The Two Followed the Shopkeeper Closely

Moke and Roronoa Zoro exchanged a glance, both seeing the same thought in each other's eyes. They nodded in agreement without hesitation, saying in unison, "Okay!" Their tacit understanding was astonishing, as if they had been thinking of each other all along.

So the two followed the shopkeeper through the door behind the counter into a small storeroom. The storeroom was filled with a faint smell of rust, and various tools and materials were arranged somewhat haphazardly. However, they did not linger for long, and went straight through the storeroom to a Sword Testing Grounds that was about fifty square meters in size.

Although the Sword Testing Grounds wasn't large, it was sufficient for a thrilling duel. The ground was covered with thick wooden planks, and the surrounding walls had been specially treated to prevent damage from the impact of sword strikes. Moke and Roronoa Zoro looked around and were very satisfied with the place.

The two arrived at the center of the Sword Testing Grounds one after the other like shooting stars. After standing four or five meters apart, they both assumed the posture of drawing their swords, as steady and majestic as two mountains.

Roronoa Zoro's gaze, sharp as a hawk's, was Sandai Kitetsu. He knew it was an unparalleled sword, and that his two ordinary blades would likely be unable to withstand such an intense duel.

"Then I'll use One Sword Style!" Roronoa Zoro made up his mind, and his sword-drawing posture changed instantly. His right hand gripped the hilt of Wado Ichimonji with Inazuma speed, and a powerful aura surged from his body.

The next second, the two drew their swords almost simultaneously, like two Inazuma slicing through the sky, rushing towards each other. In an instant, the light of their blades clashed together, Wado Ichimonji and Sandai Kitetsu collided fiercely, producing a crisp metallic clang.

This strike was like a thunderbolt, its immense power erupting in an instant, causing both sides to be forced back several steps. Surprisingly, however, the sword strike ended in a draw, with neither side gaining the upper hand.

Moke and Roronoa Zoro both showed a hint of surprise in their eyes. Moke was surprised because of his accurate assessment of his own swordsmanship. He had originally thought that his strength was slightly inferior to Roronoa Zoro's, but this sword strike made him realize that his swordsmanship was already on par with this world-renowned swordsmanship genius.

At the same time, an indescribable joy welled up in Moke's heart. He was genuinely happy for the progress he had made in swordsmanship. This progress was not only an improvement in technique, but also a deepening of his understanding of swordsmanship. Being able to compete against such a strong opponent made him even more excited, as if the blood in his whole body was boiling.

More importantly, with the power of Devil Fruit and the arduous training he had undergone over the past three months, Moke was now strong enough to rival Roronoa Zoro. At this moment, his state of mind was completely elevated, and his already sharp aura became even more formidable. He was like a drawn sword, radiating a chilling light.

Roronoa Zoro naturally noticed Moke's change, but he showed no sign of backing down. Instead, his fighting spirit was aroused even more. In his eyes, Moke was undoubtedly the strongest swordsman he had ever encountered in the East Blue, except, of course, for the man with Hawkeye.

"Clang clang clang..." Accompanied by the crisp sound of metal clashing, the Sandai Kitetsu and Wado Ichimonji in their hands clashed continuously, each clash bursting with dazzling Hanabi. Their figures moved swiftly through the Sword Testing Grounds like ghosts, as fast as Inazuma, dazzling the eyes.

"Okay, okay..."

The boss, who had been observing silently from the sidelines, was now staring intently at the two people locked in fierce combat. His eyes gleamed with excitement, as if he were also part of this thrilling sword duel.

The boss had always harbored a dream of becoming a Swordmaster like them, yearning to be a master swordsman. However, reality cruelly told him that he did not have that kind of talent. Nevertheless, being able to witness such a magnificent swordsmanship contest in his lifetime made him feel that he could die without regrets.

After another violent collision, the two men instinctively took a few steps back. This time, instead of rushing towards each other as before, they stood firmly in place, their eyes fixed intently on one another, seemingly trying to find a flaw in the other's movements and expressions.

Time ticked by, and the atmosphere on the field grew incredibly tense, as if even the air itself had frozen. Suddenly, Roronoa Zoro roared, his legs buckling as he leaped into the air like an arrow. At the same time, he swiftly placed the Wado Ichimonji behind him, and a dazzling light flashed, followed by a lifelike dragon-shaped sword technique that enveloped Roronoa Zoro.

Man and dragon merged into one, like a burning meteor streaking across the sky, hurtling straight toward Moke. This astonishing scene left everyone present in awe.

Faced with such a powerful attack, Moke's pupils constricted slightly, as if he felt a strong pressure. He widened his eyes, staring intently at Roronoa Zoro's movements, not daring to relax for a moment.

The power of this move was truly extraordinary, and Moke knew its severity all too well. He understood that if he was not careful, he might be devoured by Roronoa Zoro's fierce sword strike and be defeated instantly.

Roronoa Zoro, one of the most popular characters in One Piece, truly lives up to his reputation. Every move he makes is full of power and skill, leaving viewers in awe.

This move is one of Roronoa Zoro's signature techniques. It not only looks incredibly powerful, but its actual destructive power is also terrifying. Once it strikes, the enemy's wound will erupt with high-temperature blue flames. These flames, like hellfire, will completely incinerate the target, leaving them no chance to breathe.

However, Moke was not intimidated by Roronoa Zoro's imposing presence. Standing on the ground, he became excited. He took a deep breath, composed himself, and prepared for this life-or-death battle.

Moke's body was slightly bent, like a bowstring ready to be drawn. He gripped the Sandai Kitetsu in his backhand and stretched it behind him, as if gathering all his strength.

Ghost Aura surged forth from Moke's body like a raging torrent. This Ghost Aura swirled and condensed around him, eventually forming an Asura wielding a long sword.

The figure of Asura was tall and imposing, and its presence filled the entire space with a chilling aura.

Just as Roronoa Zoro's dragon-shaped sword technique was about to strike Moke like a bolt of Inazuma, Moke Sandai Kitetsu in his hand.

At the same time, the Asura formed from condensed Ghost Aura also swung its long sword without hesitation, perfectly matching Moke's movements.

"Boom..."

Their attacks collided like two meteors with tremendous force, instantly unleashing an extremely powerful burst of energy. This energy, like a raging hurricane, swept outwards from the two of them like a raging torrent.

Wherever the force passed, Gale howled, sand and stones flew, and dust was kicked up, forming a yellow sand curtain. This powerful force even caused the surrounding air to fluctuate violently, emitting a series of low rumbling sounds.

The boss stood to one side, feeling as if he were in the midst of a category 7 or 8 typhoon. The Gale was like a pair of merciless hands, relentlessly tearing at his clothes with a rustling sound. His body was also unsteady under the impact of the Gale, as if he might be blown to the ground at any moment.

However, despite the harsh environment, the boss kept his eyes glued to the two players on the field, not daring to relax for a moment. He was afraid of missing any instant, any exciting detail of this thrilling duel.

In the next second, Roronoa Zoro suddenly tensed up like an enraged lion, his muscles taut, Wado Ichimonji in his hand seemed to be infused with boundless power, radiating a dazzling cold light.

He suddenly swung his sword, Wado Ichimonji swiftly pierced through Moke's Asura with Inazuma, producing a crisp sound. This strike was as fast as Inazuma and as swift as the wind, carrying unparalleled power, as if it would cleave Moke in two.

However, just as Wado Ichimonji was about to strike Moke, Roronoa Zoro suddenly stopped. His movement was so natural and fluid that no one could detect his withdrawal. After all, this was just a spar, not a life-or-death battle. He didn't really want to hurt Moke; he just wanted to demonstrate his strength.

However, even with this restrained force, the power of the strike was still considerable. At least, in the eyes of Roronoa Zoro and the weapon shop owner, if this strike had landed squarely on Moke, it would have definitely injured him.

However, something unexpected happened. At the critical moment, Moke dodged to the side at an uncanny angle, easily avoiding Roronoa Zoro's incredibly powerful strike. When the Wado Ichimonji struck Moke, it produced a crisp metallic clang, as if it had struck an extremely hard piece of metal.

"How is this possible?" Roronoa Zoro and the weapons shop owner exclaimed almost simultaneously, their faces showing disbelief.

The shopkeeper exclaimed in surprise, then he remembered. The man before him was not just a swordsman, but also a Devil Fruit User.

Roronoa Zoro was utterly astonished, his gaze fixed on the spot where he had struck Moke. Moke's clothes were torn, revealing his fair skin, yet, incredibly, there wasn't a single mark on that skin!

"I lost..." Although Moke was defeated in this battle, his face did not show the slightest frustration or discouragement. Instead, it revealed an undisguised excitement. After all, he had only been practicing swordsmanship for a few short months, while his opponent, Roronoa Zoro, was a renowned Great Swordsman! However, in such a short time, through this thrilling battle, Moke had clearly realized that his current swordsmanship skills were enough to rival Roronoa Zoro!

Moke slowly sheathed the Sandai Kitetsu in his hand, then stood up as steadily as a mountain. With a smile, he stared intently at Roronoa Zoro before him, and said loudly, "I suppose you too will embark on the Grand Line! I eagerly await our reunion, when we shall have another great and satisfying match!"

Upon hearing this, Roronoa Zoro responded without hesitation, "Alright!" His voice was strong and resonant, seemingly brimming with boundless determination and confidence. Deep down, he also held Moke in high regard and admiration. After all, on this vast East Blue, Moke was the only swordsman of comparable strength he had encountered. Having such a formidable opponent was undoubtedly a delightful prospect for Roronoa Zoro.

Moreover, after his brief exchange with Moke, Roronoa Zoro secretly pondered that Moke's swordsmanship wasn't as far behind his own as he had imagined. Perhaps, given time, Moke would definitely become a true master swordsman. His reason for this judgment stemmed from his keen observation during their sparring that Moke's real deficiency wasn't swordsmanship itself, but rather experience in dealing with enemies in actual combat.

More importantly, if they were to actually fight, he would likely be the one to lose. The reason was simple: his opponent's body was as hard as iron, seemingly impervious to blades and spears. Just now, he had unleashed his most powerful move, but incredibly, it had no effect on Moke whatsoever, not even managing to scratch his skin.

This is utterly unbelievable! Could it be that Moke, like Luffy, is also a Devil Fruit User? With this question in mind, he watched Moke leave, after all, Moke had other things to attend to. The reason he challenged Roronoa Zoro to a duel was simply to take this opportunity to clearly understand the level of his swordsmanship.

Now that he had fought Moke, he had a general understanding of his own strength. Without hesitation, he quickly turned and sped towards the Execution Platform. Because no matter how the plot or characters might change because of his appearance, one thing would never change: Luffy would definitely go to the Execution Platform.

And this is the perfect opportunity he has been waiting for... As long as he can successfully subdue Luffy on the Execution Platform, the entire plot will be as if by magic, returning to its original course.

Sure enough, when he arrived at the Execution Platform, Bartolomeo and his childhood sweetheart Dezaya were already waiting there. Bartolomeo, in particular, with his distinctive appearance and unique attire, was like the most dazzling star in the night sky, making him instantly noticeable.

However, Moke's attention didn't linger on the couple for long; his gaze, as if drawn by a magnet, quickly fell on the Execution Platform. There, he saw a figure wearing Straw Hat struggling to climb up the wall of the Execution Platform, the Straw Hat standing out conspicuously in the sunlight.

"As expected..." Moke's smile widened, as if he had anticipated this scene. His mood grew increasingly pleasant, and he could hardly contain his excitement.

Moke slowly crouched down, extending his right hand to gently touch the ground. The instant his fingers touched the ground, a powerful force surged from within him. His body began to undergo a wondrous transformation; his once-firm skin gradually softened, as if merging with the surrounding soil.

In the blink of an eye, Moke entered the Logia "Mud-Mud Form." His body was entirely composed of mud, making him look like a mud figure emerging from the ground. This state made him feel incredibly comfortable and filled him with confidence for the battle to come.

After all, he was facing Luffy, who possessed the protagonist's aura and had incredible strength. Only by using his Logia abilities could he ensure a foolproof victory.

Moke took a deep breath, then whispered, "Mudstone Restraint..."

Before the words were even finished, the soil beneath the Execution Platform seemed to come alive, surging wildly. Like a pack of hungry beasts, it roared and charged, rapidly engulfing the area beneath the Execution Platform. The soil continued to spread upwards at an astonishing speed, as if it would devour the entire Execution Platform.

"Scare..."

As Luffy was intently climbing the Execution Platform, he suddenly sensed something was wrong below. He looked down and was immediately stunned, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets!

It's important to understand that while Luffy has already demonstrated extraordinary courage and determination at this moment, he is still far from being as strong as he will be two years from now. His knowledge and experience are still quite limited, and the only Devil Fruit users he has encountered are the pitifully weak Buggy the Clown.

However, Luffy's personality dictates that he will never give up easily. Once he makes up his mind to do something, he will be like a stubborn bull, determined not to give up until he achieves his goal. At this moment, he has only one thought in his mind, which is to reach the top of the Execution Platform no matter what.

Without hesitation, Luffy increased his speed, his body moving like Inazuma as he swiftly climbed to the top of the Execution Platform. His movements were agile and powerful, each step filled with strength and determination.

However, Moke's ability posed a significant obstacle to Luffy. Under Moke's control, the soil seemed to come alive, rapidly surging upwards. Its ascent speed was even faster than Luffy's!

Luffy gave it his all, engaging in a thrilling battle with the mud. His sweat poured down like rain, and every climb felt like a race against time.

Finally, through Luffy's relentless efforts, he managed to climb to the top of the Execution Platform. However, in that instant, the surging mud, like a ferocious beast, opened its blood-red maw and mercilessly swallowed up the highest platform of the Execution Platform along with Luffy.

"Ah? Ah!!!!" Luffy's scream echoed throughout the execution ground. His body was tightly wrapped in mud, with only his head sticking out. His eyes were filled with panic and fear, because he realized with horror that no matter how hard he struggled, he could not break free from the mud that bound him.

At that very instant, the ground beneath Moke's feet seemed to be churned by a powerful force, surging up like a raging sea. This force lifted Moke high into the air, sending him to the same height as Luffy.

"You must be a pirate!" Moke's voice was icy. "Since you chose to become a pirate, you should have been prepared to face death long ago!" As he spoke, he slowly drew the Sandai Kitetsu from its sheath. The blade gleamed with a cold light, as if foreshadowing the bloody slaughter to come.

Faced with Moke's threat, Luffy was clearly panicked. He struggled desperately, trying to break free from the force binding him, but it was all in vain. Although he knew in his heart that no matter how much he struggled, it would be useless, his instinct for survival made him unable to stop resisting.

However, just as Moke raised his sword high, ready to strike Luffy suddenly calmed down. His body stopped trembling, and his eyes became unusually firm. Just as Moke's sword was about to fall, Luffy actually gave a faint smile downwards.

The smile was so unexpected that everyone present was deeply shocked. Even Moke was taken aback, and his movements slowed slightly.

Just then, a deafening roar suddenly echoed through the sky, as if the entire world was trembling. Immediately afterward, a dazzling bolt of Inazuma ripped through the sky, hurtling down like a silver serpent. This Inazuma struck Moke squarely in the body.

However... all of this was entirely within Moke's expectations. The moment the lightning struck, Moke was caught off guard and directly blasted apart, instantly turning into countless mud droplets that flew in all directions like raindrops.

Surprisingly, the mud spots didn't scatter; instead, they seemed to be drawn together by an invisible force, quickly gathering together. In the blink of an eye, Moke's body returned to normal, as if the explosion had been nothing more than an illusion.

Moke was now firmly planted on the ground. A slight, almost imperceptible smile played on his lips as he thought to himself, "Dragon, you little rascal, I knew you'd use this move."

Meanwhile, in a corner of the plaza, Tashigi stood there, utterly astonished, unable to believe what she was seeing. Smoker, standing beside her, also stared wide-eyed, turning to Tashigi with an incredulous expression, and shouted, "Didn't you say he was a user of something like the Dice-Dice Fruit?"

Tashigi was speechless when Smoker asked Smoker that question. She opened her mouth, but found that she couldn't explain what had just happened. The lightning bolt had clearly shattered Moke into pieces, but in the blink of an eye, he was standing there unharmed. This was obviously not something Devil Fruit User the Slash-Slash Fruit could do.

"What a load of rubbish, like Slash-Slash Devil Fruit User!" Smoker couldn't help but curse. "That was clearly Elementalization! This is obviously a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, and very likely a Logia- Mud-Mud Fruit!"