"Koza… stop this rebellion!" Vivi's voice rang out, strong and commanding despite her exhaustion. Her eyes blazed with determination, and her hands were stretched toward him. "What you're doing will destroy the people of Alabasta—and all for the gain of outsiders!"
Koza froze for a moment, his brows knitting in confusion. He hadn't expected the princess to appear here, especially after her long disappearance.
Why now? Why had she returned at this critical moment? Vivi's words tugged at something deep within him, forcing a frown to crease his face, but still, he hesitated.
"Please, Koza… think of your people," Vivi urged, her voice softening, yet carrying a weight of authority.
Koza shook his head, stepping back. "I'm sorry, Princess. I cannot stop." His tone was heavy, filled with both frustration and resignation. He began to turn away, moving toward his troops.
"You're making a mistake!" Vivi shouted, desperation cracking her voice.
"I'm making a mistake?" Koza's gaze flicked back at her, sharp and conflicted. Suddenly, his eyes burned with indignation. "No… this is your father's mistake!"
Vivi flinched, her words faltering in shock.
Koza's voice rose, carrying across the field. "He bought the Dance Powder and used it for his own gain! Do you know how many people died in Erumalu?"
Vivi's eyes widened, and her voice trembled as she protested. "No! My father would never—"
"I saw it!" Koza cut her off, his voice ringing with conviction. "I saw him in Nanohana! He apologized… admitted to buying the powders, and even hired strong men to destroy the port!"
Vivi froze, the words hitting her like a thunderclap. Her fists clenched, but she couldn't form a response. "No… that can't be…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"It's a fact, Princess," Koza said firmly, his expression hardening. "I saw it with my own eyes. Whatever you say now cannot change it."
Vivi's chest tightened, her heart pounding with disbelief and despair. "Koza… no," she said softly, hoping to reach even a fragment of reason within him.
Koza turned decisively, stepping back and raising his voice to his followers. "Princess, you should just leave. This does not concern you anymore."
Vivi's outstretched hand trembled, but she refused to lower it. "Stop! Please, stop!" she cried, her voice breaking.
But the rebel leader's resolve was unshaken. He turned fully toward his army, his eyes burning with determination. "Everyone… march on!"
"Stop!" Vivi stretched her hand as far as she could, but the rebels surged forward, following Koza without hesitation.
"Stooop! Kozaa!!" she yelled with all her remaining strength, her voice echoing over the marching army.
Yet Koza's gaze remained fixed ahead, his decision set. He no longer hesitated; no longer listened. The rebellion was in motion, and nothing Vivi could do would halt it.
A heavy silence fell around her for a brief second, broken only by the rhythmic marching of the rebels, each step a drumbeat of inevitability. Vivi's heart ached, but she refused to give up. She clenched her fists tighter, eyes blazing with unyielding resolve. She would find a way—she had to. Alabasta's future depended on it.
...
En route from Nanohana to Alubarna.
The Orcas fight with the Numbered agents had split the battlefield into tense, small pairings, each dueling with silent understanding. Zoro was locked in combat with Mr. 1. He intentionally retreated, choosing to distance his fight from the others.
At a distance, the rest of the Orca group also had their own battles to contend with. Hibari had pulled back, taking aim as Miss Doublefinger, who was visibly irritated by his earlier attack, stalked him like a predator.
Meanwhile, Miss Merry Christmas, still smoldering from the effects of Stev's shuriken, furiously pursued her target, burrowing inside the ground, and trying to caught up with the guy. However, Stev was so agile when it comes to escaping.
Near the edge of the skirmish, Mr. 3's wax constructs moved with uncanny precision. He had created a humanoid wax body, throwing a punch that struck Kruz squarely in the face. The impact sent Kruz sprawling, but the moment he hit the ground, an unusual shimmer flickered, and both Kruz and Mr. 3 vanished from sight, leaving an eerie emptiness behind.
Now, only a few remained in the immediate area. Gin cautiously sized up Mr. 4 and his weird dog, calculating his movements, and attacks patterns.
Not far from Gin's battle, Binko was having a comfortable fight. He was... acttually sipping tea in front of Miss Golden Week, as though the battle around him were nothing more than a formal gathering. It was peculiar, but the others were busy with each of their opponents, and doesn't have times to check on him.
Back to Zoro, after moving away for a few minutes, he could no longer see the others.
"Its time!" He muttered under his breath, his three swords poised for another strike.
"Tatsumaki!"
Zoro created a powerful, swirling vortex of slashes, generating significant physical force, and halting Mr. 1 from advancing his attacks further. Mr 1 on his own, seems to have anticipated Zoro's intention, and temporarily stopped attacking.
He stood tall, his massive frame gleaming like a walking suit of armor. Eyes scrutinizing Zoro's every movement.
"So, now you are ready to fight seriously, right? Daz Bones asked. Eyes slowly turning sharp. "Does that mean you are ready to die?"
Across from him, Zoro's eyes narrowed, his three swords gripped firmly, now ready for the clash. The desert heat seemed to intensify the tension, dust swirling around the two warriors as if the land itself held its breath.
Zoro didn't say much. His reply came out differently. His legs coiled like springs, and with a swift burst of speed, he lunged forward. His aim was clear: end the fight before it could escalate further.
"Oni Giri!"
Zoro swung his three swords in a coordinated, deadly arc.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The resounding impact of steel meeting steel rang sharply through the air, but the blades glanced harmlessly off Mr. 1's bladed forearms. Sparks flew, illuminating his unyielding body, yet not a single scratch marked him.
"It's useless," Mr. 1—Daz Bones said, his voice calm yet cold, carrying the weight of confidence. "Your swords cannot harm me. I am a man of steel. Every part of me can become a blade. That is the power of the Supa Supa no Mi."
Before Zoro could adjust, Mr. 1's massive arms swung down like twin battering rams.
"Supa Supa Desktop!"
The impact cracked the desert floor, sending shockwaves outward, chunks of stone and sand erupting in all directions.
Zoro rolled to the side, narrowly evading the full brunt of the attack. Dust and debris flew around him, but his gaze never wavered from his opponent. He had only seconds to analyze the situation.
Each strike Mr. 1 delivered carried the destructive force of a battering ram, and every blade strikes reflected the light of the scorching sun. Standard slashes would never work here.
Zoro squinted, a spark of determination lighting his eyes. Standard cuts won't work here, he thought. His defense is absolute. So, time to change tactics.
He leapt backward, creating space between them. Lowering his center of gravity, he readied a single sword, testing a new stance—focused, precise, and ready for a change in strategy.
"Running already, swordsman?" Mr. 1's voice rang coldly, accompanied by a sly smirk. In an instant, he lunged forward with terrifying speed, his massive, steel-coated arms spinning like twin buzzsaws, each rotation slicing through the air with a shrill whistle.
"Sparkling Daisy!"
The sheer velocity of his spinning limbs threatened to cut Zoro into fragments. But Zoro didn't flinch. He planted his feet firmly, his gaze locked on the advancing threat. Then, with a sudden fluid motion, he channelled his strength through all three swords.
"Ittoryu: Shishi Ran!" (*Lion Tempest!*)
A crescent-shaped air blade, sharp as a honed scythe, erupted from his swords. The Rankyaku-infused attack cut through the sky, slicing through the whipping wind of Mr. 1's spinning limbs. The crescent of air collided with the steel buzzsaws, releasing a thunderous shockwave that shook the ground beneath them.
VWHOOOM! CRACK!
Mr. 1's spinning attack ground to a halt, his momentum violently checked by Zoro's precise strike. He skidded backward across the cracked stone, leaving deep gouges in the sand and scorching marks where sparks had erupted. A thin but deep gash had appeared across the plating of his chest, the first visible damage to his otherwise impervious body.
"W-what? A ranged attack?!" Mr. 1's eyes widened, a mixture of disbelief and fury crossing his steel-clad features. "This slash… it cut me?"
Zoro smirked, his green eyes glinting with confidence. "Your body of steel blades doesn't seem as invincible as you think. Maybe you're just a paper blade in disguise."
Rage ignited within Mr. 1, a molten heat that spread to every fiber of his being. He channeled his energy into his bladed legs, propelling himself forward with incredible velocity, to eviscerate Zoro in a single strike.
"Atomic Spurt!"
Zoro's senses sharpened, and in a heartbeat, he shifted to his three-sword style, planting his feet with precision. The wind whistled past his ears as he swung both swords.
"Tora Arashi!" (*Tiger Storm!*)
He shouted, launching two massive air blades in a deadly 'X' formation. The blades hummed through the air, sharp as lightning and fast enough to meet Mr. 1 mid-charge.
The collision was cataclysmic.
SHHHNK!
The Tora Arashi's twin air blades clashed violently with Mr. 1's spinning assault, creating a deafening roar that shook the surrounding terrain. The sheer force of the attack sent Mr. 1 hurtling backward through the battlefield, tumbling like a spinning top before he slammed into a massive boulder. Dust and debris erupted around him, coating the air in a hazy cloud.
Zoro emerged from the dust cloud, his silhouette steady and composed, blades gleaming faintly in the dim light. He moved deliberately, each step firm, eyes locked on his opponent.
Through the swirling debris, Mr. 1 could be seen struggling to rise. His steel-plated form was battered, dents and gashes streaking his once-impenetrable armor. He panted heavily, shards of metal falling from his arms as he leaned on his knees, disbelief etched across his face.
"Impossible…" Mr. 1 rasped, his voice tight with frustration. "No blade should… penetrate me like that…"
"Every blade has a limit. Yours was just tougher than most," Zoro replied calmly, the confidence in his voice slicing through the tension as sharply as his swords.
He raised his two remaining swords, letting the third rest securely in his mouth, and focused every ounce of his strength into a final, decisive strike.
"Time to finish this," he murmured under his breath, his eyes narrowing with unwavering focus.
"Santoryu Ogi: Oni Arashi!" (*Three-Sword Style Secret Technique: Ogre Storm!*)
Zoro lunged forward in a blur, his swords slicing the air with lethal precision. Compressed air and slashing energy coalesced around the blades, forming a hurricane-force, spinning tornado of cutting power.
Zwooshhh-Kssshing!
The attack struck Mr. 1 squarely, hitting the center of his chest with unstoppable momentum. Steel groaned and screamed under the assault as Zoro's air-enhanced blades carved through his body with surgical precision.
Sparks flew, fragments of metal rained down, and steam hissed as the metal succumbed to the force. With a final, anguished scream, Mr. 1 collapsed, sliding down the boulder and landing in a cloud of dust, defeated and broken.
Silence settled over the battlefield. The wind carried the faint smell of scorched metal and sand. Zoro slowly sheathed his swords, his breathing steady, the glow of compressed air fading from the blades. He wiped a streak of dust from his face and muttered with a hint of satisfaction, "That was a decent warm-up."
The man of steel had been bested, and Zoro remained standing, relatively uninjured. His strategic use of Rankyaku had turned the tide, transforming the overwhelming strength of Mr. 1 into a test of precision and timing—a battle of brains and skill as much as raw power.
The conclusion of the battle, Zoro won.