Clang, Clang, Clang

"Clang clang clang..." The crisp and loud sounds of collisions rang out incessantly. The longswords in the hands of the two men were wielded and clashed like Inazuma. The Sandai Kitetsu flashed with an eerie cold light, as if it could tear through the void; while the Wado Ichimonji exuded an ancient and solemn aura, like a legendary divine weapon.

With each fierce clash, Hanabi flew, and dazzling light even bursts forth from where the metal met. The two figures moved like ghosts, darting and weaving rapidly across the spacious Sword Testing Grounds, dazzling the eyes. Their movements were as fast as the wind, their moves fierce and ruthless, making it difficult to determine a winner for a time.

The boss, who was watching from the sidelines, was completely captivated by the breathtaking sword duel before him. His eyes were wide open, and he watched every move on the field intently, exclaiming from time to time, "Wow, wow... this is truly amazing!" His eyes revealed undisguised excitement and exhilaration.

In truth, this boss had always harbored a dream of becoming Swordmaster, but unfortunately, he lacked the innate talent. However, at this moment, being able to witness such a high level of swordsmanship filled him with immense satisfaction. Even if he could never personally embark on the path to the pinnacle of swordsmanship in this lifetime, being fortunate enough to witness such a breathtaking scene would make him feel that he could die without regrets.

After another fierce clash, Mars flew, and the two men each took a few steps back. This time, instead of immediately charging at each other again, they stood facing each other, staring intently into each other's eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of a weakness in the other's subtle expressions and movements.

The air around them seemed to freeze, a tense atmosphere filling the entire Sword Testing Grounds. The two stood silently, adjusting their breathing, secretly gathering their strength, preparing to unleash an even more powerful and ferocious attack. A final duel that would decide the outcome was about to begin...

"One Sword Style Dragon: Flame!" With a roar, Roronoa Zoro's legs suddenly exerted force, and the powerful force instantly propelled him into the air like a cannonball. At the same time, he swiftly placed the Wado Ichimonji behind him, the movements fluid and seamless.

In an instant, a powerful surge of sword energy erupted from Roronoa Zoro's body, transforming into a lifelike giant dragon in the air. This dragon bared its fangs and claws, its entire body radiating intense flames, as if it wanted to ignite the entire world. Roronoa Zoro himself stood firmly atop the dragon's head, man and dragon merging into one, as if they were one.

Immediately afterwards, the man and the dragon, carrying unparalleled momentum, rushed towards Moke with overwhelming force. Their speed was like Inazuma streaking across the night sky, leaving everyone breathless.

Faced with such a terrifying offensive, Moke's pupils couldn't help but shrink slightly. However, he showed no intention of backing down; instead, an uncontrollable excitement welled up inside him.

It must be said that Roronoa Zoro, the Great Swordsman of the Straw Hat Pirates, truly lives up to his reputation. Every move he makes is not only Haki and eye-catching, but also contains boundless power and killing intent. Without a doubt, Roronoa Zoro is one of the most popular characters in the One Piece series.

Behold this move; on the surface, it appears astonishing, but its true power extends far beyond that. If one is unfortunate enough to be struck by this move, intense blue flames will instantly erupt from the enemy's wound. These flames, like demons, greedily devour everything until the target is completely incinerated.

Just then, Moke, who was on the ground, was equally unwilling to be outdone. He took a deep breath, tensed all his muscles, and then slightly bent his body, assuming a ready-to-go stance.

The next moment, Moke's eyes narrowed, and his hands swiftly reversed, gripping the Sandai Kitetsu tightly. Then, he suddenly exerted force in his arm muscles, forcefully swinging the Cursed Sword, imbued with mysterious power, behind him. In an instant, as if an endless abyss of darkness had been opened, a torrent of intense Ghost Aura surged wildly from his body like a raging tide.

These Ghost Aura energies continuously converged, mingling and intertwining. They condensed and churned in the air, like a violently churning black cloud. As time passed, the Ghost Aura gradually revealed a clear form—a colossal Asura, several meters tall and wielding a long sword, stood majestically in mid-air!

At that moment, Roronoa Zoro's dragon-shaped sword strike roared in with overwhelming force, about to strike Moke heavily. However, facing this fierce attack, Moke showed no fear. He swung his Sandai Kitetsu forward without hesitation, and at the same time, the giant Asura formed from Ghost Aura energy also swung its gleaming longsword.

A deafening roar erupted, "Boom..." The two attacks collided violently, like the explosion of two meteors colliding. An extremely powerful burst of energy suddenly erupted, swirling wildly in all directions from the two of them. This energy was like a storm passing through, sending sand and stones flying wherever it passed, and even the air itself seemed to be torn apart.

Gale howled past, whipping Moke and Roronoa Zoro's clothes through the air with a series of crisp sounds. The shopkeeper, watching from the sidelines, was in even worse shape. He felt as if he were caught in a super typhoon of force seven or eight, his entire body swaying precariously, barely able to maintain his footing. Fortunately, there was a solid wall behind him, providing support that allowed him to barely keep his balance. Even so, he dared not relax for a moment, his eyes fixed intently on the two fighters, afraid of missing a single exciting moment.

"Clang..." With a crisp and loud impact, in the next second, Roronoa Zoro broke through Moke's Asura Formation with Inazuma. The incomparably sharp Wado Ichimonji in his hand, carrying a sharp sword aura, slashed fiercely at Moke with the force of thunder.

However, just as the blow was about to strike Moke, Roronoa Zoro suddenly stopped. After all, their fight was merely a sparring match, not a life-or-death duel. Nevertheless, even though Roronoa Zoro had held back, everyone knew that if the strike had landed squarely on Moke would undoubtedly have suffered a serious injury. At least at that moment, both Roronoa Zoro himself and the weapons shop owner watching from the sidelines believed this.

But then something unexpected happened! When the Wado Ichimonji truly struck Moke, a piercing metallic clang resounded. "How... how is this possible?" The boss exclaimed involuntarily, his face filled with disbelief. Then, as if suddenly remembering something important, he slapped his forehead, Satori, "That's right! How could I forget that? The person standing before us isn't just an ordinary swordsman; he's also someone with a powerful Devil Fruit ability!"

Roronoa Zoro's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. His gaze was fixed on the spot where he had struck Moke with his sword. Moke's clothes were torn open, like ripped cloth, revealing skin as white as alabaster beneath. Surprisingly, however, there wasn't a single mark on this skin that should have been scarred; it was completely unharmed, as if it had never been through a battle.

"I... lost..." Although Moke admitted defeat, there was no trace of frustration or annoyance on his face; instead, it revealed an undisguised excitement. After all, for him, this battle was merely a small setback on his path to growth. How much time had passed since he began practicing swordsmanship? And Roronoa Zoro before him was already a renowned Great Swordsman! But through this battle, Moke clearly realized that he now possessed the swordsmanship skills to rival this powerful opponent. He firmly believed that, given time, when they met again, his swordsmanship would surely surpass Roronoa Zoro's.

Moke slowly sheathed the Sandai Kitetsu in his hand, his movements elegant and composed. Then, he looked at Roronoa Zoro with a smile, his eyes gleaming with confidence, and said, "I suppose you're also heading to the legendary Grand Line! I really hope to meet you again soon, and then we can have a proper match."

Upon hearing Moke's words, Roronoa Zoro did not hesitate for a moment. He looked directly at Moke with a firm gaze, nodded vigorously, and then replied crisply, "Okay!" This short and powerful answer fully demonstrated his inner courage and determination.

For Roronoa Zoro, Moke was no ordinary opponent. In the vast East Blue, he had fought countless battles, but swordsmen like Moke, whose swordsmanship was on par with his own, were extremely rare. This was precisely why this formidable adversary excited Roronoa Zoro immensely. He knew that only by constantly clashing with strong opponents could he push his limits and achieve greater mastery in swordsmanship. Therefore, he readily accepted Moke's challenge without hesitation.

Moreover, Roronoa Zoro knew perfectly well that although Moke's swordsmanship was similar to his own, he had keenly sensed Moke's weakness from their brief exchange—a lack of sufficient combat experience. However, this did not overshadow Moke's talent and potential in swordsmanship. On the contrary, if Moke could accumulate more practical experience, given time, he would surely become a top swordsman who would attract worldwide attention.

More importantly, when the two had just begun their fierce battle, Roronoa Zoro unleashed his most powerful attack. However, unexpectedly, even this fierce and devastating attack had no effect on Moke, as if it had sunk into the sea. Moke's body seemed indestructible, as if forged from steel, and he didn't suffer the slightest damage. This situation was truly astonishing and unbelievable. Roronoa Zoro couldn't help but wonder: Could it be that Moke, like their captain Luffy, is also a Devil Fruit User with mysterious powers?

As Roronoa Zoro frowned, his eyes fixed on the distance, as if the entire world consisted only of the rapidly swirling thoughts in his mind, Moke had already turned around and strode away with firm steps. For Moke, this sword sparring was merely a small interlude in his busy schedule. Besides, there were many other complex matters awaiting his attention and resolution.

In fact, Moke's initial intention in challenging the renowned Roronoa Zoro was very simple and clear—he hoped to use the opportunity of clashing with such a powerful swordsman to accurately understand and assess the level and development stage of his current swordsmanship.

At this moment, Moke sped towards the Execution Platform like a gust of wind. The reason was simple: regardless of how his actions altered the subsequent plot, or how the fates of the various characters involved took unexpected turns, one crucial factor remained constant: Luffy would inevitably head towards the Execution Platform. Undoubtedly, this was Moke's perfect opportunity... If he could successfully pin Luffy firmly to the Execution Platform, then all the plot threads would naturally return to their originally predetermined course.

Sure enough, when Moke arrived at the Execution Platform at breakneck speed, he was greeted by Bartolomeo and his childhood sweetheart, Dezaya, standing beside him. The two were standing in the center of the square below the Execution Platform. Bartolomeo, in particular, with his highly recognizable and unique appearance and unconventional style of dress, was so eye-catching that he could be easily spotted even in the bustling crowd.

Soon, his sharp, hawk-like gaze fell with Inazuma speed on the tall Execution Platform in the distance. There, a lithe figure wearing a tattered Straw Hat was gripping the edge of the Execution Platform, using both hands and feet to climb upwards with all his might.

"As expected..." Moke's previously expressionless face instantly blossomed into a smug smile, a smile as bright and flamboyant as a flower blooming under the warm spring sun, its brilliance impossible to conceal no matter how hard he tried to suppress it.

Moke slowly crouched down, gently touching the ground with his right hand, and murmured, "Activate ability!" In an instant, a mysterious and powerful force surged from his body, rapidly spreading throughout his entire being. Then, an astonishing scene unfolded— Moke's body began to undergo astonishing changes at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In the blink of an eye, Moke was as if he were enveloped in a layer of soft, sticky mud, gradually merging into it, and finally completely transforming into Logia Mud-Mud Form. This form made him look like a Demon God from the depths of the earth, exuding a chilling aura.

Facing an upcoming clash with Luffy, a protagonist with overwhelming power and a protagonist's aura, Moke knew that only by unleashing the full power of his Logia Devil Fruit ability could he possibly gain the upper hand. Therefore, without hesitation, he softly shouted, "Mudstone Restraint..."

As the low shout rang out, the once calm soil beneath the Execution Platform suddenly seemed to come alive, violently churning and surging. Large amounts of soil erupted from the ground like raging waves, then rapidly spread upwards with lightning speed. This soil intertwined and tangled, forming thick, sturdy ropes that tightly bound the base of the Execution Platform, rising upwards at an astonishing rate.

In the blink of an eye, the area beneath the Execution Platform was covered by a dense network of mud and ropes, resembling a massive earthen mountain rising from the ground. Moreover, this torrent of mud showed no signs of stopping, continuing to surge upwards with a terrifying momentum, threatening to completely engulf the Execution Platform.

At this critical moment, Luffy, who had been focused intently on climbing the Execution Platform Luffy, finally sensed the unusual movement below. When he lowered his head slightly and his gaze fell upon the surging, overwhelming tide of earth, he was instantly terrified, his face turning deathly pale. His once rosy cheeks turned ashen white. His large, round eyes widened in horror, as if their pupils were about to bulge out of their sockets.

It's important to understand that Luffy at this moment is not the battle-hardened, experienced powerhouse he will be two years from now. He has experienced relatively little, and has met very few Devil Fruit users. The only one he can vaguely recall is Buggy the Clown, whose strength is utterly pathetic and completely insignificant. Therefore, it's understandable that Luffy would panic in the face of such a breathtaking scene.

But Luffy has always been an extremely persistent person. Once he sets his mind on something, he will never give up easily until he actually achieves it, nor will he stop his relentless march forward. So, he gritted his teeth, used all his strength, and desperately increased his climbing speed, rushing towards the top of the Execution Platform like an arrow released from a bow.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard Luffy tried, under Moke's powerful control, the rising mud was still far faster than him. Just as Luffy finally reached the top of the Execution Platform, the rolling mud followed closely behind, quickly engulfing the highest platform with overwhelming force, and mercilessly swallowing Luffy along with him into the murky swamp.

"Ah? Ah!!!!" This extremely shrill scream pierced the sky, like the mournful cry of a night owl, sending chills down everyone's spine. Luffy's figure seemed to be swallowed by darkness, instantly disappearing from everyone's sight without a trace. Only a chilling silence remained, and dust swirled wildly in the air, lingering for a long time.

Luffy was in dire straits. Only his head was visible above the surface, and his eyes, which had lost their usual composure and calmness, were now filled with endless panic. He struggled desperately, his body twisting like a willow branch in Gale, but to no avail. He felt as if he were sinking into a bottomless quagmire, and the more he struggled, the deeper he sank.

At that moment, a dramatic scene unfolded. The solid ground beneath Moke's feet suddenly seemed to come alive, surging up like a raging wave. In the blink of an eye, Moke was lifted up by this magical wave of earth, rising to the same height as Luffy.

Moke looked down at the Luffy, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Hmph, since you're a pirate, you should have been mentally prepared to face death long ago!" With that, his expression turned solemn, his right hand gripping the hilt of his sword, Sandai Kitetsu, slowly drawing it from its sheath. As the blade emerged, a chilling aura instantly spread, sending shivers down one's spine. The cold light was like frost in winter, icy and sharp, seemingly splitting the air in two wherever it passed.

At this moment, the incredibly sharp blade was fully exposed to the sunlight, gleaming with a cold light. From a distance, this light resembled an Inazuma slicing through the night sky, carrying boundless killing intent and destructive power, as if it were about to strike down with overwhelming force at any moment, Luffy to pieces.

"Who... who are you?" Faced with such a horrifying sight, even Luffy was usually fearless, panicked. His eyes widened, his face filled with terror, and his body began to struggle desperately. However, even though he knew in his heart that his futile resistance could not change his impending fate, as a living being, the strong will to survive still drove him to keep twisting his body.

Just as Moke raised his longsword, preparing to strike with all his might, something unexpected happened— Luffy suddenly stopped struggling and became remarkably calm. Then, he even revealed a faint smile downwards. That smile contained neither fear nor despair, but only a sense of composure and relief.

At that very moment, that seemingly ordinary and simple smile, like a raging storm, swept in with overwhelming force, violently shattering the mental defenses of everyone present. As if frozen in place, everyone stared at Luffy in disbelief, their faces filled with astonishment.

It was as if a bomb had been dropped on their hearts, unleashing a tidal wave of shock. Doubt, like a thick fog, clung tightly to their thoughts; while shock, like an Inazuma, pierced the darkness in their minds. In this critical moment where life and death hung by a thread, everyone was asking themselves, "What's wrong with this boy? Why can he still wear such a relaxed and carefree smile in the face of such a perilous situation?"

At the same time, Moke, standing not far away, was also slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered and smiled. The upward curve of his lips revealed a hint of smugness and cunning. Because only he knew that what he had painstakingly pursued was precisely to create this chilling effect—to make the enemy deeply experience the fear and helplessness from the depths of their soul as death approached.