Chapter 23: Killua Makes His Move
Killua and Gon both looked to Kyle. They could clearly sense that while these two new opponents were determined, their overall power level was nowhere near their own.
Kyle, in turn, studied Sanji and Zoro—the future core combatants of the Straw Hat crew. They were still green, but their potential was like a sheathed blade, its cold edge already visible.
In Kyle's plan, they were perfect "whetstones" for the future.
But for now, they needed to understand the gap in their power. Only a true defeat could spark the kind of growth he was looking for.
Kyle gave a single, permissive nod.
With that, Killua's sly, cat-like gaze fixed on the green-haired swordsman, Zoro. Three swords... a true master, he mused.
Gon, using his animalistic intuition, sensed that the curly-browed chef, Sanji, was a formidable hand-to-hand fighter. He was exactly the kind of opponent Gon was looking for.
On the wide outer deck of the Baratie, the two "crews" faced each other. The restaurant patrons, sensing a fight, had all come out to form a ring, ready to watch the sudden showdown.
Nami glanced at the three composed boys, then at a very tense Zoro. "Zoro," she whispered, "are they... strong?"
Zoro didn't answer.
Luffy, however, practically vibrated with excitement. "Super strong! I already lost to them once!" His voice held no shame, only anticipation.
"WHAT? YOU LOST?!" Nami's eyes went wide. She looked at Kyle, Killua, and Gon with a new, horrified understanding.
Usopp's legs were already knocking together. "Monsters who can beat Luffy... Is Zoro gonna be okay?" He knew exactly how powerful his captain was.
"Kyle, who's up first?" Killua asked, cracking his knuckles, impatient. If the deck wasn't so small, he would have pushed for a three-on-three brawl just to steal all the glory.
"Killua, you take this one," Kyle said with a smile. "But remember: no Nen, and no Haki."
Zoro hadn't learned Haki yet. Using those powers would be an execution, not a fight.
Killua just waved a hand, as if the suggestion was obvious. "You really think I'd need it?"
He took one step forward, his voice carrying clearly across the deck. "The name's Killua Zoldyck. I'm Number Two of the Hunter Pirates. Which one of you is my opponent?"
"Number Two?" Zoro stepped forward without hesitation. Normally, Sanji would have fought him for the spot, but he saw the unshakeable resolve in Zoro's eyes and, for once, stayed silent, simply lighting a cigarette.
Gon wasn't bothered by Killua calling himself "Number Two." Right now, Killua was stronger. But Gon knew he would catch up.
"Zoro! You got this!" Luffy yelled, adjusting his hat.
Having already been humbled by Mihawk, Zoro's mindset had changed. He knew this silver-haired kid was no joke. His muscles tensed, and he entered his combat stance.
Killua, in turn, assessed Zoro—a blade in each hand, and a third in his mouth. A smirk of genuine interest touched his lips.
He slowly raised his right hand. With a faint click, his fingers transformed. His nails elongated, becoming razor-sharp, glinting like five polished daggers—far sharper than any normal sword.
At that same moment, a few onlookers who had seen Luffy's bounty poster finally placed his face.
"That... That's him! The straw hat!" one man stammered. "He's 'Straw Hat' Monkey D. Luffy! The 30 Million Beri pirate!"
"Thirty million?!" The panic spread like wildfire. In the "peaceful" East Blue, that was a terrifying number. The crowd of spectators instantly broke, most of them scrambling to get off the Baratie, terrified of being caught in a pirate war.
A few, however—either brave or greedy—stayed behind, pulling out notebooks and Camera Snails, their eyes gleaming.
"A 30 million Beri crew in a public showdown! This is the biggest news in the East Blue! This story will sell for a fortune!"
Kyle was happy to let them record. This was exactly what he wanted. A crew that could defeat the right-hand man of a 30 million Beri captain? Their own bounties would be high. He could already see his first poster: 50 million, easy.
In the center of the deck, Zoro stared grimly at Killua's inhuman hands, his grip on his three swords tightening.
Then, Killua moved.
His footwork became a hypnotic, shifting pattern. His form flickered, creating dozens of afterimages that swirled around Zoro in a disorienting dance.
"Whoa! My eyes... I can't follow him!" Luffy yelled, rubbing his eyes.
Sanji's cigarette nearly fell from his mouth. "What is this trick?!"
Zoro, at the center of the storm, was under immense pressure. His vision was completely overwhelmed; he had no idea which image was real. Cold sweat dripped from his temple.
I can't just wait! He lunged, slashing at the nearest blur.
FSSSH! His blades cut empty air.
In that single instant, his attack spent and his guard down, Killua's real body appeared—directly behind him.
If this were a real fight, Killua's claws would already be holding Zoro's heart.
But he held back. He pulled his claws in, and his palm struck Zoro's back in a seemingly light push.
THUD!
An irresistible, explosive force slammed into Zoro. He was sent flying, crashing into the thick wooden wall of the restaurant with a sickening CRUNCH. He slumped to the deck, a trickle of blood at his lips.
"Zoro!" / "Moss-head!" the Straw Hats screamed.
But Zoro, using his white sword Wado Ichimonji as a crutch, forced himself back to his feet. His eyes, far from beaten, were burning with an even more intense fire, a resolve that even Killua found impressive.
"Not... done..." Zoro growled, settling back into his stance. His muscles bulged as he began to spin the swords in his hands, faster and faster, generating a powerful whirlwind.
"Three-Sword Style: Three Thousand Worlds!"
With a roar, he launched himself forward, becoming a green typhoon, a spinning vortex of death aimed straight at Killua.
Killua, seeing this all-or-nothing attack, allowed a flicker of admiration.
He didn't retreat. He advanced.
At the last possible second, his clawed hand shot out like a scalpel, striking the exact, perfect center-point where all three spinning blades converged.
KREEEEEEEEE!
A deafening shriek of metal on metal exploded across the deck. Sparks flew.
Zoro's eyes went wide with disbelief. His ultimate move... had been caught!
And then came the sound that broke his heart.
KRAK... KRAK!
Two of his swords, unable to handle the focused, terrifying pressure, spider-webbed with cracks. With a mournful ping, they shattered.
Only Wado Ichimonji held.
Killua, surprised by the white sword's durability, twisted his wrist. The block became an attack. His sharp nails, now free, shot past the blade, aimed directly at Zoro's heart.
"NO!" Nami and Usopp shrieked.
Luffy's excited grin was gone, replaced by pure shock and anger. Sanji was already moving, but he was too far.
In the split-second before his claws touched skin, Killua's hand changed again. The lethal stab became a two-inch punch, a second, internal burst of power that impacted Zoro's chest.
THWACK!
Zoro was blasted backward like a broken doll, a spray of blood erupting from his mouth. He landed hard, stared in shock at his broken swords, and passed out.
"ZORO!" Luffy and Sanji were at his side in an instant. Sanji quickly checked him. "He's just unconscious. A few broken ribs, but he's not in mortal danger."
The deck was dead silent.
The remaining spectators were speechless, unable to process what they had just seen.
That silver-haired boy... with just two moves... had so cleanly, so easily, defeated the primary fighter of a 30 million Beri pirate crew.
Was that... even possible?