Here is Chapter 50! Legal stuff: all original characters, settings, and plot belong to Eiichiro Oda. I received no payment for writing this fan fiction.

The zombie chuckled darkly. This was the skeleton's zombie after all. The laughter reminded Zoro of Brook's peculiar chortle.

"Yo-ho-ho-ho-ho… You really believe that you can steal Shusui from me? Aren't you energetic?"

Zoro smirked. "To be precise, I'm going to take the sword off your rotting corpse once I defeat you."

The zombie's face was immobile. "I see. You are full of fighting spirit."

The dusty laugh erupted from the deceased samurai. Brook's teeth chattered as he warned him.

"You shouldn't provoke him. You don't know what he's capable of."

The zombie ignored Brook. He nodded at Zoro.

"I see that you also carry three katana. It doesn't seem like you would need another blade."

Zoro fingered a hilt. "That's right. I use the three-sword style."

"Three-sword style? I've never heard of such a thing. Is it a joke? It sounds like part of a circus act," the samurai's dry chuckle mocked him.

"It's too bad that I won't be able to show it to you during this fight. I'd break that squat nose of yours in a heartbeat." Zoro grinned when he pointed his katana at the other swordsman's direction.

"You seem quite strong; I'm sure that you'd be able to put up a worthy fight. Emotions that I have long forgotten are resurfacing. I feel like I'm standing face to face with a great beast. I thought that these sensations were dead within me. Instead, it's strangely exciting. My heart is so light, I could start dancing."

It wasn't the first time that Zoro had been compared to a beast. He leapt forward. It was no surprise when the zombie blocked his strike. Strong winds flew from the combined shockwave of their blades crashing together. Zoro grinned. They both jumped away from each other. The floor cracked once they landed.

The samurai readied his blade. "Aubade Coup Droit!"

Compressed air shot towards him. Zoro quickly parried with a thrust of his own. This fight was going to be amazing. He couldn't fault the zombie's emotions. He didn't often get to fight a match so exhilarating. A hole smoked right above the door.

The enemy laughed. "I'd say that attack was a draw."

Zoro nodded. "Yeah."

As he finished speaking, a large crack appeared on the opposite wall.

The zombie chuckled again. "You nearly got me with that strike."

Zoro jumped forward. He wouldn't win the battle if they just talked. The samurai had the same thought. Their katanas clashed. The subtle Rip! as clothing tore strengthened his resolve. They were too evenly matched. He focused on the swordsman in front of him, ignoring the pieces of the enemy's kimono and his haramaki floating to the floor.

"Prelude Au Fer!"

The zombie's attack was fierce. Zoro blocked the strikes, one after another in quick succession. His eyes widened in sudden realization. This attack was a sword breaker assault! Yubashiri's hilt jangled at his hip as a sober reminder. He wasn't going to lose another weapon to the enemy!

"Niitoryu… Flash!"

His attack put him nearly directly back-to-back with the samurai. The swordsman blocked his attack, but at this angle, he couldn't easily throw another sword breaker move. Zoro pivoted to slash at the zombie, who countered the move. For a space of several breaths, neither moved. He felt the zombie shift. He jumped backwards at the same time as the samurai.

This was a better angle to launch his attack. Zoro leapt high into the air, holding his katana so that they were parallel while the tips pointed down towards the zombie.

"Demon Magma Bear!" he shouted as he pounced on his prey.

The samurai blocked the strike, but the force of the blow was enough to press the zombie back. Zoro pushed the zombie all the way to the wall.

The enemy was not going to permit being forced back be the end of it. He made two thrusts, both nearly invisible to the eye. Zoro retreated a few steps before readying his katana to a defensive position. The zombie stepped forward. Zoro could feel the samurai collecting his energy for the attack. He gathered his own resolve. The samurai's aura was no joke!

"Gavotte Bond en Avant!"

Zoro saw the zombie pull his blade back to make a thrust. He quickly got into his position. He sheathed his katana. His stance was like a bear bracing against a tumbling mountain.

"Niitoryu Sword Draw… Rachamon!"

The zombie's sword flashed. Zoro swallowed. He wasn't expecting that. His attack was blocked completely. The pressure from both of their attacks sliced through the walls. The building creaked and groaned in complaint. The sweat slowly trickled down his face. The room shook. Coffins lining one wall started toppling one after another. Rubble fell around them.

Zoro turned to face the zombie. He gritted his teeth seriously. The swordsman faced him. He unsheathed his katana and took the time to observe. A zombie's face was hard to read, but Zoro thought that his jaw was slightly clenched.

They stayed like that for a while. A large piece of the roof crashed between them. He took a deep breath and started running for the other side of the room. The samurai ran parallel on the opposite side. Nothing would come out of this fight by just running around.

"72-pound Phoenix!"

The zombie dodged the strike. A part of the wall crumbled behind him.

"Polka Remise!" the samurai shouted.

Several blows were aimed at him as he continued running. A moving target was harder to hit. 'I know that, but I had to protect Sogeking!' Magina's indignant voice echoed briefly. Zoro deflected the strikes that threatened him. He needed more training.

Zoro hadn't expected to think about the siren during this fight and if he had more control, he might have reflected those thrusts back at the enemy. The rebounding pressure was directed towards the roof instead. With the building crumbling around them, perhaps it was time to change locations. Zoro headed to a weak wall and headed outside.

The peaked roof wasn't an ideal place to continue the battle, but buildings with flatter terrain were too far away to get to. He jumped to the roof, sliding a bit on the steep incline. It looked like the zombie had a similar thought, because he made it to the perilous rooftop at the same time. He slid down a on the peak too.

Higher, he needed to climb higher! Zoro sprinted up the crested tower top. Sandaled footsteps echoed his own footfalls. He reached the pointed roof, the samurai almost level with him. He felt like a damn bird, perched on the roof like that! He struck, attempted to catch the zombie unawares. The blow was blocked. His footing was terrible. He jumped back to a less precarious position, only his footing slipped.

"Ah!"

He was falling! Zoro regained his balance and pushed forward. Maybe he could surprise the enemy by coming up behind him. Before he made a circuit around the roof, the samurai appeared in front of him. Surprised, he stepped back. The zombie leapt up and attempted to attack him.

Zoro blocked. The terrain was difficult. He tried to find his balance with a few swipes. The zombie might have thought the same thing, since his next couple strikes weren't intending to hit him. Maybe it was just a feint? As soon as he finished thinking that the samurai attacked with a well-placed thrust. He dodged, but his footing was not as steady as he thought. He slid down the roof.

"F-Falling!" he exclaimed.

Zoro used his katana to slow his ascent and steady him. The zombie was running again and bearing down on his position. He grunted and started running up past the enemy. The samurai's steps stalked his upward path. The legendary swordsman chased and attacked him from behind.

Zoro pivoted and leapt down from his vantage point on top of the zombie. His strike was blocked. With their swords locked together, both men ran across the roof. He swiped at the zombie's head. The samurai stopped the attack and thrust his sword in retaliation. They traded attacks and parries for a few moments. They leapt apart at the same time, each panting. Zoro felt the sweat trickle off his nose.

This swordsman's attacks were so heavy. He managed to block all of his strikes, but he was worried. If the fight continued much longer, his katana might break. The enemy had the body build and the inner spirit of the legendary samurai. This was a truly satisfying battle. The zombie poised to attack. Zoro sheathed Kitetsu. Wado Ichimonji would be enough. The samurai grunted, seemingly confused by him sheathing a blade. He was so focused; Zoro could sense the energy surrounding the zombie. He pierced the side of the building and clung tenaciously as the enemy's thrust passed harmlessly above his head. He jumped back on the roof and ran up the incline, gathering his own strength. He was going to end the dual with this strike! He leapt into the air.

"Ittororyu Soaring Dragon…"

Blue flames in the image of the great flying beast erupted into the night. The samurai recognized that this last attack would decide the victor. He jumped forward, initiating his own final blow.

"Three Pace Hum… Notch Slash!"

He wasn't going to be undone! "Blaze!"

He struck with as much strength and quickness as he possessed. He felt the give underneath his blade. The samurai was slashed! The faint sound of crackling flame reached his straining senses. He smiled in satisfaction. Just as planned…

"My wound is bursting into flames!" the zombie exclaimed in shock.

The rooftop that served as their arena toppled with him. The wind whipped his shirt around his body before he crashed to the ground. For a few moments, Zoro allowed himself to rest and catch his breath.

"I lost…" the samurai finally said, his tone laden in remorse and bitter regret.

Zoro panted heavily. It was a worthy fight.

"There once was a legendary samurai who wielded Shusui, a great blade of the Wano kingdom. This katana would be happy if it would be able to call you 'Master'. I'm sure of that!"

The zombie slowly sheathed the sword. At first, he didn't say anything. He just held the sword out above the ground. He released the katana. Zoro caught it with one hand. It wasn't exactly how he pictured getting a new blade, but having the sword passed on to him felt more respectful than stealing the katana from the legendary swordsman.

"There is a great pain in my samurai soul that I tasted defeat…"

There weren't many words to say to console the defeated zombie, but Zoro spoke the truth as he saw things.

"The very fact that you feel ashamed of your loss only proves that you are a true swordsman, both in body and mind. I wish that we crossed blades when you were still alive."

With one last shout, the samurai crumpled and burned to ash. Zoro sat for a moment, looking at the spot where the zombie stood before passing on. He held Shusui.

"I'll take your sword, but it'll be better not to mention how it came to me. I'll forget that this dual even happened… samurai of the Wano Kingdom."

Zoro got up. He could hear the skeleton exalting in the background, ecstatic that his shadow returned. He tied the katana to his waist. His goal was accomplished, perhaps he should attempt to take his own shadow back. It would be interesting to see what kind of strength his counterpart had…

Hi there! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'm looking forward to a new year, but we'll have to see if 2025 treats us better than 2024. So far, everyone I've talked to, 2024 has been horrible (it was no exception for me and my family). 2025: that statement was not a challenge! Jokes aside: I hope everyone is keeping safe and healthy, and that your personal creative projects are going well! Here's praying for everyone to have a wonderful New Year!