I'm A Plunderer In The World Of One Piece.

Sanji's foot shifted subtly, his stance poised for combat.

Zoro stepped up beside him, sheathing and then unsheathing his swords again with a soft metallic whisper.

"Hey," Zoro said, his voice gruff, "you still standing?"

Sanji gave him a sideways glance and scowled. "If you can't move, don't push it. Just step aside and watch how I handle this guy hiding behind that wax armor."

Zoro smirked. "I'll let you watch instead."

Despite the deep gash across his chest, Zoro's recovery was borderline inhuman. The bleeding had mostly stopped, though his face was pale.

"Relax. I'm not falling until this guy's down."

Sanji scoffed. "Suit yourself. If you kick the bucket, I'll pour a drink on your grave."

Turning his attention forward, Sanji zeroed in on the wax-armored figure standing ahead, completely encased in a Knight-like armor forged from hardened wax.

"I'm going in first," Sanji called.

Zoro, gripping both his blades, rasped, "Watch it. His swordsmanship counters fast strikes."

Sanji raised an eyebrow, already vanishing with a sudden burst of speed.

"Then your strikes just weren't fast enough."

Under Shirogai's training, Sanji had long since mastered Soru. His body flickered, leaving afterimages behind.

"Sanji's faster than Zoro when it comes to sheer movement," Shirogai noted from within the armor, his eyes tracking the incoming attack. Without needing to look, he twisted and brought the knight's longsword upward. The wax blade intercepted Sanji's diving heel just in time.

"Coarse Mince!"

Sanji's heel was deflected. He twisted in mid-air, seamlessly transitioning into a direct kick to the chest.

"Mutton Shot!"

Shirogai adjusted, bringing his blade down in a diagonal slash. The clash echoed through the air as he blocked Sanji's follow-up kick inches before it struck the armor.

Sanji flipped away, vanishing and reappearing at Shirogai's side.

"Flank Shot!"

Fighting Sanji was like ordering from a restaurant—every attack came with a new name off the menu.

Shirogai, grinning inside the armor, moved smoothly, parrying the strike with a casual flick of his sword.

"Green Algae Head wasn't exaggerating. This guy's got real technique when it comes to speed-based fighting."

Sanji skidded a few meters away, flames flickering faintly around his feet as he lit up.

"Too bad for you! Try my newly cooked-up Rankyaku blend—Hot Pot Cuisine Series!"

Shirogai tilted his head.

"Hot Pot Cuisine? What's next, 'Zoro-brand Spicy Tripe'?"

"Spicy Hot Noodle Soup!"

Sanji spun midair, unleashing a scorching vacuum slash with his flaming foot. The red-hot crescent shot forward.

Shirogai remained still, raising his wax longsword, now coated in Armament Haki, and caught the attack head-on.

Boom!

The Rankyaku exploded against the blade, heat flaring. Wax armor melted under the blast, leaving steaming holes in multiple spots. Liquid wax splattered across the battlefield.

"A fusion of Diable Jambe and Rankyaku? Clever." Shirogai chuckled. "Well then—this move is mine now."

He looked down at the semi-melted armor, smiling faintly.

Like a proud mentor watching his student finally make progress.

But it still wasn't enough.

"There's still more in you, Sanji," he murmured.

---

"Turns out this guy's weakness is heat or fire-type attacks," Sanji muttered confidently, unaware that the man he was fighting was Shirogai himself.

He looked back at Zoro with a smirk. "See that? I picked up one of the Six Powers Shirogai taught us—Rankyaku. Was planning to surprise him with it next time. This fake's just the test subject."

Zoro didn't respond. He just folded his arms, unimpressed by the showboating. But then his eyes widened.

"Sanji! Behind you!"

Sanji's senses flared just in time.

A new figure—another wax knight—had emerged behind him, wielding a massive executioner's blade. It raised the blade overhead and swung with deadly force.

Sanji flickered out of place using Soru, narrowly dodging decapitation.

"The hell? There's another one?"

Landing back on the ground, he barely had time to react as a third wax knight stepped in front of him, this one wielding a giant hammer.

Boom!

The hammer slammed into the earth, kicking up dust and leaving a crater where Sanji had just stood.

He reappeared a few meters away, panting slightly.

"Why do these things keep multiplying?!"

"They're being made from his Devil Fruit," Zoro called, finally drawing Sandai Kitetsu.

"The wax that melted off is regenerating into more knights."

Sanji glanced around. Sure enough, the puddles of wax were bubbling and reshaping into new figures—each one wearing armor and wielding different weapons.

Within seconds, a full unit of knights stood formed. Some with dual blades, others with spears, bows, or hammers—even one waving decorative fans like a cheerleader.

Sanji and Zoro stood back-to-back, surrounded.

"Oi, Green Algae Head," Sanji muttered, lighting a cigarette calmly as the knights closed in.

"This guy's ability's kind of busted, huh?"

"They're clones. They'll never be as strong as the real one," Zoro growled, crossing his swords.

"You scared?"

Sanji sneered. "Hardly. We still have a score to settle. First to take down more knights wins?"

Zoro's eyes lit with challenge. "Heh. You're on."

"Hmph."

"Hmph."

The two rushed forward at the same time.

"Mutton Shot! One down, I'm ahead!"

"Two Sword Style: Rhinoceros Saw! Two down—I'm winning!"

---

From a distance, under the shade of a quiet tree, Shirogai watched, arms crossed, smiling faintly.

"They're still holding back. Guess I've been too soft."

He turned toward Mr. 3, who watched in awe.

"Sir... the way you've evolved the Wax-Wax Fruit… it's genius. I'm honestly jealous!"

Shirogai chuckled. "Wanna learn? I'll teach you."

Mr. 3's jaw dropped. "M-me? Really?!"

---

Back on the battlefield, the knights shattered by Zoro and Sanji's attacks slowly reformed, regenerating completely.

"These things are immortal now?" Sanji cursed, frustrated.

Zoro's eyes narrowed. "Tch. I noticed."

All around them, the wax knights closed in again, their silent advance deadly and relentless.

[Wax-Wax Fruit · Modified Fourth Form: Undead Knights]

---

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