One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

Chapter 76: Splash of Paint

As Zoro stared down Mr. 3, still searching for a way to overcome the hardened wax, a voice chimed in from behind the wax constructs.

"Mr. 3, you're taking too long again," said Miss Goldenweek, stepping out from the shadows. In her hands was a tray holding a steaming cup of tea, which she sipped nonchalantly, completely unbothered by the destruction surrounding them.

"Goldenweek," Mr. 3 snapped, annoyed. "This is a delicate battle! You can't just stroll in with your tea while I'm dealing with this swordsman!"

"Your wax looks cool, but it's kind of boring," she replied, her tone flat as ever. Setting her tea down, she pulled out her palette and brush. "I think it's time to add some color to this fight."

Zoro raised an eyebrow. "What's with the kid? She doesn't look like much of a fighter."

"Oh, you'll regret underestimating her!" Mr. 3 shot back, though even he flinched as Miss Goldenweek began painting a large circle on the ground around herself.

"Let's make things more interesting," she said calmly, dipping her brush into a pot of black paint. She quickly painted a mark on Zoro's chest.

"Hey! What the hell?" Zoro swung his sword to brush her away, but she was already out of reach.

"Black Mark: Betrayal," she said simply, stepping back to admire her work.

Zoro froze in place, his body trembling slightly as his grip loosened on his swords. To his horror, his legs started moving on their own, slowly stepping toward Mr. 3.

"What the—?!" Zoro growled, trying to resist. His swords clattered to the ground as he reached for the wax-covered Mr. 3.

"H-hey! What's going on?!" Mr. 3 shouted, backing away as Zoro lunged at him with murderous intent.

"Oops," Miss Goldenweek said with a slight shrug. "Guess I made him betray you instead."

"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!" Mr. 3 screamed, scrambling behind a wax barrier.

Zoro's body moved against his will, swinging his fists at the terrified waxman, who barely managed to block with a hastily crafted wax shield.

"GET HIM AWAY FROM ME!" Mr. 3 wailed.

Zoro finally managed to wrestle control of his body back, skidding to a stop with a furious glare. "You've got some nerve messing with me, kid."

Miss Goldenweek didn't seem fazed. "You're too serious. You need to relax."

Before Zoro could respond, she swiped her brush across her palette, dipped it into yellow paint, and flicked it toward him. A streak of yellow hit the ground beneath his feet.

"Yellow Mark: Calm," she said softly.

Instantly, Zoro's intense expression melted away. He sat down cross-legged, his swords forgotten as he rested his chin on his hand.

"You know, this jungle's kind of peaceful," he mused, gazing off into the distance.

Mr. 3 poked his head out from behind his wax barrier, incredulous. "ZORO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

Zoro ignored him, plucking a blade of grass and examining it as though it held the secrets of the universe.

Miss Goldenweek sat down next to him, sipping her tea. "See? Isn't this nice?"

Mr. 3 stomped over, fuming. "Goldenweek! You're ruining my fight!"

"But he looks so happy now," she replied, tilting her head.

Zoro nodded in agreement, a serene smile on his face. "You're not so bad, kid. Maybe I should give up fighting and just... plant a garden or something."

"NO!" Mr. 3 roared. "Snap out of it!"

He slapped a wax tendril onto Zoro's arm and yanked him to his feet. "Stop relaxing and fight me, damn it!"

Zoro blinked, the effect of the mark fading as he grabbed his swords again. "Right. The fight."

Miss Goldenweek sighed, disappointed. "You're too serious again."

She reached for her palette, but this time Mr. 3 grabbed her wrist. "No more tricks!" he hissed.

But as he tried to pull her away, she accidentally spilled a blob of green paint on his arm.

"Green Mark: Friendship," she murmured.

Mr. 3 froze, his expression softening. He turned to Zoro with tears in his eyes. "I... I don't want to fight anymore, Zoro. Can't we just be friends?"

"What the hell?!" Zoro snapped, stepping back as Mr. 3 lunged at him—not to attack, but to embrace him.

"Stay away from me, you weirdo!" Zoro yelled, slashing wildly.

The waxman dodged, still crying. "But I just want to be close to you!"

Miss Goldenweek giggled softly. "Oops. My bad."

"THIS ISN'T FUNNY!" Mr. 3 and Zoro shouted in unison.

The chaos continued as Miss Goldenweek's marks wreaked havoc on both combatants. At one point, she hit Mr. 3 with a Red Mark: Rage, causing him to attack Zoro with a ferocity that even the swordsman found impressive—until it wore off, and Mr. 3 collapsed from exhaustion.

Despite the comedic chaos, Zoro found himself growing more and more fatigued. The relentless wax constructs, combined with Miss Goldenweek's unpredictable interference, pushed him to his limits.

As he panted heavily, his vision blurring slightly, Zoro muttered to himself, "Am I... actually going to lose to these clowns?"

The realization only fueled his frustration, but his body felt like it was moving through molasses. Every swing of his swords felt heavier, and his stamina was draining fast.

Meanwhile, Mr. 3 smirked, regaining his composure. "You're not looking so tough now, swordsman. This is the end for you."

Zoro clenched his teeth, his grip tightening on his swords. He refused to go down without a fight, but for the first time in a long time, doubt crept into his mind.

---

Meanwhile Goku leaned casually against a tree, arms folded, watching the madness unfold between Zoro, Mr. 3, and Miss Goldenweek. The sight of Zoro, covered in paint and dodging oversized wax constructs while shouting furiously, had Goku doubled over with laughter. His laughter was loud and unrestrained, the kind that made your stomach hurt and your eyes water.

"Oh man," Goku said between gasps of breath. "I didn't know this world had gag stuff like this. This is straight out of Dragon Ball! Zoro—HAHA! Zoro looks like he's about to explode with rage!"

His laughter echoed In the jungle, startling nearby birds and causing a few small animals to dart away. But then, as Goku continued to watch, his laughter began to subside. He noticed Zoro breathing heavily, his movements slowing slightly under the relentless assault of Mr. 3's wax constructs and Miss Goldenweek's playful but disruptive interference. The shift in the fight's tone made Goku's expression harden.

"Alright," Goku muttered to himself, his face now a mask of determination. "Time to step in before this gets out of hand."

Goku hopped down from his perch, landing silently on the jungle floor. His calm, serious demeanor as he approached Zoro was a stark contrast to the man who had been laughing hysterically moments earlier. Walking up beside his first mate, he stood tall and exuded a commanding presence.

"I'll handle the girl," Goku said firmly, his voice steady. "You focus on the wax guy."

Zoro grunted, wiping sweat off his brow. "About time. She's been a pain in the ass."

Before stepping away, Goku glanced at Zoro and asked casually, "Hey, Zoro, what's a candle made of?"

"Wax," Zoro replied impatiently, sidestepping another wax attack.

"And what happens to wax when it's burned or warmed up?" Goku asked, his tone as calm as if they were discussing lunch.

Zoro blinked, then realization dawned on his face. "It gets soft…"

"Exactly," Goku said with a smirk. "Good luck."

Goku turned to face Miss Goldenweek, who was busy preparing another palette of paint. She looked up, startled, and saw him approaching with a relaxed smile.

"Thanks for the laughs," Goku said sincerely. "You really livened things up back there."

Miss Goldenweek blinked at him, unsure whether to feel complimented or threatened. "Uh… thanks?"

Before she could react further, Goku vanished. In an instant, she felt something tighten around her arms and legs. She looked down to find herself tied up with sturdy root branches that had been ripped from a nearby tree. Her brushes and paint trays lay scattered on the ground, just out of reach.

"Wha—?" she exclaimed, struggling against her bindings.

"Sorry, but the fun's over," Goku said, reappearing in front of her. "You'll sit this one out now."

Miss Goldenweek huffed, glaring at him but unable to break free. Satisfied, Goku turned back toward the ongoing battle.

---

Meanwhile, Zoro, armed with newfound insight, faced Mr. 3 with renewed determination. He sheathed his other two swords, leaving only the Wado Ichimonji in his grasp. Nearby, he spotted a broken tree branch and picked it up, holding it in his left hand.

Standing still for a moment, Zoro closed his eyes and concentrated. His free hand extended toward the branch as he focused on the strange but powerful energy he had seen Goku manipulate. He felt the flow of Ki in his body, a subtle but intense sensation coursing through his veins.

"Focus…" he muttered to himself.

A tiny orb of Ki, no larger than a centimeter in diameter, flickered to life in his palm. Though minuscule, it radiated heat and power. Zoro grinned slightly, a rare expression of pride crossing his face.

The orb Ignited the branch, setting it ablaze. Zoro grabbed the other end, holding the makeshift torch aloft. "Let's see you harden wax against fire," he growled, turning his attention back to Mr. 3.

Mr. 3 scowled at the sight of the flaming branch. "You think that's going to help? My wax is stronger than steel!"

Zoro didn't respond. He charged forward, swinging the flaming branch at a wall of hardened wax that Mr. 3 conjured to block him. The fire licked at the wax, softening it enough for Zoro to slash through with the Wado Ichimonji in a single, powerful stroke.

"What?!" Mr. 3 exclaimed, stumbling back.

Zoro pressed the attack, weaving around Mr. 3's attempts to encase him in more wax. He used the torch to soften the wax barriers before slicing through them with precision. Wax constructs shattered and melted under his relentless assault, the jungle around them lit by the glow of the fire.

Mr. 3 retaliated with larger and more intricate creations—a massive wax hammer, a spiraling wax drill—but Zoro dodged and countered with calculated strikes. The heat of the torch made the air around them shimmer, and the clash of sword against softened wax echoed through the jungle.

As the fight dragged on, Zoro's stamina began to wane. Sweat poured down his face, and his breathing grew heavier. Despite his best efforts, Mr. 3's relentless onslaught and the draining effects of constant movement were taking their toll.

Panting, Zoro muttered to himself, "Damn it… Am I really going to lose to a guy with a candle on his head?"

Mr. 3 smirked, sensing Zoro's exhaustion. "You've fought well, but this is the end for you, swordsman!"

Zoro gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on the Wado Ichimonji and the flaming branch. "Not yet…" he growled, preparing for one final push.

Zoro stood panting, the flames from the burning tree branch casting flickering shadows across his sweat-drenched face. His muscles screamed in protest, and his vision blurred for a moment as exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him. But in the back of his mind, a voice pushed him forward—a refusal to accept defeat.

Mr. 3 stood tall, a towering construct of wax surrounding him like an indomitable fortress. His confidence was palpable as he sneered down at the struggling swordsman. "This is the end for you, swordsman. You can't keep up forever."

Zoro glared, his resolve sharpening like the edge of a blade. "You talk too much."

His eyes darted to the burning branch in his hand, the fire still flickering defiantly despite the brutal battle. An idea sparked in his mind—a crazy, reckless idea, but one that could end the fight once and for all.

With a sudden motion, Zoro pressed the non-burning end of the tree branch against his mouth, wedging it firmly between his teeth. His other two swords gleamed menacingly, and with practiced ease, he prepared his attack. The three blades—a combination of steel and wood—formed his new fighting style, and Zoro could feel his strength beginning to build.

"Three Sword Style…" he muttered through gritted teeth, his voice low and menacing.

Mr. 3 hesitated, his usual smugness replaced by a flicker of uncertainty. "What are you doing, you maniac?"

Zoro didn't answer. Instead, he charged forward, wielding his two steel blades and the burning tree branch as his third sword. Wax barriers rose to meet him, but he sliced through them with newfound ferocity, the heat from the burning branch weakening its defenses just enough to clear his path.

The air around him shimmered with heat, and the jungle was alive with the clash of metal against softening wax. Mr. 3 desperately conjured more constructs, but Zoro's relentless assault shattered each one before it could fully form.

Finally, as he closed the distance between them, Zoro unleashed his ultimate move.

"ONIGIRI!"

In a blur of motion, Zoro's three swords came together in a single devastating strike. His two steel blades cut through Mr. 3's wax armor with ruthless precision, while the burning tree branch—the third sword—added both heat and strength to the attack. The combined force of his strike sent shockwaves through the air, splitting the massive wax fortress apart in a spectacular explosion of melted wax and fire.

Mr. 3 was thrown backward, crashing into the jungle floor with a thud. His wax fortress collapsed around him, the once-mighty structure reduced to smoldering debris. He groaned in pain, his body too battered to move.

Zoro stood tall amidst the wreckage, his chest heaving with exertion but his grip on his swords steady. The burning branch in his hand flickered one last time before extinguishing itself, leaving only the acrid scent of smoke and melted wax in the air.

Turning to the fallen Mr. 3, Zoro spat out the non-burning end of the tree branch from his mouth and muttered, "Looks like your candle just got snuffed out."

He sheathed his swords with a sharp click and exhaled deeply, the tension in his body finally easing as the fight came to an end.

[A/N: Can't wait to see what happens next? Get exclusive early access on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels. If you enjoyed this chapter and want to see more, don't forget to drop a power stone! Your support helps this story reach more readers!]