Yo Everyone!

...what...?...WHAT...? ARE YOU ANGRY? ARE YOU ANGRY BECAUSE I UPDATED SO LATE...? EH? EH?

Well if you really are angry then...looks like I can't do anything about that but take the punishment. Very well...(Raising my chest proudly) As a man, I'll take whatever punishment you give me. But first, let's continue with this chapter. Something tells me that many of my readers have already figured what's gonna happen but...anyway...let's go...

Chapter 12: Demon?

Zoro's eyes widened with horror as every microsecond decreased the distance between Wado Ichimonji and its current target. A feeling of guilt and regret built up in him; despite all the harsh training he put himself through, every hour of honing his body and mind, he still was mocked by the cruelty of life. Once again, he was rendered unable to protect what he wanted to protect the most, to protect the reason for all that conditioning.

Fine, Zoro relented, closing his eyes. Do whatever you want, just save her…as if would be of any help. But the swordsman was aware this was the only solution, seeing as his injured body was paralyzed and unable to move. The thing he was trying to ask for help from was nothing but a manifestation of his own despair, which showed his incapability as a true swordsman. Much to his surprise as he clenched his jaw even forcefully, behind his closed eyelids he saw another wicked smile from the same shadow and the next moment his mind went blank.

Wado's lethal tip was just several inches away from Robin's chest when she turned her gaze to Zoro, knowing that if she was going to die, then the last thing she wanted to see was the man she loved. Her eyes widened a fraction of a degree when she saw his body suddenly slump into an unconscious state. Just then, a powerful shockwave rippled through the square, sending everyone stumbling. It forced Mikumo to deviate Wado's aim. As she, Robin and the two women who held her fell to the side, the sword barely grazed her arm and pierced the leg of one of the women holding Robin. All of them fell to the side, Robin hitting her head against the ground and causing her to go a bit dizzy. Mikumo let go of the Wado's hilt, still impaled in the leg of the woman who was writhing in pain while firmly holding her injured leg. All the other women were also knocked down.

All of them except Robin, Mikumo and the injured woman took one second to get back their senses and one after the other they stood up ready with their weapons aimed at Zoro's motionless body. Hints of surprise and shock were evident on everyone's face, but when Zoro suddenly opened his functional eye, their jaws literally reached their feet. Zoro's normally firm and yet gentle eyes glowed red with blood lust. A demonic grin curled his lips as he suddenly let out a blood-curdling bellow similar to that of a carnivorous beast. Shockwaves similar to the ones before once again rippled through the air. The ground and surrounding buildings were cracked, glass windows and mirrors shattered and a small crater formed under Zoro's feet. Even the clouds that surrounded the Island were scattered for a moment to show a clear view of the ocean. The force of the cry knocked down all the standing women once again, some even sent airborne, landing several meters away and knocked unconscious. Just then, he let out another demonic roar that echoed through the whole square, intensifying the atmosphere even further.

~Meantime, In the Big Feast Prepared for Straw Hat Pirates~

As Luffy was devouring servings after servings one by one, suddenly an intense and ominous feeling took over his body. A feeling he had never come across before. It was quite terrifying and overwhelming whenever Rayleigh used Hakousho Haki during their training together two years ago. This felt quite similar to that feeling, but it had much darker, sinister and oppressive aspect to it. Simply stating, this was a whole new experience for Luffy.

"What was that?" He mumbled as he stood up from his chair and stared far away into the sky towards a particular direction, munching on a piece of beef. Luffy wasn't the only one who felt it. Sanji uncharacteristically brushed aside the women fawning around him and joined Luffy, lighting a fresh cigarette. Their Haki was acting up again. Their expressions showed genuine concern and confusion, which Nami noticed at once.

"Oi, Sanji-kun, are you ignoring me?" As soon as one of the woman's sweet voice landed on Sanji's eardrums his expressions took a 180-degree turn and his body was engaged in his noodle dance once again. "~Maria-chan, there's no way I can ignore your dazzling beauty~!"

"Yosh, here's the next serving just for the captain Monkey D. Luffy." A chef placed another of their specialties on the table where Luffy had been eating before. Luffy dismissed the feeling as his tense nerves and jumped back in his seat and began digging in the pot placed before him.

"Aaaaaah…I wanna eat it." Chopper panicked as he desperately tried to secure a bit of his food from his captain's clutches.

Back to Zoro's side

Current happenings were a bit too hard to absorb for anyone. In this situation the best course of action the enemies came up with was to get back on their guard as soon as possible. After the ruckus from his last roar died down, the creature that was Roronoa Zoro tightly clenched his teeth and growled like an injured predator, revealing his pointy canines that appeared considerably bigger and sharper than before. Using a small amount of force, he easily jerked his arms out of the wall, the rest of the job done by the already crumbling facade due to the impact of the powerful shockwaves.

"B-but, his whole body should be paralyzed." One of the women said in a quivering voice.

"Mistress, what is going on? What should we –?" Another one of Mikumo's subordinates, who was acting as a second in command should, tried to ask her leader, but stopped when saw her in a state similar to paralysis. Without any significant movements, Mikumo was staring at Zoro's unbelievable form with wide eyes and didn't seem to take notice of anything else.

Blood was still flowing in small streams from Zoro's arms, which still had spiked bracelets clamped around them. His eye glowed bright red, baring his pointed canines similar to a beast's as a dark malice aura was clearly visible for anyone to see surrounding his body in tendrils of darkness. To complete his demonic transformation was the low growl emanating from the back of his throat, putting a grown lion to shame. The man had transformed into a bloodthirsty beast ready to hunt down and kill its prey.

"How?" yet another subordinates stuttered, her entire body trembling like her companions. "There shouldn't be any strength left in him. Even after this much damage…how?"

Surrounded by an overwhelmed and scared group of women in front of him, Zoro raised his hands to the opposite steel brace around his biceps. Lifting his face up to the sky, he let out another loud roar and with unworldly strength broke the thick bracelets into pieces, damaging his own arms even further in the process. Even more blood gushed out of his arms but he didn't seem to care about that at all. Not even flinching after this much damage and blood loss was another one of the miracles everyone witnessed that night. By now Robin was back to her senses as well and was just as dumbstruck. She had seen him in many different forms during her stay with the Straw Hats, including his strange Asura technique when he creates an illusion of three heads and six arms, but this was the first time she had seen the first mate like this.

"Don't lose your focus." Not finding any sign of response from Mikumo, the second in command decided to take charge herself. "After this much damage, he is just like an injured lion. He may appear to be dangerous but he's severely wounded. We should be able to restrain him." These words helped to some extent to pull together the demoralized group. All of the women including their new leader got ready in battle stances with their respective weapons, though some still appeared shaken.

After glaring at the group in silence for a few more seconds, Zoro lifted his right arm to where Sandai Kitestsu and Shusui were placed and stretched his palm towards the swords. In response, Kitetsu started jittering loudly against the pavement, and suddenly flew on its own towards its owner, pulling Shusui, which was lying on top of the cursed blade, along with it. Kitetsu landed right into Zoro's palm, Shusui drifted off course a bit, but he caught it easily with his left hand.

Astonishing as it was, there was no time to waste anymore. The first two women closest to him leapt forward to attack, their spears and katana poised in strike formation. However, they couldn't even touch him. Before they could get in range, Zoro settled both of his still-sheathed swords parallel to each other and forcefully swung both to left. The force of the swing sent the scabbards flying toward the assailants as projectiles. They successfully evaded the scabbards and increased their pace to get in reach as soon as possible. The woman bearing the katana was the first one to reach the possessed swordsman, but before she could commence her attack, Zoro once again swung his parallel swords in a clear slashing attack. She barely managed to block, the sheer power forcing her to jump back a few feet, breathing heavily.

By then, the other woman got in range and thrust her spear toward his abdomen. He quickly sidestepped, dragging his left foot backwards, therefore allowing the spear to brush pass him. As the spear pierced the atmosphere, with insane speed, Zoro spun around and lifted his leg into the air, bending his knee just in time to catch the shaft of the spear in the bend of his knee between his thigh and calf. Shifting all of his weight to the opposite leg, the swordsman had rendered both the spear and its wielder immobile. Before the spear-wielder could figure out what to do next, Zoro pushed at the ground under his right foot, jumping nimbly into the air. Zoro lashed out with his foot and performed a perfect front roundhouse kick. His foot connected with the woman's jaw, launching her like a missile into a nearby building. He landed lightly on one leg, his other leg still gripping the spear in the crook of his knee.

The first female attacker from before regained her footing and tried to attack while the man's back was turned. She swung the katana in her right hand diagonally to the down-left with the intent to slash his shoulder. But Zoro anticipated the attack, spinning his upper body and raising Shusui to block, deflecting the woman's blade and moved his knee into a clear position with the spear tip aimed directly for the woman's stomach. She couldn't defend herself in time, and the tip buried itself in her stomach. Zoro immediately delivered a back kick at her face, sending her flying into a building, the already weak structure crumbling around her.

Zoro's leg was still in air when next wave of four assailants jumped to slash him. He quickly rotated his swords' hilt in his hands, holding them in a 'reverse grip,' and spun like a propeller, mercilessly cutting all four of them into pieces. As soon as he regained his footing, he immediately leapt towards his next targets. The three women in question who were just about to attack him were unable to do anything as Zoro brushed past them. Only thing they heard and felt was a beastly growl and swords slicing through their flesh multiple times, their lives bleeding out onto the pavement.

After leaving them in pieces, Zoro jumped into air towards a group of seven katana users. Landing in the middle of the group, he unleashed another barrage of wild slashes, leaving the same bloody mess behind him. He stopped after cutting the next two targets with a Nitoryuu: Oni Giri. As soon as he paused for a breath, two more sword users leapt at him, slashing at him from each side. Zoro easily blocked, but while his hands were busy, another spear user made her advance. She leapt into the air, thrusting her spear toward a spot between his shoulder blades. An air of surprise suddenly spurred inside everyone as Zoro suddenly whipped his head around and caught the spear between his teeth, another shockwave rippling through the air from the solid impact. He shook his head rapidly, whipping the spear and its wielder. The woman on the other end lost her grip, and she was launched into the air. He heaved a deep breath and blew the spear like a dart at its airborne owner. The blunt side of the weapon successfully stabbed the woman through the stomach. She coughed up blood as she crashed into a nearby building. Zoro gathered some force in his rigorously injured arms and slashed downwards, cutting the two swords, women and buildings behind both of them as well with just one attack.

All the enemies, save Robin, Mikumo, and three remaining women, including the woman with the Wado stuck through her leg and the second in command to Mikumo, were already dealt with. The one remaining woman wasn't willing to give up just yet, and launched herself toward him, her katana aimed toward his back. Her timing was perfect, and as a result she was finally able to draw blood. The katana sank into the swordsman's shoulder, and more blood covered his already bloody body.

She had hoped to immobilize him with this wound, but her jaw dropped when she realized that he didn't even flinch. Steadily, he turned his head over his shoulder, glaring at her with his red tinted eyes, as if just realizing she was there and wished her gone. She could only stare back at him with wide eyes and trembling hands. He let out another low growl, twisting Shusui in his left hand, switching the angle of the blade. The girl only had a second to pray before the black blade pierced her left side and protruded out her right. The girl coughed up blood, the red liquid staining her chin. The blade was extracted from her body, spurts of blood flowing freely from the clear wound. Pain spread through her whole body, and her body collapsed against the bloodstained cobbles, her life just a breath at her lips.

The whole square was filled with silence again. It was difficult to believe a mere few minutes ago, the space was bustling with people. Only now, sixteen unrecognizable corpses lay in pieces, three bodies were buried under the rubble of collapsed buildings, and many other unconscious or heavily wounded women scattered around the remaining area. The only remaining women with their consciousness intact were Mikumo and the Demon Child Nico Robin. Standing among the gory corpses was Roronoa Zoro, his katana dripping nauseatingly with blood. His jaws ground together tightly, his knuckles white as he held his swords in a death grip.

Robin witnessed the display of inhuman power clearly; even when bound with sea stone, just looking at the events happening before her very eyes wasn't that hard. Even if it was, she would never let this kind of event be ignored. The very calm and collected swordsman she had known every day for the past few years was on a rampage, abandoning all reason and moral sense like a hungry beast unleashed from its cage.

Mikumo was in a similar state as Robin, yet she was somewhat different. During Zoro's episode of bloodlust, her eyes were fixated on his unrealistic being as if in a trance. She hadn't moved from where she had first landed after the first shockwave swept through the square, her entire body frozen.

"It's here…" Mikumo whispered, not escaping Robin's careful ears. The archaeologist quickly looked at her. "I've done so much to see it just once more. It's finally here." The woman stood up and slowly treaded towards Zoro where he stood, still breathing hard and examining the carnage around him with a satisfied smirk.

What is she…talking about? Robin thought. What she could make out of her words was that this whole time, she was just trying to force out this very existence, this second personality, out of Zoro. But all of it was still too otherworldly to understand.

Slowly, Mikumo approached Zoro as he turned leisurely to face her as if he was waiting for her all this time. The green-haired man, in his current state, was simply glaring at her, still growling under his breath. Mikumo on the other hand was acting as if she was finally united with a long lost lover. Her face was flushed and her eyes had a strange shine in them, one could think of it as the light of happiness. She continued staring at him for a couple of seconds and then proceeded to hug him with all her force.

"All this time, I was waiting," She crooned, her voice soft. "He is waiting as well." As soon as she whispered these words in his ear, his entire body relaxed as he had just sunk into a hot bath. It was hard to imagine the same monster from before looked as content as a puppy.

Was Mikumo able to calm him down or something? Robin was surprised but nonetheless she didn't like this fact at all. The other woman was responsible for their current condition to begin with. A strange feeling of which Robin hardly ever felt arouse within her as the dark-haired beauty watched Mikumo wrapped around Zoro's body suggestively. If only she was able to move freely, she would have granted Mikumo the same fate as her underlings with her own hands, but currently, without any strength to break free or even struggle for freedom, she could only watch with mixed emotions. She couldn't understand why Zoro had spared only her.

But perhaps fate was on Robin's side. Her wish came true but in a different way than what she had expected. Zoro's frown suddenly returned and his lips stretched to form a sinister smirk. He let Shusui fall clatter to the ground and used his now-empty hand to grip the back of Mikumo's neck, untangling her body from his, holding her at arm's length. She struggled uselessly in his iron grip, pulling in vain at his fingers in an attempt to free herself.

Zoro let out another soft growl as he moved closer and whispered in her ear, "I was waiting for this time as well."

Mikumo's eyes widened when she realized that it wasn't the same voice she has heard from Zoro thus far. It was his, but somewhat different, much thicker, coarser and much more intimidating, like he was possessed by a demon. Amidst the confusion, she failed to notice the approaching cursed blade that quickly found a home in her liver. Zoro wasted no time pulling the sword out of the widening wound. Blood flowed from the new aperture in her abdomen, her life leaking out onto the hard cold ground. He drew his arm back and used all his muscular power to chuck what was left of Mikumo into the air, her limp form flying toward the ocean. The half dead body hovered in the air for a few seconds before plunging into the breaking waves more than a hundred meters away from the island. As the unbearable pain started to fade away and darkness spread over her eyes, she understood that her life was coming to an end. This wasn't a pleasant thing, but for some reason as her body sank into the dark ocean, until the very end there was a smile on her face. Like she was satisfied with it and had no regrets at all.

Meanwhile, Robin was once again dumbfounded by what she had just witnessed. But now, Robin's concern was something else. Even though all of their enemies were annihilated, that didn't mean that it was end of the trouble. She was assured of this very soon. As soon as Mikumo's body disappeared from his visible range, Zoro began laughing maniacally like a madman. It was so uncharacteristic of Zoro, Robin felt her eyes widen slightly as the sound met her ears. No matter what kind of situation, that was something he never did, nor Robin ever thought he would do.

"Unbelievable." Zoro began speaking again in the same coarse voice from before. He chuckled again before continuing his one-sided conversation with himself. "It's really been so long, eh? So long since I have enjoyed myself this much. This was very fun." Another wave of laughter escaped his throat before his voice became grim. "More…more…I want more flesh to cut, more blood to bath in!" He laughed again.

He suddenly seemed to remember Robin was still present, and turned his eyes to the archaeologist, a smirk curling his lips, the same one he wore during Mikumo's death. "You, it's all because of you."

Robin knew that the Zoro she knew wouldn't act like this; the one speaking could not be the same Roronoa Zoro. The way he spoke only thing that came to her mind was…

This is…very bad…

PHEW! Another hard one. At one point I was completely stuck there you know. Oh well, I know this chapter isn't as exciting as you thought it would be. But now that Mikumo is dead, I guess you'd have realized that her part is over and now will come the real plot. Hope you'll stay with me in future as well and wouldn't abandon the poor me T_T

Trust me, upcoming chapters are going to be very very exciting and will give you some major heart seizures...!...?...OH CRAP...SINCE YOU'LL GET A HEART SEIZURE YOU WON'T READ IT? PLEASE DON'T BE SO CRUEL ON ME. I SWEAR I'LL TUNE IT DOWN TO A SIMPLE SURPRISE...and yes...I still remember my punishment and I'm ready for it...

PLEASE REVIEW...PLEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAASSSS SSSSSSE...THAAAAAANKS IN ADVAAAAAAAAAANCE

UNTIL NEXT TIME GOOD BYE