Lost by Half a Move

"Clang, clang, clang..."

The two kept swinging their swords, Sandai Kitetsu and Wado Ichimonji clashing again and again.

The sound of metal striking metal rang out.

Their figures constantly darted back and forth across the testing ground.

"Good, good, good..."

The shop owner watching from the side stared at the two men giving it their all, his eyes filled with excitement. He had once dreamed of becoming a Swordmaster too, but unfortunately, he lacked the talent.

Still, being able to witness such a swordsmanship duel in his lifetime meant he could die without regrets.

After another collision, the two each retreated several steps once more.

This time, neither rushed at the other again. Instead, they stared each other down, trying to find an opening while gathering strength for an even more powerful attack.

"One-Sword Style: Flying Dragon Blaze!"

Roronoa Zoro pushed off with both legs and leaped into the air, placing Wado Ichimonji behind him. A dragon-shaped sword technique formed around him, enveloping him within it as man and dragon charged at Moke together.

Moke's pupils contracted slightly at the sight of that move.

He had to admit it—Zoro was Zoro. Every move he used was domineering and dazzling. No wonder he was one of the most popular characters in One Piece.

And this move was not merely impressive to look at.

Its power was extraordinary as well. Once it struck an enemy, blue flames of intense heat would erupt from the wound and burn the target to ashes.

"One Sword Style—Ashura Slash!"

Standing on the ground, Moke grew excited as well. He took a deep breath, bent his body slightly, gripped Sandai Kitetsu in reverse, and extended it behind him.

Ghost Aura surged from his body, then condensed into an Asura holding a long blade.

Just as Roronoa Zoro's dragon-shaped sword technique was about to strike him, Moke decisively swung Sandai Kitetsu. The Asura formed from Ghost Aura swung its blade as well.

"Boom..."

Their attacks slammed together once more, creating a powerful blast of force that swept outward in every direction from the two of them.

Their clothes flapped loudly in the gale.

The shop owner felt as though he were standing beneath a level-seven or level-eight typhoon, barely able to keep his footing. Fortunately, there was a wall behind him... Even so, he kept staring fixedly at the two men, afraid of missing even the slightest detail.

"Clang..."

The next second, Roronoa Zoro broke through Moke's Asura, and Wado Ichimonji slashed into Moke's body.

Roronoa Zoro had already held back by then. After all, this was a spar, not a fight to the death. Yet even so, if that strike had landed solidly—

It would definitely have injured Moke.

At least, that was what both Roronoa Zoro and the weapon shop owner believed.

Yet to their surprise, when Wado Ichimonji struck Moke's body, it made the sound of metal colliding.

"How is that possible?"

The owner cried out involuntarily, then remembered. The man before him was not merely a swordsman—he was also a Devil Fruit user.

Roronoa Zoro was equally shocked. His gaze fell upon the place where he had struck Moke. The clothes there had been cut open, revealing Moke's fair skin beneath, yet there was not a single wound on it.

"I lost..." Although Moke had been defeated, he was not discouraged in the slightest. He was even somewhat pleased. How long had he been training?

And what about Roronoa Zoro?

This battle proved that he already possessed swordsmanship strong enough to contend with Roronoa Zoro. He believed that by the next time they met, his swordsmanship would definitely surpass Roronoa Zoro's.

Moke sheathed Sandai Kitetsu, then smiled at Roronoa Zoro. "I assume you'll be heading to the Grand Line too! I look forward to meeting you again. When that time comes, we'll have another match."

"Fine!" Roronoa Zoro agreed without hesitation.

Because Moke was the only swordsman in the East Blue who was evenly matched with him, and he was more than willing to have such an opponent.

Besides, he did not think Moke's swordsmanship was much inferior to his own. He could tell that what Moke truly lacked was combat experience. More importantly, if they really fought seriously—

The one who lost might be him.

Because his opponent's body was as hard as iron. His strongest move just now had not been able to harm Moke in the slightest.

It was simply unbelievable.

Could he be a Devil Fruit user too, like Luffy?

Moke left, since he had other things to do. Sparring with Roronoa Zoro had only been meant to give him a clear understanding of where his swordsmanship stood.

Now, though!

He hurried toward the Execution Platform. No matter how the plot and characters changed because of him, one thing would definitely remain unchanged: Luffy would still go to the Execution Platform. And that was his opportunity...

As long as he could suppress Luffy atop the Execution Platform—

Then some parts of the plot would return to their original course.

Sure enough, when he arrived at the Execution Platform, Bartolomeo and his childhood sweetheart, Dezaya, were already in the square below it. Bartolomeo's distinctive appearance and outfit were especially eye-catching; he could be spotted at a glance.

Soon, Moke's gaze fell upon the Execution Platform.

A guy wearing a Straw Hat was climbing upward nonstop.

"Just as expected..."

The smile on Moke's face could no longer be restrained.

Moke touched the ground and activated his ability. His body immediately began to change, entering Logia—Mud-Mud Form. Against someone like Luffy, the protagonist with outrageously strong plot armor, it was better to be fully prepared.

Then Moke softly said, "Mudstone Restraint..."

The next second, the soil beneath the Execution Platform seemed to come alive. It surged forth wildly, wrapping around the entire base of the platform and racing upward... as though it intended to swallow the whole Execution Platform.

"Gah..."

Luffy had noticed the abnormality below him by then. His eyes nearly popped out in fright...

After all, this was not the Luffy from two years later. His experience was extremely limited... The only Devil Fruit user he had encountered was the utterly worthless Buggy the Clown.

But Luffy was an extremely determined person. Before accomplishing what he set out to do, he would never stop moving forward. He sped up, rapidly climbing toward the very top of the Execution Platform.

However, under Moke's control, the soil rose even faster. Just as Luffy reached the uppermost section of the Execution Platform, the soil arrived as well, directly swallowing the top platform along with Luffy.

"Ah? AHHH!!!!"

Only Luffy's head remained outside, and panic filled his eyes. No matter how he struggled, he discovered that he could not break free.

It felt as though his whole body had sunk into a swamp.

At the same time, the soil beneath Moke's feet surged like waves, lifting him to the same height as Luffy.

"You're a pirate, aren't you? Then you should have been prepared to die long ago, right?"

As he spoke, Moke slowly drew Sandai Kitetsu and assumed a stance as though he were about to cut Luffy down.

"Who are you?!"

Luffy panicked and struggled desperately. Even knowing that struggling was useless, he still fought, driven by a person's instinct to survive.

Yet when Moke's blade came down, Luffy instead calmed down and smiled toward those below.

That smile shocked everyone present.

Moke smiled as well, because this was exactly the effect he wanted.