Chapter 203: The Trajectory of the Boys
Loguetown · Marine Branch Training Ground
"BOOM—!!!"
In the instant Zoro drew his three swords, an oppressive pressure capable of tearing through the air swept across the training ground. The sword intent, almost tangible, crushed down on everything!
Blade still, wind shattered!
The watching Marines held their breath, cold sweat beading on their foreheads. Even the air seemed to grow heavy.
"Is... is this the 'Santoryu' from Headquarters?" a branch soldier muttered.
Tashigi gently held her sword hilt, her expression changing slightly. "As expected of Senior Zoro's sword intent..."
Kuina lightly massaged her forehead, sighing helplessly. "This guy... going wild again."
Sanji, however, showed no fear. His eyes burned bright, blond hair fluttering slightly in his battle intent.
He took a deep breath and stomped the ground, sending gravel flying!
His figure shot out like a golden thread, closing the distance in an instant. His right leg transformed into a blade cutting through the air!
"Neck Meat!" (Collier)
This kick came from a tricky angle with immense force, whistling through the air, aiming straight for Zoro's head!
"CLANG—!"
Zoro didn't move his body. He simply raised his right hand, "Sandai Kitetsu" blocking horizontally in front of his face!
The collision of metal and bone erupted in a deafening boom!
"BAM!!!"
Sanji's kick hit the target instantly, but it felt like kicking a boulder covered in steel!
"Wh... What?!!"
Sanji's eyes widened, the corner of his mouth twitching violently. "What's... covering this guy's sword?!"
Zoro smirked coldly, a faint golden glint in his eyes. "Is that all the strength you've got?"
As his voice fell, Sandai Kitetsu shook slightly.
"BANG!!!"
Sanji was sent flying as if hit by a mountain. He tumbled through the air, crashing onto the ground and sliding several meters, kicking up a cloud of dust!
"SANJI!!!"
Usopp was so scared he almost dropped his slingshot, turning to run!
"Waaahhh! This isn't a battle! This is an execution!!!" But the next second, he gritted his teeth and turned back to draw his slingshot.
"I can't abandon my teammate!!"
"Special · Smoke Star!!!"
"POP-POP-POP!!!"
Three shots in a row! Thick smoke instantly shrouded the front of the training ground!
"Nice work, Long-Nose!!"
Sanji leaped up, suppressing the pain, and charged out again under the cover of smoke!
"Belly Meat!!!" (Flanchet)
His figure moved like a shadow line, flipping low along the ground, kicking viciously toward Zoro's waist!
But—
"SWISH—!"
Before the smoke cleared, Zoro's figure seemed to vanish into thin air!
"Wh... What?!!"
"Didn't he get hit by the smoke?! How can he still see..."
"Too slow."
"THWACK—!!!"
With a ruthless sweep of the back of his blade, Sanji was sent flying without even a grunt, smashing heavily into the ground and breaking three wooden stakes before stopping!
"SANJI!!!"
Usopp nearly collapsed, pulling back his slingshot with teary eyes. "Big Brother Zoro... calm down, will ya?!"
"Special · Tabasco Star!!! I'm gonna make you cry!!! Here goes nothing!!!"
"POP—!"
Smoke exploded, rolling red chili powder filling the field, choking even the onlookers into covering their noses and mouths!
"Cough, cough, cough!! My eyes!!!"
"Aaaahhh, my nose is gonna break!!!"
Amidst the thick smoke, the sound of THUD-THUD-THUD footsteps approached slowly like a walker from hell.
Usopp cried as he pulled his slingshot to full draw. "One more shot!! Spec—"
"SWISH—!"
A blade light cut through the spicy smoke!
Snap.
Usopp's slingshot was split in two, falling to the ground.
"WAAAAHHH!!!"
He squatted down holding his head, tears and snot flowing freely. "I was wrong! Don't kill me! I'm just a kid!!!"
In the dense fog, Zoro's figure slowly emerged, draped in a faint glow. He sheathed his three swords, his expression like a reaper after harvesting souls.
"It's over."
Sanji lay in the distance, struggling to prop himself up, clutching his chest and panting while growling through gritted teeth, "Damn... you bastard moss-head..."
"I'll catch up to you sooner or later!"
Zoro grinned, tone indifferent. "Then start by being able to block one of my strikes."
Usopp sat paralyzed on the ground, steam rising from his head, hugging the remains of his slingshot and wailing, "My special slingshot!!!"
On the sidelines, Roy nodded slightly, a trace of relief flashing in his eyes.
"Not bad."
"Having the guts to face an opponent far stronger than yourself... is already passing."
Sanji rubbed his numbed calf, glaring at Zoro's sheathed swords with gritted teeth.
"Oi, Moss-head!"
He spoke unwillingly, "What was that black stuff on your sword just now? It felt like kicking an iron pillar!"
Zoro glanced at him sideways but still explained, "That's Armament Haki."
"Haki? What's that?" Sanji frowned.
Zoro crossed his arms and continued, "Haki is divided into three types—'Armament,' which can harden the body or weapons;
'Observation,' which can sense surrounding auras and predict enemy movements;
'Conqueror's'... well, that's something not everyone can awaken."
He paused, his gaze sharp. "I just used Armament Haki to cover my sword. Your little bit of strength couldn't shake it at all."
"Tch." Sanji clicked his tongue, his gaze still stubborn. "That stuff sounds like cheating..."
Usopp had long forgotten his broken slingshot, squatting on the ground carefully taking out his small notebook, scribbling furiously while muttering:
"Armament, Observation, Conqueror's... sounds so strong!
If I could use this with a slingshot, would it increase the projectile power several times?! Whoa..."
...
On the sidelines, Smoker bit his cigar and walked up to Roy, looking at the vibrant scene in the training ground—
Tashigi was discussing the details of every move in the duel excitedly with Kuina. The two chatted more and more intensely, already gesturing moves to each other;
Sanji and Usopp surrounded Zoro, persistently asking "How to start Haki training" and "Is there a quick way to learn."
Although Zoro looked annoyed, he still explained seriously to the two.
Smoker sighed, tone complex. "Somehow... the brats gathering around you don't seem like fuel-efficient lamps."
"By the way, where are Ace and Luffy? Don't you always bring them along? Rare not to see them."
"Hahaha," hearing this, Roy laughed lightly, casually resting his arm on the back of the chair. "Luffy, huh? I dumped him at the G-3 Branch for internship."
Smoker instantly had black lines over his face. "Are you crazy? Isn't that Vice Admiral Garp's turf?"
"Exactly." Roy smiled meaningfully. "Fighting poison with poison."
Smoker's mouth twitched. "You're really ruthless..."
"As for Ace..." Roy's tone deepened slightly here. "After that great battle with Whitebeard, his mindset changed significantly."
"He realized that staying by my side forever wouldn't let him truly grow independently.
So he volunteered to go under Admiral Sakazuki's command. Now he's formed a temporary squad with Enel and Law, responsible for hunting notorious pirates on the front lines of the New World."
"The New World is a mess right now, full of crazy pirates trying to rise up. Perfect for them to practice on."
Smoker imagined the scene—Sakazuki + Enel + Ace + Law...
"..."
Smoker was silent for three seconds, his face turning pale.
He seemed to see a nameless pirate crew sailing in some corner of the New World. Just raising their pirate flag, the next second they were crushed into nothingness by fire, lightning, and spatial surgery.
"...Damn."
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but curse in a low voice. His fingers twitched uncontrollably, nearly dropping his cigar.
"How despairing must the pirates who run into those guys be..."
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