One Piece: Fist of the World.

Chapter 253: East Sea, Swordsman

"Floating Fruit?"

Nalu's heart moved.

When he heard what Rhodes said that the world would sink into the sea, he thought of Sky Island.

Whether it is the sinking of the island or the rising of the sea level, these situations can only affect the island under their feet, and have nothing to do with the sky island ten thousand meters above the sky.

And if they could obtain the legendary "Piao Piao Fruit", they would be invincible.

After all, the legend of the last era, the Flying Pirate Shiki the Golden Lion, was able to make countless islands float in the air by his own strength, and even formed a flying pirate group.

"As far as I know, the Golden Lion should have been hiding in the East China Sea."

Rhodes looked at Violet.

He didn't know the exact location of the Golden Lion, he just knew that the other party had been hiding in the East China Sea, so if he wanted to find the other party, he still needed Violet's ability.

With the East China Sea being so vast, it would not be easy to find the other party even with Violet's Stare-Stare Fruit.

However, the other party controls a large number of islands flying in the air, so there will always be some clues left behind.

It’s just that no one has ever carefully observed and thought about it before, and linked it with the golden lion.

Now, the business of Quantuo Security Company has expanded to all corners of the world. Even in the East China Sea, some branches have been opened, which allows them to pay attention to collecting relevant intelligence.

"give it to me!"

Thinking of the vastness of the East China Sea, Violet's face turned bitter, but she still accepted the task.

···
East China Sea
Unlike the unpredictable weather on the Grand Route, the climate of the four seas is very stable. Although there are often storms on the sea, it is very peaceful compared to the Grand Route.

The East China Sea has the most suitable climate among the four seas. Not only that, it is also the sea area with the strongest control by the World Government, and there are no powerful pirates at all.

After the Fist Security Company expanded its business to the East China Sea, the area became more peaceful, and even the number of thugs in the town decreased a lot.

Shieldstown.

This is an ordinary small town in the East China Sea, but because the 153rd branch of the Navy is located in the town, this place is more prosperous than other towns.

With the presence of the Navy branch, life in this small town should have been more comfortable.

However, since Monka came to the 153rd Navy Branch a year ago and became the actual ruler of Shields Town, life has become increasingly difficult for the townspeople.

Colonel Monka was brutal and tyrannical. He promoted individualism in the town of Shields and regarded himself as the local emperor. Everyone in the town had to look up to him.

His son was even more arrogant and domineering, bullying men and women. In just one year, he had earned the resentment of countless people.

"I don't see our flag in this town."

At the port, the Polar Land slowly docked. Rhodes and several companions walked down from the ship. He glanced around the town, then turned his head slightly and spoke to Bonis beside him.

"This is where the Navy branch is located. To avoid conflict, our security company has not entered any of the islands where the Navy branch is stationed."

Bonis explained softly.

He was ordered by Rhodes to be responsible for the promotion of the security company's business in the East China Sea.

According to the method summed up by the Rod Pirates, security companies, textile companies, and clothing companies are promoted simultaneously. Wherever they go, they bring precious security and employment to the locals. It can be said that the effect is outstanding.

However, in order to avoid direct conflict with the navy, the Rod Pirates would not go to islands with navy assistants to promote business development most of the time.

After hearing Bonis' explanation, Rhodes nodded and said nothing more.

His main purpose of going to the East China Sea this time was the Golden Lion. As for the advancement of the business in the East China Sea, he just asked casually.

After more than ten days of continuous exploration by Violet, combined with some intelligence information provided by the security company in the East China Sea, they finally found the location of the Golden Lion Shiki.

The other party raised dozens of islands into the sky, floating above the East China Sea. Given the large ocean area in this world, he spent most of his time flying over the ocean.

But according to Violet, the area where he was located was close to the town of Shields, so this became the place where Rhodes and his team stayed.

"Pirate!!"

"What are your plans for entering Shields Town!"

Not long after Rhodes and his companions entered the town, a team of navy soldiers rushed over, holding their guns tightly in their hands and looking at them with vigilant eyes.

These people got off that pirate ship!

Although the distance was a bit far and I couldn't see the patterns on their flags clearly, there was no doubt that they were pirates!

In this world, only pirates use the black pirate flag.

"You don't know me?"

Rhodes looked at the navy soldiers in front of him strangely.

"Is he a famous pirate?!"

The leading marine's expression changed slightly, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't think of any pirate group in the East China Sea that matched the group in front of him.

Looking at the navy soldiers in front of him, Rhodes was a little speechless. He released a little bit of the power of Domineering Haki, which made them fall into coma safely.

For most people in the East China Sea, a bounty of 1000 million berries is considered a great pirate. As for the big figures in other seas and even in the Grand Line, they are just legendary existences to them, and they may never have any intersection with them in this lifetime.

Even a world-famous figure like Rhodes might not be as intimidating as Buggy the Clown in the eyes of the people of East China Sea.

"What kind of power do you have!"

A voice suddenly came from the corner, and then a green-haired man with three knives hanging on his waist walked out from the street beside him, looking at Rhodes with burning eyes.

Roronoa Zoro!

He learned swordsmanship in Shimotsuki Village since he was young, but after going out to sea one time, he could not find his way back and could only wander on the sea. In order to survive, he occasionally worked part-time as a bounty hunter.

He originally brought a pirate to the naval branch on this island to exchange a bounty, but for some reason, the architecture of this small town was too strange. He could clearly see the tall naval branch building when standing at the port, but he walked in the town for a long time and still couldn't find the naval branch.

Unexpectedly, after crossing an intersection, I saw this scene.

He originally wanted those navy soldiers to take him to the navy branch base, but the red-haired man didn't do anything, and the navy soldiers in front of him fainted.

Seeing the green algae head in front of him, a hint of surprise flashed in Rhodes' eyes.

"Are you also a swordsman?"

Before Rhodes could say anything, Zoro had already walked up to them. When he noticed the sword hanging around Rhodes' waist, his eyes immediately froze.

That knife is very unusual!
Just like his Wado Ichimonji, it is a famous sword!

No, maybe it's even more powerful than Wado Ichimonji!

Snapped!
Zoro threw the pirate in his hand away with a flick of his hand, then pulled out the three swords hanging from his waist, holding one in each hand and biting the other in his mouth, and looked at Rhodes with a slightly fanatical look.

"I want to challenge you, come and fight me!" His goal is to become the world's greatest swordsman and let his name resound throughout the heavens!

Bounty hunting is just a means for him to make money. His real goal in going out to sea is to constantly hone his skills!
When he met such a kendo master, how could he resist challenging him?

"Is this a fool?"

Nia looked at Zoro. Although the other party seemed to have solid basic skills, they were not good enough at all.

"He actually dared to challenge the captain. He is really silly and cute. However, I am afraid that he will be chopped into eighteen pieces and it will be impossible to put them together."

Robin smiled softly and said in a calm tone.

"Challenge me?"

Rhodes looked at the immature Zoro in front of him. The opponent's current strength was too weak, which made him have no desire to fight.

"Let me do it."

Bonis took a step forward and stood in front of Rhodes. He looked at Zoro calmly and faced him without any defense.

"Let me be your opponent."

"Are you a swordsman too?"

Zoro looked at the dark and strong man in front of him and felt a strange feeling in his heart.

He could keenly feel a sharp aura from the other person, which was the unique aura of a swordsman.

However, judging from the opponent's posture, he seemed to have no foundation in swordsmanship.

In short, it's very weird!
"I am not a swordsman, but the nemesis of swordsmen."

"The swordsman's nemesis? What a boast!"

A cold light flashed in Zoro's eyes.

As long as I kill this dark and strong guy, no one will stop me from fighting with the red-haired man!

Thinking of this, Zoro took a stance and rushed towards Bonis quickly. He blocked Bonis's body with three swords and slashed fiercely.

"Three Swords Style: Demon Slash!!"

Click——!
The blade slashed on Bonis's body, but made a "crackling" sound under the heavy weight. Then, in Zoro's incredulous eyes, the two swords in his hands broke into pieces.

"How can it be!"

Zoro looked at the dark and strong man in front of him, and saw his body was unharmed under the blade, and suddenly he was distracted.

"Your knife is too blunt."

Bonis looked at the young swordsman in front of him indifferently.

"hateful!"

Zoro threw away the weapons in his hands, took out the Wado Ichimonji that was bitten in his mouth, held it tightly with both hands, and looked at Bonis unwillingly.

"Let's go, find a place to rest for a while."

After looking at Sauron, Rod called on his companions to leave.

According to Violet's observation, the fleet led by the Golden Lion will arrive near the town of Shields in a while, and then it will be his turn to find the old lion.

"and many more!"

Seeing Rhodes and the others turn around and leave without taking him seriously at all, Sauron felt like a fire was burning in his heart, and shouted to them to stop.

"I know there's a huge gap in strength between us, but a swordsman can't surrender without a fight!"

Zoro sheathed the Wado Ichimonji, assumed an Iai stance, and looked at Rhodes with a serious look.

"I want to see your swordsmanship, so that even if I die, I will have no regrets."

Looking at the green-haired guy with a determined look, Rhodes couldn't help but have a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"Since you insist, I'll accompany you for a while."

Rhodes turned around and pointed a finger at Zoro.

"bring it on."

Seeing Rod's actions, Zoro's face turned red instantly. He accumulated all his strength and instantly burst out with a blow beyond his limit.

"Itto-ryu, slash, Iai!"

The Wado Ichimonji drew a dazzling blade light, and the sharp blade slashed towards Rhodes, but was easily blocked by Rhodes with one finger. The slightly bent fingers clamped the blade of the Wado Ichimonji. Even though Zoro's face turned red, he could not move the blade at all.

"The knife is good!"

Rhodes exerted a little force, and the domineering aura flowed along his arm and pierced into Zoro's arm, causing his hand, which was originally tightly gripping the hilt of the sword, to loosen instantly, and the Wado Ichimonji immediately fell into Rhodes' hand.

Under Zoro's anxious eyes, Rod looked at the Wado Ichimonji, but ultimately he did not muster up the courage to grab the saliva-stained handle, and instead returned it to Zoro.

"He's a nice guy, but still a little immature."

"With your current strength, what you need to do most is to lay a solid foundation and move forward step by step, rather than aiming too high and wanting to challenge opponents that you can never defeat right away."

“It is not a good thing for first-time climbers to see the beauty of the mountain top too early.”

"However, if it were you, you probably wouldn't be shocked, but would be more motivated."

Zoro put away the Wado Ichimonji left by his best friend and looked at Rhodes in surprise and doubt.

The gap in power between the two sides is too big!
The red-haired man in front of me is as strong as a monster!
If even he is so strong, how strong must the legendary world's greatest swordsman, Hawkeye, be!
"Alright!"

Rhodes placed his hand on the sword at his waist, and the pitch-black blade suddenly appeared in the air. As Rhodes swung his arm, a terrifying slash broke through the air, like a dark crescent, splitting the sea in front of him into two halves. Zoro could even see some rocks on the seabed.

The horrifying slash spread out to the depths of the sea, where a huge gully appeared on the sea surface. Not until the slash completely dissipated did the sea water fill the gully and surge up waves.

"This...you...I..."

Zoro stared at the scene in amazement. The scene of Rod cutting the sea with one sword was deeply imprinted in his mind, making him feel so excited that he couldn't help himself.

Is this really something that can be done by human power!?
No! You can definitely do it!

Zoro suppressed the shock in his heart and stirred up a strong emotion again.

One day, he will do the same!
Then, defeat Hawkeye, obtain the title of the world's greatest swordsman, let your name resound through the heavens and reach Kuina's ears!

Thinking of this, Zoro clenched the Wado Ichimonji in his hand again, and then looked at Rhodes with burning eyes.

This man was his opponent before he challenged Hawkeye!

(End of this chapter)