Bullets rained down.
In an instant, hundreds of heavily armed Billions were wiped out.
To Vivi's knowledge, the only person capable of such a feat at this time and place was none other than Maude.
And the truth was exactly that.
Inside the clock tower, Maude slowly lowered the smoking barrel of his gun, his calm gaze fixed on Vivi, who was crossing the blood-soaked battlefield, sprinting toward the square.
"Don't think someone will come to save you again at the critical moment, Princess Vivi."
He murmured to himself.
Maude knew well that the Straw Hat Pirates, already stretched thin dealing with the Baroque Works' assault, couldn't spare anyone to protect Vivi.
Had he not intervened, the odds of Vivi being captured or killed by the Billions were overwhelmingly high.
Maude had no desire to see Vivi's journey end here, so he lent her a hand.
But after this brief assistance, Maude no longer had the luxury to follow Vivi's movements.
His priority was to harvest the experience from the Baroque Works agents at the perfect moment.
"It's about time they've all started fighting."
With a crimson glint in his eyes, Maude observed the battles unfolding in the alleys and streets of the town.
Among the various skirmishes between the Straw Hat Pirates and the Baroque Works agents, the most intense clash was undoubtedly between Zoro and Daz.
Of all his prey, the ones Maude anticipated the most were Daz the Killer and Crocodile the Sand Crocodile.
Maude focused on the battle between Zoro and Daz.
Zoro was at a clear disadvantage.
Faced with Daz's relentless barrage of razor-sharp slashes, Zoro could only grit his teeth and defend, forced into a constant retreat.
The ferocious clash of blades carved deep, smooth gashes into the walls of the surrounding buildings.
It was clear that both Zoro and Daz had stepped into the threshold of Flying Slash techniques.
"What's wrong? Is your confidence nothing more than mere defense?"
Daz's cold, disdainful voice echoed as he pressed his assault.
Clang! Clang!
Zoro gritted his teeth, his swords flashing as he parried the relentless attacks.
Whether ignoring the taunts or seeking a weakness in Daz's form, Zoro gave no reply.
"I told you before—a swordsman can never defeat me!"
With those words, Daz leapt into the air, transforming even his legs into blades. He twisted his body, ensnaring Zoro's three swords in a deadly tangle.
Creak… Creak…
The grinding blades sent sparks flying, the shrill screech echoing through the street.
"I can see… Strength is what you pride yourself on…"
Amidst the flurry of sparks, Daz's cold eyes glanced at the bulging veins on Zoro's arms.
"But even that is nothing special."
Daz twisted his body like a propeller, snapping two of Zoro's swords before carving bloody gashes into Zoro's chest.
"Ugh…"
Zoro groaned in pain.
Only the unparalleled hardness of Wado Ichimonji held firm, blocking Daz's final strike and saving Zoro from instant death.
Even so, Zoro staggered back, collapsing to one knee as blood gushed from his wounds, soaking his clothes and pooling beneath him.
In mere seconds, a crimson puddle spread across the ground—proof of how dire his injuries were.
"Cutting steel… How can it be done…?"
Despite the agony wracking his body, Zoro found himself lost in thought.
Daz crossed his blade-arms and slowly advanced, exuding the aura of an invincible force beneath the threshold of Cutting Steel.
"This is the end."
Zoro ignored the looming death, lowering his head and gripping Wado Ichimonji in his hands.
He could feel Daz's killing intent.
He could hear the footsteps closing in.
But Zoro paid no mind, his ragged breaths gradually calming as an unseen change flickered beneath the surface.
Inside the clock tower, Maude's eyes shifted to the black sword at his waist.
He had not only taken Shusui—the sword Zoro was destined to obtain on Thriller Bark—but had also altered the course of Zoro's journey by denying him two quality blades from Loguetown.
Without those weapons, Zoro's defeat at Daz's hands was inevitable.
Maude scratched his cheek, a rare twinge of guilt rising within him.
Still, he was ready to intervene at any moment.
But then, he noticed Zoro's stance shift.
"If you win…"
Watching Zoro's aura withdraw inward, Maude's eyes gleamed with intrigue.
A decision formed silently in his heart.
On the street, Zoro suddenly closed his eyes.
The sounds of battle…
The approaching footsteps…
The faint heartbeats and breathing…
All sounds faded, first to a mere trickle, then to complete silence.
In that void, images flashed through Zoro's mind.
Maude cleaving through Pica.
Maude cutting through flames.
Maude severing Tashigi's katana, Shigure.
Lastly—
Usopp's voice echoing the principles Maude had taught them about Haki.
"Break… the shell around it…"
"If you can do that… you can cut steel…"
"So that's how it works…"
Zoro's mind cleared.
In the face of death, he finally touched the threshold.
"Hm?"
Daz's brow furrowed as Zoro closed his eyes.
"Giving up?"
Quickening his steps, Daz prepared to deliver the final blow.
But in that instant, a ripple of black energy shimmered along the blade of Wado Ichimonji.
"What… is this…?"
Daz, having never glimpsed the power of true strength, instinctively felt a surge of unease.
Zoro's eyes snapped open—sharp and cold as a blade.
"One-Sword Style… Lion's Song."
In a flash, Zoro's sword cleaved through the air.
Before the blade even registered, the black ripples sank into the sword, dyeing it jet-black.
Sching—!
The darkened blade sliced through Daz.
His eyes widened in shock as blood sprayed from his chest.
Zoro stood behind him, the black waves fading as Wado Ichimonji returned to its pristine white.
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