"They're completely unharmed."
Robin stood there with disheveled hair and a pale face, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth as she stared at the human-shaped sun. Her bloodshot eyes were filled with despair and helplessness.
Their opponent was far too powerful.
This wasn't someone they could defeat.
"Demon Aura: Nine-Sword Style: Asura: Draw-Sword: Dead Man's Game."
The low, hoarse voice sounded as though it came from the depths of hell.
It carried unshakable resolve and the determination to stake everything on one desperate gamble.
A ghastly aura erupted from Zoro, like a curtain of darkness swallowing the light Archino had unleashed.
Blood gushed like a spring.
Zoro manifested three heads and six arms, then vanished in a flash of red.
"Zoro!"
Luffy's heart bled.
Zoro had traded his life for overwhelming power. He had already accepted his death.
"Sun Apollo."
Facing Zoro's ultimate attack, Archino clenched his right hand. Terrifying heat condensed into a fireball that swelled to a hundred meters across, turning white-hot red. He tossed it out, and doomsday descended.
Whoosh.
A ghastly sword flash streaked past, splitting the world-destroying sun in two. Drenched in blood, Zoro appeared before Archino, his face flushed red as he panted for breath.
One strike.
He only needed one strike to cut his opponent.
His heart beat so fast it seemed to stop. The nine swords gathered all of Zoro's will and strength.
But reality was too cruel.
A fleeting flash of light.
Two beams of heat vision pierced Zoro's chest. They continued on, parting the sea of magma before vanishing in the distance, while the very air trembled and roared.
As though all the strength had been drained from him, Zoro dropped to his knees before Archino with a thud. The sword in his mouth fell to the ground,