Clang—!!
Two flashes of steel collided, producing a rapid chain of crisp metallic clashes in an instant. The sound rang out over a dozen times before the two figures sprang backward, separating from each other.
The black-clad ninja holding the wakizashi Midare-giri in reverse grip stared at the blond man across from him, whose sword tip hung casually downward. Shock filled the ninja's heart.
Just now, he had absolutely not held back. Within a single second he had swung at least eleven strikes, yet every single one had been easily blocked.
It was as if the opponent had already known where each attack would land.
No… wait.
The man's swordsmanship itself was not particularly refined. What he relied on entirely was that precognitive ability. The ninja seemed to recall seeing something similar once before—when facing Kozuki Oden.
Could it be the same technique?
"You possess the same foresight as Kozuki Oden?" the ninja asked slowly as he drew out a large scroll painted with crimson curse markings from behind his waist. "No wonder you're protecting Mai Benihime…"
Victor lazily rested his sword on his shoulder, a mocking grin on his face.
"You're the type they call a backwater bumpkin who's never seen the world, aren't you?" he said lightly. "Stop making excuses. If you're not going to attack, then I will."
The ninja slid Midare-giri back into his belt and began weaving his hands rapidly. At the same time, several smoke bombs burst beneath his feet.
Within Victor's perception, dozens of invisible shuriken shot toward every vital point on his body.
Yet Victor remained completely calm.
He didn't move at all.
Instead, dozens of zippers of varying sizes suddenly opened across his body, perfectly matching the number of incoming attacks and allowing every shuriken to pass harmlessly through.
Resin Zipper – Spotted Pockets!
Then the hilt of Victor's long sword Scarlet Fang transformed into a zipper. He swung the weapon like a flying sickle, spinning it through the air before hurling it straight into the cloud of smoke where the ninja had been standing.
The sharp blade sliced through the smoke instantly.
But the ninja was already gone.
Below, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed. Clearly the others aboard the ship had heard the battle in the captain's cabin and were rushing toward the top deck.
"Stay downstairs and protect Mai Benihime!" Victor called loudly toward the doorway.
Then he swung the blade upward. It cut a zipper through the roof of the cabin, and with a light push from his feet he leapt through the opening, landing on the top deck of the merchant ship.
"Ninja Art – Withered Bones of the Guardian!"
The moment Victor landed on the deck, a powerful gust of wind came from behind him.
He twisted his body halfway and delivered a brutal side kick straight into the attacker's chest.
Caught completely off guard, the man barely managed to cross his arms in front of his chest before being sent flying high into the air.
But at that exact moment—
Two swords slashed toward Victor from opposite sides while his stance was still extended.
The blade on the left crackled with lightning.
The sword on the right carried a violent cutting wind.
"Ninja Art – Swift Thunder Slash!"
"Ninja Art – Gale Spiral Sever!"
Victor chuckled softly.
The tips of the fingers on his right hand transformed into zippers. As he spun in place, five golden chain blades erupted outward in a whirling storm centered on his body.
Metal Zipper – Five-String Lute: Puppet Ballad!
Two of the chains wrapped around the handle of the lightning sword where it wasn't charged with electricity.
The remaining three chains wrapped around the blade of the wind sword, sparks flying everywhere.
Then—
Both swords suddenly transformed into zippers, retracting along the chains and flying back into Victor's hands before reforming into blades once again.
"What?! Is that sorcery?!"
"Brother Thunder Blade, my sword—he stole it!"
The attackers were two strange masked ninjas.
One carried a wind sack on his back resembling the Wind God from Wano's legends, while the other had a drum-like device behind him mimicking the Thunder God.
Both now stared in horror at their empty hands, unable to comprehend how Victor had seized their weapons from a distance.
"So I told you," Victor said casually while tossing the swords in his hands. "If you don't know Armament Haki and don't understand your opponent's weakness, you shouldn't fight Paramecia users so recklessly, you Wano country bumpkins…"
Suddenly his eyes lit up.
"Hmm? Two more blades from the Fifty Skillful Grade Swords?"
"Raigoza and Fūju?"
"Wano really does produce a lot of fine weapons. How many of you Oniwabanshu came here? Come out all at once. I never complain about having too many swords."
With that, Victor stored both swords into the zipper space in his palm, leaving only Scarlet Fang in his hand as he smiled pleasantly at the three ninjas.
"Sorry about that, Wind Blade and Thunder Blade," the black-clad ninja said apologetically. "The situation was sudden, and I didn't have time to explain this sorcerer's strange abilities. That's why you fell for his trick."
"It's fine, Goemon!" Thunder Blade snarled. "Once we kill this brat we'll take the swords back. Let's attack together!"
Victor simply waved cheerfully at him.
"…Very well," Goemon said. "Prepare a visual-obscuring ninja technique. I will use my strongest stealth technique—Silent Assassination—to silently remove this brat's head…"
"…Hmm?"
Suddenly a gurgling sound came from inside Goemon's clothing.
Under the contemptuous gazes of Wind Blade and Thunder Blade, Goemon's face flushed slightly as he pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
"This Den Den Mushi absolutely does not interfere with my stealth technique!" he protested awkwardly. "Really! Believe me—I'm a professional!"
His explanation sounded painfully weak.
Even Victor looked unconvinced.
With a defeated sigh, Goemon answered the call.
"Captain Fukurokuju, this is Goemon."
"Hmph… From your tone I can tell the mission isn't finished," the Den Den Mushi said. Its face had transformed into a bald old man with sunglasses.
"The Shogun has issued an order. Terminate the mission and return to Wano immediately."
"Huh? Wind Blade and Thunder Blade are here too. We've already confirmed Mai Benihime's location. Just a moment and we'll—"
"I said return to Wano. Immediately."
The voice from the Den Den Mushi was filled with anger.
"In three months the Shogun will meet the representative of JOKER. The Oniwabanshu must provide personal protection."
"If Wind Blade and Thunder Blade are with you, bring them back as well."
Click.
The Den Den Mushi fell silent.
The three ninjas looked at one another.
Though unwilling, a ninja's nature was to obey orders.
"Sorcerer," Thunder Blade said bitterly. "Next time we meet, we will take your head."
"Brother Thunder Blade," Wind Blade sighed, "you stole my line."
This mission had been disastrous. Not only had they failed, they had also lost two of the Fifty Skillful Grade swords.
"You are clearly not a man who will remain in this weak West Blue forever," Goemon said calmly. "When you reach the Grand Line, we may meet again. Then we will settle the outcome."
He slammed something onto the deck.
Boom!
A cloud of smoke exploded.
Victor looked up speechlessly as the three ninjas deployed human-shaped kites, riding the wind and gliding away into the distance.
Well… at least they had contributed two fine swords.
Victor decided not to knock them out of the sky with his chains.
Then suddenly he frowned.
Wait…
I didn't get Midare-giri.
That was a mistake.
Shaking his head, Victor opened a zipper beneath his feet and dropped back into the captain's cabin.
At least—
Mai Benihime now had a proper weapon.