Chapter 106: Zoro vs. Killer

"A mere warrant officer thinks he can stop me?"

Though Killer was indeed worried about Luo Lan’s strength, a cold sneer appeared on his face when he saw Zoro’s rank was only that of a warrant officer. Had it been the major from earlier, he might have been concerned about the outcome, as the gap in strength between a headquarters major and a branch major was like night and day. However, judging by the major’s attitude toward this warrant officer, it was clear that despite his low rank, his status was anything but insignificant; otherwise, why would a major follow his lead?

With that in mind, Killer reasoned that if he could capture this warrant officer and use him as a hostage against the marines, he might just carve out a chance at survival. Facing someone with the notorious reputation of Luo Lan left him with no confidence at all.

"Whether I'm a match for you or not, you'll find out soon enough!" Zoro gripped the Wado Ichimonji between his teeth and grinned.

He didn't hesitate for a second. Charging toward Killer, he swung both the Sandai Kitetsu and the Yubashiri simultaneously, striking from two different, tricky angles. While Zoro was far from matching Luo Lan’s level, he was, after all, one of the Supernovas—a contemporary of Zoro in the original timeline—so his strength was naturally formidable.

Killer’s weapons were not standard swords; they were a pair of scythes mounted to his hands. Perhaps due to a flair for the dramatic, Killer had given this pair of weapons an incredibly edgy name: the Punisher Scythes. Yet, dramatic as they were, they displayed a fearsome lethality in his hands. Facing Zoro’s sudden assault, Killer reacted with lightning speed, swinging his scythes to parry every one of Zoro’s strikes before finding the opening for a counterattack.

The scythes traced a full moon after deflecting Zoro’s blades, then sliced viciously toward the swordsman. The collision between the high-speed rotating scythes and Zoro’s famed blades erupted in a sharp, screeching metallic roar.

As the exchange concluded, Zoro had a rough measure of the masked man’s strength. He wasn't weak, and if Zoro let his guard down, he would likely be the one in trouble. Steadying his focus, Zoro launched another attack, but this time, the intensity was far greater. The Sandai Kitetsu led the charge, its dark purple blade reflecting an eerie, unsettling light under the sunset as it bore down on Killer.

Caught in that unnatural glow, Killer felt a strange, inexplicable sensation disrupt his focus. Why was this happening? He couldn't fathom it. But he had no time to ponder; shaking off the bizarre feeling, he scrambled to block Zoro’s unsettling strike. Amidst another clash of steel, Killer stumbled back, his face hidden behind the mask flushing with exertion.

Regaining his composure, Killer no longer dared to underestimate the warrant officer. Two exchanges in, he realized this lowly officer was at least his equal—a terrifying revelation. If this man had been a major, Killer wouldn't have been surprised; such high-ranking officers had to be strong to lead so many marines. But a mere warrant officer? Someone who wouldn't even cause a ripple in the vast sea of the Navy? How could he possess such power? If every warrant officer in the Navy were this strong, they might as well give up on the dream of becoming the Pirate King and go back home to farm with these scythes.

Such thoughts flashed through Killer’s mind only for a moment, as the situation allowed for no distractions. Zoro’s offensive wasn't overpowering, but the sheer frequency of his attacks was enough to make Killer curse. Normally, encountering a well-matched opponent should be a battle to be savored, but this green-haired swordsman fought as if they shared a blood feud, every strike fueled by a singular intent to kill.

Frowning, Killer finally reached his limit. The relentless, repetitive attacks felt like an insult. Even if he wasn't the strongest, he was still a notorious pirate with a bounty of 38 million berries—an astronomical figure in the East Blue, where Luo Lan had come from. Zoro’s relentless pressure ignited Killer’s true rage, and he began to fight back with everything he had.

The large scythes spun with dizzying speed before closing in on Zoro, humming like buzzsaws and tearing through the air with piercing, shrill shrieks.

"Slicing Whirlwind!" Killer roared. As the Punisher Scythes reached their peak velocity, they surged toward Zoro. Under the setting sun, the blades became a blur, an orange-hued circle of death aimed at Zoro’s neck.

This was his signature move. No matter the opponent or the weapon, everything would be sliced and shredded like paper by the rotating force of his scythes. But in the next moment, Killer’s expression shifted violently. Things were not unfolding as he had envisioned.

The katana in the green-haired swordsman’s hand, shimmering with that eerie purple light, was harder than any weapon he had ever encountered. The moment the high-speed scythes touched the purple blade, sparks showered everywhere, and the swordsman brought them to a dead stop.

Then, a horrifying sight unfolded, leaving Killer drenched in a cold sweat. Amidst the swordsman’s strange, chilling smile, his weapon—the scythe that had been by his side for years—was cleaved in two. Flying shrapnel sliced through his mask and carved into his cheek. A trickle of blood followed, mixing with his sweat and staining his collar red.

"How... how is this possible?" Killer stood frozen, staring in disbelief, having forgotten he was still in the middle of a battle. His vacant gaze remained fixed on the severed half of the scythe lying on the deck, his entire body motionless, as if his soul had been ripped away.

Zoro watched Killer’s state without a shred of pity or empathy. Since he had set sail and become a bounty hunter, he had witnessed too many tragedies caused by pirates. The most heinous among them were the accounts from Gosa Town, read in the East Blue newspapers, and now, the reality of Salon Island. He felt no sympathy for these men. Even if he hadn't joined the Navy or donned this uniform, he would never have shown mercy to pirates if he had the power to stop them—because they were simply getting what they deserved.

After the Sandai Kitetsu severed the scythe, Zoro swung the Yubashiri with his other hand, carving a path from Killer’s left shoulder down to his lower right abdomen. Blood, along with a gruesome mess of viscera, spilled from Killer’s torso. Killer slowly collapsed, his eyes remaining as vacant and hollow in death as they had been in his final moments.