"Where the hell are we going anyway?" Zoro demanded.
"You don't get to tell me where I am heading. You've wasted our time with your misdirection as it is. The hour's running late." Shinobu retorted.
"She's right, Zoro-ya. So why don't you stop your yapping and keep your direction?" Law gibed.
"Fine!" Zoro was annoyed.
The alliance of swordsmen was on their way to investigate another village that was susceptible to a demon attack.
"You said you are a Demon Slayer. Tell me more about this island and your work." Law asked.
"So you really don't know what's happening here?" Shinobu looked at him with surprise.
"No. You mentioned some Moon-Demon that I couldn't understand."
"First and foremost, I represent the Demon Slayer Corps, who are responsible for defeating Demons and protecting innocent people from falling victim. I'm referred to as the Insect Pillar of the Corps, a title given for my fighting style." Shinobu explained.
"I felt a weird presence back when you had stabbed that giant demon. That technique..." Law added.
"It was the Dance of the Butterflies, one of my techniques. "
"Butterfly, huh? It did resemble the aura."
"I use the Breath of the Insect, one of the many swordsmanship Breath techniques that allow a human to fight on par with Demons." Shinobu explained, turning towards Zoro, "Speaking of which, I commend your skill, Roronoa Zoro. Only a handful of people were ever successful in blocking my move."
"I can't believe that the blade was poisoned." Zoro said, "Good thing I read your move. Your katana has a unique shape. I believe you use it to stab your enemy."
"It's an efficient method to administer venom against the Demons." Law realised.
"Correct." Shinobu said, "That's the way I fight these monsters. Regardless of the poison, and as long as I can use my blade, the demons shall know pain." Shinobu said with a serene smile. Zoro felt it otherwise. She was trying to emit her true emotions.
"You are angry, aren't you?" he had to ask.
A pause.
"You just reminded me of a boy I had met recently. He found me out and said the same thing." Shinobu said, breaking the silence.
"What's that got to do with me?"
"Nothing. You don't seem like the kind to show mercy to Demons. So I believe, you are quite opposite in nature to the boy I mentioned."
"I haven't even met this kid. What did he do?" Zoro demanded in curiosity. He wanted to know how he differed.
"Cut it out, Zoro-ya." Law intruded. Zoro observed that Shinobu gave off an unsettling vibe. Maybe he struck a nerve. He agreed with Law.
"The boy's sister had turned into a Demon." Shinobu revealed, "You remember those Demons in that village? A few of them were humans that changed after they were attacked."
"Changed? Wait, you mean to say that the ones we killed were all humans?" Zoro gasped.
Shinobu nodded, "Humans turn when they are exposed to the blood of a powerful Demon, taking away their humanity while they ravage the rest of their kind."
"Some nasty ability." Law acknowledged.
"You both saw they were relentless murderers." Shinobu said, returning to her point, "But yet, that boy's sister would protect her brother despite being a Demon. And the boy has shown mutual affection."
"A Demon retaining humanity? I can't say that I'm fully cognizant of these Demons, but if you say one them can restrain itself from tearing down innocent people, well I'm intrigued. Those fellows showed no mercy wrecking that village."
"I could never be that kind and endearing towards the things I'm bound to kill. That doesn't make me a hypocrite."
"It doesn't." Zoro replied, "But I guess something must've happened to you in the past?"
Shinobu stopped on her tracks.
"Well, they did kill my sister. And I'm up to showing no mercy against such beasts. They lie, and manipulate, and kill the ones you care for. They only care about their own existence. And yet…" Shinobu was getting agitated, "And yet, my sister used to sympathise for them. She was a kind and gentle woman, and I admired her." A pause, "The boy's sister hasn't killed a single human. And the boy sympathise these beasts, like my beloved sister. His family was killed by a demon, left his sister turning into one, and yet he wouldn't give in to the hate."
Shinobu couldn't hide her emotion any longer. She glared back at her companions.
"This kid must have a strong resolve." Zoro acknowledged, "I think I understand your dilemma. It's your hatred towards Demons, losing loved ones. I may agree with your sister and that kid. But revenge isn't the answer."
"So you say I should befriend my enemies?" Shinobu demanded.
"Your sister and that kid might believe that, but I don't think you are willing to go along with it." Zoro replied, "But consider this, that kid's sister is no monster. There's a dichotomy of good and evil. As per our former experience, the usual Demons won't stop. It's either them or you. One of the sides must die. A true warrior knows when to show brutality, yet compassion and kindness to the situation."
"Don't think about this too hard. Cut the Demon that attacks. It's as simple as that." Zoro elaborated.
"But that doesn't mean that we show restraint. You, Kocho-ya, are here for a mission, we have our own reasons. We will need everything at our disposal. Time is of the essence." Law reminded of the priorities.
Shinobu agreed and got herself back together.
"Let's save the people on the island, the best we can." she said.
They arrived upon their destination. The three of them were relieved to find the village intact, the villagers alive. Shinobu talked to the people and got the news that there had been instances of missing children. There were no significant sightings of demons as far as the villagers had to say. Shinobu knew that the enemy was watching the place.
"They are biding their time." Law said.
The others agreed. The village wouldn't survive a demonic onslaught without their help.
"It sure would've been great with Usopp's long surveillance. I'm not sensing anything." Zoro said, "We'll have to stay sharp tonight."
Shinobu had to agree. From all the hullaballoo in the headquarters preceding before she was deployed on her mission, she was sure that the island would've become a demon territory, working as a satellite base for Muzan Kibutsuji, the mastermind behind all the demons.
"I have a feeling those Demons have caught wind of our arrival. I hope they all show up tonight. We can get done with this situation so that we can figure out a heading for Zou. Kaido is upon us." Law mentioned, "And no holding back. I don't want that 'Good vs. Evil' ideology if we are planning to save these people."
"Right." Shinobu agreed, "We got to kill them all."
Zoro knew that Law and he needed to meet up with Sanji and the others. The Curly Hat Crew was in the dark situation after their clash against the Big Mom Pirates. Law's crew was awaiting at Zou. And the thought of two Emperors getting involved, inclusive of Luffy's bold declaration at Fishman Island against Big Mom was another big problem. But that wasn't the time to think about the platter of troubles.
There were two main exits out of the village, which seemed the most vulnerable routes from demon attacks. The villagers were warned of the impending threat and the cause of the missing children. But they rose to fight alongside their benefactors. Despite Shinobu's initial thought to keep the villagers off any skirmishes, a few of them had volunteered to keep eyes out for trouble. The rest of them were sheltered at the Community Centre. Zoro took the job to protect the villagers by covering the central areas of the village. Shinobu and Law took charge of the two exits.
As the night grew late, the next morning was soon upon the world. Law was impatient and waited for something to show up. He discovered a small group of demons creeping from the northern end of the forest. He decided not to rush in, waiting for the enemy to make a move. To his surprise, the demons had disappeared retreating into the darkness.
"Hey, mister. Why do you carry three swords? Do you use all of them?" a kid approached Zoro.
"Yeah." Zoro replied.
"Like an acrobat?" the kid was curious.
"Scram, you brat. Swords ain't for show." Zoro retorted. The kid panicked back to the Community Centre. His mother yelled at him for being reckless and moving outside. Zoro felt that something was wrong. He believed that the three of them along with the village volunteers should provide good eyes to cover the territory. But when it came to protecting the people, the plan could've changed. Their priorities would change from offense to defense, protecting the civilians from being killed. And that's where the demons struck gold. The ground began to shake and popped up evil creatures. They surrounded the Community Centre. Zoro had to rush in to stop the demons from reaching the villagers. He had felt the sinister vibe before the surprise, but couldn't react with immediate effect.
"Oni Giri!" he rushed with all three-swords, destroying the demons on his path. The rest of them rushed onto his position to take him out.
"Three Swords Style…" Zoro halted. The demons spread out into two sides evading the presumed attack.
Did they realise? Zoro couldn't fathom. He hadn't the time to handle both the sides and decided to face the demons nearest to the Community Centre.
"One Sword Style - 360 Pound Phoenix!" He waved his Shuisui creating a large Flying Slash. It struck the first group of demons, tearing and disrupting their movements. Zoro took the confusion to his advantage and followed the second group, hunting them down. The remainder of the Demons began to stomp the Community Centre walls. The beasts could've stormed into the Centre from the ground, filled with fresh people gobbling up the kids and women and whatever horrid the night had to offer. But they couldn't invade. The structure well reinforced with concrete on the base.
Meanwhile, Zoro knew his strength and might've engulfed the villagers, destroying the Community Centre walls without precision of his attacks.
Amidst the chaos, Zoro had observed the River Styx flow, the serene flow of a water attack. An advanced technique! Were the Demons responsible? Zoro knew that he had to stop the source before it could pour into the Centre. His Observation Haki had awakened and concentrated on the putrid sense of demonic presence, locking down onto his targets.
"Three Sword Style…" He locked his blades in a vertical manner, "Demonic Raven!"*
Rolling along the ground and gravel, Zoro dashed into the enemy convention and struck down the evil presence. The river flowed despite his intervention. He realised that the water technique was benevolent, cutting through the demons on its path. Someone was responsible. A swordsman with an advanced sword technique, Zoro believed. A mysterious figure stood at the end of the onslaught. The party wasn't over. The water attack had managed to slow down and destroy a segment of the enemy horde, and Zoro took the opportunity to get rid of the rest.
The villagers were safe. Trafalgar Law had disappeared from the north end. Zoro and Shinobu were unaware of each other's situations. The latter had an easy confrontation. A small group of demons was all she had to face until a figure showed up behind her.
"Oh my, it took you long enough. And I thought you had run away." Shinobu mocked.
"Well, I'm here, aren't I?" retorted the figure, a man with black hair and blue eyes. He carried a Nichirin sword.
"They were up north. The kids abducted from this village are safe for now, but I might've ticked them off whilst at it." he explained.
"No wonder you are disliked by everyone. Am I wrong, Tomioka?" Shinobu quipped.
The guy was shocked. He didn't expect to have been rewarded by insult.
"Things were dire at the village. I guess it was your idea to pack every last person into the Community Centre?" Tomioka asked.
"I did. It was worth the risk with the man-in-charge." Shinobu was concerned, "How's the situation out there? I was about to head in right after I had finished with these intruders." A pile of demons agonised from her poison, wailing and withering away from pain and misery.
"I saw a swordsman." Tomioka remembered, "He was skilled to take advantage of my Breath of Water when I tried stopping the Demons. I was a tad bit late, and it could've been a bloodbath if that man had not been there. But he didn't seem like a Demon Slayer."
"He is not. He is a pirate." Shinobu said. She turned around and dashed into the village. Tomioka followed suit.
The smell of blood was fresh in the forest air. Trafalgar Law was surrounded.
"I believe you are the leader of the new hunters?" a demon stood in front of him, more humanoid in form. It had eyes marked with a number three, lower.
"So, you are one of those Demon bastards that Kocho-ya was talking about?" Law asked.
"I'm a Lower Demon Moon, and you should be afraid. Death is written. Your head will be a fine gift to Master Kibutsuji." said the demon.
"I'd be a poor surgeon if I'm scared of a little blood." Law retorted, drawing his sword, "Let's get this over with."
"You are right to the point. Very well!"
Despite all the blood that was spilled, Law was hyped for a fight more than ever. The demon preceded with a major carnage. Law couldn't let the enemy slip into the village.
"ROOM!" the Heart Pirates Captain was ready.