Samurai vs Fishman
The sound of steel clashing against steel resonated within the courtyard of the fortress. Ryuza had been engaged in a fierce duel with the agile fishmen officer, Sharptooth. While the others had been engaged in battles of their own, Ryuza had to make sure that this dangerous opponent was out of the picture before he went after Arlong.
In battle, Ryuza was met with ferocious resistance from his adversary. Sharptooth had two daggers and with his inhuman speed, he delivered quick attacks meant to tear the young samurai flesh. His fighting style was wild and chaotic, possessing a strange flexibility that allowed him to cut at different parts of the body.
Even when his daggers had missed their mark, the fishmen would use his razor sharp teeth to bite at Ryuza's neck which forced him to leap away.
Ryuza had great difficulty keeping up with his opponent. Each time he swung his sword after he had dodged Sharptooth's attack, the fishmen bounded away, leaping to another spot and then shooting toward him to attack. For Ryuza, it proved nearly futile to attempt to predict where the fishmen would attack next.
"What's wrong human?!" Sharpooth yelled, his tone boastful and arrogant. "Having trouble keeping up!?"
Ryuza gave him no reply. He was aware that his opponent's taunting was an attempt to get him to lower his guard and lash out in anger. But the young samurai would not fall for such tactics. Instead he hardened his gaze as the edge of one of Sharptooth's daggers shot toward his left eye.
He defended himself with a parry, bringing his sword up in an upward stroke with two of his hands. Then with a quick spin, he swung at Sharptooth's torso, attempting to cleave the fishman in two. The fishman leapt back just in the nick of time. But he was not quick enough to prevent Ryuza's blade from cutting his yellow top in two.
Sharptooth's eyes widened and his face became evident of outrage. Most likely at the fact that a human had managed to barely scratch him.
"Oh, I'm gonna enjoy tearing the flesh from your bones!" Sharpooth snarled, his eyes shot with bloodlust.
Ryuza kept his fierce eyes locked onto Sharptooth, preparing his body for whatever attack that he had planned. However , the young samurai's attention was then captured at the sight of what was happening nearby. Arlong was on the move and had engaged Luffy, who's legs remained trapped within the confines of the floor after his reckless attack.
Luffy had tried to defend himself by punching Arlong in the face, but the fishman captain countered by clamping his razor sharp teeth on his arm and locking his jaws. Screaming at the sudden pain, Luffy reacted by returning the gesture, and clamped his teeth down on Arlong's arm. Arlong seemed flabbergasted that a human utilized such tactics, or perhaps he thought that Luffy was insane. Nevertheless, he appeared to be unaffected by the bite.
"Fool!" Arlong said confidently. "Since you won't be going anywhere for a while, how about you go for a nice swim in our pool?!"
Arlong turned and effortlessly lifted the piece of the ground Luffy had been stuck too, separating it from its foundation. With a powerful toss, he threw Luffy into the cold and shimmering pool in the middle of the fortress. The section of the floor was too heavy for Luffy to struggle against. It had begun to drag him to the bottom of the pool despite his struggles.
Arlong let out a loud and victorious laugh. Ryuza quickly grew weary. He was fully aware that those that possessed a devil fruit were unable to traverse in water. Yamato had a devil fruit of her own and she had always grown weak and dizzy whenever she came into contact with it. Luffy undoubtedly would drown in the water with no one assist him out of it.
"Luffy!" Zoro shouted, his attention turned toward the pool instead of his opponent, Hachi.
"That bastard…" Sanji hissed, occupied with his own fight.
"He won't be able to last long under there." Ryuza said aloud.
He considered diving into the pool himself in order to free Luffy from his infernal prison. But as he did this, he turned away from the enemy, which proved to be a painful mistake for the young samurai. While his attention had shifted over to Luffy, Sharptooth knelt down closely to the floor with his palms flat against the surface. He kept his hands on top of his two daggers and his legs were bent as if he were a violent predator about to pounce.
"Piranha slash!"
The fishman lunged at Ryuza again, but this time his speed appeared to be tripled than his previous attacks. His daggers were held differently as well. One was held in the standard grip while the other was held in a reversed grip. Ryuza turned his head to meet his foe, but was not fast enough to prepare himself for this new type of momentum. By the time he had realized that he was in danger, Sharptooth had already shot past him, and a sharp pain, like spikes piercing his flesh, engulfed his arm.
Ryuza glanced down and saw that the sleeve of his white hakama had been cut. To make matters worse, a part of his skin had now been dripping with his own crimson blood. Behind him, Sharptooth's feet slid against the floor and he stopped and pirouetted so that he would be facing Ryuza. He lunged for another time, maintaining that odd stance of kneeling so closely to the floor.
Ryuza struggled to defend himself. It was as if he were in battle with an angry and uncontrollable mirage. Every time he had perceived his opponent's location and turned to face him, he was gone and had landed a different cut on his body. The wounds that he had received from his earlier duel against Mihawk, and his fight against the lieutenant of the Don Krieg pirates had now reopened and deepened as the daggers had made their marks.
After several successful slashes, Sharptooth's momentum had landed him on against the fortress walls to bare down his yellow eyes on the young samurai. He turned once his feet had connected with the surface, and he used it to shoot back toward Ryuza as if he were capable of bouncing. And with a fierce strike, Sharptooth had delivered a violent slash to Ryuza's face. The sharp tip of his daggers had cut at the bandage on the right side of his cheek. The wound left behind by Hawk-eyes Mihawk bursted with intense burning pain. The force of the attack forced Ryuza to wail and to be knocked off his feet and sent tumbling to the ground.
"Brother Ryuza!" Yosaku cried out, spectating the fight along with the other villagers who watched from the breach inside the fortress walls.
Ryuza hissed as he raised his head from the floor. Blood trickled down from the open wound on his cheek, and his white robe was ripped in several spots.
"He's fast…" Ryuza muttered to himself. Despite this, he rose to his feet, using his sword to support his legs that were rather shaky.
Sharptooth landed a few feet away from him and stood upright. "Hahaha! Not so confident now, are you human?!" He cackled. "My speed is superior to yours in every way! Soon I'll cut every part of you and you'll just lie there bleeding out on the floor!"
Ryuza breathed in through his nose and regained his stance. He knew the more time he spent in battle with his opponent, the less time Luffy had before he drowned. Zoro was still occupied with Hachi, and Sanji was in the midst of his battle with Kurobi. Yamato and Usopp were nowhere to be seen, and there was no way Ryuza could rush to the pool without Sharptooth tearing more of his skin. All he could do now was defend himself against the onslaught of attacks.
"Get ready!" Sharptooth laughed, pouncing forward. "Cause here I come again!"
Sharptooth began to bound around Ryuza again, leaping from one spot to the next with insurmountable agility. Though his opponent's figure became a blur in his eyes, Ryuza knew it was only a matter of time before he attacked. But Ryuza remained unfettered and knew that if he could only predict the direction in which Sharptooth would attack from, then he would be able to land a preemptive strike.
At that point, it was his only chance to overcome this speedy foe.
As the fishmen continued to his movements, Ryuza closed his eyes and took in a slow and deep breath. It was evident that he would not be able to rely on his eyes in the current battle. IF this was the case, then he would have to turn to his other senses for aid. From a young age, he was taught by his master how to utilize sound, smells, and taste to their fullest extent. It was a tough lesson, but his master had shown him that in battle, his other senses would one day prove to be more useful than sight.
The young samurai stood still as he took in the sounds around him. To his right, he could hear the sound of Sanji cursing his opponent while the fishman mocked him in turn. He then heard the sounds of the pool that stood only a few feet away from him. And then metal clanging of Zoro's swords as he engaged with his foe.
Within seconds, he finally heard it. It was the sounds of Sharptooth's feet moving nimbly and quickly across the floor. The volume came from behind him and was growing louder, meaning that his opponent was closing in for an attack. But the young samurai would not move just yet.
Sharptooth let out a laugh as he swung his blades and cut at Ryuza's arm before dashing away again. The cut was made at a previous wound, which only caused the blood to pour even more. Ryuza hissed at the agonizing pain, but he would not move. Not just yet.
"What is he doing?!" A villager asked with worry in her eyes.
Yosaku clenched his teeth in exasperation. "Why is he acting as if he's frozen?! If he doesn't move now, that freak will cut him down!"
In actuality, Ryuza did not move just yet to confirm two things. Sharptooth's boisterous cackling was giving away his position before his attack landed. In other words, he would be more easier to hear, and easier to predict where he would be coming from next. The second thing Ryuza had noticed was that the fishmen's attacks were savage and frenzied. There was little precision to be found, otherwise the fight would have ended much earlier.
This information would allow Ryuza to finish the fight in one attack
Shifting into a stance, Ryuza wrapped both hands around his sword and bent his knees. His eyes were still closed, but the feeling of the hilt against his palms brought him confidence. This time, he would not miss his strike. His ears caught the sound of his opponent's feet moving nimbly against the ground. This time from his right. The sound was growing louder and louder and louder until….
There!
Ryuza's eyes shot open and he shifted his body, raising his blade overheard. In a fierce downward stroke, he swung his blade as if he were targeting the wind. The quick movement was followed by the sound of an agonized cry of pain, and the sight of blood shooting into the air.
The blade had hit its mark, directly against Sharptooth's chest, a deep cut visible along his torso. The fishman recoiled in pain and came to a tumbling halt against the floor, his eyes wide in disbelief as he clutched the wound.
"He got him!" A village exclaimed with an elated smile.
"Way to go brother Ryuza!" Yosaku said as a grin grew on his face.
Ryuza could not fight the sudden urge to smile at the accomplishment. Sharptooth slowly tried to stand to his feet, clutching the wound at his chest. Ryuza figured it was the perfect recompense for the slashes and cuts that he had received in turn. All he needed to do now was finish the job.
Suddenly from the corner of his eye, he saw two familiar figures that ran on the other side of the courtyard, staying clear of the skirmishes. Upon closer inspection, he recognized the two strangers to be Nojiko and Genzo. Genzo had something long within his hand and Nojiko followed closely behind him. The two came to a halt at the edge of the pool Luffy had sank into earlier. They glanced at each other and then leapt into the water, swimming down toward the bottom. Ryuza was taken back by the sudden action, unsure of what they were trying to do. Then it hit him. Perhaps they were trying to free Luffy before he drowned. He could only hope that their plan would succeed.
"Don't tell me one little measly cut is all that it takes to kill you, Sharptooth." Arlong said, standing to the side with an unimpressed look. "One human shouldn't be a problem for you."
Sharptooth had managed to rise to his feet. "Bastard…." He hissed, his teeth grinding together. "I'll bleed you dry! I'll tear the flesh from your bones! I'll-"
His words drifted away as he dropped to his knees once again. The fishman's blood trickled down his clothes and splattered against the floor. Ryuza paused as he witnessed this. From the look of it, the fishman was no longer in any condition to continue the fight. If this was the case, he had no need to engage with him any further. His true target, Arlong, was just a few steps away.
"No, this battle is over. I suggest you stop moving if you don't want to bleed out." Ryuza said, turning his attention toward Arlong, his blade still at his side. "Arlong! It is your turn to face me!"
The young samurai silently cursed himself. He wished that he had come up with a more powerful speech, or at least said something that would be remembered by the villagers that were watching from afar.
Arlong laughed boisterously, his hands placed in his pocket. "Shahahaha! The pathetic human thinks he can take me on?! I don't even need to touch you to kill the likes of you!"
With those words spoken, Ryuza's fighting spirit flared. He dashed at Arlong, sword in hand and his eyes narrowed fiercely. This was the opportunity the young samurai needed. At the Baratie, he did not get the chance to fight the captain of the Don Krieg pirates. This time, he would not be denied the glory of taking down an evil pirate captain of the seas.
Sparks shot from the ground as the tip of Ryuza's sword grazed the surface. Once he was close enough to his much larger opponent, he lunged forward to thrust his sword into Arlong's chest. Arlong stood in place, his hand raising, liquid dripping from his palm. Ryuza's eyes widened as Arlong threw a handful of what looked like to be water at his chest. Before the young samurai could process what had just happened, he was repelled backwards forcefully, as if he had just been struck by a bullet from a pistol.
"What the hell!?" Yosaku voiced his shock. "What did that shark guy just do!?"
"I don't know…" Johnny answered with equal confusion and concern. "It looks like all he did was just throw water on him! But there's no way water that small could knock someone back with such force!"
Arlong smiled with malice in his eyes. "Don't you see? I don't even need to touch you pathetic humans. Just a little water is enough to kill you within a few seconds." he ranted. "This is the difference in power between fishmen and humans."
Ryuza cared not for his opponents rambling. "Are you going to fight, or just talk?" He asked, raising to his one knee.
"Fine, if you're so ready to die then I'll happily oblige!" Arlong snapped, seemingly angered by the young samurai's ignorance. "After all, I am a gracious host!"
Arlong leapt at Ryuza with his fist clenched and pulled back. Ryuza quickly bounded back and allowed Arlong's fist to connect with the floor which shattered a piece of it due to the power of the strike. Ryuza then shot forward and swung his blade with ferocity. Arlong nimbly dodged the samurai's swings by stepping to the side and delivered a forceful kick to his midsection.
Ryuza doubled over as he felt the air knocked out of him and Arlong quickly followed his attack by bringing his fist across and sending Ryuza spiraling through the air with a punch. The villagers who watched the fight from afar gasped in horror as they could feel the ground vibrate from the might of the attack. The young samurai hit the ground again, pain filling his face as he struggled to force the air to return to his lungs.
"He shouldn't be fast enough to dodge my attacks. What is going on…?" Ryuza mused to himself. "Am I so injured that I'm moving slower than ever?"
"Stand up human!" Arlong laughed mockingly. "If you don't! I'll kill you, y'know?!"
Suddenly, Arlong sensed a danger approaching him from behind. He turned just in the nick of time to see Zoro launching himself in the air, bloodied and bruised, but his swords gripped tightly in his hands. He raised his two swords overhead, the third one clenched tightly in his mouth. He brought his swords down, attempting to cleave Arlong into two halves. Arlong however quickly raised his hand, his skin still dripping from the water he had picked up earlier. He swung his arm, launching only a small ounce of liquid at Zoro's open chest. It was all he needed to send Zoro flying back, blood leaping from his mouth. Zoro landed on his back motionless and Ryuza grew weary at the sight. He was aware Zoro had not fully recovered from his earlier wounds either. It was undeniable that the green haired swordsman must have been fatigued.
"Shahahaha! Don't tell me that's all you have in you Roronoa Zoro!" Arlong cackled.
"Shut the hell up!" Sanji called out, suddenly dashing from Arlong's right and leaping into the air for a devastating snap kick.
Arlong sidestepped the kick with ease and threw the remaining water he had in his hand at Sanji's face. The blonde cook's head snapped back with force as the liquid made contact with his skin. Bouncing off the canvas like he were made of rubber, Sanji came to a rolling stop a few meters away, his face trickling with blood.
"Damn, we can't even get close to this bastard…" Sanju mused to himself.
Ryuza was inclined to agree. If Arlong could keep them at a distance, there was little chance of them being able to defeat him. But then, an idea sparked within the young samurai's mind. If he could not get in close enough to cut him, then he will just have to do so from a distance.
"Sanji!" Ryuza called out to the blonde cook. "We aren't going to beat him like this! That water is going to keep knocking us down!"
Sanji raised his curly brow and glanced at him with an annoyed look. "Don't you think I know that already!?"
"If we can't get close….then we'll have to attack from a distance…." Ryuza said, narrowing his eyes at Sanji, attempting to give him a hint of his strategy so that he would not have to say it aloud.
"What are you–" Sanji's voice trailed off and then it hit him. "Oh, right…that move….It takes time for you to charge right? Well, you'll probably need someone to distract this guy…"
Ryuza nodded as he knew such an attack took a few seconds to apply. And it was unlikely that Arlong would allow him to use that time. The only way for him to use it was for Sanji to keep Arlong distracted. A few seconds was all that he needed. Sanji attempted to rise to his feet but instead his legs began to tremble, and a violent cough that stained the floor with blood forced Sanji to fall on his stomach. Ryuza grimaced, and now realized that Sanji was feeling the full extent of his injuries at that very moment.
In that condition, he wasn't even sure if Sanji would survive the few seconds that were necessary. For Ryuza to pull off his ability, that he once used against Mihawk, and the lieutenant of the Don Krieg Pirates, he needed time. But Arlong's speed was so great and the young samurai wasn't sure he would have enough time to pull it off.
"Another thing I hate about you humans," Arlong said as he glared down at Sanji. "Is that some of you take too long to die! Hachi! Kurobi! Quit fooling around and kill these pieces of trash already!"
Despite Arlong's command, there was no sound or movement around him.
"Hachi!? Kurboi!?" Arlong called out again, glancing at his surroundings.
The fishman captain's eyes had suddenly widened when he had seen what became of his officers. Hachi was laid out on the floor, bloodied and motionless, nearly covered in a pile of rubble and debris from the damaged Arlong Park tower. Kurobi was in the same condition, his body flat on the floor near a cracked hole that had been made in the surrounding fortress walls. The two officers of the Arlong pirates had already been beaten, and Arlong's eyes grew in a frenzied rage.
"Hachi…Kurboi…" Arlong growled, his sharp teeth grinding against each other. "How dare you do this to my brethren! I was going to make your deaths quick, but now, I think I will keep some of you alive to make sure it is slow and painful!"
He raised his right leg into the air, looming it over Sanji's head. Ryuza, seeing the peril of the situation, was prepared to rush forward to stop him. He knew that there was little chance that he would be able to land a direct hit, but he did not care. He would not let Sanji die when he could do something to prevent it.
But, all movement had ceased when a familiar voice rang out. "Arlong!"
At the fortress breach, where the villagers stood, was none other than Nami. Her brown eyes locked onto Arlong determinedly, the straw hat that Luffy had given her earlier still on her head, and her wooden staff gripped tightly in her hands. Arlong paused and smirked once he had caught sight of her.
"Nami! Just in time!" He sneered. "I was just about to finally kill these pirates. So, what brings you here?"
"I came… to kill you!" Nami declared, her hand clenching so tightly that her knuckles turned pale.
"Shahahaha kill me!?" Arlong laughed. "In the 8 years you've been with me, how many times have your attempts to kill me end up in complete failure? What will it be this time I wonder? Assassination? Poisoning? Or maybe another surprise attack!"
While Arlong goaded Nami, Ryuza remained silent. He was surprised to see Nami so determined to slay Arlong. It was completely different from the state that she was in before the battle had begun. Then, the young samurai suddenly realized that this was his chance. If Nami had continued to distract Arlong, he would be able to perform his attack. Shifting across ground, remaining close to the flat surface, Ryuza positioned himself behind Arlong as the fishman captain continued to mock Nami.
"Yes, keep him talking…you orange haired witch…" Ryuza mused to himself, silently praying that Nami could keep his attention off of him.
Ryuza quietly rose to his feet, and took in a deep breath. He shifted his knees, transitioning into the familiar stance that he used against Hawk-Eyes Mihawk. His focus intensified, and he channeled the energy from his warrior soul into his sword. The familiar azure glowing hue danced on the metal steel of his blade. As he prepared to release his sword and send a multitude of invisible slashes in Arlong's direction, a shadow loomed over him.
"I have you now, pathetic human!"
Ryuza turned around to see his previous opponent, Sharptooth, in the air above him. Ryuza's stomach sank as if he had fallen into a bottomless pit of despair. Before he could react or defend himself, Sharptooth opened his mouth and clamped down tightly onto his right collarbone. The young samurai's eyes snapped open as he could feel teeth as sharp as steel dig into bone and the wound left behind by Mihawk's sword.
The area vibrated with the grimacing sound of an agonized cry. Ryuza felt pain shroud his body with a metallic vice as he fell back. Sharptooth kept his teeth locked in, digging in even further as if he were savoring the taste of flesh. Arlong's attention swapped away from Nami to witness the sight. It took a few moments for Nami and the watching villagers to realize what had just happened. Nami's expression turned into that of pure horror as Ryuza screamed in agony.
"I was wondering when you'd finally get up, Sharptooth." Arlong chuckled, watching with glee. "I was beginning to wonder if you were actually dead!"
Through his pain, Ryuza realized his crucial mistake. He had failed in making sure that his opponent was truly incapacitated. In his eagerness to face Arlong himself had led him into this gruesome position. And now he had paid the price. The screams of pain intensified as Ryuza's arms were pinned to his side. Soon the agony was too much and Ryuza's vision began to blur. Shifting into a state of unconsciousness, the young samurai's screams passed away, and his body joined the many that were motionless.
"Brother Ryuza!" Johnny and Yosaku screamed in unison as they watched in terror, almost prepared to rush to his aid.
As Ryuza laid there, Sharptooth released his grip and stared down at him with sadistic glee. Nami bit her bottom lip, her body trembling as she saw Ryuza was no longer moving. The sound of Ryuza's pained screams swapped over to the sounds of Arlong's triumphant laughter.
"That is one human down! I wonder how many more will go!" He said as he grinned over at the villagers.
Just nearby, there was the sound of someone surfacing from the deep pool of water on the other side of the fortress. Nojiko, dripping with water, climbed out of the pool with Luffy's head gripped tightly in her hands. His rubbery devil fruit allowed Nojiko to stretch his neck just long enough to bring a part of Luffy to the surface. However, his eyes remained closed as he must have passed out while submerged for too long. Down below, Genzo remained near the debris that Luffy's feet were stuck to. And with enough time, he would be able to free them.
"Just hang in there a bit longer." Nojiko whispered to Luffy, making sure that she would not let him go.
The situation quickly turned dire, as her sudden appearance drew the attention of Sharptooth and by extension Arlong himself. Arlong, his hands placed in his pocket, grinned as he saw what Nojiko had been trying to do.
"Well well well, I was wondering where you ran off too." Arlong said, his eyes narrowing maliciously. "Well, since I have to make an example for you pathetic humans…I think I will start with you."
Nami stepped forward, sensing the immediate danger that her sister was in. "Arlong, don't!"
"Oh, but Nami, you said you were here to kill me, right?" Arlong replied. "So I believe it only fair that I should be able to kill your sister as punishment for your defiance."
Nami began to tremble. "Arlong!"
"Sharptooth. Enjoy your fun!"
"Arlong!"
Sharptooth cackled and began crawling on all fours toward Nojiko, preparing to taste human flesh once again. "With pleasure, captain!"
Nojiko could only watch in terror as Sharpooth began to close in. She knew that she could not let Luffy go while Genzo did his work. If she ran now, Arlong would kill them all. She had to endure, even if it meant her life. Sharptooth leapt onto the fortress wall, gazing down at Nojiko with an evil grin as he prepared to lunge at her. While the fishman prepared to strike, Ryuza's soul pulsated. His body was still and despite laying on the ground, he was fully aware of the situation. He tried to move, to stand to his feet, but the pain engulfed him like vice. Shame began to seep in. Was this really all the punishment that his body could withstand?
A true samurai would have been able to take countless blows and cuts and still be capable of finishing the duel, even if they were to succumb to their wounds soon after. And yet, Ryuza felt nothing like a samurai in that lingering moment.
Despite being incapable of moving, Ryuza could still hear the sounds around him. A familiar voice. It was that orange haired witch again. She cried out Arlong's name, first in rage and then in a plead. Ryuza could hear the villagers screaming as well, but could not quite make out the words. They were in trouble. Ryuza did not need his sight to know that this was true. They needed his aid. But what could he do in his current condition? How would he–
"Is this really all you can muster, boy?"
Ryuza felt his eyes shoot open as he heard a voice that was unfamiliar to him. It was then he realized that he was no longer on the floor of the Arlong Park courtyard. He was in a black void, a place covered in deep dark shadow. He could not feel his body and he felt as if he were floating on a cloud of nothingness. He saw nothing, but he knew he heard a voice.
"Who's there?" Ryuza questioned, though he could not hear his own voice.
"Incapacitated by such a weak attack? You should be ashamed." A new voice said.
"Who is speaking to me?" Ryuza asked again.
"Samurai do not fall easily to such attacks." Another voice said. "Rise to your feet, boy. Lest you bring shame to us all."
"Perhaps it was a mistake to trust Wano's destiny to someone so young." A new voice said. "He is still so weak and naive."
"Wano?" Ryuza repeated, recognizing the word immediately.
"Perhaps it was a mistake to entrust the Kokuryū no Ikari to this boy." Another voice said. "To defeat your opponent and then allow him to rise up and strike you down? You bring shame upon that blade."
Ryuza could not fully grasp what was happening. These voices, who were hidden within the shadows spoke to him as if he were a child. They scolded him, reprimanded him, and made him feel even greater shame than before. And yet, he felt a strange sensation. A deep desire to prove these invisible men wrong. Whoever they may be.
"And yet the blade has chosen him." A new voice said. "He uses it well enough but must grow stronger."
"Master?" Ryuza knew his beloved master's voice anywhere. He could hear it through the symphony of other sounds that pulsated in his ear.
"You bring shame upon my name and that blade by lying there, boy." His master's voice spoke. "Rise to your feet and fight. The Sword God would never be beaten by such attacks. Stand up!"
"The Sword God must return to the Land of Wano!" the voices had suddenly all spoke out in unison.
At that moment, Ryuza felt like he had been struck by lightning. In that shadowy void, he felt his body convulse and his vision be filled with a ghostly azure glow. He blinked, and found himself once again staring at the floor of the Arlong Park fortress. The sharp pain was still there, but he felt something new. His heart increased it's tempo of beats. The shame he felt still lingered, but it paled in comparison to the feeling of finality and retribution he could feel in his soul.
On the roof, Sharptooth had finally launched himself forward, his teeth bared as he closed in on his target. Nojiko shut her eyes, keeping a tight grip on Luffy. Perhaps she was fully aware that she had no chance to outrun the piranha fishman. But maybe she could endure the pain just long enough for Genzo to free Luffy.
"Nojiko!" Nami cried out, her eyes stained with tears.
It was then, Ryuza stirred. He could feel the energy from his sword swirl within his soul. His body moved as if possessed by a violent spirit. An azure glow emanated from his blade as he shot to his feet just in time to witness Sharptooth closing in on Nojiko. With a flick of his sword, as if cutting the air itself, Ryuza released a flurry of slashes. The piranha fishman had no clue that Ryuza had launched an attack at him. That is, until he felt the sensation of a cut on his forearm. Like a lethal halo, the invisible slashes circled around Sharptooth, cutting him from every conceivable angle, causing the fishman to jolt and spasm.
Once the onslaught of cuts had reached its conclusion. Sharptooth hit the ground and gasped in agony at the wounds and cuts that were made from head to toe. Arlong grimaced and Nami stood in stunned silence along with the other villagers. Nojiko opened her eyes and expected to feel the suffering that Sharptooth's razor teeth would inflict on her, but her mind raced when the fishman fell flat on his back a few feet away from her.
Sharptooth rolled onto his stomach, his eyes bloodshot with outrage. "You filthy bastard of a human!" he screeched. "Why won't you just die!?"
Ryuza—who walked toward his opponent—his sword in hand, didn't utter a word.
This time…he dies. Ryuza thought to himself. No more mistakes. By my honor as a samurai, I will finish this.
He bolted toward Sharptooth with a speed unlike any the fishman had seen before. It was as if Ryuza was allowing a hidden tempest to carry him to his target. The young samurai had never felt such a rush of pure adrenaline in his soul before. It felt as if his warrior's soul was sparking and pulsating like a chain of lightning. Whatever this feeling was–real or not– it would help him see the job through.
Sharptooth leapt forward with his mouth open to bite into Ryuza's neck. However, he did not anticipate Ryuza's senses, which felt as if they were heightened in that very moment. Raising his sword, Ryuza swung his sword horizontally–the blade moving like a leaf in the wind–and cut his enemy's shoulder before his teeth made its mark. Sharptooth howled in pain and rolled to his right to leap at the his enemy with his teeth revealed, his yellow eyes blazing with fury.
"Hold still you bastard!" He demanded.
Ryuza in reply quickly rolled to the right, swiftly removing himself from the line of the fishman's attack. He made sure to maintain his momentum and as Sharptooth landed, Ryuza bounded forward—his hands gripped tightly around his blade—and attacked fiercely. By the time the fishmen had time to spin around to face his him, Ryuza's sword cut deep into his chest as if the wind itself carried sharp cutters.
The fishman had no time to scream as Ryuza followed up one attack with another. Ryuza swung his katana with ferocity, cutting into Sharpooth's torso as if he were painting a canvas. With each stroke of the blade, Ryuza twirled, spun, and pirouetted, sending Sharptooth stumbling backward. Preparing for one last strike, Ryuza stepped forward and spun on his heel–bringing his blade across—and swung diagonally into Sharptooth's chest once more with a powerful strike.
His attack knocked back Sharptooth, sending the fishman into a pile of rubble. Ryuza saw the look in his eyes. For the first time in his life, the fishman had most likely felt the fear of dying in battle. But this time, Ryuza would not show mercy. He poised and prepared to deal the finishing blow–his blade surrounded by the familiar blue and ethereal glow. Sharptooth panicked and tried to remove himself from the rubble so that he could flee. But by the time that thought reached his mind, Ryuza was already in front of him, his blade reeled back.
For a moment, Sharptooth saw the look in his eyes. Ryuza did not realize it himself, but his expression was that of silent fury. His dark eyes were as sharp as twin sabers and they were locked onto his enemy as he prepared to end him.
Sharptooth tried to scream, perhaps even beg. But Ryuza thrusted his blade forward and impaled Sharptooth through stomach. The fishman howled but managed to leap to his feet and attempted to grasp the blade to remove it. Ryuza quickly pulled his blade back— allowing the fishman to stumble forward–and followed his attack with an upward strike, forcing the fishman into the air. Bending his knees, Ryuza leapt up, sharing the same altitude as his opponent and reeled his sword back over his shoulder.
The blue glow around his blade intensified as if it were charging itself up throughout the battle and had finally reached its peak.
This will finish it. Ryuza thought to himself, his attack resolute.
With a snap of his wrist and burst of blue azure aura, Ryuza swung his sword while pirouetting. The blade hit its mark and cut cleanly through Sharptooth's body. The blue azure glow engulfed the fishman's body as multiple unseen slashes ripped and tore at his body, the blue streaks like razor sharp bolts of electricity composed in a symphonic vortex. Once the onslaught of cuts had ceased, Sharptooth's body plummeted to the earth. His eyes lifeless, his body appearing as if he had just been flayed. Ryuza landed behind him, sheathing his sword that finally dimmed, the blue azure glow giving out.
Despite being aware that he had achieved victory with the long awaited death of the piranha fishman, Ryuza's soul still burned. He had not the desire to rest, nor the desire to tend to his wounds. His sharp eyes turned to the person that would truly mark the end of the battle, and free the entire island from the ruthless tyranny of both pirates and corrupt marines.
Arlong himself was the one that stood in the way of true victory….