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"You... who are you?!"
When Kuro came back to his senses, he stared at Red, and his face turned extremely green in an instant.
He didn't believe that someone who could withstand his attack would be an unknown person in the East Blue.
However, Red obviously didn't want to waste words on him.
In fact, if Zoro hadn't needed a suitable target to practice with, he would have asked Luffy to finish Kuro instantly.
Their time was too precious!
Ignoring Kuro, Red turned to Zoro and said:
"Don't let him get past you again, Zoro."
"Otherwise I'll have to step in myself."
"Yes!"
A look of shame appeared on Zoro's face.
Having an enemy break through his defenses was simply an insult to him!
Needless to say, he would never allow himself to make such a mistake again.
"Hey! Black Cat Kuro, your opponent is me!!!"
Zoro's eyes flickered, and the aura from his body suddenly surged out, directly drawing Kuro's attention.
Then, an inexplicable sensation stirred in Kuro's heart, causing him to take a step back instinctively.
Surprisingly, Zoro's intimidation was working!
Before Kuro could recover, Zoro strode toward him!
"Three-Sword Style: Flame Dragon!!!"
BOOM!!!
A mysterious fire suddenly rose above Zoro's swords, forming the shadow of a domineering flame dragon in the air.
"This is...?!"
Red narrowed his eyes slightly.
Although he had expected it, seeing it with his own eyes still left him uncontrollably shocked.
There was no mistake!
Although still subtle, the swordsmanship Zoro was using at this moment definitely incorporated dragon-type Pokémon energy!
After thinking about it for the past few days, Red had vaguely understood why Zoro was given dragon attributes by the system.
Dragon was the lord of all beasts and known as the strongest creature!
Compared to Pokémon energy of fire, water, electric, flying and other attributes, the dragon attribute was more like an all-encompassing and powerful force that combined the strengths of countless types!
Dragon-type moves included Dragon Rage, which was similar to fire type; Twister, which resembled flying type; Dragon Pulse, which was like water type; Draco Meteor, which was similar to rock type; Dragon Claw, which was like normal type; and Dragon Rush, which resembled fighting type...
Though the attribute had few weaknesses, it also had few strengths!
But in Red's view, the purpose of the dragon attribute was to create the strongest type!
As for who among the entire Straw Hat crew was most eager to be known as the "strongest"...
That must be Zoro!
Among the three major fighters, Luffy's dream was to become the Pirate King, and Sanji's dream was to find ALL BLUE...
Although the other members also had their own lofty goals.
But from beginning to end, only Zoro's goal had always been to become the most powerful swordsman in the world!
Red guessed that this was the reason why Zoro was given dragon attributes!
And Zoro obviously lived up to the title of dragon!
Although he hadn't learned any dragon-type moves, he'd relied solely on the Pokémon energy in his body and his own understanding of swordsmanship to create a powerful, exclusive sword technique!
This kind of innovation was tantamount to creating a new Pokémon move in the Pokémon world...
Calling it a miracle was no exaggeration!!!
WHOOSH!!!
The blazing flames caused the temperature of the room to rise suddenly!
Facing Zoro's menacing attack, Kuro could only raise the cat claws in his hands and position all ten blades in front of him to form a shield!
The next second...
BOOM!!!
The ferocious flame dragon suddenly engulfed Kuro with high-temperature flames.
The violent impact knocked him backward, through the wall of the villa, and out into the Kaya family's garden.
As a gust of cold wind blew in, Zoro's flame dragon aura dissipated, and the temperature of the room returned to normal.
"Is that your new technique?"
Red suddenly asked Zoro, the approval in his eyes difficult to conceal.
"Yeah."
Zoro nodded excitedly.
In fact, he hadn't been sure whether he could use this technique before.
He just felt that whenever he wanted to release killing intent or emotions like destruction and rage, he could feel a special kind of energy pulsing in his body.
The sword technique he had just successfully executed completely confirmed that he had indeed mastered some incredible power!
"Thank you, Red!"
Zoro suddenly said.
He knew exactly who had brought all this about!
But faced with Zoro's thanks, Red did not choose to accept it.
He just smiled softly:
"Why are you thanking me? I never taught you how to focus Pokémon energy into sword techniques."
"What you should be grateful for is yourself for never slacking off!"
"Also, the enemy hasn't been completely defeated, and now is not the time to relax and chat."
"Right!" Zoro nodded vigorously.
Gripping his swords, he stepped to the broken wall, then jumped down into the courtyard.
By this time, Kuro had struggled to his feet again.
But the cat claws in his hands were now half-broken!
"Cough cough..."
A trickle of scarlet blood flowed from the corner of Kuro's mouth.
The pain didn't diminish his will to fight, but instead made the killing intent in his heart even more frenzied!
At this moment, he was completely unhinged!
He lowered his head, revealing a pair of gloomy eyes:
"Damn you brats!!! I'm going to kill you!!!"
The moment he finished speaking, Kuro suddenly lowered his arms and his body began swaying rhythmically.
This was his trump card—a technique he still believed could kill them even after witnessing Red's defense and Zoro's slashing attack—"Scoop Death"!
Using the silent step to its extreme, moving so fast that opponents couldn't even tell what he was attacking—the ultimate combat skill!!!
It was also the ability that Kuro was most proud of!
"Be careful, Zoro. That technique I mentioned is coming!"
Seeing Kuro performing this strange movement, Red, who was standing amid the ruins on the second floor, immediately warned Zoro.
With Zoro's current fighting power, it was almost impossible to match Kuro's speed.
But fortunately, due to Kuro's own fighting style, Scoop Death had the fatal flaw of being "uncontrollable."
This would also be the key to Zoro's victory.
"Is it comparable to the speed of Shave?!"
"Then let's test it!"
Zoro showed no fear at all. Just before Kuro's figure disappeared, he stepped forward fiercely and his whole body lunged forward.
"Santoryu: Oni Giri!!!"
To save time, Zoro didn't continue trying to integrate Pokémon energy into his sword techniques, but directly used the moves he was familiar with.
The sharp slash was like a dark light coming from the abyss, cutting toward Kuro's body.
However, in an instant, Kuro's figure suddenly vanished from where he had been!
THUD!
Zoro's foot stomped firmly, leaving a trail several meters long on the ground.
"It is indeed a technique worthy of Red's warning, and it truly lives up to its reputation!"
He wasn't discouraged when he failed to catch up with Kuro. Instead, his eyes flickered with anticipation.
SLASH!
On the ground, several marks scratched by sharp blades suddenly appeared.
Immediately afterward, throughout the entire courtyard—whether on the ground, walls, or trees—there were traces of cuts from the same sharp blades!
At this moment, a deadly field filled with slashes and danger seemed to materialize in the courtyard.
And Zoro stood at the center of this arena!
Seeing this, Zoro didn't act rashly but raised his swords in a defensive posture.
While dealing with the possible slashes, he was trying to adapt to Kuro's speed.
Suddenly, several sounds of metal colliding rang out one after another, making onlookers anxious for Zoro who was desperately defending himself.
"Zoro!"
Nami, who had already hidden in the corner with Merry, poked her head out and saw Zoro's waist being sliced open by a sharp blade, blood spraying outward.
But Zoro seemed unfazed, still wielding his three swords, his eyes straining to track Kuro's movements, defending while looking for opportunities.
"Red said..."
"Among the World Government and the Marines, there are countless people who have mastered i, or even more powerful techniques!"
"In the Grand Line, there are warriors far more powerful than this!"
"If I can't even overcome this obstacle, what right do I have to call myself the world's greatest swordsman!!!"
BOOM!!!
An invisible aura suddenly erupted from Zoro's body, like a dark and ferocious dragon, hovering in the sky above the Kaya family manor.
"RAAAH!!!"
Zoro suddenly let out a roar, and his arms expanded and thickened, as if they contained infinite power!
"Three-Sword Style: Black Dragon Tornado!!!"
ROOOOAR!!!
A deep dragon's roar suddenly resonated in the hearts of everyone present.
Accompanied by the domineering dragon's cry, a menacing dark tornado suddenly expanded outward with Zoro at its center!
Within the dark hurricane, dazzling cold light flashed intermittently. Those were the deadly slashes Zoro was unleashing beneath the surface of the hurricane!
CLANG! CLANG!...
At that moment, several crisp sounds of metal being cut suddenly echoed throughout the courtyard.
Several broken blades flew out from the hurricane—the sharp points from Kuro's cat claws!
What followed was an extremely miserable cry of pain.
"AAAGH!!!"
"What... what is this?!"
On the second floor of the villa, Usopp, who was in Kaya's bedroom, looked at the scene below with horror on his face.
But his eyes, watching Zoro spinning within the hurricane, blazed with unprecedented intensity!
It was his yearning to become strong.