One-Sword Tremor: The So-Called Alliance

"Hmm, the feeling of hand-to-hand combat..."

It's not that Roman suddenly decided to steal Luffy's 'persona', but rather that he wanted to see just how powerful his Armament Haki really was in the New World.

He always got brutally beaten by Garp, while other Vice Admiral basically treated Roman with a 'sparring' mentality. Therefore:

"In terms of Armament Haki, Vergo should be considered at the level of Elite Vice Admiral."

Capable of independently commanding the 'G-5' base and easily defeating Smoker, Vergo's Armament Haki should be considered at the level of an average Four Emperors executive. So, how did Roman manage to defeat him in Armament Haki clash?

"A high-ranking official, or perhaps someone at the lower end of the All-Stars Sweet Commander?"

Roman made a comparison in his mind and came to this conclusion. —Of course, this is just Armament Haki.

The actual battle can only be determined by fighting: the mentality of both sides, Fruit Counter, environmental factors, etc. are all factors that affect the outcome. Unless the gap is too large, no one can say for sure that they will win.

Roman had absolute confidence in his Paper-Paper Fruit!

As long as he doesn't encounter the 'Scissors-Scissors Fruit', Roman is confident he can put up a fight against any other type, whether it's Mythical Zoan, Logia, or Paramecia.

"Yes, I have a better idea now."

As Roman deactivated his Armament Haki, more than a dozen white doves immediately flew over and formed a Marine Admiral's coat around him. At the same time, dozens more white doves swarmed onto Vergo, binding him in layers to form a 'coffin' while sprouting six legs.

"Paper Dance - White Coffin Spider"

With this, Vergo, who was nearly killed by Roman, would only be able to transform into a magical girl if his inner power suddenly exploded, revealing his blood-soaked web, his body struck by the insect arrow, and he made a binding vow...

Only then is it possible to turn the tide and escape.

Snowstorm raged, and icy blades clashed.

"Peaceful Snow - Muscle Knife!"

She transformed the feathers on her wings into ice and snow, slashing at Zoro like sharp blades! Because these wings were originally Monet's arms, her Saber Technique was truly 'as natural as her own,' but:

Clang!

Even though Zoro easily blocked her wings with his twin swords, Monet still smiled.

"You've been on the defensive the whole time, without making any move to attack..."

Monet licked his lips, alluring yet cold!

"To be honest, I don't think I'm your match."

Monet, after all, was a member of the Donquixote Family. Her strength might be slightly lacking, but her judgment was absolutely impeccable. This man before her, also with short green hair, was definitely stronger than her! However:

"... Perhaps the result will be unexpected."

The other person is actually a man who is unwilling, disdainful, or simply doesn't want to kill a woman? How adorably naive!

"You seem to have misunderstood,"

Zoro on the other side simply sheathed Wado Ichimonji and Sandai Kitetsu with ease.

"My mission is simply to keep you from bothering my captain— Luffy alone is enough to deal with that poison gas guy named 'Caesar'."

········

"So, it's okay for you to play with 'me' for a bit?"

That's exactly how it is.

Zoro grinned, revealing a wild and domineering aura!

"When you realize you can't beat me, you should run away with your tail between your legs. — To be honest, sometimes I really don't want to fight. But:"

Have you ever seen a wild beast that doesn't bite?

Slowly drawing his Shusui, Zoro approached Monet step by step. His movements were unhurried, yet Monet felt as if the entire world was surging towards her!

"I've never seen it before—"

As Zoro answered his own question, he suddenly went from slow to fast, raising his Black Blade Autumn Water high, unleashing his most classic downward slash! Monet instinctively wanted to dodge, but:

I can't move my body or my feet!

The moment Monet met Zoro's domineering eyes, as Logia 'Snow-Snow Fruit' user, she felt a long-lost chill throughout her body, even her soul was frozen and slowed down! She felt like a rabbit under the lion's claws, only able to watch helplessly as his gaping maw fell upon her!

In that instant, she finally understood what Zoro had just said:

How dare a mere rat provoke a ferocious beast?

"One-Sword Style"

Brush--

With a flash of light, Shusui sliced through Monet as easily as cutting tofu.

A deep gash appeared as the blade penetrated deeper, instantly cutting down Monet's forehead, neck, chest, waist... and the natural Devil Fruit user with wings and legs was unsurprisingly cleaved in two!

"Great Tremor!"

Snap, snap,

"W-what... what's going on?"

Monet, cleaved in two, lay on the snow. Even though Zoro hadn't applied Armament Haki to his sword, Monet, struggling on the ground, couldn't reassemble herself. It was as if the blow hadn't struck her flesh, but rather branded itself into her soul!

Belief becomes reality!

This is Zoro's mental attack, different from the Armament Haki infused with willpower and life force; it's an extension unique to Zoro's swordsmanship. It truly achieves the goal of severing the body with the sword and the soul with the mind! Before him, even the intangible soul, will, and mysteries are cut in two with a single stroke.

"Haa... haa... I will never let you... go past..."

Despite being split into two writhing, misaligned halves that couldn't be joined back together, Monet still mustered her strength to stand up and lunge at Zoro. However:

Snap,

A gauntlet was placed over her head from behind, and then:

"Oscillation-"

Buzzing!

Without using Armament Haki, he merely used a small amount of his ' Tremor-Tremor Ability, instantly causing Monet's eyes to roll back and her to collapse to the ground, revealing what lay behind her:

"The White Knight?"

Zoro glanced at the pure white armor behind him; he could tell, of course, that it was just a puppet, and Roman wasn't inside. —So, where did the real Roman go?

"Sigh, there's nothing I can do, I still have a lot of loose ends to clean up."

Faced with Zoro's questioning gaze, the White Knight sighed. The Straw Hat crew's chivalrous deeds and fights against evil were certainly admirable, but leaving behind a mess was rather unseemly. Therefore, Roman had no choice but to take on the responsibility of handling all the aftermath along the way.

"Let's go, let's Luffy too."

"Is this enough candy? Should we also send over the experimental data..."

Next to the kindergarten-style room is a laboratory brimming with scientific atmosphere. It's filled with a dazzling array of equipment, and it's here that those candies containing addictive drugs are produced. However:

"I should have sent Chopper... no, even Franky would have been better."

Nami rubbed her forehead. Sanji was a top-notch chef, Robin was the last archaeologist of Ohara, and while Usopp was also multi-talented, it was obvious that...

None of them had any experience in 'pharmaceutical manufacturing,' and they were completely unfamiliar with the instruments, data, reports, and so on in front of them...

"ROOM: Shambles!"

Just as they were in a dilemma, a figure suddenly appeared out of thin air next to them, causing Sanji to instinctively lift his leg.

"It's me,"

Wearing a black, knee-length trench coat, a fluffy leopard-spotted winter hat, and carrying the nodachi 'Kikoku', Law appeared in the room.

"It's you? Didn't you say it was by...?"

Nami, who had just started to question the other party, glanced at Law, who was clearly injured, and changed her tone.

"Have you encountered the enemy?"

"It's nothing, just a scumbag in the navy."

Law's words Nami tense, and she subconsciously thought of:

"But I was lucky; the infamous 'White Dove' was here too, otherwise I would have been beaten to death on the spot—?!"

What's with those expressions?

Faced with Law's question, the Straw Hat crew members exchanged awkward glances and chuckled.

"Haha, it's nothing, it's nothing~~~"

The white dove is Roman, huh? Oh, so he went to rescue someone...

"... Did you get your hands on the 'candy' that poisoned those children?"

Although he had no idea what the Straw Hat crew was up to, Law's gaze fell on the messy pile of equipment, documents, and raw materials beside him. He immediately understood what was going on.

"You can't just grab things randomly like this, let me do it."

Luo calmly explained as he picked out the useful information.

"I am both the captain of the 'Heart Pirates' and the ship's doctor." — Or rather, most of the so-called Heart Pirates are doctors.

"Then I'll leave it to you."

Nami breathed a sigh of relief. Without professional help, they would have simply taken everything that seemed useful from the lab. Since Law had acted as an ally and helped them, then:

"Pineapple Gravel!"

A ball of blue flame appeared in Nami's palm, and then she gently pushed it towards Law.

"This is--?"

He immediately assumed a defensive stance! But the moment the blue flames touched his skin, a surge of life force rushed into his body, causing the wary Law to look at Nami in surprise.

"It's a healing flame. You seem to be quite badly injured as well."

"... Such a valuable ability, so easily exposed to an outsider like me," Luo lowered his eyes, "Is it appropriate?"

"Don't look down on me," Usopp said, adjusting his hat. "Aren't we allies?"

"From Luffy's perspective, you are already our friend."

Are we friends?

What a bunch of naive guys.

In a secret control hall,

"Caesar, where are my men?!"

While no one was watching Tea Beard, who was being used as a 'mount' by Luffy and his crew, had quietly sneaked back into the base. Although he wasn't particularly clever, he had once ventured into the New World as a captain, and after a series of events, he had seen through the true nature of his 'master,' whom he thought was a kind scientist.

"Tea Beard, what are you saying—"

Faced with Caesar's attempt to bluff his way out, Tea Beard tightened his grip on his Big Saber.

"Now that things have come to this, I won't pursue the matter of being deceived by you; that's just my own fault for being foolish! But what about my men? Although the Straw Hat crew stole their clothes, they should have returned here!"

"Back here... it seems like... it seems like... it doesn't seem like..."

Caesar, his eyes darting around, recalled that someone had indeed asked to open the door before the poison gas was released, and now it seemed that it must have been one of the idiots with the dung-like beard's subordinates.

"Damn it, you didn't lock them out, did you!?"

Faced with the Tea Beard raising his Big Saber, the base's last guards immediately turned their weapons on him!

"What are you doing, Tea Beard— "

"Our master is our great benefactor!"

"Do you want to lay a hand on 'Master'?"

"You've all been fooled—"

Tea Beard loudly retorted to his former 'colleague'.

"Caesar never treated us as subordinates; he just saw us as a laughingstock!"

???

"... White... rabbit... smile... now!!"

"Hey, Tea Beard, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Faced with the Tea Beard who couldn't even speak clearly, the remaining guards at the base were completely bewildered. Meanwhile, Caesar had already floated up to the Tea Beard, who was weak all over, and whispered in his ear like a demon.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh~~ This is a muscle relaxant. Can't you stand up? Can't even speak clearly?"

"You fools are only fit to be my guinea pigs. Your men have already gloriously added a report to my experiments..."

"Waaaaah... waaaah... waaaah!!!"

Facing the Tea Beard, who had fallen to his knees, roaring but unable to speak, Caesar once again quietly uttered the devil's whisper.

"By the way, I was also responsible for the accident four years ago that left the people on this island paralyzed from the waist down."

Brush--!

With his last ounce of strength, the Tea Beard, tears streaming down his face, slashed at Caesar with his sword. His mumbled shouts were a warning to his comrades.

Run!

We've been fooled all along.

All the tragedies on this island were caused by Caesar! Everyone, run away!!

However, his response was:

"Tea Beard, how dare you raise your sword against your master!"

"What are you doing, you little brat—"

"Aaaaaah, Tea Beard has gone mad!"

Caesar, however, seized the opportunity to gracefully push aside the Tea Beard, pointing at him with exaggerated gestures.

"He must have been affected by the enemy's power! Kill him quickly!"

Bang bang bang bang!

A hail of bullets rained down on Tea Beard. Although he had once been a bona fide pirate, the attack from his own comrades still brought tears and snot streaming down his face. He wasn't afraid to die! But he didn't want others to die as ignominiously as he had...

"Tsk, they're really tough."

Despite being given a muscle relaxant, Tea Beard still managed to withstand the concentrated barrage of gunfire; after all, he was once an 80 million bounty pirate. However:

"I'll use this move to eliminate you, Gas-Castanop!"

Boom!!

With a deafening explosion, centered on the man with the Tea Beard face, a massive blast resounded, turning the entire hall a crimson red. The remaining armed men were speechless for a moment.

Tea Beard was, after all, their colleague, and always honest and sincere. Why would he suddenly go mad...?

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh~~~"

Caesar couldn't help but laugh out loud. Only by manipulating these fools could he demonstrate his superior intelligence. Before a genius like him, everyone else in the world was nothing but—?!

!!

As the flames from the explosion subsided, Tea Beard did not turn into charcoal, because a giant hand protected him within! The leaping flames vanished helplessly before this enormous, metallic hand, as if carried away by a gentle breeze.

Brush,

As the giant hand retracted, the true face of the person who had saved the Tea Beard man was revealed.

"Straw Hat Luffy!?"