Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides

Ryomen stood in front of Yorozu, her bulky insect armor completely covering her.

She threw the golden snail to the ground, encasing it in a small liquid metal dome.

"The only way to take it back is by killing me!" She shouted, her voice deformed by the armor.

"I wouldn't have it any other way!" A wide grin spread on his face, despite the potential danger she could be, excitement coursed through his veins.

They stared at each other for a moment, before quickly acting.

She flicked her wrist, and a barrage of sharpened metal shards appeared around her, whirling in the air like a storm of blades. With a snap of her fingers, they shot forward.

"Dismantle!" The shards were instantly destroyed, but more continued to appear, as if there were an endless amount. 

As they got closer to him, Ryomen was forced to dodge. Twisting his body, he sidestepped the first wave, ducked under another, then spun on his heel, allowing the rest to pass by harmlessly. One, however, changed course mid-air.

'She can control them freely?'

He leaned back, but the shard scraped his cheek, drawing blood.

"Slippery, aren't you?" Yorozu sneered, flexing her fingers to recall the metal fragments, making them hover beside her. "But is that all you can do?"

Ryomen cracked his neck. "You've got no idea."

The next moment, he vanished.

Yorozu's eyes widened as Ryomen reappeared above her, his coated fist descending like a meteor. She barely raised her arms in time as he smashed her into the rooftop, shattering the stone beneath them.

Before she could recover, he twisted mid-air, aiming a kick at her ribs.

Yorozu countered, forming a metal wall from the shards to block the strike.

Ryomen's foot slammed into it, sending a shockwave through the structure, but the defense held. She retaliated instantly, shifting the wall into dozens of jagged spikes and launching them at him point-blank.

Ryomen's instincts screamed at him. He had no room to dodge—the spikes were already mid-flight, aimed at every vital point..

He exhaled, his body pulsing with cursed energy. Then, a black wave of cursed energy shot out toward the projectiles.

The incoming spikes shattered mid-air, reduced to nothing but metallic dust.

Yorozu's head snapped up, barely catching a glimpse of Ryomen blitzing through the remnants of her attack.

'He's fast—!'

She barely crossed her arms before his fist slammed into her again. This time, he didn't stop.

With all four arms, Ryomen unleashed a barrage of devastating blows.

A right hook to her ribs. A left uppercut to her jaw. A hammer strike to her shoulder. His fourth arm, coated with cursed energy, drove into her stomach like a piledriver.

Each hit sent shockwaves rippling through the air. The rooftop cracked beneath their feet.

Yorozu grunted, skidding backward from the force.

Her insect armor absorbed most of the damage—but cracks were already forming.

"Heh…you're really trying." She mused, wiping the blood dripping from her lips. "I like that."

Ryomen didn't waste time responding.

He shot forward again, his four fists weaving into a relentless dance of destruction.

Yorozu countered with her own rapid strikes. Her insect limbs blurred, blocking, parrying, and striking back at impossible angles.

But Ryomen's extra arms gave him an edge.

She deflected one punch, only for a second to crash into her side. She dodged another, but the third clipped her leg. The fourth smashed into her face, sending her reeling.

She tried to retaliate—her fists shot forward, aiming for his ribs.

Ryomen caught them with two of his arms.

And with the other two, he pressed them against the armor's chest.

"Cursed Cleave." With two simple words, spider webs appeared all over the armor, which was now barely hanging onto Yorozu.

Even so, she tried to resist, the end of the armor's tail turning into a sharp spear, and aiming directly toward Ryomen's heart.

"Rend." Before it could even reach him, the wounds inflicted by the cleave expanded, completely destroying Yorozu's entire protection.

"Wha!?" Yorozu's eyes widened in shock.

Ryomen took advantage of this, swiping her feet from under her, making her fall back. He then cocked his fist back, encased in Haki and Cursed Energy, then punched her straight in the abdomen.

Blood splashed out of her mouth, the impact creating a shockwave that destroyed the floor, bringing both of them to a lower level of the Tower.

Dust and debris exploded outward as they landed, shaking the entire structure. Ryomen rolled to his feet immediately, unfazed. Yorozu, however, was slower to rise.

"Not looking so tough now, huh?" Ryomen taunted, wiping the dust off his arm.

Yorozu chuckled weakly, spitting out a bit of blood. "I'll give you that one. But don't think I'm done."

Ryomen was already moving before she could finish. He lunged, ready to end this—

Then he felt it.

A chill crawled up his spine. His instincts screamed.

Danger.

Above—back on the rooftop—something was there. Watching.

He halted mid-strike, his eyes snapping upward toward the ruined ceiling.

Yorozu noticed his distraction, but instead of attacking, she followed his gaze. Her grin twitched. "Heh…you feel it too, don't you?"

She then gazed upon the Cursed Energy coating Ryomen's fist.

"He told me you aren't that special after all."

Though her words seemed to contain an unknown meaning, Ryomen didn't answer.

For the first time in this fight, his bloodlust wavered. Whoever was up there...wasn't someone he could face.

Before Ryomen could even think of his next course of action, something in him warned him to dodge, but it was already too late.

Unable to see more than a blur in front of him, before a suffocating blow to his chest left him breathless, getting launched through the floor, and falling through multiple levels of the Tower.

As his descent finally ended, Ryomen was left staring at the multiple holes created above him, coughing up from the dust around him.

"Damn it…" He slowly got up, the pain in his chest still present.

"The Buster Call!" He gritted his teeth, rushing to climb back up to the roof.

He started jumping through the floors, unsurprisingly seeing no shadow of Yorozu or the mysterious figure.

'Just who the hell was that?' Ryomen's brows furrowed, unable to think of an answer.

In his wandering, Yorozu's words echoed in his mind.

"I'm not special, huh…?" He mumbled in thought.

'Do you know what that means?' Ryomen asked, hoping for an answer from the resident in his body, only for silence to ensue.

'Alright, seems I'll have to figure it out on my own.' Ryomen sighed, finally reaching the top of the Tower.

"Shit!" The first thing he noticed was the golden snail thrown to the ground, the button with the power to call a Buster Call already pressed.

"This whole island is gonna go down!" Ryomen shouted in shock.

"How am I supposed to warn everyone…?" This question lingered on his mind, hurriedly needing to find a way.

…

At the base of the Tower of Justice, the Straw Hats, each bearing their own battle injuries, stood with tense expressions as they stared at the turbulent waters leading to the Gates of Justice.

"How the hell are we supposed to cross this?" Nami muttered, eyes narrowing at the churning sea.

"Straw Hat's not here, which means he must've found a way…" Franky mused, stroking his chin.

Sanji scoffed lightly. "That idiot always stumbles onto some crazy path forward."

"If only we hadn't been held up by those agents…" Chopper grumbled, recalling their earlier fights.

"We got rid of a bunch of headaches. That's all that matters." Zoro stated plainly, though his stance suggested he wouldn't mind another fight.

"Still…where could Luffy have gone? And Ryomen's nowhere in sight either…" Usopp pursed his lips, deep in thought.

"Heeey! Guys!" A high-pitched voice suddenly called out.

"Huh? Chimney?" Nami's eyes widened as she spotted the little girl running toward them, her bunny in tow. "What are you doing here?"

"We know the way! Luffy's already there!" Chimney beamed.

"That's great! Lead the way, pipsqueak!" Franky grinned.

But before they could move, a deafening voice echoed from the top of the Tower of Justice, reverberating across all of Enies Lobby.

"EVERYONE, LISTEN TO ME! A BUSTER CALL HAS BEEN ACTIVATED! GET OFF THE ISLAND, NOW!"

The sheer force of the voice sent shivers down their spines.

"Was that…Ryomen?" Chopper muttered, eyes wide.

"A Buster Call!? Shit, we're screwed!" Franky's face paled.

"Watch your mouth! There's a child here!" Sanji snapped.

"What the hell happened up there?" Zoro frowned, trying to piece it together.

"Does it matter? We need to get off this island!" Usopp shouted, panic creeping into his voice.

"We can't! Robin's still here!" Nami argued, her expression resolute.

"My dumbass family is stuck here too." Franky grumbled, though the worry in his voice was obvious.

"We need to split up. Someone could go after them, and then secure a way out." Sanji asked.

"The navigator should go." Nami declared firmly.

"I'll go too! We'll be faster that way!" Chopper added.

"Alright, no time to waste." Zoro nodded.

With that, the crew quickly split. Nami climbed onto Chopper's back as he shifted into reindeer form, galloping toward the henchmen.

"Thanks, you two!" Franky called after them as they disappeared into the distance.

As the others followed Chimney, Usopp hesitated, glancing up at the tower.

Someone had to get Ryomen's attention and point him in the right direction.

…

Back on the Tower of Justice, Ryomen stood with a frown, gazing at Enies Lobby.

"Hope they actually believe me…" He muttered, his voice strained.

He let out a sigh, rubbing his throat. "Damn, my throat hurts like hell." Amplifying his voice with cursed energy had taken its toll.

Shaking it off, he turned toward the Gates of Justice. "Alright, time to find the others."

Just as he was about to jump off the tower, he sensed something rapidly approaching.

Instinctively, he raised his hand and caught it with ease.

"…An egg?" His brows furrowed as yolk dripped from his fingers.

Following its trajectory, he spotted a figure in the distance—jumping, waving enthusiastically.

His eye twitched. "Was there really no other way, Usopp?"

With a sigh, he flicked the yolk off his hand. Then, in a burst of speed, he vanished from the tower, hurrying toward his crewmate.

…

Inside a secret underwater tunnel leading toward the Gates of Justice, three of the Straw Hats' strongest fighters stood face-to-face with Rob Lucci.

"So, they've all been defeated…" Lucci muttered, his tone unreadable—yet rage simmered just beneath.

"It will be different now…hahaha…!"

He repeated Kalifa's words mockingly, his expression darkening. "Those useless fools! Not even managing to hold back a couple of nobodies!!" His fury boiled over as his voice echoed through the tunnel.

"Is it just me, or is this guy losing his mind?" Sanji muttered, flicking out a cigar.

"Nothing a few good hits can't fix." Zoro smirked, resting a hand on his sword.

"Hey! I was fighting him first!" Luffy grumbled.

"Is that what matters right now!?" Franky shouted in disbelief.

Lucci's gaze darkened, patience wearing thin. "Simply defeating the others won't guarantee your victory. I am far stronger than my peers."

"Like that matters!" Luffy cracked his knuckles. "We'll just pummel you until you fall!"

"If you're so confident, why don't you stop yapping and start fighting already?" Zoro added, fueling the tension.

Lucci frowned, stepping forward.

"Franky, go ahead. We've got this." Sanji exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"Huh? You sure?"

"Yeah. We have to free Robin as fast as possible."

Franky hesitated before nodding. "Alright then. You guys be careful!" With a wave, he rushed ahead.

Lucci's eyes flashed dangerously.

"I'm not letting that happen!"

With a burst of Soru, he vanished—reappearing right in front of Franky, claws ready to tear through him.

"Wha—!?" The cyborg barely had time to react, raising his arms defensively—

"Gomu Gomu no…Jet Pistol!!"

Luffy shot forward like a bullet, his palm slamming into Lucci's chest, sending him flying back.

Franky's jaw dropped. "Huh? Straw Hat, why are you smoking!?"

Luffy's skin was flushed pink, steam pouring off his body in waves.

"The hell?" Zoro narrowed his eyes.

Sanji took the cigar from his lips, inspecting it. "…Maybe I shouldn't smoke so often."

"Go, Franky! Robin's waiting!" Luffy shouted.

Franky hesitated only a moment before nodding. "I don't know what that is…but use it to finish him off! Good luck!" He sprinted forward, disappearing down the tunnel.

Lucci groaned, rising to his feet. His body morphed, transforming into something far from human.

"In this form, I defeated you with a single attack." His voice was guttural, his teeth razor-sharp. "You won't be leaving here alive."

"We'll see about that." Luffy grinned.

Sanji and Zoro shifted into combat stances.

Lucci vanished.

"Soru!"

He reappeared—claws aimed right at Sanji's back.

"You'll be the first to fall."

Sanji smirked. "That so?"

His leg ignited, flames swirling like a tornado.

"Diable Jambe—Flame Dance!"

Sanji's fiery kick swung for Lucci's chest—but the assassin, sensing the danger, twisted away in time.

Too late.

Luffy and Zoro appeared on either side of him, giving him no room to escape.

"Gomu Gomu no….Jet Whip!!"

"Three-Sword Style—108 Pound Phoenix!"

Lucci reacted in an instant.

"Kami-e." His body became like paper, dodging Luffy's kick.

The first of Zoro's air blades missed—the second clashed against his hardened body—he countered the third with his own air slash.

"Rokuogan!!"

His fist struck the ground.

A devastating shockwave exploded outward–

"WAAAH!"

All three were sent flying, crashing into the tunnel walls.

Lucci exhaled slowly, grinning.

Despite the slight exhaustion from using Rokuogan, this was his chance.

"Soru."

He reappeared in front of Luffy, finger aimed for his heart.

"Shigan!"

"Cursed Dismantle!"

"Atlas Comet!"

A flurry of slashes along with four exploding projectiles tore toward him.

Lucci's eyes widened.

His body coated in Armament Haki, blocking the attacks—

"Hmph." His gaze snapped toward the newcomers.

Usopp and Ryomen stood tall.

"Looks like we came just in time!" Usopp boasted—though his knees trembled slightly.

"No way out of this one, Lucci." Ryomen smirked, emphasizing his name mockingly.

Lucci's brows twitched in irritation.

"You—"

But Luffy didn't let him finish.

"Gomu Gomu no…Jet Bazooka!!"

Luffy's fists rocketed forward, slamming into Lucci's guard.

The impact sent him skidding back, but his Haki absorbed most of the damage.

As he straightened, the Straw Hats regrouped—Lucci now facing five formidable opponents.

Or at least—so it seemed.

The tunnel trembled.

Metal shifted.

"H-hey, what's going on!?" Usopp yelped.

"From behind!" Sanji warned—just as metal shards erupted from every direction.

"Behind!? It's coming from everywhere!!" Usopp panicked.

The walls themselves were attacking them.

"Dismantle!!" Ryomen tried slashing through the swarm, but the attack was endless.

The floor then began turning into liquid metal, swallowing their feet.

"What the!?" Luffy struggled. "I can't move!"

"Damn…who's doing this!?" Zoro growled.

Ryomen scowled. "I've got a pretty good idea."

Unable to do anything but defend themselves, the crew shielded their vitals, but gashes covered their bodies as the onslaught ended.

And then—

A woman's voice rang out.

"Lucci."

Ryomen's frown deepened.

"Can't she stay down already?" He clicked his tongue in annoyance.

The crew turned their gazes toward Lucci—

Yorozu stood beside him.

Her cold stare fixated on him.

"Yorozu. At least not everyone is incompetent." Lucci scoffed.

But she wasn't looking at him.

Her gaze was on his chest. Where a small gash resided, blood dripping out.

"I've never seen you bleed." Her voice was quiet.

Lucci grunted, unimpressed.

Her eyes darkened.

"I'M THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO MAKE YOU BLEED!!"

The tunnel warped—the floor liquefying entirely.

"I'M THE ONE WHO'S SUPPOSED TO KILL YOU!!" Her voice cracked with rage, her power swelling.

The Straw Hats froze.

Even they could feel her growing presence.

Usopp raised his hands. "You can fight him! We'll just…go?"

No such luck.

Lucci's voice cut through.

"Yorozu."

She stopped.

His eyes were cold.

"Our mission is to kill these pests. Everything else comes second."

Yorozu's body trembled.

"…Fine."

She turned to the pirates.

"I'll skin them alive."

The crew braced themselves.

"This is it." Ryomen muttered.

But deep in his mind—

He knew someone else was watching.