Zoro VS Can Yue, the Oppressive Shells Town

The giant axe closed in, its savage force whipping up a whirlwind around it.

"What overwhelming pressure. As expected of Captain Morgan!"

"That white-haired guy isn't even moving. Did Captain Morgan scare him stupid?!"

"Looks like our Navy is going to win!"

"Poor pretty boy!"

The giant axe was about to come down.

In an instant, Can Yue entered a combat stance and glanced at Morgan.

Terrifying killing intent reflected in his cold vertical pupils.

The intense pressure made Morgan feel as though he were facing a ferocious beast ready to devour him.

Can Yue held his sword in one hand, spun the blade with his wrist, and casually slashed at Morgan.

A moment later, the two stood back-to-back.

Morgan maintained his chopping stance, while Can Yue had already sheathed his sword at his waist.

The scene seemed frozen, and neither of them moved again.

"What happened? Why did they both stop?"

"Could Captain Morgan have shown mercy?"

"That can't be right. With Captain Morgan's character, he would definitely kill that pretty boy."

"Tsk! Are you trying to die? Is that something you can say in public?"

"Ah... I meant Captain Morgan is upright and righteous. He would never show mercy to criminals."

While the surrounding Marines were still discussing it back and forth,

Luffy and Zoro had already noticed something was wrong.

Zoro's gaze was fixed on a spot dozens of meters away.

A tree so thick that several people could barely wrap their arms around it had been cleanly cut through. The slash had simply been too fast, so the tree had not fallen yet.

Is this guy a master swordsman? Even a casual strike is this powerful?!

Zoro was deeply shocked.

Luffy was carefree by nature and had not noticed the details Zoro had seen.

But ever since childhood, Garp had thrown him into the deep mountains, where he had experienced countless life-and-death battles.

The instincts forged through combat told Luffy

that Can Yue had won with ease.

He could not help sighing.

"That white-haired guy is amazing."

Time passed bit by bit, yet Can Yue and Morgan still made no further moves.

The atmosphere in the field grew increasingly strange, and cold sweat began to appear on many Marines' foreheads.

After analyzing the situation for a moment, the Lieutenant Colonel immediately issued an order. "Attack! Capture the traitors!"

Dozens of Marines pulled the triggers of their rifles, muzzle flashes erupting.

"Hahaha, leave it to me!"

Luffy stepped in front of Can Yue again. The Rubber-Rubber Ability rendered ordinary firearms useless.

"Guns are useless against Straw Hat Kid! Draw your swords and engage in close combat!"

At that moment,

Morgan moved. His entire body trembled as he turned toward Can Yue in terror.

"With your strength, why would you appear in the East Blue? Just who are you..."

"Cough—ah!"

Before he could finish speaking, blood erupted from Morgan's body, and his eyes rolled back.

As he fell, Morgan, along with his metal hand axe, split in half from head to toe.

"Captain Morgan!!!"

The Marines cried out in horror.

Then, the tree dozens of meters behind Morgan was also split in half from top to bottom, crashing down to either side.

This scene frightened the surrounding Marines even more.

"My God. What terrifying strength."

"Captain Morgan couldn't even withstand a single strike from him."

"By the way, he just killed Captain Morgan. What are we supposed to do now?"

"Lieutenant Colonel, give us an order."

The Navy Lieutenant Colonel looked solemn. Clenching his fists, he shouted his command.

"All soldiers, heed my order!"

At that command, more than a hundred Marines raised their rifles and stood at attention.

"They still want to fight?"

Seeing this, Zoro and Luffy naturally prepared to continue fighting.

"Everyone, about-face! Double-time march! Return to base! Half-day leave!"

Zoro and Luffy: "Huh??"

A moment later, the Marines' voices rang with boundless excitement, their cheers soaring into the sky.

"Yoho! That bastard who oppressed the people is finally dead!"

"Hahaha! Thank you, warriors! We can finally carry out justice openly and protect the townspeople!"

Some Marines even grabbed megaphones and loudly announced the good news.

Luffy looked at the Marines scattering in every direction to spread the news and laughed heartily.

"Looks like they're all good people."

Afterward, Luffy invited Can Yue and Zoro to eat at a tavern.

The three of them, along with Koby, got acquainted with one another.

Of course, Can Yue kept a cold expression throughout and spoke very little.

After the meal, Zoro looked at Can Yue and tied on his bandana.

"White-haired guy, how about we spar in that open square in town?"

Luffy was the most excited upon hearing that.

"Hahaha, it'll definitely be fun watching you two fight! Can Yue, just agree!"

Can Yue looked at Zoro, said nothing more, and nodded in agreement.

Zoro's fighting spirit instantly surged as he shouted, "I'll wait for you at the square!"

Then he immediately took off running.

"...He ran in the wrong direction, didn't he?" Luffy asked.

"Yes."

The Navy town square.

A bustling crowd had gathered, all discussing similar matters.

"Did you hear? A lot of people are saying Morgan is dead!"

"Watch your words! Be careful, it might be a trap set specifically to catch fools like you!"

"My younger brother is a Marine. He came home and told me himself. He wouldn't lie to me."

"Wow, then he really is dead! That's great!"

"Good riddance! Good riddance!"

"Which hero killed him?"

"I heard it was a handsome white-haired guy, a boy wearing a straw hat, and Pirate Hunter Zoro."

"Oh, Pirate Hunter Zoro did it? Then I believe you."

"Tsk! Watch your words! All of you, watch your words! If this is just a rumor, everyone here will be finished!"

"..."

Just as everyone lost patience and was about to beat Shen Yan up,

the Navy Lieutenant Colonel arrived at the scene. After thinking it over repeatedly, he decided to officially inform the townspeople.

"Fellow townspeople, today, I have an announcement to make.

Former Captain Morgan is dead!"

The moment the Navy Lieutenant Colonel said those words, every resident in the square erupted with excitement.

"Hahaha, wonderful! This is truly wonderful! Daughter, that bastard is dead!"

An elderly man in his seventies laughed and cried at the same time.

Even more townspeople shouted loudly, releasing the resentment they had endured from Morgan's oppression and abuse over the past few years.

Watching the joyous scene in the square, the Lieutenant Colonel smiled with relief. His decision to gamble his future on this had been meaningful after all.

He continued shouting that there had been three people involved in killing Morgan: Pirate Hunter Zoro, the Straw Hat Kid, and a handsome white-haired man.

"Wooo! Thank you, three benefactors, for avenging my Big Brother!"

Shen Yan suddenly leaped three feet into the air, completely unlike his earlier cautious self.

Suddenly, a green figure flashed past and rushed straight toward the center of the square.

It was naturally Zoro, who had been eager to spar with Can Yue, run in the wrong direction, and then run back.

"Wow, that's Pirate Hunter Zoro, right?"

"What an aura. He's so handsome!"

Soon afterward, Can Yue and Luffy also arrived at the square.

"Wow, a cold and handsome white-haired guy!"

"My God, that face is ridiculously handsome."

"Who was just swooning over Zoro?"

"Who? I don't know. I'm a diehard fan of the white-haired handsome guy."

"Wait, look closely. Pirate Hunter Zoro drew his sword!"

"Wow, the white-haired handsome guy drew his sword too! Are they going to fight?"

More and more onlookers gathered, completely surrounding the square.