THE KING OF THE PIRATES AND THE MASTER SWORDSMAN

Luffy drags a long-haired person along the ground while shouting, "TELL ME! WHERE ARE ZOLO'S SWORDS!I" The captive protests, "S-STOP DRAGGING ME AND I'LL TELL YOU!" Luffy replies, "OKAY, TELL ME!" They bump into bystanders with repeated "BUMP" impacts. The captive complains, "OUCH! YOU HIT ME AGAIN!" Luffy retorts, "YOU SHOULD'VE TOLD ME! YOU'RE WASTING TIME!" The captive admits, "WE PASSED IT A LONG WAY BACK." A furious Marine captain with a white mustache yells, "THEY'RE IN MY ROOM!" while panting heavily. Luffy stares ahead with a scar on his cheek and declares, "I DON'T WANT TO." Three armed Marines block a doorway, aiming rifles and ordering, "DROP THE CAPTAIN'S SON OR WE'LL SHOOT!"

Marines aim rifles while one shouts, "HE'S USING HELMEPPO AS A SHIELD!!" Helmeppo screams, "DON'T SHOOT! DON'T SHOOT!" The captain bellows, "OKAY! GO AHEAD AND SHOOT!" Luffy peeks out from behind Helmeppo with a surprised "HUHI" The captain's face twists in rage as he roars with multiple "WAAH!" sound effects. Gunfire erupts with "KLOMP KLOMP KLOMP" impacts. The captain clutches his face, blood streaming as he wails, "BLOOD! I'M BLEEDING! AAAAH!!" and "I'VE BEEN SHOT! AAAAH!" while staggering backward amid impact lines and debris.

A black-haired man with earrings grins and says, "GOOD! YOU'RE ALIVE!" with a relieved "PHEW." Roronoa Zoro, tied to a post in the distance, yells, "I'M GONNA DIE!!!" The black-haired man pants, "BUT... HFF HFF... I HAVEN'T UNTIED YOU..." while noting, "THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY DOWN." He urges, "NOW GET OUTTA HERE!" Zoro shouts back, "WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!I THAT IDIOT PROMISED ME! IF I SURVIVE HERE FOR A MONTH, I'LL BE SET FREE!!" The man counters, "YOU'RE GOING TO BE EXECUTED THREE DAYS FROM NOW!! THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LET YOU GO!" Zoro insists, "DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME. I JUST HAVE TO SURVIVE THE MONTH AND THEY'LL LET ME GO." while bound and kneeling as a Marine aims a rifle nearby.

Coby desperately explains the situation to the bound swordsman as chaos erupts around them. "HE NEVER INTENDED TO KEEP THAT PROMISE! BECAUSE HE FOUND OUT HELMEPPO LIED TO YOU!! THAT'S WHY LUFFY PUNCHED HELMEPPO!" Sweat pours down Coby's face while Luffy is seen in the background having just struck Helmeppo. In the next panels Coby begs the prisoner, "PLEASE! IF I UNTIE YOU, WILL YOU HELP LUFFY!I THE NAVY IS YOUR ENEMY NOW!!" The swordsman in the black beanie reacts with shock, "WHAT!I" Below, Coby continues pleading from the ground near the execution post where Luffy remains tied, "...YOU CAN ESCAPE FROM HERE! PLEASE, HELP HIM! LUFFY'S REALLY STRONG AND SO ARE YOU! IF YOU TEAM UP..." The swordsman replies firmly, "HE SAVED MY LIFE! I WON'T ASK YOU TO BECOME A PIRATE, BUT..."

Marines burst into the courtyard with rifles raised, shouting "CAPTAIN MORGAN HAS ORDERED YOUR IMMEDIATE EXECUTION!!!! STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" Coby gasps in horror while the swordsman glares back with fierce determination. Inside the base, Coby spots the three swords mounted on the wall and cries out, "THE SWORDS!" Luffy, now free and wearing his straw hat, dashes into the room exclaiming "HEY!" as a door slams shut behind him. He stares at the blades and realizes, "THIS MUST BE THE ROOM!"

Inside the room Luffy and Coby examine the swords. "HUHI HE FAINTEDI WHICH ONES ARE ZOLO'SI BUT THERE ARE THREE SWORDS!I" Luffy suddenly shouts "KOBY!" and peers out the window asking "WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE!I" Outside, the swordsman confronts the Marines, "YOU'RE TRYING TO OVERTHROW ME!! YOU THREE AREN'T SIMPLE OUTLAWS, ARE YOU!I" Captain Morgan's massive face fills the panel as he roars, "AHA!! SURROUND THE FORTRESS!! IF THAT RASCAL IN THE STRAW HAT ESCAPES, YOU'LL ALL BE SORRY!!!!"

Captain Morgan towers over everyone, declaring "YOU MAY BE A BARRACUDA... BUT I'M A GREAT WHITE SHARK! RORONOA ZOLO! PEASANTS AND PIRATES MAY TREMBLE AT YOUR NAME... BUT YOU'RE NO MATCH FOR THE GREAT ONE!" He orders his men, "TAKE AIM!" as rifles are raised with a sharp "CHAK!!" Coby trembles in fear while the swordsman grits his teeth and vows, "I... I CAN'T DIE YET!" Nearby, Luffy's eyes blaze with resolve as he thinks, "THERE'S SOMETHING I HAVE TO DO..."

At the dojo, young Zoro lies sprawled on the ground after another defeat, clutching his face as the other children cheer. "ZOLO IS 0 FOR 2000 AGAINST KUINA!" one shouts. "TWO-SWORD ZOLO LOSES!! KUINA WINS AGAIN!!" another yells. Zoro groans, "OH WELL..." while Kuina stands triumphant, declaring "I MADE A PROMISE! YAAH!" with a loud "WAP!!" impact. The watching boys mock him: "HE'S EVEN STRONGER THAN THE GROWN-UPS! YEAH! HE'S THE STRONGEST IN OUR DOJO!" and "HEY! ZOLO'S NOT WEAK!" Kuina smirks at him, "KIND OF WEAK FOR A BOY, AREN'T YOUI PATHETIC..." The kids continue gossiping, "SHE THINKS SHE'S SO GREAT JUST BECAUSE SHE'S THE SENSEI'S DAUGHTER! KUINA MAKES ME SO MAD! DARN!" One adds, "EVEN IF HE CAN USE TWO SWORDS, HE'S STILL WEAK! LOSERS SHOULD LEARN TO SUFFER DEFEAT IN SILENCE." Kuina retorts, "THAT SOI WELL, HE'S NOT AS STRONG AS ME!"

The sensei addresses the group as the children clamor. "SENSEI! ARE YOU TEACHING HER SECRET TRICKS BECAUSE SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER!I" one demands. The sensei replies calmly, "OF COURSE NOT! IT'S NOT FAIR! IT'S ODD BECAUSE YOU ARE ACTUALLY VERY STRONG." He notes, "LOST AGAIN, EH, ZOLOI" Zoro, bruised and frustrated, snaps back at the sensei, "BUT I CAN BEAT GROWN-UPS! DON'T FORGET THAT KUINA IS A LITTLE OLDER THAN YOU." In the training yard Zoro swings furiously, wooden swords clanging with "KLATA KLANG" sounds as he yells "WHY CAN'T I BEAT THAT GIRL!I DARN!" A massive close-up shows his determined, sweat-drenched face: "I CAN'T KEEP LOSING TO THAT GIRL! I'M GOING TO SAIL THE SEAS AND BECOME THE GREATEST SWORD MASTER IN THE WORLD!"

Under the moonlight, Kuina and Zoro train intensely with wooden swords. Kuina calls out, "ZOLO..." as he practices alone, grunting with effort "HFF HFF" and striking posts with loud "KLak HYAAH! KLak KLak" sounds. Later, Kuina faces him directly, "IT'S YOUR FUNERAL. REAL SWORDSI OKAY..." Zoro stands ready with two real swords, shouting "KUINA! I CHALLENGE YOU TO A DUEL... WITH REAL SWORDS!! YOU'RE NOT AFRAID OF REAL SWORDS, ARE YOUI" Kuina accepts, "I'M READY!" Zoro responds, "ON GUARD!" as their blades clash with a sharp "SKEFF SKEFF".

The duel erupts in a flurry of strikes. Blades clash with "CHING WOKKANG" and "YAAHH!!" as they leap through the night air. Kuina presses the attack while Zoro blocks desperately. She taunts, "THAT MAKES 2001 TIMES I'VE BEATEN YOU!" Swords fly and spin with dramatic "SHRAK!! CHING!!" effects. Zoro's face shows intense frustration in close-up as he grips his sword tightly. "IT'S SO FRUSTRATING! DARN!" he growls, the impact of another blow sending shockwaves through the panel.

Young Kuina sits on the dojo steps with arms crossed, telling Zoro, "PRETTY SOON YOU'LL ALL BE STRONGER THAN ME. WHEN GIRLS GET OLDER, THEY BECOME WEAKER THAN THE BOYS." Zoro replies, "ZOLO, YOU'RE ALWAYS SAYING..." Kuina continues, "I'M THE ONE WHO'S FRUSTRATED..." In close-up, Kuina smiles and declares, "I WANNA BECOME THE WORLD'S GREATEST SWORDSMAN TOO!!" while Zoro looks annoyed, thinking about his father's words that girls can't master swordsmanship and that Kuina is lucky to be a boy. Kuina adds, "...THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BECOME THE WORLD'S GREATEST SWORDSMAN..." Zoro shouts angrily, "THAT'S NOT FAIR! BEATING YOU IS MY DREAM! WHAT ARE YOU CRYING ABOUT! YOU BEAT ME!!" Kuina turns away, saying, "I WISH I WAS A BOY... BUT I'M STARTING TO GET BREASTS..."

Zoro swings his wooden sword with fury, yelling, "I'M TRAINING ALL THE TIME TO BEAT YOU! YOU'RE MAKING ME LOOK BAD! SOMEDAY I'LL BEAT YOU BECAUSE I WORKED HARD, NOT BECAUSE YOU GOT WEAKER!! IT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING A BOY OR A GIRL!!" Kuina watches with tears, whispering "ZOLO..." They stand facing each other with real swords. Zoro proposes, "LET'S MAKE A PROMISE TO EACH OTHER! SOMEDAY, ONE OF US WILL BECOME THE GREATEST SWORDSMAN EVER!!" Kuina agrees, "WE'LL FIGHT EACH OTHER FOR THE TITLE!" They clasp hands as Zoro shouts "IT'S A PROMISE!" and Kuina teases, "YOU'RE TOO PUNY! YOU IDIOT!"

Zoro's eyes widen in shock as he hears "SHE'S DEAD!!! SHE FELL DOWN THE STAIRS... ZOLO! THERE'S BEEN AN ACCIDENT! IT'S KUINA!" At the dojo, an older man asks, "SENSEI! MAY I HAVE HER SWORDI...I SUPPOSE SO..." while Zoro stands with his back turned. A voice says, "HUMANS ARE FRAGILE THINGS, ZOLO..." Zoro is restrained by adults, shouting "ZOLO! STOP IT! YOU CAN'T RUN AWAY FROM YOUR PROMISE! MAN! YOU MADE A PROMISE YESTERDAY!" In a dramatic close-up, Zoro grips his sword tightly with tears and sweat, vowing, "I'M GOING TO BECOME SUCH A GREAT MASTER SWORDSMAN THAT MY NAME WILL BE KNOWN EVEN IN HEAVEN!!!! I'LL HAVE TO KEEP THE PROMISE FOR BOTH OF US."

Zoro stands at the coast training intensely, thinking "I CAN'T DIE YET!! I PROMISED HER!" Marines fire rifles at him. He launches himself with "GUM-GUM... ROCKET!!" smashing through a window with "KRASH..." and "BWOING" effects. Inside, he appears before a Marine captain who yells "FIRE!!!" as Zoro declares his unbreakable resolve.

Luffy charges forward with arms outstretched in a massive strike as impact lines and debris explode around him. A huge "BAP BAP BAP PAP" sound effect dominates the panel while a marine reels back from the blow. Below, the scene shifts to multiple reactions: Luffy clutches his side with a pained "UNGH!" as a "BREEEEN" rings out. A stern marine with a scar growls "STRAW HAT...". Another marine stares in shock while shouting "LUFFY!!!". A wide-eyed figure on the right yells "YOU!I" as the confrontation intensifies.

Luffy leaps high with a triumphant grin, arms raised as massive "BAM" and "GWA" effects burst around him. He declares "BULLETS CAN'T HURT ME!!" while laughing wildly with "HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!". In the next panel a voice cries "LOOK OUT!!!" as a dramatic "ZING WROR" cuts through the air. The background shows a chaotic town square with marines and civilians scattering amid flying debris and motion lines.

Luffy leans in close with a wide grin and declares "I'M THE GUY... WHO'S GONNA BE KING OF THE PIRATES!!!" while a marine with wild hair shouts "WHAT ARE YOU!I" and grits his teeth. Zoro sits bound to a post, stating "I PRACTICE SANTORYU-THREE-SWORD STYLE. THEY'RE ALL MINE." and later "I DIDN'T KNOW, SO I BROUGHT ALL THREE... SO WHICH SWORDS ARE YOURSI". The marine captain growls "YOU MUST BE DEMON SPAWN..." and "YOU'VE GOT YOURSELF A PIRATE!!!" as he warns that fighting the navy here would brand them enemies of the government. Luffy and Zoro stand facing the captain in the square.

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