One Piece; Full Counter!

Chapter 10: The Rock and the Blade

Nindo, the crimson-haired giant of battle, lay slumped on the forest floor. His broad chest rose and fell laboriously, the deep wound across it a testament to the ferocity of his recent defeat. His sharp red eyes, blazing with a warrior's pride, fixated on the diminutive figure before him—Meliodas, clad in his simple yet tattered black vest and white shirt, with his golden hair catching glimmers of the sunlight piercing through the canopy above. For a moment, the two figures existed in silence, the distant rustle of leaves their only witness.

Finally, Nindo broke the stillness, his voice low but firm.

"Meliodas," he rasped, his gaze unwavering. "Can I entrust you with the blade of Lostvayne?"

Meliodas cocked his head slightly, his emerald-green eyes narrowing as they locked onto Nindo's. He saw his own reflection in the giant's unwavering gaze, as if the answer to the question already lay within. "Was it Roger's blade?"

The question struck a nerve, and Nindo's eyes clouded for a moment as memories surged forward, unbidden and vivid. "No," he replied, his tone measured. "Roger never wielded it... not even once."

A Journey into the Past

Nineteen years earlier, the seas were restless with tales of Roger, the pirate who seemed destined to carve his name into legend. He and his crew had charted course to an island unlike any other—a vast expanse dominated by a single monumental peak that cleaved the skies. The mountain's summit was shrouded in swirling clouds, its face marred by a colossal fissure that ran jaggedly down to the forested base, where shadows danced along the entrance of a cavern that seemed almost alive.

The cavern's mouth yawned wide, fringed with jagged stalactites and stalagmites that appeared like fangs guarding some ancient secret. The air was damp and cool, carrying the faint metallic tang of something hidden deep within. Even Roger, the ever-daring captain, paused to take in the sight, his signature grin spreading across his face. His mustache, thick and untamed, framed his grin, while his flamboyant red coat, adorned with golden trimmings, fluttered slightly in the breeze. He wasn't yet the Pirate King, but his presence alone commanded the loyalty of legends.

Beside him stood Silvers Rayleigh, the "Dark King," his blonde hair neatly tied back, a calmness in his demeanor that served as the perfect foil to Roger's exuberance. His spectacles caught the faint glimmers of the dim light filtering into the cavern. With his hands in his coat pockets, he scanned the foreboding interior of the cave with quiet intensity.

"So," Rayleigh said, his voice smooth and measured, "the fabled treasure of Lostvayne is real after all." His words echoed faintly against the cold stone walls.

Just outside the cavern, the younger Nindo leaned casually against the mountain's exterior, his long red hair cascading down his back. Though still youthful, his formidable stature and aura hinted at the battles he had already fought. His sharp features betrayed a quiet patience as he waited for his captain and crew to emerge, his massive hands resting lightly on the hilt of a great axe strapped to his back.

Inside the cavern, Roger approached the source of the rumors. Embedded in the center of the cave was a massive stone, its surface veined with golden fissures that glowed faintly, like molten lava trapped within. In its center, the blade of Lostvayne jutted out defiantly, its hilt calling to anyone daring enough to claim it. Roger placed his hand firmly on the hilt, his grin widening.

"Well, let's see what all the fuss is about."

He pulled.

The blade didn't budge.

Roger's grin faltered for only a second before he laughed heartily. "Oh man, it's really stuck in there!"

Rayleigh raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Are you serious? We've come all this way, and you're giving up because it's a little stubborn? Use your Haki and smash that stone to pieces."

Roger turned to his first mate, his grin softening into something more thoughtful. "This isn't just about strength, Rayleigh. This blade doesn't belong to me. Sure, my Conqueror's Haki could reduce this stone to dust, but... I think this sword is waiting for someone else."

Rayleigh sighed, adjusting his glasses. "You're unbelievable sometimes."

Roger chuckled, patting his friend on the shoulder before turning back toward the cavern entrance. Outside, the forest stretched endlessly, a lush sea of green swaying under the golden light of the setting sun. As Roger emerged, his eyes fell on Nindo.

"Nindo," Roger began, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "I need to ask a selfish favor."

Nindo straightened, his fiery red eyes meeting Roger's. "Anything for you, Captain. You saved my life. I owe you more than I can repay."

Roger's smile widened. "I'll be counting on you, then. The next era of piracy is going to be... spectacular. But this blade—it's not meant for me. I need you to guard it until the one it's waiting for comes along."

Nindo hesitated, the weight of the request sinking in. "I won't be joining you for now, then. But I'll keep my word, even if it costs me my life."

Roger's grin softened into a warm smile. "Thanks, Nindo. I'll owe you one."

Back to the Present

The memories dissolved as Nindo's crimson eyes focused once more on Meliodas, whose reflection seemed to shimmer with a sense of destiny. "I'll carve my story into this world with that sword," Meliodas said, his voice brimming with quiet resolve.

The forest around them fell silent, save for the faint rustle of leaves. Despite his wounds, Nindo began to push himself up. Meliodas took a step forward. "Don't move too much," he said, but Nindo shook his head.

"Don't underestimate a giant of war," Nindo replied, his voice steady. He rose to his feet, though unsteadily, and began walking, his heavy steps crunching against the forest floor. "The place isn't far."

Meliodas exchanged a glance with Teach, who nodded silently. The two followed the wounded giant, their footsteps soft compared to his.

The path wound through a dense forest, shafts of sunlight breaking through the canopy, casting golden streaks onto the moss-covered ground. After several minutes, they reached the towering mountain with its unmistakable fissure. The air grew cooler as they approached the cavern entrance, the golden veins of the rock glinting faintly even in the shadowy light.

Nindo leaned against the mountainside, his breaths heavy. "Go on," he said. "If you're not the one it's waiting for, the blade will reject you anyway."

Teach's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "A sword that chooses its wielder? Never heard of such nonsense," he muttered, his grin widening. "But it makes sense. A giant like you guarding it—no wonder no one's taken it."

Meliodas stepped into the cavern, his emerald gaze settling on the glowing stone. He approached, his hand reaching for the hilt. As his fingers brushed the metal, the golden veins of the stone flared to life, splitting the rock into two halves. A dazzling glow filled the chamber, and as Meliodas lifted the blade free, the stone's core shimmered like molten gold before fading.

The blade in his hand felt... lifeless. Its dull, gray surface betrayed no hint of its legendary status.

Teach rushed forward, grabbing at the golden shards. "Oi, oi! This—this is gold!" he exclaimed, only to watch in horror as the golden glow was siphoned into the blade. "It's... it's draining the gold?!"

As the last trace of gold vanished, the blade transformed. Its once-dull surface gleamed, its handle a vibrant mix of green and gold, perfectly mirroring Meliodas's own colors. The blade shimmered faintly, its color shifting subtly like the sky before a storm.

Meliodas grinned, holding the revitalized sword aloft. "Now this... this feels right."

Teach stared at the lifeless rocks in his hands, his expression one of sheer disbelief. Meanwhile, the cavern basked in the sword's glow, the air thick with an unspoken sense of destiny fulfilled.

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