Chapter 59: Alabasta – Zoro vs. Mr. 1 & the Will to Cut Steel
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew in the violent clashes between blade and steel body. Zoro and Mr. 1 had already exchanged several rounds.
Mr. 1 raised his leg high to block Zoro's slash, then immediately twisted sideways and swept a fierce whip-like kick horizontally. The leg wind cut the air like a blade!
Zoro's eyes narrowed. He instantly crouched to dodge, while at the same time reaching back to draw Wado Ichimonji with his mouth. All three swords were unsheathed at once!
"Three Sword Style – Bull Needle!"
He crossed his hands tightly gripping Snow Walk and Sandai Kitetsu, charging forward like a raging bull. The blades turned into countless glints of cold light, stabbing out more than eight lethal thrusts in a single instant!
Yet the crisp sound of metal clashing rang out repeatedly. In the moment before Zoro's charge arrived, Mr. 1 had already sunk into a horse stance and shouted lowly: "Iron Body!"
His already invulnerable steel body increased in hardness once again. Zoro's thrusts all landed, but not even a single scratch was left!
"Haa…" Zoro spun and retreated one step, staring gravely at Mr. 1. "Even your body has the hardness of a blade… meaning as long as I can't cut steel, I can't hurt you at all, right?"
"Exactly." Mr. 1 folded his arms across his chest, coldly looking down at him. "Blunt force, slashing—none of it works on me. So what are you going to do about it?"
"Hmph…" A slow, fierce grin spread across Zoro's face, his fighting spirit burning like wildfire. "Didn't expect you to feel 'sorry' for me."
He slowly lowered his stance, all three swords poised for attack, eyes showing no intention of backing down. Zoro's lips curled upward. "True, right now I can't beat you because I can't cut steel. But flip that around—when I do beat you, it means I've become a man who can cut steel!"
"I don't mean to ruin your mood," Mr. 1 sneered, "but since I gained the power of the Supa Supa no Mi, no swordsman has ever left a mark on me." He slammed his fists together, producing a metallic ring. "So swordsmen can't beat me!"
Zoro untied the deep green bandana from his left arm and neatly tied it around his head. "I understand." His low voice burned with fighting spirit. "But your old stories can wait in the photo album until you're old and reminiscing."
"I don't know what kind of swordsmen you fought before," Zoro's figure suddenly surged forward! "That's only because you haven't met me yet!"
"Hmph, looks like all you have left is a big mouth!" Mr. 1 snorted coldly. He instantly crouched low, then shot forward like a cannonball, delivering a brutal downward axe kick straight at Zoro's head!
Zoro crossed two swords to block. The ground beneath his feet exploded and caved in!
"Thanks for the compliment, baldy!" He grinned savagely, eyes blazing with battle lust.
"Hmph, how many minutes can you last?" Mr. 1 kept pressing, the sheer weight of his steel body nearly crushing Zoro.
"I think that question's better aimed at you!" Zoro roared. His muscles bulged explosively and he forced Mr. 1 back again!
The two figures clashed at high speed across the battlefield. The ringing of blades meeting steel echoed endlessly.
"Mastered Slash!"
In a flash, Mr. 1 seized an opening in Zoro's swing. His five fingers instantly turned into sharp blades, slashing toward Zoro in a tiger-claw motion! Zoro's pupils shrank. He reversed Wado Ichimonji to guard his chest—clang! A piercing metallic clash rang out as sparks flew!
"Tch!" Zoro used the force to lean back, whipping his right leg like a lash and slamming it hard into Mr. 1's steel chest! Taking advantage of the brief stagger, his left hand's Snow Walk shot forward like a viper striking at the throat!
Mr. 1 was forced back three steps. For the first time, a shallow mark appeared on his steel neck.
"Three Sword Style – Demon Slash!"
Not giving him a moment to breathe, Zoro unleashed all three swords in a ferocious barrage that slammed Mr. 1 into the ground! Then he leaped high, spinning like a top—"Three Sword Style – Tiger Hunt!"
BOOM! The ground split with huge cracks, dust filling the sky.
Following the rule of "smoke but no injury," Mr. 1's mocking voice came from within the dust cloud as he casually brushed off the dirt. "See? I told you—slashes are useless against me."
"Tch…" Zoro panted heavily, sweat dripping from his chin. "Not even a scratch after taking that kind of force. First time I've seen someone walk away like that."
"Then now you've seen it, haven't you?" Mr. 1 tilted his head, his steel face showing cruel amusement. "Because up until now… you've never faced an opponent like me."
Before the words finished, Mr. 1 exploded forward! His limbs turned into countless blades, raining down a storm of attacks that forced Zoro to retreat continuously. Finally, Zoro's back slammed hard against the wall of a ruined building.
"It's over." Mr. 1 brought his palms together. The blades bloomed like a chrysanthemum—
"Foam Chrysanthemum Slash!"
Zoro crossed all three swords to block. A terrifying shockwave transmitted through the blades! The entire building behind him cracked apart, bricks flying everywhere.
"Fly!" Mr. 1 grinned savagely and pressed harder.
"This bastard…!" Zoro felt an overwhelming force hit him. He flew backward like a broken kite and crashed heavily into the rubble. Collapsing walls completely buried him, leaving only dust floating in the sunlight…
(Among the pile of rubble, Zoro's bloodstained fingers suddenly twitched…)
"I've trained harder than anyone… struggled back from the edge of death countless times… but what the hell am I still missing?!" His heart pounded violently in his chest. Zoro's consciousness drifted between reality and memory.
In his mind, he seemed to hear his master Koushirou's voice: "Zoro, there are swordsmen in this world who can cut through anything, yet there are also those who can cut through the hardest steel. The strongest sword is one that can both protect what must be protected and cut through what must be cut."
Heavy debris pressed down on his wounded body, yet with astonishing willpower, Zoro slowly straightened his spine.
Across from him, Mr. 1 stood with arms folded, tone full of contempt: "Go ahead and try. You can't even leave a scratch on me."
Blood slid down his forehead, blurring his vision. Yet Zoro's lips curved into a defiant grin: "Too bad… you probably won't live long enough to see the moment I cut steel."
Muscles tensed to their limit. He lifted the entire ruined building high overhead. "Because that moment… will be your death!"
"Raaah!" With a furious roar, Zoro unleashed incredible strength and hurled the mass of rubble straight at Mr. 1.
"Futile struggle." Mr. 1 raised his arm indifferently. Cold light flashed—"Dust Slash!" Sharp blades instantly shredded the flying wreckage into countless falling stones.
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