Except for the bewildered Sanji...
Usopp was riding on Chopper, leading a large force of royal troops and rebel soldiers to hunt down the remaining members of Baroque Works still scattered throughout the city.
The soldiers behind him shouted enthusiastically, "Captain Usopp! You're our hero!"
The shower of praise only made Usopp more motivated as he led the charge, clearing out the last of the Baroque Works agents.
Meanwhile…
On a deserted street, the surrounding houses and the ground were covered in dense slash marks. The clean, precise cuts gleamed in the sunlight—they looked almost polished.
Zoro stood calmly, holding the Wado Ichimonji in one hand, effortlessly blocking another fierce attack from Mr. 1, Daz Bonis.
"Mastery Slash!"
Daz Bonis flashed forward, appearing right in front of Zoro. His fingers morphed into blades shaped like tiger claws. He twisted his upper body, raised both arms, and slashed downward with deadly precision.
The movement stirred the air itself, generating pressure that screamed through the street.
Zoro remained unimpressed. "A boring trick…"
Clang!
He casually knocked Daz Bonis aside with a swift stroke and pointed his blade at him. "You're a Devil Fruit user, huh? Then I guess I'll have to get serious."
"Swordsman, you can't beat me," Daz Bonis said coldly. "Not even you."
He stared hard at Zoro. The swordsman's physical strength might be monstrous, but as long as he hadn't mastered the ability to cut iron, there was no way he could win.
"Foaming Daisy Slash!"
Whoosh!
Several razor-sharp energy slashes flew out from Daz Bonis' hands, their trajectories sharp and unpredictable. Following right behind them, his entire body turned into a gleaming blade, lunging at Zoro like a bullet.
Ding ding ding ding!
A chorus of metallic clashes rang out as waves of force burst outward. Dust and wind howled through the street. The sword energy shredded the buildings and roads, slicing everything into neat, smooth fragments.
The rising sand and smoke cloaked the battlefield, making it impossible to see clearly.
Suddenly, Daz Bonis surged forward again.
Zoro reacted instantly, raising his sword to meet the attack. With a powerful twist of his wrist, he deflected the strike and flung his opponent into the air.
Facing an enemy made entirely of blades, Zoro's eyes burned brighter with every clash.
A strange stillness began to settle over him.
He could feel it—an aura rising from deep within. The world around him grew quiet. And for the first time, he could hear it:
The breath of the stone.
The breath of the trees.
The breath of the earth beneath his feet.
The resonance of the Wado Ichimonji in his hand.
In that quiet moment, Zoro finally understood what his master, Shimotsuki Koshiro, had meant all along.
What it truly meant for a sword to cut through anything.
To feel the breath of all things—to become one with it.
To wield a blade not to cut, but to understand.
Only by mastering this could a swordsman cut iron.
Zoro breathed in deeply, a calm determination washing over him. He looked up at Daz Bonis.
It was time to end this fight.
Daz Bonis suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. Zoro's aura had changed. A pressure unlike anything before pressed down on him—it was as if a blade had been placed against his throat.
"You've got to be kidding!" Daz Bonis roared. "You can't grow that fast!"
He kicked off the ground. His feet had turned into blades, like skates cutting across steel. At the same time, his palms and fingers transformed into bladed claws as he launched himself at Zoro, who stood calmly, sword lowered.
"Dust-Slashing Speed Force!"
"Itto-Ryu Iai: Shishi Sonson!"
The two figures passed each other in a blink.
Zoro appeared behind Daz Bonis. His strike had been so quick and clean, it was almost invisible.
A slash so fast it seemed to have never happened.
Daz Bonis froze.
Then blood sprayed into the air.
He collapsed to the ground, seriously wounded from a single strike.
Zoro returned the Wado Ichimonji to its sheath. He stood still for a moment, his eyes calm.
"Thanks… but I'll become stronger."
He didn't take Daz Bonis' life—the man had helped him awaken a deeper understanding of the sword. For that, Zoro let him live.
Elsewhere…
Under Usopp's leadership, and with the royal army and rebel forces working together, the chaos in the city gradually subsided.
With most of the elite agents of Baroque Works defeated, the remaining henchmen offered little resistance.
Meanwhile, Sanji—though reluctantly—took his opportunity.
With a dramatic Veal Shot, he defeated Mr. 2 Bon Clay in a single blow.
After finishing their individual battles, the Straw Hats began making their way to the palace.
By this time, Luffy had already engaged in a fierce battle with Crocodile.
But this time, Luffy had the upper hand—thanks to Leo, who had warned him about Crocodile's weakness.
Luffy came prepared.
Crocodile, distracted by the nearby presence of Velis, couldn't maintain control of the fight.
Luffy's growth was obvious. His strength, speed, and determination had taken a huge leap forward.
Crocodile was beginning to consider retreat.
He calculated quickly—by now, Nico Robin should have taken King Cobra to locate the Poneglyph, the historical record they were after.
Crocodile conjured a fierce, swirling sandstorm in his hand and smashed it to the ground.
"Heavyweight Sables!"
A few seconds later, an entire building crumbled into sand and was absorbed into the storm.
Crocodile vanished into the chaos.
"Don't run!" Luffy shouted, dashing after him without hesitation.
Not long after they disappeared, Nami arrived at the palace first—dragging a massive bag of treasure.
As for Miss Doublefinger… Nami had kept her promise and let her go.
But strangely, after taking only two steps, the Baroque Works agent was struck by lightning.
"I swear I don't know what happened," Nami shrugged. "I warned everyone about lightning today…"
She frowned, staring up at the swirling sandstorm growing stronger by the second.
Where was everyone?
Vivi and Velis had yet to arrive, and none of the others were in sight.
"Be careful!" Vivi's voice rang out from the side.
She had just emerged from hiding when she saw a huge stone tumbling straight toward Nami.
Boom!
The rock was shattered mid-air—smashed apart by a single swing of Nami's wooden staff.
Nami approached Vivi, concern in her eyes. "Vivi, have you seen the others?"
Vivi bit her lip and shook her head.
After splitting up earlier, she and Luffy had headed straight for the palace. But they'd arrived too late.
Even with Velis protecting them, the others were scattered or outmatched by the remnants of Baroque Works.
Worst of all, her father—King Cobra—was still in Robin's hands.
"It's okay," Nami said gently, pulling Vivi into a hug. "I'll take care of the sandstorm. Once everyone's here, we'll rescue your father together."
Raising her staff, she focused.
A sky-blue bird shimmered into view above the staff's tip.
From thin air, layers of green wind gathered, swirling around Nami's body like a living aura.
After a brief moment of concentration, she slashed the staff through the air.
In the next instant—
The raging sandstorm froze.
A green tornado, spinning in the opposite direction, appeared above their heads.
Screeeeech!
BOOM!
With a violent collision, the sandstorm shattered.
Dust and debris scattered into the sky, but the storm itself vanished.
The sunlight pierced through once more, bathing the earth in warmth and light.
The dark veil over the palace was lifted.
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