Without the slightest hesitation after Ms. All Sunday's departure, Giyu immediately rushed toward the direction of the fighting sounds.
When he charged into the battlefield where the sounds erupted, the scene before him made his gaze sharpen.
In a clearing in the jungle, Zoro was locked in fierce combat with a tall, powerfully built man. Zoro's three swords were swinging with their usual extreme ferocity!
But the man didn't even dodge - he actually used his body to directly block Zoro's slashes!
Clang! Clang! Clang—!
Every collision sparked blinding flashes, yet Zoro's attacks couldn't leave even a single scratch on the man's body.
"Useless!"
Mr.1, the Slicer who had eaten the Slicing-Slicing Fruit, spoke in a deep, cold voice as he scratched his body: "I told you, since gaining my slicing ability, no swordsman has ever defeated me."
Veins bulged at Zoro's temples as he tied his bandana: "Enough talk!! Again!!"
"Tiger Hunt!!"
He charged forward once more, even more determined, faster, and stronger, yet he still couldn't break through Mr.1's body that could transform into blades at will.
Giyu watched as Zoro struggled in the difficult battle. He could see Zoro's stamina draining rapidly, while the blade-transforming opponent showed no signs of fatigue.
His left hand rested on the hilt of his Nichirin Blade as he stepped forward, preparing to intervene.
Just then, a sudden fragrant breeze swept from his side as a tall figure landed before him, blocking his path.
"Two against one isn't very fair, is it?"
It was a woman with a voluptuous figure, her hair standing out like sharp thorns. She tilted her head with a light smile, casually twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
Giyu paused, his deep ocean-like eyes coldly fixed on her.
"Move aside." He uttered two words, his voice steady.
"My, so cold~" Miss Doublefinger feigned hurt, but her eyes instantly turned dangerous. "Your big sister here just wants to play with you nicely!"
Before her words faded, her fingers suddenly mutated into thorn-covered vine whips that shot through the air straight toward Giyu's face!
"Thorn Fingers!"
Giyu slightly shifted his stance, showing no trace of panic. His Nichirin Blade instantly left its sheath, drawing a deep blue arc through the air.
"Water Breathing: Seventh Form - Drop Ripple Thrust."
The blade tip precisely struck the weakest points on the thorns, using a water-like soft force to deflect them, even utilizing their own momentum - each deflection accurately neutralizing the deadly thrusts.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Within a few breaths, Miss Doublefinger's fierce chain of thrusts had been completely neutralized! Not only had her thorns failed to touch even the hem of Giyu's clothes, but Giyu's swordplay had completely disrupted her rhythm.
The frivolity finally completely vanished from Miss Doublefinger's face.
What nonsense... my attacks were completely seen through? This guy... is he really a rookie on the Grand Line!?
"Thorn Meteor Hammer!"
Gritting her teeth, sharp thorns grew from both her arms simultaneously, then attacked from all angles like meteor hammers, yet she still couldn't break through Giyu's impenetrable sword techniques in the slightest.
"I'll say it once more, move aside."
Watching Zoro still locked in a difficult battle, Giyu could sense that Zoro currently seemed no match for that guy. He needed to intervene now.
"Don't look down on me!"
Giyu's completely toneless remark made Miss Doublefinger even angrier, but she knew the opponent before her was far more troublesome than she had imagined.
Seeing this woman who refused to back down, Giyu understood that if he didn't resolve this quickly, Zoro could be put in danger.
"Water Breathing: Total Concentration..."
He took a deep breath, the surrounding air seeming to coalesce around him as swirling mist enveloped his Nichirin Blade.
"Water Breathing: Fourth Form - Striking Tide."
His Nichirin Blade swept forth in an instant, transforming into a wave-shaped slash. Torrents of water abruptly manifested in the air, wrapping around his blade as they surged forward!
Whoosh—!
Miss Doublefinger's expression instantly froze. She only saw a tidal wave cleave through her thorn-based defense before the cold gleam of the blade arrived.
Only then did excruciating pain shoot through her left arm!
"Argh—!"
She let out a short cry of pain, leaping backward as her right hand clamped tightly over her left arm.
Giyu Tomioka stood where she had been moments before, the water swirling around his blade quietly dissipating as his Nichirin Blade pointed diagonally toward the ground.
He remained silent, simply watching.
Miss Doublefinger panted heavily, cold sweat beading on her forehead. Her earlier composure had completely vanished, replaced by fury and a trace of disbelief.
"You... you bastard..." she gritted through clenched teeth, her voice distorted by pain.
"Dammit..." Clutching her arm, the intense pain and overwhelming pressure forced Miss Doublefinger to call for help. "Mr.1! Stop playing around with that guy! Come help me deal with this tough one first!"
Not far away, Mr.1, who had been engaged in combat with Zoro, immediately altered his movements upon hearing this.
"Understood," he responded in a low voice.
In that moment of distraction, Zoro's three blades came slashing in!
"Still letting your guard down, you Octopus Baldy! Onigiri!" Zoro roared, his blades aimed directly at Mr.1's vital points.
Yet Mr.1 neither dodged nor blocked!
"Clang—!"
With a explosive sound, Zoro's swords struck what felt like the hardest steel, rebounding violently while leaving only shallow marks on Mr.1's skin.
"He can even tank that?!" Zoro's pupils contracted, his face showing utter disbelief.
"I told you already, a swordsman can't defeat me," Mr.1 stated coldly. Then his hands transformed into blades as he unleashed rapid slashes at Zoro.
"Foaming Daisy Slash!"
Extremely powerful slash waves enveloped Zoro! He barely managed to cross his three swords in front of him before the violent slashes struck him head-on!
The tremendous impact sent Zoro flying backward, crashing heavily against thick tree roots where he remained unable to rise. Without even glancing at Zoro, Mr.1 charged directly toward Miss Doublefinger's combat area.
A presence far more ferocious than Miss Doublefinger's suddenly pressed down from above Giyu! Mr.1's blade-transformed hand came chopping down toward Giyu's head!
The situation had instantly reversed!
Two top assassins from Baroque Works had formed a deadly pincer attack!
Giyu showed no panic. Pivoting on his left foot, he twisted his body sharply backward with tremendous force!
"Water Breathing: Sixth Form - Twisting Whirlpool!"
He swung his Nichirin Blade using the momentum of his twist! The blade carved out a circular vortex of raging water currents centered around his body!
This whirlpool wasn't just his sword - it was the rotation of his entire being.
Clang! Clash!
Two explosive impacts that sounded almost simultaneous!
Mr.1's powerful downward chop and Miss Doublefinger's finger thrust were both violently deflected by this swirling force at nearly the same moment!