The Loser

A slash wave formed before the blade, a straight line as though the sword's path had been stamped directly into the air.

The largest boulder was split cleanly in two down the middle by the slash wave. The cut was mirror-smooth, and the two halves slid past Roger's sides before crashing into the sea and blasting up twin columns of water.

Then came the second, then the third. Slash wave after slash wave split each boulder in half, moving so fast that Roger's figure left several afterimages in the night sky.

Shiki moved as well. The power of the Float-Float Fruit accelerated him to such terrifying speed that, the instant he vanished from where he stood, the afterimage of his coat tails remained behind while he had already arrived before Roger.

His right leg swept toward Roger's face, the tip of his boot coated in Armament Haki, turning black beneath the Haki.

At the same time, he drew the two swords renowned across the seas—Oto and Kogarashi.

Both blades had shallow inward curves along their edges, and they let out long, clear cries as they left their sheaths.

Armament Haki flowed from his palms into the hilts and spread along the forged patterns of the blades, dyeing both swords a deep, solemn black.

Kogarashi swept horizontally from the right, while Oto slashed diagonally from the left. The two swords sealed off every route of retreat before Roger.

As Oto cut toward Roger, Roger twisted aside. His blade swung back defensively in an upward diagonal slash, striking Oto and scattering a shower of sparks.

Kogarashi followed immediately with an upward thrust from below. Roger tilted his head, and the sword tip grazed past his ear, leaving an incredibly thin line of dark red.

His left hand shot out and seized Shiki