Chapter 26 – Zoro vs. Tom
The stream was peaceful and still and unknown to everyone a pair of eyes watched the events unfolding before them.
Zoro stood face to face with Tom, the gang had to win three out of five matches and unfortunately Pucho lost to Cormoran.
"I'll need to even this up." Grinned Zoro
"You'll fail just like you're friend, I'm stronger than Cormoran." Grinned Tom
"We'll see." Grinned Zoro
"Time to BEGIN!!" roared Tom as he raced at an amazing speed towards Zoro who swung a single sword at Tom, they flew by one another and halted a few feet apart.
"Your fast." Smiled Tom as he turned around and saw a large cut on Zoro's shoulder "But it looks like am faster."
"You think so?" asked Zoro "You missed something."
Tom was shocked to find his cheek was cut and blood ran down the side of his face.
"When did you?" asked Tom "You're better than I thought, I better up my game."
Tom drew his spear back and kicked into the ground, it broke as he flung himself forward aiming the spear blade at Zoro's neck, Zoro pulled himself back and felt the air slash his cheek, he kicked backwards and escaped Tom's range as a large cut appeared on his cheek to match Tom's
"Well well." Smiled Zoro "You weren't lying about upping your game."
"Of course not." Smiled Tom "I love fighting worthy opponents and I feel you have the potential to pose a serious challenge so I'm gonna draw it out of you."
"No playing around." Said Bran coldly "Kill him quickly Tom."
"Oh well." Sighed Tom "Guess we better end this soon."
"Will you?' asked Zoro as he crossed all three of his swords "Let's see you beat my Santoryu."
Zoro drove forwards calling "ONI GIRI!!"
The three blades connected with Tom's torso and slashed across as Zoro flew past him.
Three large bloody cuts exploded across Tom's chest, Tom's eyes snapped open in shock and pain and blood flew from his mouth as he coughed.
"It's over." Sighed Zoro
"You think?" laughed Tom as he turned to Zoro, his muscles began to pulse and they closed over the wounds stopping the bleeding.
"No way!" laughed Zoro "I gotta learn that."
Tom was gone, he appeared behind Zoro and aimed for the head.
"He's so big yet so fast!" snapped Zoro as he spun around and knocked the spear of course with his Kitetsu then with his Shuusui he slashed across Tom's body again but again the wound was stopped buy his muscles.
Zoro leaped away as his other shoulder exploded as a large cut spread across and blood soaked his white shirt.
"It's impossible for you to defeat me." Smiled Tom "And I'm still not fighting you seriously."
Zoro dove forwards and aimed his swords under Tom's neck but found Tom's wheel that was strapped to his arm intercept, he spun the wheel rapidly and all three swords were flung away, Zoro stumbled backwards and fell as Tom jumped into the air and crashed down onto him.
Zoro coughed blood as his body was crushed beneath Tom's weight.
"Two nil." Said Tom
"I thought you would put up a better fight straw hat." Laughed Bran "But here you're friends are falling one by one."
Bran turned and strolled towards the stream were he was shocked to find a pair of eyes.
"What are you doing here?" he asked
A quiet, husky voice spoke to him "The great demon lord has sent me to see how well Luffy fares against you, after Papa told us he beat Genii he's caught the masters interest."
"So the weakling has drawn the interest of not only the great demon lord himself but the four generals." Laughed Bran "You four won't get a chance to fight as we're going to win."
"Tom will lose Bran." Said the water demon "He can't beat Zoro."
"What are you talking about?" asked Bran "Zoro has already lost."
Bran turned to point but saw that Zoro was back on his feet with a bandana tied around his head and his three swords back in position.
"No way." Said Bran "That's unbelievable."
"The real fight is about to begin." Laughed the demon
Luffy's fist rocketed towards the stream and punched the demon right between the eyes but only broke through water.
"Idiot." Laughed the demon "You can't hit me when I'm in water, my water elemental warriors will kill you once you reach the city so hurry and up and deal with Bran straw hat I'll await your arrival."
"So that's the demon who's took over the city?" asked Luffy
"No." said Bran "His five water warriors are there but there is still some one more dangerous, I'll tell you everything if you beat me."
"I won't need to." Laughed Luffy "Cause Zoro, Usopp and Skadi are going to win."
Zoro was back on his feet and Tom was ready to fight.
"Shall we continue?" asked Tom
"Let's go!" cried Zoro
Tom struck first lashing out with his spear, Zoro dodged all of the blows and aimed his Kitetsu at Tom's head, Tom raised his shield and blocked the blow, then he spun the wheel rapidly and continued to spin it faster and faster, a large whirlwind burst forwards and drove into Zoro's stomach and sent him flying backwards, he slammed into a tree, the whirlwind burst forwards driving into Zoro once more and snapping the tree in two, Zoro skidded along the ground and smashed against a second tree.
"Vortex Blaster." Smiled Tom "Only Lord Bran has ever survived it more than once."
"Guess that makes me the second then." Coughed Zoro as he spat blood and wiped his mouth "That's some attack."
"I'm surprised Roronoa Zoro, I thought for sure that would kill you."
"Almost." Laughed Zoro "But I'm not gonna die here."
"Time to end this ZORO!!!" cried Tom as he began to spin the wheel again.
"ONI GIRI!" cried Zoro as he drove through the oncoming vortex and slashed through Tom's body, before tom could do anything Zoro spun around and planted his sword through the back of Tom's skull, it came bursting through his forehead and then was quickly withdraw.
A shocked Tom stumbled forwards, blood pouring down his face "Damn." He fell flat on his face and moved no more.
"IMPOSSIBLE!!!!" Roared Bran
"Told you." Laughed the water demon
"One each." Grinned Zoro."
Days to save Ana: 28