Chapter 52: Still a Twist?

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Still a Twist? Chapter 52: Still a Twist? Outside the Royal Capital, on a certain city street, large swathes of the originally exquisite, exotic-style buildings on both sides lay collapsed in ruins. Zoro’s brow was tightly furrowed, the green bandana usually worn on his arm now tied firmly around his head. This was something he only did when facing powerful opponents. Standing before him was a tall, sturdy, bald man with dark skin, a scar running across his face near the corner of his eye like a ferocious centipede. An opponent eliciting such a response from Zoro could naturally only be one person: the top agent of Baroque Works whose strength was closest to the boss himself, Mr. 1. Formerly the famous West Blue assassin, Daz Bonez—wielder of the Supa Supa no Mi (Dice-Dice Fruit). "It’s useless, Roronoa." Daz’s deep voice carried a hint of disdain, and judging by his calm expression, he truly believed it. He crossed his arms over his chest, curling his fingers into claws. The inner edges of his fingers glinted sharply like blades. "I am the ’Blade Man’ who ate the Dice-Dice Fruit. As a swordsman, you cannot defeat me!" "Heh heh, quite conceited, aren’t you?" Zoro responded in a low voice, his eyes cold. He was already covered in bloodstains. Although his words were dismissive, the truth was, throughout their fight so far, he hadn’t managed to inflict a single point of damage on his opponent. "Do you despise swordsmen, despite being like one yourself? You’re quite strange." "I am not a swordsman. Do not address me with that title." Daz remained expressionless, like a cold-blooded killer straight out of a movie. He slightly bent his knees, then pushed off forcefully, his figure shooting forward explosively. Lunging forward low, he kept his hands crossed before his chest, then swept them outwards in a cross pattern as he reached Zoro, unleashing invisible slashes. "Spar Break!" ( Rending Slash) CLANG—! Schlick! Schlick! The sound of parrying metal and blades cutting flesh occurred simultaneously. Zoro held his two swords vertically, meeting his opponent’s ten finger-blades with a shower of sparks. Yet, he was still pierced by the slashes, several gashes instantly opening on his body, sending blood spraying out. Relying on sheer willpower, Zoro endured the pain from his wounds and swung his swords at Daz. With the Wado Ichimonji clenched horizontally in his mouth, he withdrew his twin swords from Daz’s guard, crossed his arms, then spun, bringing all three blades around towards Daz in turn. "Three-Sword Style: Onigiri!" ( Spinning Dragon Slash) "Iron Body!" CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! Several sparks flashed in mid-air. Daz had assumed a horse stance, braced himself, and transformed his body into steel. He tanked Zoro’s powerful slashes head-on, yet not even a single scratch was left behind! "I told you, it’s useless. As a Blade Man, my entire body is as hard as steel." Daz spoke coolly, his face still calm. He turned his head to look at Zoro, who had passed him by, and slowly walked forward. "Give up, Roronoa. I admit you are one of the few truly strong swordsmen I have encountered, but faced with an ability that counters yours, everything you do is futile." "Cough cough cough!" Zoro clutched his chest, coughing up blood. Even now, his eyes remained firm with determination. He couldn’t help but recall his fight with Hawk-Eyes, his own two swords shattering... "As hard as steel, huh... Steel can be cut too!" Zoro straightened up, standing tall. He wanted to stand before that man again. He wanted his name to echo to the heavens. He wanted to stand beside Luffy and watch him become the King of the Pirates! How could he possibly fall here!? "Even if it’s steel, I will cut it down for you!" An invisible aura emanated from Zoro, his three swords gleaming with an alarming cold light. "Impressive spirit. It is true that legends speak of swordsmen who can even cut steel. But..." "At least, I have never seen one. And neither have you, Roronoa!" Daz transformed his fingers into blades and charged towards Zoro, crossing his hands before his chest and bringing them down and forward in a sharp ’X’ shaped slash. However, at that moment, Zoro sheathed his two swords, stepped forward with his right foot into a slightly bent bow stance, placed one hand on his remaining sword’s hilt, and the other on its scabbard. "Sparkling Daisy!" With Daz’s roar, the next moment, countless slashes appeared where Zoro stood. The entire building behind Zoro was instantly diced into numerous small, diamond-shaped pieces! Yet Daz felt no joy of victory, only utter disbelief – his opponent had vanished from that spot! By the time he realized it, a low, cold voice slowly drifted from behind him. "Everything has its ’breath’. To lose that breath is death..." "Find the breath of all things, sever the breath of all things, and you can cut down anything." Shink— Accompanied by the long, sharp sound of a sword being sheathed, Daz’s chest instantly split open, revealing a deep, gaping wound. His body of steel... Had actually been cut! "One-Sword Style: Iai..." "...Shishi Sonson!" (Lion’s Song) Zing—! The long sword slid fully into its sheath. Blood sprayed into the air. "How can there really be a swordsman who can cut steel!?" Daz spoke, his face filled with disbelief. He pitched forward, managing only to twist his head with difficulty to look back at the swordsman behind him, before collapsing heavily onto the ground. Zoro ignored him. Dragging his exhausted, blood-soaked body, he walked straight towards the Royal Palace. Meanwhile, in the Royal Tomb beneath the Funerary Hall... Two spears tore through the air towards Crocodile. Just as he was manipulating his elemental body to evade them... BANG—! A sudden gunshot rang out from an unnoticed dark corner. The dispersing elemental sand rapidly contracted back together. Before Crocodile could react, a feeling of powerlessness spread through his entire body. Crocodile looked bewildered. His body faltered for an instant, and he was immediately pierced through by the spears. The immense force carried him backward through the air. RUMBLE!!! Sand Crocodile’s body flew backward explosively, smashing through several more stone pillars before being finally pinned against a thick one. Blood dripped onto the pillar, flowing down along the ancient carved mural patterns, instantly staining the mysterious artwork red. Witnessing this scene, everyone was utterly shocked, their gazes snapping towards the source of the gunshot. There, hiding behind a rock, stood a blond man in a blue shirt. Only the wisp of blue smoke still drifting from the muzzle of the gun in his hand proved to everyone... He did it! Stable! This time it’s stable! Reiner’s face lit up with unconcealed joy. Seeing Crocodile hit by the Seastone bullet and then impaled by the Blue and Red Ogres’ Armament-infused spears, Reiner couldn’t help but run out from behind the rock. His marksmanship wasn’t great, and although the distance wasn’t far, to be safe, Reiner had waited until his opponent turned elemental and expanded his body before acting. Even though he didn’t know exactly where the bullet would hit, Reiner fired decisively. He wasn’t aiming for a one-shot kill. Given Sand Crocodile’s overall strength, a large part came from his fruit usage. As long as the Seastone could suppress his abilities, the three fighting him head-on would have a chance to end the battle instantly! "Nice shot, Reiner!" "We won!!" Nami, Chopper, and the others hiding behind another giant rock cheered joyfully, unable to resist running out, jumping and dancing in celebration. Nami and Vivi hugged each other tightly, four soft mounds pressing together, causing ripples in Reiner’s heart. "Cough cough cough..." Crocodile, pinned to the crimson pillar, couldn’t stop coughing up blood, looking utterly pathetic with his hair disheveled. He looked down at the spears piercing his abdomen and shoulder, and the Seastone bullet embedded in his right arm. His expression became incredibly desolate. Scheming behind the scenes, planning all of this... took three whole years... Inciting the people of Alabasta... manipulating them into fighting each other... Secretly gathering information, finding Nico Robin... "Three whole years! I spent three whole years for the Ancient Weapon Pluton!" "And in the end... have I fallen so low that even trash like this can bully me?" "Hehehehehe~~" Crocodile started to chuckle sinisterly. He tilted his head back, looking down his nose at Reiner below through his peripheral vision. His ferocious face, framed by scattered strands of hair, looked utterly crazed. "Ahahahahaha!!" "Is he crazy?" Nami looked baffled, staring at the endlessly laughing Sand Crocodile. Reiner, however, couldn’t sit still anymore. He stared at Crocodile in shock. Fuck! The crooked villain smile? Is there going to be a reversal??? "Finish him!!!" Reiner roared. His stamina began draining like water from a punctured bucket, decreasing frantically. The Blue and Red Ogres casually tossed aside their round shields. Standing left and right, they brought their greatswords together, beginning to gather power, their bodies steadily radiating a terrifying and startling aura. ♧♧♧ -> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE -> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS Chapter ♧♧♧ -> 15 Advanced Chapters Now Available on Patreon!! -> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais (Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally) If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that’s help the story a lot Thank you