Aaron vs. Roronoa Zoro, an Overwhelming Advantage

Nami walked alone through the woods, feeling a little regretful.

Damn it, I should have asked Aaron to come with me! Looking at the deep, shadowy forest, Nami felt a little frightened.

Don't be scared! You're Nami, who has gone in and out of pirate ships and tyrants' homes without a scratch! Nami encouraged herself inwardly.

Smack! A hand suddenly landed on Nami's right shoulder.

"Aah!!" Nami squeezed her eyes shut, screamed, spun around, and hammered the newcomer with her fists.

Bang bang bang bang!

"Stop hitting me, stop hitting me! Nami, it's me! It's me!" Luffy cried miserably, clutching his head with both hands.

Only then did Nami stop and lower her hands. Seeing what Luffy looked like now, she couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.

Luffy did not look like much, really. His cheeks were swollen, and his eyes had puffed up like two lightbulbs.

Yeah, he looked just like that frog reaction image that had gone viral online.

"Nami, did you hit me?" Luffy struggled to open his eyes through his swollen face.

Nami's expression changed in an instant, and her smile vanished. Looking at Luffy with utter righteousness, she said, "Who told you to suddenly put your hand on my shoulder from behind? Anyone would be startled, okay? That was a perfectly normal reaction."

Then Nami asked, "So, did you catch up with Usopp?"

"Yeah, I found the rich guy you mentioned," Luffy said with difficulty.

"What? Where is he? Take me there, quickly!" Hearing that Luffy had already found the rich man, Nami's eyes lit up. She grabbed Luffy by the shoulders and shook him wildly.

It was a wonder Nami could understand what Luffy was saying.

Well, whenever money was involved, Nami always became extraordinarily sharp and excited.

Hey! I'll give you a hundred thousand, so hurry up and warm my bed!

Hmm... wrong script.

Luffy led Nami out of the woods and arrived in front of a villa.

The moment they reached the entrance, they saw Usopp glaring at them with hostility.

After arriving at Kaya's home, Usopp discovered that Luffy had been following them all along.

And Kaya had even been moved by Luffy's sweet talk—at least from Usopp's perspective—and agreed to let his companions come find him.

I have to protect Kaya! Usopp quietly encouraged himself.

Well, let us put things here aside for now and switch perspectives.

Zoro wandered through the dense forest.

Yeah, it had probably been two hours.

Zoro's face was full of impatience, but it was useless. He still could not find his way out.

"Damn it! Why does this place look so much like the place from before?!" Zoro cursed.

Yeah, this was the fourteenth time he had come to the same place.

"This is getting irritating. So I should..." As he spoke, Zoro drew his swords and clenched Wado Ichimonji between his teeth.

Three-Sword Style, Tiger Hunt!

A blade wind swept forth. The muscles in Zoro's arms flexed and tightened as the tree before him was cleaved apart and toppled to one side.

Zoro stepped forward and used his swords to cut down the trees ahead.

That was how he forcibly carved out a path.

Well, it was not exactly straight.

But at least he got out.

Zoro arrived at another cliff, below which was a narrow path leading toward the sea.

Then Zoro encountered a monster.

Well, not exactly a monster. Looking closely, Zoro saw a green-haired man with slit pupils, cat-paw gloves, and mannerisms much like a cat's.

Then Zoro noticed a pirate ship behind him, its prow decorated with a black cat's head. Looking at the man, Zoro asked indifferently, "So, you're a pirate?"

"Um... I-I-I'm a pirate. You're not going to kill me, are you?" Though he looked extremely sleazy, the man was surprisingly timid. He looked at Zoro fearfully.

"Huh? As long as you don't provoke me, you'll be fine," Zoro replied carelessly.

"Really? Thank you, thank you! Thank you so much! I promise I won't provoke you." The man thanked Zoro with a mournful expression as he slowly edged toward him.

Once he came within range, a gleam flashed through his eyes.

Whoosh!

He stole Zoro's two swords!

Before Zoro could react, he had already run back to the pirate ship.

"Ahahahaha, idiot! How could I possibly not provoke you?" Having stolen the swords, the green-haired man laughed wildly, his eyes full of mockery as he looked at Zoro.

"Oh, Sam, he's just a skinny swordsman. We don't even need to disguise ourselves. One casual slap and he'll turn into meat paste!" Another fat man emerged from the pirate ship. He also wore cat-paw gloves and a black-and-white hat, and his pupils were slit as well. He looked at Zoro disdainfully.

"Oh, Buchi, I only did it on the spur of the moment. Besides, doesn't it make the fight easier?" Sam licked the back of his hand and grinned at Buchi.

"That's true. Hehehehe, let the carnival begin!" Buchi suddenly shouted, a crazed smile spreading across his face.

"Buchi, Sam, what are you two doing?" A voice suddenly came from one side of the beach.

Zoro turned and saw a man in colorful clothes and heart-shaped sunglasses approaching with a rhythmic bounce.

"Captain Jango..." Buchi and Sam said respectfully upon seeing him. Then they explained, "We just wanted to get rid of that swordsman, Captain Jango."

"Hmm?" Jango looked up and spotted Zoro, who was holding Wado Ichimonji.

Looking at Zoro, he said dismissively, "This kid? You two don't need to do anything. I'll handle him!"

"Uh... Captain Jango, although he's just a skinny swordsman, he's a genuine swordsman. You see..." Sam could tell from Zoro's eyes that he was a true swordsman. Swordsmen were extremely troublesome, whether they were strong or weak.

Sam knew this from experience.

Once someone like that drew a sword, they would definitely settle things with their opponent, no matter how great the difference in strength was, no matter how strong or weak they were.

That was why Sam had stolen Zoro's swords.

Yeah, what Sam really meant was: although that swordsman was skinny and weak, Captain Jango was even weaker.

After hearing this, Jango did not get angry. He merely glanced at Sam and said, "Who said I was the one going to deal with him? My pet will!" As he spoke, Jango clapped his hands.

A huge monster with a childish-looking face slowly walked out from behind Jango. It stood silently at Jango's side.

"...Aaron?!" Zoro's eyes nearly popped out as he stared at the monster.

Why did this monster... have Aaron's face? Zoro was thoroughly confused.

"Looks like you know this freak. Then you must be his pirate companion?" Hearing Zoro's cry, Jango gave a sinister smile. He looked at Macho Aaron and pointed at Zoro. "Go!"

"Roar!" Macho Aaron let out a furious roar and charged straight at Zoro.

The ground beneath his feet sank deeply with every step, making it clear just how immense Macho Aaron's strength was.

Zoro's pupils constricted. He raised the backs of his swords and blocked Aaron's fist.

Creak!

Zoro's feet sank deeply into the ground.

What incredible strength! Zoro thought.

In that case! Remembering Aaron's resistance to slashes, Zoro's gaze toward him turned sinister.

First, he loosened his grip with both hands, throwing Aaron off balance. Then he took the opportunity to leap backward, his right hand gripping a sword hilt while his left foot stepped forward. His eyes remained fixed on Macho Aaron.

"Roar!" The instant Aaron regained his balance and attacked!

One-Sword Style, Draw!

Unlike the raw power of the Three-Sword Style, the speed of the One-Sword Style left Aaron with no time to react. He took several vicious slashes and froze stiffly in place.

"This should do it..." Zoro muttered as he sheathed his sword, then looked at Jango with an unfriendly gaze.

His plan was to kill the person controlling Aaron while Aaron was splitting apart and regenerating.

"Then..." Zoro placed his hand on his sword hilt again, staring intently at Jango.

"Roar!" Suddenly, Aaron roared and turned to charge at Zoro.

"What?" Zoro spun around in shock and found that Aaron did not have a single wound on his body—only a few faint white marks!

Bang!

Aaron swung his massive hand and struck Zoro hard on the skull, leaving Zoro a little dizzy.

"Damn it!" Zoro shook his head and tried to draw his sword to fight back, but Aaron gave him no chance. He tightly wrapped both arms around Zoro, veins bulging as he exerted strength with both arms at once.

"D-Damn it!" Zoro desperately tried to break free, but he could not move at all. He roared furiously and erupted with every ounce of strength in his body. "Damn it!!"

Every muscle in his body tensed. Zoro became like a block of steel, finally forcing Aaron's arms apart. Taking the chance, Zoro slipped down and escaped Aaron's hold.

"Damn it!" Zoro's expression became extremely grim. He stared hard at Aaron, then watched Sam behind him from the corner of his eye.

More precisely, the swords in Sam's hands.

"Damn it... the One-Sword Style simply doesn't have enough power." Zoro was at a loss.

With no other choice, he decided to retreat first and find Luffy and the others to discuss a strategy.

Having made his decision, Zoro did not hesitate. Looking at Aaron, whose eyes were filled with white, Zoro's head began to ache again despite himself.

One-Sword Style, Swallow Return! He knocked Aaron back at incredible speed, then vanished into the dense woods.

"Chase him!" Seeing Zoro run into the forest, Jango waved his hand and ordered Aaron. Then he turned to the Black Cat Brothers. "You two wait here for the captain's orders."

Watching Macho Aaron savagely smash trees aside as he charged into the forest, the Black Cat Brothers swallowed hard and immediately replied, "Yes! Captain Jango—no, Vice Captain Jango!"