A Wager! Battling Zoro!

With Roronoa Zoro, Yosaku, and Johnny rowing in unison, they finally managed to catch up to the Tulip Pirates' ship and cornered the crew.

Zoro excitedly charged onto the deck, eager to secure his bounty money for food and drink; he hadn't had a payday in days, living a miserable life of feast or famine.

After all, due to his chronic sense of direction, his pirate hunting was entirely a matter of fate.

However, having run into his two little fanboys, Yosaku and Johnny, yesterday, he finally had guides to help him track down a bounty target today.

Even if these two sidekicks were a bit weak, as long as they could lead the way, he would handle the cutting!

The eight-million-berry bounty on the captain of the Tulip Pirates was enough for them to live in luxury for quite some time.

Once Roronoa Zoro boarded the ship, he cut down everyone in his path, and blood began to splatter everywhere.

At this moment, Daddy Babaya's sailboat caught up as well. He jumped onto the pirate ship without a word, only to see a group of pirates swarming Zoro, while Yosaku and Johnny were barely holding their own against three or four lackeys—their strength was truly lacking!

"You dared to fire cannons at my ship earlier; are you ready to pay the price now!"

As soon as Daide landed on deck, he drew his Sandai Kitetsu. The powerful, ominous aura immediately drew everyone's attention, and even Roronoa Zoro glanced at the Cursed Blade in Daide's hand, his eyes flashing with a hint of intensity.

"Hey! These guys are my prey!"

Zoro slashed another pirate lackey down, staring at this stranger—who seemed quite capable—like a wild beast!

"They fired cannons at my ship; they are your prey, but they are my prey as well!"

Daide lunged rapidly toward Captain Rika of the Tulip Pirates. With a single strike, he shattered Rika's blocking blade and carved a deep, massive wound into the captain's shoulder!

"Argh!"

Captain Rika collapsed, wailing and kicking his legs as he scrambled backward. A second strike descended swiftly, and Rika watched the ominous Cursed Blade falling toward him with eyes full of terror and infinite despair.

Clang!

A long sword suddenly appeared, intercepting the murderous Cursed Blade. The two blades collided, sparks showering from the point of impact as they vibrated.

"Hey, hey, you've got some decent strength! And a nice blade, too! To be able to snap this guy's sword in one hit. But I said it before: he is my prey!"

Roronoa Zoro grinned, his eyes filled with battle intent as he looked at the stranger, as if he had found a formidable opponent!

"Roronoa Zoro, I know who you are—a swordsman who set sail to challenge the World's Greatest Swordsman. But with your strength and your sense of direction, I doubt you'll ever make it out of the East Blue, the weakest sea, in your entire life!

My name is Daddy Babaya. Any interest in forming a crew, heading to the Grand Line together, and taking a shot at becoming the strongest in the world!!"

Daide also grinned, pressing down with his Sandai Kitetsu. He even coated the blade in a basic layer of Armament Haki to bridge the quality gap between the Wazamono-grade Sandai Kitetsu and the O-Wazamono-grade Wado Ichimonji.

"Let's see what you're made of!"

Zoro quickly drew a standard blade with his left hand and slashed toward Daide's waist, his momentum so fierce that the air itself seemed to shriek.

"I'm not a two-sword style user, but I know a thing or two!"

Daide drew the Wazamono-grade Yubashiri from his waist, blocking Zoro's fierce strike in an instant.

"Another famous blade??"

Zoro's eyes lit up. He had encountered two famous blades in a single day; if he could obtain both, his Three Sword Style would finally have three reliable weapons.

"The Wazamono-grade Yubashiri! How about it? Want it? Beat me, and it's yours! If you lose or we draw, you come sail with me!"

Daide laughed, pushing Zoro back. Both men retreated a few paces, creating distance as they locked eyes.

"That's a hell of a wager! Then I'll be taking this Yubashiri off your hands!!"

Roronoa Zoro grinned, his tone turning serious. He quickly tied his bandana, revealing the gaze of a beast, clamped the Wado Ichimonji in his teeth, and gripped a sword in each hand.

Whether for the Wazamono-grade Yubashiri or the eight-million-berry bounty of the Tulip Pirates, it was worth using his strongest techniques!

Besides, he was very confident in his own strength!

"Haha! I love your decisiveness!! Once you become my partner, I'll give you this blade anyway! You're guaranteed to win either way!"

Daide flashed a smile of successful planning, then sheathed the Yubashiri and drove it directly into the deck, holding the Sandai Kitetsu ready against Zoro.

He wasn't skilled in the two-sword style, and his greatest strength lay in his Devil Fruit ability, which required specific hand gestures to unleash its full combat potential.

"I won't lose!!"

Zoro wore a confident and resolute smile.

"And you absolutely won't win!"

Daide stated firmly. With the power of the Barrier-Barrier Fruit, was there any chance he could lose?

"Three Sword Style: Ox Demon: Brave Claws!"

Zoro didn't hesitate, lunging forward at high speed to strike at Daide, his three blades converging on the enemy from three different angles.

"First time fighting a three-sword stylist; it's definitely a bit disorienting!"

"Barrier Armor!"

Daide crossed the index and middle fingers of his left hand. Small, individual barrier shields materialized over his limbs and torso, forming a makeshift suit of armor attached to his body.

Ignoring the slashes from Zoro's two standard blades, Daide held the Sandai Kitetsu with both hands and swung it fiercely at Zoro.

Seeing Daide use such a reckless, suicidal move, Zoro was forced to pull back to defend; he wasn't about to throw his life away like this!

However, this was where the advantage of his three blades emerged: his right-hand sword and the one in his mouth moved to parry Daide's ferocious strike, while his left-hand sword had already landed a hit on Daide's waist!

Clang! Clang!

Zoro felt his left-hand blade strike against solid steel, while his right-hand blade was actually cracked by the strike of Daddy's Cursed Blade. He was sent flying backward by the sheer force of Daddy's two-handed power strike!

"What kind of ability is that? To be able to manifest armor like that?"

Zoro stared at the hard, transparent armor covering Daddy's body, sensing a major problem. His left-hand blade had even developed a notch from hitting that armor.

What the hell kind of monster is this!

"It's a Devil Fruit ability, so you don't have to worry about me competing with you for the title of World's Greatest Swordsman!"

Daddy laughed. He was not a pure swordsman, and he had no interest in becoming the World's Greatest Swordsman.

"Hmph! I don't fear any opponent! But since you've damaged two of my blades in an instant, it looks like I'll have to end this quickly!"

Three Sword Style: Onigiri!

Zoro felt that his two ordinary blades wouldn't last much longer, so he immediately unleashed his finishing move.

He held his blades in both hands, assumed a crossed stance, vanished from his spot in an instant, and slashed toward Daddy, reappearing behind him in a flash.

Barrier: Spherical Shield!

Clang!!! Clang!!! Clang!!!

Three thunderous sounds echoed out. Daddy stood in place, completely unscathed, while the two swords in Zoro's hands were covered in even more cracks, ready to shatter into pieces at any moment.