One of the fishmen asked, "I mean, it's not like she's part of any of the villages here."
"Hm… I don't know." He muttered, "I would be nice to have someone to service us though."
Oh fuck that guy! I'm not touching him even if we're the last two people on the planet!
At that moment, before Arlong can make any decision, Nami and Zoro surfaces, the ginger-haired girl pulling him ashore with her. After a few exchanges, she punches him in the gut, completely disabling him.
"Hey Nami, what're you going to do with him?" Arlong asked.
"Lock him up for now!" Nami shouted, "Same with the girl! I'll deal with them later."
"Sure, whatever." He sighed.
"Arlong!" One of the fishmen that captured us ran in.
"What is it, my brother?"
"There was another long-nose human that got away!" He stated, "I think he's probably hiding in Cocoyashi Village somewhere…"
Oh right, Usopp! Crap, with any luck, he would do the same stupid shit he pulled in the manga. Not good…
"Cocoyashi…? It just so happened that I had some business to attend there." Arlong smirked, "Hey, you guys! Toss them into the prison. I'll handle them later."
"Yes, boss!"
A few stairs down later, they left me in a cell. The place isn't as dirty as I thought. A little dusty, but quite clean. I looked out into the corridors, noticing the lack of guards. They must be really confident that people can't get out of here, or that they almost never used the cells at all.
Either way, it's to my advantage. I wiggled my wrists a little, the knot slowly coming loose. These people need to work on their knot-tying, and maybe try new knots for female prisoners. Okay, almost free! Just a little more-
"Come on, man. Let's not do this."
"Relax. It's not like Arlong tells us not to do anything to the prisoners. We're just… interrogating her. That's all."
Oh hell no! If he means what I think he means… I quicken my pace, and just barely managed to slip out of the ropes. Yes! Now all I have to-
The cell's doors opened, "Oh beautiful-" I rushed at him before he could finish, aiming my fist at his face. But just a few moments, he grabbed my fist and twist my arm, locking my elbow to my back.
"Now, now… let's not do anything hasty, cutie." He smirked, "Wouldn't want that cute face to be bruised now."
"Let me go, you perverted fishes!"
"Now, that's just rude!" He stated as he turned my around and pushed me to the ground, I facing him as he mount me, "Allow me to educate you some manners."
Before he could do anything else though, a white sheathe is hit on his head knocking him out. The other one turned to see who it is and was knocked out as well. I looked up to see a mob of moss-green hair.
"Z-Zoro…?"
"You okay?" Zoro asked me.
"Y-Yeah…" I muttered as he pulled me up.
He looked over at the two fishmen knocked out, "Damn, these guys… why didn't you fight back?" He asked, "I mean, you sucker-punched Don fucking Krieg in the face."
"Hey! He's just a guy in armour!" I shouted back, "Those two aren't humans! Well, half-humans…"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Zoro sighed, "Anyway, I'm heading up top to deal with those freaks. I suggest you wait before head up."
"Oh, sure." I gave him a thumbs-up, "You do that."
Zoro gave me a scoff before running off down the corridor. That gave me some time to ponder on what just happened.
How could I let that happen to me?!
I trained with Sen so I wouldn't be a liability!
And yet, here I am! Being rescued like some damsel in distress!
I clenched my fists hard. No more. Not anymore! Next time, I'm going to show him!
Show him that I'm worthy of being under the same flag!
With that thought, I ran forward after Zoro.
…
To be continued…
There finish! And yeah, that is a rape scene… Sorry if that's out of the blue, but I did mention this one have some mature themes. Hopefully, I wrote that scene okay. Not so graphic, I hope…
So yeah, jump forward towards to the Arlong arc. I have that all worked out. So just wait and see.
With that, I thank you for reading this!
*Edit*: Okay, some people really, REALLY, don't like the rape scene, and to be honest, neither do I. It's just my tired-self making shit up as I go along… So, I removed it all together and rewrote some of the dialogue. Sorry if I offended some of you.