Shusui - What Was a Shichibukai Worth?

The Thriller Bark - Castle Hall

The dim candlelight flickered, casting distorted shadows on the stone wall, and the air was filled with the smell of dust and decay.

In the center of the hall, two figures stood facing each other, as if time and space had frozen between them.

Zoro gripped the Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri tightly, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.

He was on high alert, his aura rising steadily, like a sword about to be drawn from its sheath.

Opposite him, Shimotsuki Ryuma stood in the shadows, his face covered by bandages, revealing only an empty pupil that exuded an extremely chilling pressure.

"Trespassers... beheaded."

Before he could finish speaking, Longma's figure vanished from the spot in an instant!

"Nose Song Three Ding - Arrow Feather Slash!"

A strange, silent blade of light suddenly sliced through the air. Before Zoro could react, a sharp pain shot through his chest!

He leaped backward, only to feel a corner of his clothes being neatly shaved off, without even noticing that his skin had been cut open.

"This kind of slash... doesn't even give you time to feel the pain?!"

Ryoma's figure flashed again, his sword sheathed, and he murmured, "Finale —The Curtain Falls."

"Whoosh!"

The sword energy surged, instantly cleaving the air! Zoro's body shuddered, and a wound quietly appeared on his abdomen, blood slowly sliding down his muscles.

He gritted his teeth and stomped his foot hard on the ground!

"Two-Sword Style: Rhino Cyclone!"

The twin swords spun like windmills, creating a defensive barrier that timely blocked the dragon horse's sudden pursuit!

But Longma didn't stop; his blade shifted rhythm like the strings of a musical instrument.

"Prelude - Sword Attack!"

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The Shusui Slashes fell like a torrential rain, dozens of blows slamming heavily onto Zoro's twin swords, causing his arms to go numb, his tiger's mouth to split slightly, and even his Yubashiri to bend slightly!

"Trying to destroy my weapons?!"

"Asshole!"

Zoro roared, pushed off with his feet, and spun around, leaping into the air!

"Two-Sword Style - 720 Pound Phoenixes!"

A fierce, raging slash swept through the entire hall like Spiral. Longma lightly touched the ground with his toes, his figure blurring as he dodged the attack, the blade sliding down from the air like a phantom!

"Revolutionary Dance - Forward Jump!"

The sharp spikes were like the bite of a venomous snake. Although Zoro barely managed to dodge, a bloody gash was still cut on his cheek, and blood splattered on the ground.

But his eyes burned even brighter!

"It's this sense of pressure that excites me!"

"Two-Sword Style Slash - Ascend the Tower!"

"Should Climb the Tower!"

"Flash!"

The three consecutive slashes were like a thunderous symphony. Ryoma's figure was gradually suppressed in the fierce battle, and his bandages were torn apart, revealing his noseless face covered with stitches and his gray sideburns.

"Ye Ming Song·True Thorn!"

Longma dodged the slash to the side, and using his powerful arm strength, he launched a sudden thrusting Impact while carrying Shusui!

Zoro dodged the thrust, then leaped forward with a "Shave!" step, biting Yubashiri in the mouth and gripping the Sandai Kitetsu with both hands!

"This strike is a gamble with all my sword intent!"

"One Sword Style: Flying Dragon Blaze!!"

The blade was wrapped in jet-black Armament Haki, and its strikes resembled rising flames!

A roaring fire dragon burst forth from the blade, shaking the entire ancient Castle!

Shock flashed in Ryoma's eyes as he used both hands to parry with his sword!

"Boom!!"

Flames exploded, the walls of the Castle collapsed, and smoke and dust billowed into the sky.

The dragon horse was slashed away and crashed heavily into the stone wall, sinking several feet deep!

The hall was silent, with only the embers of war still burning.

Amidst the smoke and dust, Ryoma slowly rose to his feet. His kimono was charred, and his body was shattered, but a sense of relief appeared in his eyes.

"Well done... kid."

He slowly handed over Shusui, the blade reflecting a ghostly blue light in the firelight.

"This knife... is yours."

He handed the Shusui to Zoro, Zoro hesitated for a moment before finally reaching out to take it.

The moment the knife touched his hand, it was as if an ancient and solemn sword intent resonated with his soul.

The next moment, Longma's body was enveloped in a layer of pale flames.

The flames ignited silently, yet intensely, and the soul that did not belong to this era was finally freed.

In the pale glow of the flames, a blurry shadow slowly emerged from his body, crossed the hall, passed through the gloom, and flew into the distance.

--Brook's shadow has returned.

Zoro gazed silently at the figure whose flames had burned out, the Shusui in his hand humming softly, as if the spirit of Ryuma's sword was still whispering within it.

"Take it... and climb to the top of the world."

A stone pillar in one corner of the hall was broken and collapsed, and the dust had not yet completely settled.

Zoro stood firmly, gripping the newly acquired Famous Sword, Shusui, tightly in his hand.

The blade was as black as ink, yet it reflected a chilling blue light in the dim candlelight, like the lurking roar of a dragon under the night sky—cold and deadly.

He lowered his head and gazed at the legendary Great Grade Sword, his hand slowly stroking the back of the blade, feeling its heavy aura, like the soul of a sword.

A slight smile played on his lips. "Finally... the third knife is complete!"

Not far away in mid-air, Enel sat cross-legged, his body gently floating on Thunderclouds as he calmly surveyed the remnants of the Battlefield, a hint of approval flashing in his golden pupils.

"This Moss Head... is so much better than when we first met six months ago."

His gaze shifted slightly, landing on the other side of the hall—

Moria, Absalom, and Hogback stood frozen beneath the shadow of the broken pillar, their bodies shivering with cold.

Those slash marks, that charred stone slab, that lingering sword energy and flames—all testified to the ferocity and brutality of the battle that had just taken place.

"Hogback!!"

Moria's face turned blue, and his body trembled like a mountain of flesh.

"You didn't tell me that zombie was this strong!!"

Hogback's forehead was covered in cold sweat, Glasses nearly slipped off. "How should I know?! You stole the corpse from Wano Country!! I was just responsible for sewing it up!"

Absalom suddenly shuddered and pointed ahead in terror, shouting, "Boss! Stop yelling! That guy's coming!!"

The three of them turned their heads simultaneously, their heartbeats seemingly stopping for a moment.

Enel slowly descended from the Thundercloud, his steps calm and expressionless. Lightning crackled beneath his feet, each step feeling as if it were pounding on their hearts, making their breathing increasingly rapid.

Sensing something was wrong, Moria instinctively stepped in front of the two, his obese body straining to maintain his composure as he asked, "Navy... you've got the sword, haven't you? Can you leave now?"

He spoke cautiously, trying to use his status and position to buy himself some breathing room.

However, Enel stopped in mid-air in front of them, looking down calmly. "I've heard that you've recently... taken to capturing civilians to extract their shadows?"

The air fell silent instantly.

The smiles on their faces froze, and beads of sweat trickled down their temples like broken beads.

How did he know?!

Moria's eyes darted around, and after a moment of silence, he forced out a voice. "Hmph! Just some ants! I'm Shichibukai, what's wrong with capturing a few civilians for experiments?"

Although his voice was firm, the slight tremor in his tone betrayed his inner fear.

Just then, Absalom, who was being protected behind him, suddenly shouted in terror, "Boss! Something's not right! It's Enel!!"

"That Rear Admiral 'Thunder God Rear Admiral' from the New World, who recently seems to love massacring Pirates!!"

"What?!" Moria's pupils shrank, and his obese body took two steps back.

"Thunder God... Enel?! That mad marine who slaughters Pirates like dogs in the New World?!"

Enel slowly grinned, revealing a cold smile, his golden pupils flashing with lightning, dangerous yet mocking.

"Looks like... it's confirmed."

"Boom!!"

A sudden burst of lightning erupted throughout the entire Castle hall, as if the sky itself had been ripped apart!

Enel hovered in mid-air, surrounded by lightning that transformed into a scepter of divine judgment.

Looking down at the three below, his voice echoed like Divine Oracle: "The Shichibukai?"

He chuckled, and the lightning at his fingertips grew even brighter.

"Before this 'god'..."

"Who do you think you are?"