CHAPTER 3 - Wicked Nox
An arrow aimed down upon the face of the Pirate Hunter, amidst the darkness of the dead and rainy night. Zoro knew that his enemy had the advantage. It must've been the people who were being mentioned by Leila before he had gotten lost. These men were prepared for the enemy, and Zoro took the bait like it was supposed to.
"You must be the Black Fang." he mentioned.
"No one touches this man, for he'll die by my hands." Uhai made himself clear, "So you know about the Black Fang, swordsman Zoro? That makes things clear as day. It's just as Nergal had predicted. If you are after Lord Elbert, it's folly. He'll be good as dead soon enough."
Zoro couldn't comprehend his enemy, "I don't have a clue of whom you are talking about but I can assure you one thing."
"What's that?"
"You'll be defeated."
"Be my guest." Uhai released his arrow.
Zoro sensed the incoming projectile and knocked off the shot with his Shusui.
"Oni… Giri!" Zoro flashed through the darkness. But to his surprise, the arrow was just a diversion. He was all alone in the darkness. Uhai's troops had retreated to give the men some space for the fight. Uhai himself went into the dark and observed his prey. He shot arrows from the shroud of the forest, taking Zoro with a surprise. But he had acknowledged the swordsman's perceptive skill and tenacity to counter every last one of his arrows.
"Show yourself. This is getting old." Zoro demanded. He left himself open and yet no one approached him. He knew that Uhai was riding a horse and that had to make some kind of sound to give the latter's position away. He concentrated on his perceptive skills, employing the same ability that he had first used against Daz Bonez, aka. Mr. 1, back in Alabasta. Uhai was surprised to find the tenacious swordsman aiming his Shusui towards him. But the former knew better to let the fight become close-ranged. He had the advantage of his bow. Zoro drew out his second blade, the Kitetsu.
"Two Sword Style…" Zoro swung his blade towards his target, "72 Pound Phoenix!"
Little did Uhai notice the forest cover to have been ripped off through him. He fell down from his horse and hit the ground after his horse got hit from the air shock. The accident had helped him evade a direct hit from Zoro's attack. He decided not to underestimate his opponent, seeing his horse injured bad enough to give him chills.
"Such strength!" Uhai couldn't risk himself getting exposed. The swordsman must've used some sort of sorcery, he thought once. It was impossible for anyone to track enemies in the situation they were in.
"Looks like he survived." Zoro told himself, "And he's gone quiet. Must've lost the horse."
He was right. Uhai wouldn't mistake again to be found out. But Zoro was getting used to Uhai arrow attacks, as he was able to dodge the next shot instead of blocking it.
"What the…" Uhai couldn't believe it, "I'm mistaken. This swordsman has no magic. He's trained and survived through unimaginable circumstances to have attained that kind of sensory."
"That won't work." Zoro declared, "You are good at what you are, but that's not enough to beat me."
More arrows came in. Zoro dodged them but felt unfamiliarity. Uhai was surprised. He wasn't the one to shoot them.
"Stand down!" Uhai shouted revealing his position. He knew that his men wouldn't stand straight for long. The arrows ceased, and Zoro respected that without retorting upon Uhai's location. The Nomad Trooper jumped down from the tree and approached the swordsman.
"Do you surrender?" Zoro asked upon his sight.
"No." Uhai instead drew out his blade and hoped to fare better in close combat.
"Very well. One Sword Style…" Zoro withdrew his blades, whilst holding the Wado Ichimonji with its sheath. Both men were prepared for a one-shot-kill.
"Lion's Song!"
Blades were let loose and rang with the metal resounding through the deafening rain. Zoro sheathed his Wado Ichimonji. His opponent fell.
"Oh shit, I guess we were a bit late." Sanji observed from a distance.
"Looks a duel." Brook said.
"Zoro! Uhai!" Leila bellowed, "What happened out here?"
Zoro stood whilst his opponent fell.
"I'm feeling a little weak. I guess that damage I took from Oars is yet to heal." he mentioned, despite his victory.
"You should take it easy. What did you get yourself into?" Brook asked.
"Leila!" Uhai was shocked, "What are you doing here? Have you sided with the intruders?"
Leila said, "They are not the ones looking for Lord Elbert."
"That so? Well, either way, I'm done for." Uhai struggled to speak, "Besides, one of those young ones escaped."
"What?" Leila was surprised.
"I've heard those nobles have that girl in their custody. Our forces were defeated at the sea. The boy is yet to be found. Nergal seemed furious."
"Listen to me, Uhai. There's no point in keeping up with Nergal's dominion. The old Black Fang is gone."
"Sonia, Nergal." Uhai said, "What is treachery, Leila? I never trusted that snake Nergal but you of all people? I must assume you are working for that Eliwood?"
Leila was surprised but had to nod upon the revelation.
"I was found out and Jaffar attempted to murder me back at the Dragon's Gate fortress."
"That would've served you right, traitor. But I'm surprised you are alive. No one escapes the Angel of Death."
"These men had helped me escape." Leila said, "But I'd believe Nergal will be after the rest of us soon after. Ephidel and he have declared to kill the lords. They are looking forward to Bern and their assistance. You know well of what that means."
"War." Uhai replied, "I knew this was inevitable. The whole mess began when that woman showed up to Brendan Reed. That cursed woman! Cough…" Uhai struggled more, "I guess you are right. We all deserve to die. I don't care if it's Nergal or those bloody nobles."
"There's always a way, Uhai. Amidst all the beasts in the Black Fang, you are one man with honour and sense. Think about it. Lord Hector shall listen to you."
"I need no pity." Uhai replied.
"Let him be." Zoro mentioned, "He's determined to die from defeat, and I'd respect that."
"But..."
Uhai had no strength to get up.
"Let's go." Sanji mentioned.
"Wait, I doubt he was the only one in the area. There must be others." Leila mentioned.
"Let them come." Zoro drew out his blade, "We'll destroy every one of them."
"Please don't do that, boss." a voice was heard.
To their surprise, the rest of Uhai's troops got out of their hiding and surrendered without a struggle.
"What is all this?" Sanji was surprised.
"Some of us have remained loyal since the olden days of the Black Fang and we know that things have gone for the worse since Nergal and his minions had shown up." one of them spoke up, "We'd ask you to spare the life of Commander Uhai, if that must mean our surrender."
"I had no real intention of killing your boss. You can do whatever you want, as long as you guys get lost." Zoro said.
"You have defeated Commander Uhai, and that makes you our boss." they mentioned.
"I'm not your boss." Zoro retorted, "And besides, if you want to join the crew you'll need the Captain's approval."
"The Captain?" Everyone was confused.
"Luffy isn't on this island, Moss Head. We are stuck with these morons. Can't we just get rid of them?" Sanji demanded.
"Come on, boss. We follow the strong and you've bested Commander Uhai against his renowned archery. We won't mind following you if we can see Nergal's destruction."
Uhai was surprised, "You guys know that's impossible."
"Who's this Nergal? Some jerk he is." Zoro was annoyed.
"Let them come along, Zoro." Leila requested, "We can get this settled once we meet the lords."
"Uh, whatever." Zoro concluded.
In the end, Uhai surrendered his skills to his newfound enemies, who held the potential to defeat Nergal and his minions. He was patched up from the damage he had taken against Zoro.
"Despite my plea, I surely wasn't expecting that you'd surrender." Leila asked.
"I don't know, Leila. I guess I'm tired of all the warmongering. It made sense once upon a time, but now..." Uhai said.
"I heard those kids managed to escape. What happened.
"Elbert helped them escape from Valor. I was sent to confront those friends of yours, but I've given up on that pursuit. They can find someone else to handle Nergal's dirty jobs. This is just stupid."
"I know. We'll defeat that old bastard."
The troops from the Black Fang took care of laying out a perimeter to keep an eye out through the night. Leila met up with Zoro and the others.
"We have detoured ways from your destination. I hope you'll forgive me for dragging you into this mess." Leila apologised.
"Let's get your situation straight. We wouldn't want you guys following after us afterwards." Zoro replied.
"I'm truly sorry."
"Hey, moss head, couldn't you be more considerate to the lady? She had it rough despite her needs to play along with her enemy."
Leila was surprised by Sanji's intuition, "I believe I haven't mentioned that I was allied to House Ostia."
"I knew that you weren't associated with those Black Fang morons, Ms. Leila. I can see it in you." Sanji replied.
"Yohoho… Quite amusing." remarked Brook.
"Anyway, something has been bothering me." Sanji mentioned.
"What is it?" Leila was all ears.
"Will you be alright? I heard there's some dangerous people back in that fortress. That might come after you."
Leila seemed reassured, "I have allies coming in to confront the situation. And Uhai here has made up his mind to help them out. I will have the company to storm back into the enemy's keep."
"You are heading back to that fortress?" Brook was shocked.
"There's no other choice. Evil lurks in those dungeons that need to be stopped."
"Tell me about this Nergal. I have been hearing of him often." Zoro asked.
"The only thing I know is that he is a dangerous sorcerer. He must've some plans for holding those prisoners and hostages in the dungeons. As I had mentioned before, the woman named Sonia had infiltrated the Black Fang under his orders. Nergal has taken control, exploiting the strength and influence of the Black Fang. From what I've heard, no one has returned back to the mainland once they've arrived on the Dread Isle. It's a sinister notion, the presence of the prisoners explain a lot and I have realised that Nergal has been responsible for the disappearances." Leila explained.
"Scary. We might be targeted." Brook mentioned.
"Of course, we are." Zoro replied, "We made an impression back in that prison."
"Unfortunately, Zoro is right." Leila agreed, "That assassin, Jafar, was one of the Four Fangs of the organisation. And since he was left alive, he would make preparations to get revenge. He won't stop."
"Well, that makes things interesting." Zoro said, "At least we know what to expect from the enemy. That assassin had lost to us once. I'd like to see what else he can do."
"I'd advise caution if I were you. Jaffar won't be careless the next time." Leila warned.
"We'll worry about that whenever the time comes."
"Hmm?" Zoro woke up from his nap. The rest of them were asleep. He found one of the men rushing back into the perimeter, reporting to Uhai.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"It looks like they've found us." Uhai replied, "Eliwood, Hector and his men have arrived."
"Hmm? Who are they?" Zoro had no idea but decided to meet them nonetheless.
"Wait, they aren't here for a negotiation." Uhai bellowed.
"Doesn't matter, I'll deal with them." Zoro disappeared into the darkness.
A large force stood in the front as he had revealed himself before the foe.
"Are you one of the Black Fang?" Hector demanded, holding his axe.
"Not quite. But they wanted to work under me." Zoro replied, "To which I've denied."
"What?" Everyone was confused.
"He's bluffing." Eliwood mentioned, "There's no decent soul on this island except for the Black Fang. You felons have my father, and I need him back."
"I don't have a clue what you are talking about." Zoro replied, getting annoyed, "If you are a lost child, you should find your parents yourself. You are grown enough."
"Enough talk. You are disrespectful and a liar." Eliwood drew his Rapier.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Zoro warned.
"Eliwood, are you sure about this?" Lyn felt an ominous vibe in the air. Zoro drew out his Kitetsu. Lyn felt an evil sensation from the blade.
"I can handle a single opponent. Here we go." Eliwood paced ahead and observed Zoro's static stance.
"You're quite patient in this worsened weather." Eliwood remarked.
"Give your best shot." Zoro replied.
Eliwood realised that Zoro had no guard against his advance, and rushed in for a stab. Blades clashed. Eliwood's Rapier fell on the ground. Zoro held a sword to Eliwood's neck, glaring below with the eyes of a beast. Everyone else was surprised.
"I've had enough of trouble makers for one day." Lightning flashed overhead. Zoro was serious, "I hope you are prepared."
TO BE CONTINUED...