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After hearing Sabo confirm that he had secured evidence proving Crocodile's plot to seize the Alabasta Kingdom, Smoker's lips curled into a confident smile. He didn't hesitate—his White Blow launched straight into Miss Doublefinger, sending her staggering back.
Now, with no need to hold back, Smoker was ready to unleash his full power. He relished the thought of bringing Crocodile to justice, crushing this Shichibukai who held no respect for the Marines.
If Ikki had been privy to Smoker's thoughts, he'd likely shake his head in exasperation. After all, in Ikki's eyes, if Smoker and Crocodile were to clash, it was Smoker who would end up flattened.
In the original timeline, Smoker had never bested Luffy in battle, aside from their first encounter in Loguetown when his Logia powers gave him the upper hand.
And after the timeskip? Smoker's record only got worse. Beaten by Law, crushed by Vergo, humiliated by Doflamingo—Smoker had a streak of painful defeats.
Ironically, while Smoker couldn't beat anyone, he could consistently overwhelm Luffy, who always fled from him. Meanwhile, Luffy could triumph over nearly everyone else but would always avoid a direct fight with Smoker. Their fates seemed intertwined in this strange way.
Still, Smoker had no trouble handling minor foes like Miss Doublefinger.
Miss Doublefinger, sensing the change in Smoker's demeanor, narrowed her eyes. Without hesitation, thorns and spikes sprouted from her body, and she launched herself at him in a flurry of attacks.
But how could someone without Haki hope to defeat a Logia user?
Smoker effortlessly dodged her attacks by transforming into smoke, reappearing behind her. He delivered a powerful White Blow, sending her crashing to her knees.
Clutching her stomach in pain, she gasped and growled, "Captain Smoker, you do realize I work under the Shichibukai Crocodile? If you attack me, you're breaking the rules."
Smoker sneered, his tone dripping with derision. "Don't worry. You and Crocodile will have plenty of time to talk—when you're both locked up in Impel Down."
Before she could respond, Smoker struck again, his jutte smashing into the back of her neck. Miss Doublefinger collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
With Miss Doublefinger dealt with, all eyes turned to the battle between Zoro and Mr. 1.
The clash of blades had continued unabated, but the disparity between the two fighters was clear. Zoro was covered in wounds, his body a canvas of deep slashes and gashes. Despite the brutal damage, his bleeding was surprisingly minimal.
On the other hand, Mr. 1 stood tall and unscathed, his steel body impervious to Zoro's strikes.
Usopp, watching anxiously, began to draw his quincy bow to aid Zoro. But before he could loose an arrow, Zoro's deep, commanding voice rang out.
"No one interferes. This fight... is mine."
Usopp hesitated, then reluctantly lowered his weapon.
Zoro sheathed two of his swords—Wado Ichimonji and Sandai Kitetsu—leaving only Kuina in his hand. The sword trembled in his grip, as though reacting to the gravity of the moment.
Zoro smiled at the trembling blade. "Kuina, watch closely. I'll cut through his steel body."
As if understanding his resolve, the trembling blade stilled.
Mr. 1 raised an eyebrow, his expression cold and unimpressed. "Are you hallucinating from blood loss? Talking to your sword won't help you." He raised his bladed arms and advanced. "Let me send you on your final journey."
Zoro ignored the taunt, closing his eyes.
The moment he did, the chaos of the battlefield melted away. The world became still and silent.
In that silence, a figure appeared before him—it was Kuina.
"Zoro," her voice was calm and steady, "you've started to feel it, haven't you? The breath of all things. Just like my father said."
When Zoro heard Kuina's words, a smile appeared on his lips. "Of course…"
In the original timeline, Zoro had unlocked the ability to sense the breath of all things during a life-or-death moment, teetering on the edge of death from excessive blood loss.
Now, while Zoro was heavily wounded, his blood loss was surprisingly minimal. The reason? Kuina's will within the sword was aiding him, using her energy to suppress the bleeding.
Even without being on the brink of death, Zoro had begun to sense it—the breath of all things.
As Zoro stood still, the sound of steel breathing surrounded him, clear and distinct. Mr. 1, unaware of Zoro's newfound clarity, charged forward once more.
Listening carefully to Mr. 1's approach, Zoro slowly slid Kuina's blade back into its scabbard, assuming a stance for a swift, decisive strike.
"Draw-and-strike? I've seen this trick before!" Mr. 1 sneered.
To him, Zoro looked no different from before—still standing tall but battered. Confident, Mr. 1 lunged forward, aiming the blades on his arms directly at Zoro's neck, intending to end the fight in one blow.
But just as Mr. 1's blades were about to connect, Zoro vanished.
The next instant, Zoro reappeared behind him, standing still, his hand gripping Kuina's hilt. Slowly, he began to sheath the blade.
"One Sword Style Acting-Draw: Lion's Song" Zoro said, his voice steady.
Mr. 1 froze. His face was blank, but his body betrayed him—he staggered, whispering, "After steel… what do you plan to cut next? Diamonds?"
As he finished speaking, a deep, jagged cut appeared on his chest, slicing through steel and bone alike. Blood erupted from the wound, pouring freely as Mr. 1 collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Smoker, having watched the battle from the sidelines, nodded in satisfaction. Witnessing Zoro's growth as a swordsman stirred a strange sense of pride.
He muttered to himself, "I wonder when Tashigi will manage to reach this level. An Iron cutting swordsman… that'd be something."
As Smoker pondered, Zoro, who had been standing tall in his victory pose, suddenly crumpled to the ground. The wounds that Kuina had been suppressing began to bleed profusely.
Chopper's face turned pale as he rushed to Zoro's side. "Zoro! A doctor… where's a doctor?!"
He paused, realization dawning on him. "Oh, right… I am the doctor!"
Chopper immediately began checking Zoro's injuries, expertly bandaging his wounds to stabilize him.
With the enemies in this area defeated, Smoker turned his attention back to his mission. It was time to pursue Crocodile.
Meanwhile: The Rebel Army Marches
Elsewhere, the rebel leader Koza had finally pieced together the truth—Baroque Works was the enemy. With resolve in his heart, he rallied the full strength of the Revolutionary Army and led them toward Rainbase, determined to dismantle the organization once and for all.
In the rear of the advancing force, Ikki sat with Sanji, Nami, Vivi, and a pensive Conan.
"So… I'm really not in my own world anymore," Conan murmured. His voice trembled slightly as he stared at the horizon. "Then… is there a way for me to return? To go back to my world?"
Conan had come to accept the harsh reality of this world—a brutal place where power ruled supreme. For someone like him, an ordinary detective without any special abilities, the dangers were overwhelming.
What Conan didn't realize, however, was that in Ikki's eyes, he was the most dangerous person in the room.
Ikki glanced at Conan thoughtfully, weighing his options. "If this kid ends up causing trouble, he could unravel everything. Maybe I should send him straight to Mariejois and let Sengoku deal with him…"
In response to Conan's question, Ikki offered a measured reply.
"Since I summoned you, there's a chance I can send you back. The fact that I pulled you here proves your world exists somewhere."
He paused, his gaze distant. "But I don't know how to access it yet. Maybe with a gold-level lottery I could break through dimensional barriers…"
Conan, though sharp, caught the uncertainty in Ikki's words. He clenched his fists but nodded quietly. He had no choice but to go along with this strange turn of fate. "If I've been pulled into this world, I'll let things unfold naturally. But I wonder… are there mysteries here for me to solve?"