Merry stared at Kaya in disbelief, eyes wide behind his glasses. He had never seen her so full of life.
"Miss Kaya, are you… fully recovered?" he asked, voice trembling slightly.
Kaya nodded, her eyes clear and determined. "I believe so, Merry. Thank you for your concern."
Gripping her cane tightly, she took a deep breath. "I'm going to settle things with Krabatel. You should stay home."
The firmness in her tone startled Merry. For a moment, he thought back to the sickly girl he had watched over for years. But now, standing before him was a young woman brimming with vitality and resolve.
There was a warmth in her chest she hadn't felt in a long time, maybe not since her mother cradled her as a child, whispering lullabies that made the pain go away. That warmth now gave her strength.
Merry opened his mouth, then closed it, and finally gave a reluctant nod. "Miss… you've grown up. Please be careful."
Kaya smiled gently. "Don't worry, Merry. With Liar Cloth's companions around, nothing will happen to me."
She threw on a light coat, stepped out of the mansion, and walked confidently toward the beach. Her stride was steady and sure, a stark contrast to the frail steps of someone recently bedridden.
The Coast, North of Syrup Village
The slope that connected the beach to the village was littered with unconscious pirates. Their bodies lay twisted and scorched, the smell of smoke and singed cloth lingering in the air. They groaned weakly, clearly defeated.
Of the Black Cat Pirates, only a handful remained standing. The surviving pirates stood shakily, glancing nervously at the slope above them.
What terrified them the most was the woman—Nami.
She had decimated their numbers, moving like a storm. Without her, the remaining few might have stood a chance. But her power, combined with her fierce determination, had overwhelmed them.
Now, only Zangao and the notorious cat brothers—Siam and Butchie—remained.
If not for the straw hat-wearing boy being incapacitated by Hypnosis, they would have already been annihilated. Luffy had briefly awakened, delivering a burst of energy that wiped out several pirates, but the Hypnosis-induced fatigue soon overtook him, and he collapsed again.
Zangao snarled, voice tinged with panic. "Go on! That woman doesn't have much strength left! Finish her!"
Time was slipping away. Their plan was falling apart. And if they failed, Captain Kuro would not forgive them.
Whoosh!
Two figures dashed forward—one fat, one thin. The cat brothers pounced toward Nami.
But before they could close the distance, a green-haired swordsman stepped between them.
"Zoro!" Nami called out with relief.
Zoro, though down to one sword, moved with deadly precision. Even with his disadvantage, he held off the attacking brothers.
Nami's new weapon, reforged by Leo, crackled faintly with residual energy. She had used Thunder earlier, a massive attack that drained her stamina but devastated the enemy. She could only manage one more strike like that.
Zoro glanced down the slope. Luffy lay there snoring, blissfully unaware.
"That idiot… fell for Hypnosis again," Zoro muttered.
He sighed, then refocused just in time to deflect an incoming claw. Zoro gritted his teeth. Fighting with just one sword put him at a major disadvantage. He was built for three-sword style, and the lack of balance was throwing off his rhythm.
The cat brothers pressed their advantage, overwhelming him with relentless attacks.
From a distance, Usopp observed the battle and clenched his slingshot. Seeing Zoro in trouble, he acted.
He took aim and fired a shot.
"Lead Star—fire!"
A lead bullet zipped through the air.
Zoro saw it coming and instinctively blocked it with his body, recognizing it as one of Usopp's projectiles.
Thud!
Pain shot through his ribs. He staggered slightly.
"There's the opening!" the cat brothers shouted.
They lunged in unison, their claws slashing across Zoro's body and leaving deep red gashes.
"Zoro!!" Nami shouted, eyes wide.
But she quickly realized something: Zoro blocked that shot on purpose.
Her eyes narrowed.
"We can't keep fighting like this!" Nami hissed, calculating her next move. "Usopp, cover me! I'm going to retrieve the sword!"
Without hesitation, she turned and sprinted downhill.
Despite her fatigue, her movements remained swift and sharp. The green whirlwind of her agility kicked up dust and pebbles as she darted across the battlefield toward a familiar object—Zoro's third sword, which had fallen during the earlier skirmish.
Ta-ta! Ta-ta!!
Her sandals pounded the earth as she approached the blade.
Zangao noticed her.
"What do you think you're doing with that sword?" he shouted.
He hurled a dart toward her with deadly intent.
But just as it neared her—
Bang!
A lead bullet collided with the dart mid-air, knocking it off course. The dart embedded into a nearby cliff wall, inches from Nami.
Usopp had her back.
Taking advantage of the opening, Nami scooped up the sword, twirled on her heel, and flung it with all her might toward Zoro.
The black-and-white blade spun through the air.
Zoro caught it with practiced ease. His eyes gleamed.
Now armed with three swords, the balance returned to his stance.
But something changed in the air. A cold shiver rippled through everyone present.
The pirates froze in place, their eyes widening in horror.
A chilling presence emerged from the forest.
Step. Step.
Out from the trees walked a tall man in glasses, carrying a sleek black bag. He wore a butler's coat, and his expression was calm—too calm.
Kaya's former caretaker—Captain Kuro, also known as Krabatel—had arrived.
He adjusted his glasses slowly with his palm.
"It's already dawn," he said, voice devoid of warmth. "And yet the plan has failed to proceed. Why?"
Zangao's knees buckled. The cat brothers stood paralyzed.
"C-Captain Kuro!!"
"It's over… he's here. We're done for," one of the scorched pirates muttered from the ground.
Krabatel's presence felt like a suffocating weight. His calm tone only deepened the dread.
"I'm disappointed," he continued. "To be stalled by a few kids. What a disgrace to the Black Cat Pirates."
Zangao stammered, "But… but you said even if they resisted… we could handle it!"
Krabatel's eyes narrowed. "So what if I did?"
He chuckled coldly. "I thought even if that boy with the straw hat appeared, your abilities would be sufficient. Clearly, I overestimated you."
His voice sharpened like a blade. "You're all… useless."
The insult ignited fury in the cat brothers.
"You dare call us trash?!" Butchie growled, his claws twitching.
"You abandoned us three years ago!" Siam spat. "You're no captain of ours!"
Krabatel smirked, unbothered. "Ah, the pets bark back now. Cute."
He took a step forward.
Siam and Butchie squared off, fury burning in their eyes.
"We've raided villages and sunk ships these past three years. We've grown stronger. You… you've grown soft playing house as a butler."
They took a battle stance. "Let's see what strength you've retained, traitor!"
Krabatel didn't flinch.
Meanwhile, Zoro stood ready. Now fully equipped with his three swords, his aura changed.
He glanced at Nami, who nodded.
From the cliff above, Kaya had arrived silently and watched it all.
Down below, Leo emerged from the tree line, eyes narrowing on the battlefield. The golden light of dawn shone on his coat as his fingers crackled faintly with magical energy.
"Looks like I got here just in time," Leo said, preparing to enter the fight.
Zoro stepped forward, the swords gleaming in the morning light.
With renewed strength, the true battle was about to begin.
Pátréøn (Gk31)