Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides

"Ryomen!!" The Straw Hats exclaimed, their faces lighting up at the sight of their friend.

"What happened to you?" Zoro asked, his gaze sharp with curiosity.

"I'm glad you're fine!" Chopper sighed in relief.

"You nearly missed the fight!" Luffy grinned.

"Why are you cuffed?" Nami questioned, looking at him suspiciously.

"You escaped just when I was about to come and save you!" Sogeking proclaimed proudly, puffing out his chest.

Ryomen glanced at Sogeking, mildly surprised, before turning his attention to the assassins. "I got here just in time, huh?" He smirked. "How about letting Paulie and Iceberg go…or do I need to beat some sense into you first?"

"You got out?" Lucci muttered, studying Ryomen with cold indifference. "Then it looks like we'll have one more body to deal with."

Ryomen's gaze hardened. "I wouldn't be so confident in your place. Arrogance like yours is exactly what got your boss killed."

Lucci's eyes narrowed as he dropped Paulie to the ground and advanced toward Ryomen with a quiet menace. In a flash, he vanished.

"Soru."

He reappeared right before Ryomen, his finger pointed at his neck. "Shigan."

Yet, his attack was stopped by an unseen force. Lucci's eyes flickered in recognition. "Armament Haki? So, you've learned a trick or two. Impressive…considering you're cuffed."

Ryomen's smirk didn't waver. "I don't need my Devil Fruit to deal with you."

"Where is all this arrogance coming from? Do you truly believe…you can defeat us?" Lucci scoffed, the disdain clear in his voice.

"Of course we can!" Luffy interrupted. "You took Robin away…so there's no chance we're letting you get away!!"

Robin watched them with a mixture of bitterness and resignation. "You people don't listen very well. I told the cook and the doctor goodbye…didn't they tell you?" She asked, her voice strained.

"I did! But I don't understand! Why, Robin!?" Chopper questioned, his voice quivering with hurt.

"To achieve my goal! A goal that I can't reach…if I stay with you!" Robin's voice wavered slightly. "For that goal, I'll sacrifice anything."

Ryomen's gaze softened as he looked at her. "Robin, there's no need to pretend anymore. No matter what you say…we won't back down."

"We're not just gonna leave you with these jerks!" Luffy added.

"I might not fully trust you yet, but if that's their decision, I'll follow it." Zoro said resolutely.

"Even if I haven't known you for long, I'm sure you're not the type to betray us!" Sogeking declared.

"There's no way you'd do that after all we've been through!" Nami exclaimed, her voice thick with emotion.

"Yeah! If you really didn't care…why even show up just to say goodbye?" Chopper cried out.

Robin's resolve cracked slightly as she gritted her teeth. "You're all…such fools. Believe whatever you want."

Iceberg, clutching his injuries, forced himself to speak. "Don't try to understand her! She's a devil! Her goal will shake the entire world!"

Robin's eyes hardened. "You don't have the right to talk, so stay quiet." She crossed her arms, and numerous hands pinned Iceberg to the ground.

"Mr. Iceberg!" Paulie shouted, straining to move.

"I won't let anyone interfere." Robin said coldly, but the Straw Hats stood their ground.

"I'm sorry, but I'll have to end this now." Lucci said, his voice like ice. "We have a very important mission, so we're done here."

"Two minutes." Kalifa interjected, checking her watch.

"In two minutes, this entire mansion will go up in flames." Lucci announced, his calm, chilling words hitting them like a blow.

"What!?" The Straw Hats shouted, horrified.

"Fire's a convenient way to get rid of evidence. If you don't want to burn to death, I suggest you make a quick exit." Lucci stepped forward, the assassins lining up before the Straw Hats.

"If you can, that is."

"Looks like they're set on eliminating us." Zoro muttered, his hand on his swords.

"Not like we had any other plans." Ryomen replied with a confident grin.

"If any of you are scared, you can hide behind me!" Sogeking boasted, striking a pose.

"Okay!" Nami and Chopper immediately ducked behind him.

"I wasn't serious!!" Sogeking cried out, his face going pale, then quickly puffed up with a look of forced bravery.

Luffy clenched his fists, his eyes blazing. "Alright, let's get Robin back!"

Robin turned to the window. "There's no need for that. I'll leave first."

"Right, you've fulfilled your role. Good work." Lucci said.

"Robin, stop with this nonsense!" Ryomen shouted.

"We're not gonna let you leave like this!" Luffy added.

"Goodbye." She said, slipping into the shadows.

"Robin!!" The other Straw Hats shouted in concern.

"Don't let her goDon't let Nico Robin go…!" Iceberg yelled.

Ryomen and Luffy ran after her, but Kaku and Blueno stepped in their path.

"Out of my way!" Ryomen tried to hit Kaku, but Kaku easily sidestepped, mocking him.

"You don't stand a chance against me. Especially in your current state."

Ryomen's eyes narrowed. "We'll see about that." With a fluid motion, a pair of arms emerged from his shirt, reaching to grab Kaku.

"Is that all?" Kaku taunted, grabbing Ryomen's arms.

"Tekkai!" Kaku slammed his head against Ryomen's, knocking him back.

"What the—?" Ryomen muttered in surprise. 'Even with Haki, I still felt that!'

Meanwhile, Luffy faced off against Blueno.

"Move it!" Luffy kicked at Blueno's face.

"Tekkai." Blueno remained unfazed.

"Damn…It didn't even faze him!" Luffy mumbled.

"Our training has honed our bodies to be tougher than iron." Blueno smirked.

"I don't care! I told you to move!" Luffy shouted, launching a furious flurry of punches. "Gomu-Gomu no…Gatling Gun!"

"Kami-e." Blueno effortlessly weaved through the attacks.

"Gomu-Gomu no…Bullet!"

"Soru." Blueno vanished from Luffy's sight.

"Gomu-Gomu no…Stamp!" Luffy's leg struck back, catching Blueno as he reappeared.

"Interesting…" Blueno muttered, unfazed by the impact.

…

"Low-level pirates using Haki…how surprising." Kaku commented as he observed the skirmish.

"You shouldn't let your guard down!" Ryomen shouted, suddenly appearing behind him and attempting to strangle Kaku with his chain.

Kaku swiftly dodged, ducking low and delivering a powerful kick that sent Ryomen flying back. "I never do."

…

"That's enough." Kalifa materialized behind Luffy. "Rankyaku!" She aimed a kick at him, but Luffy ducked just in time.

"Move!" Zoro shouted as a wind blade hurtled toward them.

"Waaah!!" They gasped as the strike obliterated the wall.

"What kind of power is that!?" Nami cried in disbelief.

"Looks like it's time for a real hero to step in!" Sogeking proclaimed, drawing a large, green slingshot.

"Y-Yeah. We need to help them." Chopper added.

"Do we?" Nami hesitated before sighing. "Fine, yeah."

The three charged toward Kalifa, intent on holding her off.

"Hm. Guess I'll join in too." Zoro grinned.

"Zoro, can you handle this guy!?" Ryomen called as he struggled back to his feet.

"None of you are getting past me!" Kaku declared, pulling out two large chisels and aiming a powerful swing at Ryomen.

"Think so?" Zoro smirked, intercepting Kaku's strike with his own swords.

Kaku's eyes narrowed. "Step aside, Roronoa."

"Nah." Zoro replied, his expression challenging.

"Thanks, Zoro!" Ryomen shouted, darting toward the window Robin had escaped through.

"Your attempts are pathetic." Ryomen stopped dead as Lucci appeared in his path.

"Ugh, can't you lay off me for just one second?" Ryomen retorted with a smirk.

…

"What could the three of you possibly do against me?" Kalifa sneered, glaring at Nami, Sogeking, and Chopper, now in his Heavy Point form.

The three exchanged a silent glance, communicating with nothing but their expressions for a few seconds.

They turned back toward her. "We can defeat you!"

"Why did it take so long for you to think?" Kalifa scoffed. "Enough of this stupidity! Soru!"

In an instant, she reappeared beside them. "Shigan!" She aimed a precise strike at Nami, who squeaked in surprise—only for Kalifa's attack to slip harmlessly off her skin.

'No Armament Haki…' Nami thought, her confidence surging as she placed her hand on her hip. "Prepare to get beaten!"

"What a sudden change!" Chopper and Sogeking exclaimed, taken aback.

"A Devil Fruit ability?" Kalifa muttered before sensing an attack incoming.

"Cactus cannon!" Sogeking fired, the shot splitting into multiple spiked projectiles.

"How pathetic…Kami-e!" Kalifa evaded gracefully, dodging with fluidity, but Chopper charged in, ready to strike.

"Geppo!" She leaped high into the air, evading again.

"Thunderball!" Nami fired off a lightning charge from her newly perfected Clima-Tact. At the same moment, Sogeking launched an 'Explosive cannon' while Chopper leaped into the air with his Jump Point.

Kalifa's eyes widened as she realized she was cornered.

"Aaah!!" The thunderball hit her, stunning her long enough for Sogeking's shot to close in on her.

Chopper then switched to Arm Point, landing a powerful punch that knocked Kalifa to the ground, cracking the floor beneath her.

Switching back to Jump Point, Chopper fell on top of Kalifa, causing the weakened floor to collapse beneath them, sending her deeper into the building.

"And stay down!" Nami smirked triumphantly.

"I don't think she's done for." Chopper replied cautiously.

"Let me have this moment!" Nami huffed.

"Stay on guard. We don't know when our quarry will strike again…" Sogeking warned.

"Why are you talking like that?" Nami asked, giving him a skeptical look.

"He's so cool…" Chopper mumbled, eyes sparkling in admiration.

…

"You really think you can take me on alone, Roronoa Zoro?" Kaku challenged as the two stared each other down.

"That's right. Got a problem with that?" Zoro shot back.

"No…I've never had a problem with entertaining the weak." Kaku sneered as the two charged each other.

"Onigiri!" Zoro slashed forward, but Kaku's body remained unscathed.

"Tekkai." Kaku smirked, using the moment to counter, but Zoro swiftly blocked his strike.

"Soru!" Kaku vanished from sight, and Zoro braced himself, waiting for the attack.

"Looking a bit tense, aren't we?" Kaku's mocking voice came from behind.

"Haah!" Zoro whipped around, slashing at him.

"Geppo!" Kaku sprang into the air, spinning and dropping toward Zoro. "Playtime's over!"

"Yeah…for you." Zoro smirked, staying perfectly still as he positioned his swords defensively, each blade radiating with a dark hue.

"What is he…?" Kaku's eyes widened as he closed in, unable to change his course.

"Tekkai!" With no other option, Kaku steeled himself.

"Toragari!" Zoro slashed, his strike shattering Kaku's chisels and leaving a deep gash across Kaku's chest.

"Aaah!" Kaku collapsed to the ground, clutching his wound.

"I win." Zoro stated, a hint of pride in his tone.

"Hm, for now. But I'll have my rematch…if you survive Lucci, of course." Kaku managed a weak chuckle.

…

"I don't have time for this!" Luffy shouted as he lunged at Blueno, his attack missing yet again.

"Gomu-Gomu no…Rocket!" Luffy shot himself toward Blueno.

"Geppo." Blueno leaped into the air, then landed heavily on Luffy's back, pinning him.

"Argh!" Luffy struggled, throwing his arms back. "Gomu-Gomu no…Bazooka!" He broke through the floor, sending them both tumbling to the level below.

"Kalifa?" Blueno muttered as he caught sight of her jumping back up to the top floor.

"Gomu-Gomu no…" Luffy wound up, aiming a series of rapid punches. "Cannon!!" His final strike slammed into Blueno's chest, sending him flying through a wall.

"Finally!" Luffy grinned, then jumped back to the top floor.

…

"A crew of pirates…actually managing to hold you back?" Lucci observed as he watched his fellow agents struggle against the Straw Hats.

"We are the World Government's most elite force…this is disgraceful." His words dripped with contempt.

"What, starting to feel frustrated?" Ryomen taunted. "How about you take these cuffs off? Then you'll see just how worthless your organization—and the World Government—really are." He shot him a defiant grin.

"You…will be the first one I kill." Lucci's expression was cold as his body began to change.

He grew taller, his muscles rippling as his body took on the form of a large, muscular leopard.

"A Zoan-type?" Ryomen muttered, his eyes narrowing.

Lucci's transformation halted the fight, drawing everyone's attention.

"A big kitty?" Luffy tilted his head in confusion.

"So this is supposed to be the big, bad leader?" Zoro scoffed, sounding unimpressed.

"Really? I expected someone a little more terrifying." Sogeking remarked dryly.

"Yeah, he doesn't look as strong as I thought." Nami sighed in relief.

"But the way he's staring at us…" Chopper mumbled, shrinking back slightly.

"It's so terrifying!!" The three cried out, their initial relief vanishing in an instant.

"Straw Hats…this is your end." Lucci glared at them, his intense gaze like that of a predator eyeing its prey.