Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides

The tunnel felt like it was caving in, metal plates ripped from the walls and ceiling as Yorozu forged them into a massive wrecking ball, its surface gleaming in the dim light. She swung it by its chain, rage twisting her features.

"DIE!!" She screamed, hurling the monstrous weapon toward them.

"Dismantle!" Ryomen tried to slash at the chain, but a second layer of metal instantly reinforced it, rendering his attack useless.

"Bone Balloon!" Luffy bit into his thumb and inflated, preparing to ricochet the incoming wrecking ball. But in an instant, spikes erupted from its surface.

'She's adapting to our attacks!' The same realization hit the Straw Hats at once—this wasn't going to be easy.

Thinking fast, Luffy deflated, transferring the air to his arm instead, swelling it to an enormous size. He grabbed every one of his crewmates and hurled them skyward, freeing them from the liquid metal floor.

"Ryomen!" Luffy shouted, his massive arm reaching for him.

"Yeah!" Ryomen grabbed hold, yanking Luffy toward him before swinging him like a slingshot toward the two CP9 agents.

"Gomu Gomu no…Gigant Pistol!" Luffy roared, his enormous fist hurtling toward Lucci.

Lucci grinned, his Haki-coated arm meeting the punch head-on. The impact sent a shockwave through the tunnel, shaking the air itself.

'What…?' Lucci's eyes widened as a faint tremor ran through his arm.

Further away, Yorozu stood unfazed, the wind from the shockwave barely registering to her.

"That won't save you! There's nowhere to run from me!!" She declared, the wrecking ball swinging back toward them as the ceiling shifted, spears of metal plunging down.

"Three-Sword Style—Tatsu Maki!" Zoro's blades began to carve through the spears like a tornado, as Sanji followed up with a blazing spinning kick. "Flame Dance!"

But even as they fought off the aerial assault, Usopp's heart sank as he saw the wrecking ball speeding toward him.

"A little help!?" He shouted, but the others were too occupied. Fighting in midair made it nearly impossible for them to reach him.

His pulse pounded. The attack was coming too fast.

'No…I can do this!' His teeth clenched, his mind sharpening with sudden clarity. Time slowed, and in his vision, distorted points flickered across the wrecking ball's surface. "After all…I'm the Straw Hats Sniper!!"

"Gunpowder Star!" He fired an explosive shot straight at one of the points.

The explosion hit dead center, and the wrecking ball veered off course, its deadly spikes grazing past his nose.

"I…I did it!!" Usopp grinned, thrusting his arms up in victory—

Only for Yorozu to yank the chain, sending the wrecking ball rocketing back toward him.

"AAAHHH!!" Usopp's triumphant shout turned into a scream of terror.

"Usopp!" Ryomen dived toward the weapon, urgency burning in his eyes.

Landing on it, he ignored the searing pain as spikes pierced into his legs and palm. He pressed his hand against the metal surface.

"Cleave!"

The wrecking ball crumbled to dust a split second before it could hit Usopp.

Usopp let out a shaky breath, nodding in gratitude. "You…are a lifesaver."

"You bastard…" Yorozu muttered, but her lips curled into a grin as the four pirates finally began their descent.

With a wave of her hand, the liquid metal floor rippled, forming jagged spikes directly at their landing zone. But Zoro acted faster.

"Three-Sword Style—108 Pound Phoenix!!"

Air blades ripped through, aiming right toward her. Seeing the imminent danger, Yorozu leaped high into the air, evading the attack with ease.

"Tch." She clicked her tongue as the unfinished constructs collapsed, allowing the Straw Hats to land safely.

Sanji exhaled, crossing his arms. "You're outnumbered, my lady. Please give up."

"Outnumbered…?" Yorozu stared at them—and then laughed. Low at first, before it grew into full-blown hysteria.

"Look what you did." Usopp muttered, shooting a glare at Sanji.

"You want me to kick you?" Sanji shot back, huffing.

Yorozu's laughter finally subsided, her eyes gleaming with dark amusement as she clapped her hands together.

The tunnel trembled.

Metal pipes, debris, and the very walls themselves melted into a shimmering tide, flowing toward her like a living entity. The mass shifted and grew, forming a towering colossus of iron and steel, its hulking frame barely fitting within the tunnel's confines.

The golem's massive arms extended outward, reaching for them with terrifying speed.

"WHAT IS THAT!?" Usopp shrieked. "She's making this up as she goes, I swear!"

"Yeah, well, so do we!" Ryomen grinned.

The four of them launched themselves out of the way just as the golem's fists slammed down, obliterating the floor beneath them.

Ryomen glanced at Luffy in the distance, a smirk creeping onto his lips.

"Alright." He said. "Time to switch things up."

…

As Luffy's fist came crashing down once more, Lucci swiftly dodged, keeping his distance.

'I can't let him land a hit.' The CP9 agent narrowed his eyes, recognizing the true threat Luffy posed in this form.

Speed was the key. Without hesitation, he shifted into his full beast form.

Luffy caught on to his plan but had no choice—he had to take the risk.

"Gomu Gomu no…" He redirected the air from his fist into his leg, raising it high above his head. The impact shattered a section of the ceiling, sending a torrent of water crashing down.

Lucci's eyes gleamed. Now!

As Luffy's leg remained suspended in the air, leaving him open, Lucci pounced, aiming to sink his fangs into the pirate captain's shoulder.

Just as their clash seemed inevitable, both fighters' eyes widened.

But while Luffy's was from surprise, Lucci felt it—a sudden, overwhelming danger.

He barely had time to react before—

"Cursed Armament!"

Ryomen appeared in a flash, his leg coated in Haki and Cursed Energy as he drove a brutal kick into Lucci's midsection. The impact sent the leopard hurtling upward, right into Luffy's descending attack.

"Gigant Axe!!"

Lucci barely managed to shift into his hybrid form in time, bracing himself. But as Luffy's massive foot slammed him into the floor, the force left the CP9 agent momentarily stunned.

"Thanks for the save! Almost got rabies!" Luffy wiped his brow with a grin.

"You know what that is…?" Ryomen raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Shaking his head, he refocused. "Let's switch. I'll take him on."

"Huh? Then who am I supposed to fight?" Luffy blinked in confusion—until Ryomen tilted his chin toward the looming iron giant.

"Waaah!!" Luffy's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "Was that always there!?"

"Does it matter? Just kick its ass!" Ryomen smirked.

"Right!" Luffy nodded, rolling his shoulders. 'If I drop Third Gear now, I'll shrink and be useless. So fighting the big guy works out!'

"Be careful!" Ryomen called.

"You too!" Luffy grinned before compressing the air in his leg back into his chest.

"Gomu Gomu no…Gigant Rocket!!"

With a sudden burst, he launched himself straight at the golem.

That left Ryomen alone with Lucci—or so he thought.

"Just us now." He smirked, cracking his knuckles.

A sharp voice cut through the air from behind.

"Forgotten me once again?"

Ryomen turned, spotting Yorozu, her eyes burning with rage. With a single motion, she raised her arm, manipulating a sheet of metal to cover the hole in the ceiling, stopping the flood of water.

"A two-on-one? No honor among assassins, huh?" Ryomen crossed his arms, frowning.

"Honor?" Yorozu's brow twitched in irritation, recalling the same words she had thrown at him back at the main gate.

"That doesn't help me win."

"That so?" Ryomen smirked—just as Lucci used Soru to reappear behind him, claws gleaming.

Reacting instantly, Ryomen ducked low, sliding under the attack. He reached out, trying to make contact with Lucci's leg, but the agent leapt back, landing beside Yorozu.

"Tch." Ryomen clicked his tongue, standing back up.

"It seems using you as bait won't work." Lucci said, dusting himself off. "We'll simply dispose of you first. Then, your crewmates will follow."

Not only Ryomen, Yorozu also blinked at Lucci's words, briefly glancing his way.

'Use me as bait? For what?'

But there was no time for that thought.

Ryomen grinned, his four eyes glinting ominously. "Don't underestimate me. I might just end both of you here."

….

"Firebird Star!" Usopp fired a flaming Phoenix toward the towering Golem, the massive construct raising its arms in defense.

As the flames engulfed its body, thick smoke billowed out, shrouding its form.

"Zoro! Sanji! Now! It's blind!" Usopp shouted.

Before they could act, the Golem burst from the smoke, its colossal fist hurtling toward Usopp.

"Waaahh!!" Usopp's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "It doesn't have eyes!?"

His body moved before his mind could catch up—he dove to the side, barely evading the crushing blow.

But the enemy wasn't done. With a swift motion, it swung a backhand toward him.

"Épaule Shoot!"

Sanji shot through the air, his foot slamming into the Golem's shoulder. The sheer force knocked its arm downward, stopping the strike.

"Usopp!" Zoro's voice cut through the chaos as he charged.

"Right!" Usopp quickly loaded a shot. "Gunpowder Star!"

The projectile streaked toward Zoro—

Clang!

Zoro intercepted it, absorbing the blast against his swords. Flames licked the steel, heating the blades to a glowing red.

"Burning Onigiri!!"

With a single fiery slash, Zoro cleaved through the Golem's arm, severing it completely.

Off-balance, the metal titan staggered, struggling to regain its footing.

Before it could recover—

"Gomu Gomu no…Gigant Balloon!!"

Luffy rocketed toward the creature, inflating his torso at the last second. The impact sent both of them flying.

The golem crashed into the wall.

Luffy, however, bounced wildly across the tunnel.

"Stop playing around!"

Sanji appeared in a blur, kicking Luffy mid-bounce, sending him hurtling straight toward the golem.

"Hahaha!" Luffy grinned, shifting the air into his fist.

"Gomu Gomu no…Gigant Pistol!!"

His enormous punch connected, shattering the golem's torso and blasting it through the tunnel wall. Water poured in through the breach—only for a metallic layer to rapidly seal it.

"That's it?" Luffy scratched his head.

"Hmph. I expected more." Zoro raised an eyebrow.

"What is wrong with you guys!?" Usopp clutched his head in exasperation. "Why would you say that!?"

"Relax, Usopp." Sanji sighed. "Let's go help Ryomen."

Before they could move, the Golem did.

Its metallic form rippled like liquid, reforming itself piece by piece—until it was whole again.

Usopp's head drooped. "I told you…"

'This is injustice!'

"It regenerates?" Zoro frowned.

"No way she's maintaining this thing and fighting at the same time." Sanji mused.

At those words, realization dawned on Usopp.

"That's it!" He brightened. "She can't be doing both at once—it must have some kind of self-sustaining system!"

"So we just keep punching it?" Luffy grinned.

"Yeah! We need to find its core and destroy it!"

…

"This is taking too long." Yorozu grumbled, her face growing noticeably fatigued as she glanced toward the others.

"We have enough time." Lucci said dismissively.

"Didn't I tell you not to underestimate me?"

Ryomen's voice cut through the air as he appeared between them, driving his foot into Lucci's raised arm. At the same time, slashes of Cursed Energy flew toward Yorozu, who hastily raised a metal shield to block them.

Lucci countered instantly, thrusting his fingers toward Ryomen's vitals.

"Shigan!"

But Ryomen was already moving, using Lucci's guarding arm as a foothold to flip over him. Midair, he twisted and drove a powerful kick into Lucci's back, sending him hurtling toward Yorozu.

"Rend!"

Yorozu's metallic shield shattered, causing Lucci to slam straight into her.

Still descending, Ryomen grinned and pointed his palm at the tangled duo, releasing a burst of Cursed Energy.

"Tekkai!!"

Both agents hardened their bodies just in time, mitigating most of the damage.

"Tsk." Ryomen clicked his tongue in frustration as he landed, his legs wobbling slightly from his accumulated injuries. His pierced limbs ached, but he ignored it.

'They're already weakened from earlier fights…I can do this!'

Across from him, Lucci's piercing gaze locked onto him, irritation flickering beneath his cold exterior.

"You're persistent." Lucci muttered before vanishing in a blur of speed.

Ryomen's instincts screamed at him. He twisted just in time, narrowly avoiding Lucci's clawed hand as it sliced toward his throat. The air whistled as the strike missed by a hair, instead ripping through his shoulder. Blood sprayed, but Ryomen didn't slow down.

Yorozu seized the opening.

The shattered remains of her metallic shield reformed in an instant, morphing into spikes.

"Die already!" She spat, launching them toward him.

Ryomen exhaled sharply, weaving through the projectiles. He dodged most, but a few slashed his ribs, drawing thin crimson lines. He winced but grinned through the pain.

'Yorozu's running on fumes… Lucci's the real threat here.'

His mind raced. 'I can't afford to drag this out…'

And then, it hit him. A way to end this in one strike.

'I'll pour all of my Cursed Energy…into a single attack!'

First, he had to take Yorozu out of the equation.

"Cursed Dismantle!"

Multiple slashes shot toward them—both agents barely flinched, tanking the attacks without concern.

Ryomen didn't care. He was already moving.

With a final burst of speed, he closed the distance between him and Yorozu before she could react.

"Cursed Armament!"

Both his fists struck her squarely, launching her backward with bone-crushing force.

The instant he turned back to Lucci, the assassin was already there, his golden eyes burning with fury.

"Rokugan!!"

Lucci slammed both fists forward, sending a concentrated shockwave straight into Ryomen's torso.

The force was overwhelming—too fast to fully dodge. Ryomen barely had time to cross his arms before the impact landed. A sickening crack echoed as pain exploded through his bones. He skidded backward, blood dripping freely from his wounds.

"This is your end!" Lucci charged again, his body showing the first signs of exhaustion after using his ultimate attack twice.

Ryomen grinned, blood staining his teeth.

"Yeah…this is it!"

He cocked his fist back, charging forward to meet Lucci head-on.

Lucci's instincts screamed at him. Move. Dodge. Now.

But it was already too late.

For the first time in his life, Rob Lucci felt it—fear.

"MAXIMUM OUTPUT: CURSED SHOCKWAVE!!"

The ground cracked beneath Ryomen's feet as his arm became engulfed in Cursed Energy. His fist collided with Lucci's in a devastating clash.

A bone-chilling crunch filled the air as the sheer force of the impact shattered the ground beneath them. The wind howled, debris flying in all directions.

Lucci's eyes widened as he stared at his own arm—mangled, broken beyond recognition. Time seemed to slow. A tremor surged through his body, rattling every organ.

The last thing he saw was Ryomen standing tall, grinning through blood-soaked lips, before his body was propelled back.

'Monster…'

And then, the world turned black.

…

Further away, the four Straw Hats continued their search for the Golem's core. No matter how many times they knocked it down, the monstrous construct kept rising again.

'There has to be a weak spot…!' Usopp thought, standing at a safer distance while the others engaged the beast.

Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself and carefully observed the Golem's massive form. His eyes narrowed as faint, distorted spots shimmered across its metallic body.

One, however, stood out—it was larger than the rest.

"In its chest! That's where it is!" Usopp shouted.

"You sure?" Sanji asked, skepticism clear in his tone.

"W-Well…" Usopp hesitated, scratching the back of his head.

"Doesn't matter. It's worth a try." Zoro said.

"Alright! Let's do it!" Luffy grinned, determination burning in his eyes.

With no time to waste, the Monster Trio charged at the Golem, aiming to put an end to it once and for all.

The beast swung one of its massive arms toward Sanji. But the cook reacted instantly, planting his foot against the incoming limb and launching it skyward with a powerful kick.

"Diable Mouton Shot!"

With a single fiery strike, Sanji shattered the Golem's arm, its fragmented remains crashing to the ground.

Before it could begin reconstructing, Zoro was already in motion. He leaped toward its other arm, his blades gleaming under the light.

"Yaki Karasuma Gari!"

Mid-air, his swords carved through the giant's arm, each strike leaving a blazing trail in its wake. The limb crumbled into burning debris, sending the Golem staggering to its knees.

That was Luffy's cue.

"Gomu Gomu no…Gigant Bullet!!"

His massive fist rocketed forward, slamming into the Golem's chest with bone-crushing force. The impact sent it skidding back, shattering most of its torso.

"There it is!" Usopp shouted, his sharp eyes locking onto a pulsing liquid sphere embedded in the creature's exposed chest. Tendrils of energy stretched from the core, weaving through its entire body.

Without hesitation, he loaded his slingshot, focusing intently.

"Gunpowder Star!"

The projectile fired just as the Golem's body began reconstructing itself once more.

But before its chest could fully mend, the shot slipped through the opening—

A heartbeat later, an explosion erupted from within. The Golem froze, its movements stalling, before its entire form started to disintegrate from the inside out.

"I did it…I DID IT! Hahaha! Captain Usopp strikes again!" Usopp cheered, hands on his hips, basking in his victory.

His celebration was cut short as Zoro smacked him lightly on the back of the head.

"The fight isn't over yet, idiot."

"Huh? The pigeon guy looks pretty done." Luffy remarked, gazing at the unconscious Lucci, mild disappointment in his tone.

"She's not down yet." Sanji said, sighing as he motioned toward Yorozu.

The woman remained still, but something about the moment felt off.

"Well…maybe she gave up?" Usopp suggested hopefully.

"I doubt it." Zoro scoffed, already moving.

Without another word, the four of them hurried toward Ryomen.

…

Ryomen clutched his side, eyes locked on Yorozu. Until now, she had remained silent.

"You gonna keep fighting or what?" He asked, frowning.

"Fight…? Do I even stand a chance anymore?" Yorozu's teeth clenched, frustration and resignation flashing across her face.

Ryomen remained silent for a moment, gazing at her blankly.

"Does it matter if you stand a chance or not?" His eyes narrowed, anger flickering within them. "Just because you know you'll lose, you give up?"

Yorozu flinched, but he wasn't done.

"No matter what, you fight till the end! Otherwise, what's the point of being alive?" His voice carried disgust, his fists tightening.

"Fight…or I'll rip you apart myself!!"

Her eyes widened, his words striking something deep inside her. Then, she chuckled—a soft, almost delirious sound.

"You're right…" Yorozu's lips curled into a grin. "If I'm going to lose, then I might as well go out proving I was worth fighting!"

The tunnel trembled as Yorozu gathered the surrounding metal, liquefying it and compressing it into a single, impossibly smooth point.

"What's happening!?" Sanji shouted as he and the others ran up to Ryomen.

Ryomen blinked, glancing at his crewmates. "Looks like she's got one last ace up her sleeve."

"That so? Then how about we get out of here!?" Usopp suggested, panic creeping into his voice.

"For once, I agree with him." Zoro muttered.

"But she hasn't attacked yet! Wouldn't it be rude to leave?" Luffy scratched his chin thoughtfully.

"That's what you're worried about!?" Usopp shouted in disbelief. "And why are you so small!?" His eyes widened as he gazed at kid Luffy, suffering from Third Gear's side effect.

While the Straw Hats morale was high, that quickly began to change as Yorozu finished her creation. The pressure in the air became suffocating, as if the entire space itself was being pulled toward the newly formed sphere.

"This doesn't look good."

"You don't have to tell me twice." Ryomen scoffed—only to pause at the unfamiliar voice.

The Straw Hats turned sharply, eyes widening at the sight of a muscular, black-haired man standing among them.

"Who the hell are you!?" They demanded in unison.

The man blinked, pointing at himself. "Huh? Me?"

"Wait, you're that guy from the seafood shop!" Usopp exclaimed, recognition dawning.

The man shrugged, unconcerned.

Before they could press further, Yorozu's final move reached completion.

"Witness perfection!!"

"MAXIMUM OUTPUT: TRUE SPHERE!!" She declared, hurling the metallic orb forward.

The moment it moved, everything in its path began to warp and collapse inward, as if reality itself refused to resist it. The ground, air, and even sound seemed to bend around its edges, vanishing into its surface without a trace. A terrifying sense of inevitability settled over them—the feeling that no attack, no force, could ever stop it.

The man sighed. "Didn't think it'd go this far." In a blur, he vanished, reappearing beside Yorozu, Lucci slung over his shoulder.

"What are you—"

"You've done enough." He cut in, knocking Yorozu unconscious in one swift motion. He hoisted her up effortlessly, carrying both her and Lucci.

"CP9 has failed. And that's all that matters." He smiled, unconcerned.

Then, he turned to the Straw Hats, whose eyes were locked on the deadly sphere barreling toward them.

"I'm sure you'll be fine…so let's meet on the other side." His grin lingered for a moment before he vanished, racing toward the Gates of Justice.

Ryomen stared at the empty space where the man had stood, his mind swirling with questions. But there was no time to dwell on them.

The True Sphere was still coming.

"Get out of the way!!" Ryomen shouted.

The crew bolted, but even at a distance, the attack distorted the tunnel, making escape all the more difficult.

The moment Yorozu lost consciousness, the True Sphere wavered, as if its very existence had lost its anchor. The once perfectly stable form flickered, distorting the air around it.

'If we stay here, we die.' The same thought ran through every Straw Hat's mind.

"Let's go!!" Luffy called out from atop Zoro's shoulder, leading the charge toward the Gates of Justice.

Usopp and Sanji followed—only to realize Ryomen wasn't with them.

"What are you doing? We need to go!!" Zoro shouted.

"You guys go on ahead!" Ryomen called back, his expression serious.

"What dumbass thing are you about to do!?" Sanji demanded.

"I can't just leave it!" Ryomen pointed at the ever-growing sphere. "Now that Yorozu's unconscious, it's going berserk! If it keeps expanding, it'll destroy everything—including the island!"

Usopp paled. "You mean it won't stop!?"

Ryomen nodded grimly. "I've got a stupid idea. It might buy us some time, so get moving—I'll catch up!"

"No way!!" Luffy yelled. "We all leave together!"

Ryomen held his gaze before sighing. "Alright

then."

He turned toward the True Sphere, his gaze drifting around the tunnel's walls. 'A massive environmental shift might momentarily disrupt its expansion, slowing its spread just long enough for us to escape.'

Raising his hand, he took a deep breath before acting.

"MAXIMUM OUTPUT: CALAMITY REND!!"

His cursed energy surged to the limit as he unleashed a barrage of slashes, carving deep into the tunnel walls. The attack triggered a violent flood, seawater rushing in.

The moment the waves touched the True Sphere, they evaporated instantly.

"That's your plan!?" The crew shouted in disbelief.

"I told you it was stupid!!" Ryomen shot back, wiping sweat from his brow. Without another word, he turned and sprinted, the others right ahead of him.

"Ahahaha, we're gonna die!!" Usopp wailed, tears streaming down his face.

"Too late to regret it now!!" Ryomen replied, the waves crashing right behind him as he tried to drag his injured legs.

"I regret it! I regret everything!!" Usopp sobbed.

Luffy, meanwhile, was laughing. "Stop worrying, Usopp! We'll be fine!"

"Fine my foot!! You and Ryomen are Devil Fruit users!!" Sanji snapped.

"You'll drown if that water even touches you!!" Zoro added, scowling.

At that moment, Ryomen's foot barely skimmed the rising tide—and his entire leg went numb.

His eyes widened in panic.

Sanji lunged, grabbing Ryomen before the water could pull him under.

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then—

"WAAAAAAAHHH!!"

Luffy and Ryomen screamed in sync, everyone moving at lightning speed, sheer terror fueling their escape.

...

Can't believe I actually made such a large chapter with only fighting scenes. Even so, I really like how it turned out.