Chapter 18

Bang bang bang bang bang! ! ! !

Zoro stood in dumbfounded shock as the Marine soldiers collapsed to the ground! !

His gaping mouth nearly reached the floor.

After a while, he gazed at Coby in disbelief: "You... you're a formidable swordsman!"

Moments ago, he had regarded Coby as overly timid—

But in the blink of an eye, Coby revealed his true prowess!

Huh~

Coby panted heavily, sweat pouring down.

Yesterday, in the world of [Demon Slayer: Zenitsu], he had practiced the Breath of Thunder with Jigoro Kuwajima . Despite not yet mastering the fundamental technique, his current grasp of Thunder's Breath proved more than sufficient to handle a few Marine soldiers!

"Me?"

Coby winced as he approached, his face drained of color.

While using the sword to free Zoro, he explained, "Truth be told, I'm a useless fool! If I hadn't crossed paths with Logan and Luffy, I might have remained a slave to someone else forever. Having this kind of strength would've been even more unimaginable."

"Slave?" Zoro was puzzled.

Coby nodded, "Yes! Just yesterday, I was a handyman on Alvida's ship, trapped with no chance of escape. It was Logan and Luffy who rescued me."

Pirates saving lives...?

The notion struck a chord in Zoro's heart!

Over the years, he had encountered countless pirates, each more nefarious than the last. But a saving pirate...?

A concept he hadn't encountered before.

Is this really a reality?

"Why not utilize your incredible swordsmanship skills to escape?" Zoro couldn't fathom the lightning-fast lethal move Coby had just executed.

"You're so powerful, yet you're content being subservient to others. Even if you can't defeat Alvida, wouldn't finding an opportunity to flee be straightforward?"

"No. Didn't I just mention that? I began learning swordsmanship only after being rescued by Logan yesterday."

"What?!" Zoro's eyes widened. "you've just begun learning swordsmanship yesterday, and you've already at this level?!" Every move he made emitted sparks and lightning. What kind of uncanny talent was this?!

"No... You mean, you just started learning swordsmanship yesterday?" Zoro, feeling perplexed, asked again.

Coby nodded, affirming, "Yes! I learned it from a Manga book created by Logan."

"A Manga book?!" Zoro was incredulous. "What do you mean, Manga books, regarding swordsmanship!"

"Oh, right. I was as shocked as you are," Coby replied. "Logan is a manga artist who possesses the Manga-Manga Fruit. His drawn manga can be entered, and I acquired this swordsmanship from one of those worlds."

Upon hearing Coby's explanation, Zoro's breathing quickened.

Devil Fruit... Although he'd never seen one, he'd certainly heard of it!

If it's due to the Devil Fruit, then any sort of magic seems plausible.

"I see..." Coby glanced at Zoro and continued, "If you also wish to enter the Manga world to master swordsmanship, you could join their pirate crew. Logan is incredibly kind. He helped a destitute fellow like me; I'm sure he'd be willing to help you too."

Entering the Manga world to learn swordsmanship... Zoro was genuinely thrilled!

"Huh? What just happened here?" Logan's voice snapped Zoro out of his reverie.

Glancing at the extra Marine soldiers on the ground and the untied Zoro, Logan immediately grasped the situation.

Zoro gazed at Logan before him. This was the person who had transformed Coby into a formidable swordsman in just one day!

Then...

Luffy's exuberant voice cut in between Zoro and Logan.

"Hey! Take a look, which one's yours?" Luffy held out three Sword and inquired.

"The three Sword are all mine... I use a three-sword style," Zoro asserted, moving to claim the Sword.

However, Luffy, not allowing Zoro to take them unchallenged, grinned and stated, "It's settled. Take the Sword, and you're my crew!".

"No" Zoro reply

"Oh, in that case, let's set sail!"

Luffy nodded solemnly and tugged Logan away.

"Hey hey hey! My sword!" Zoro hurried to catch up and grabbed Luffy.

"What sword? Isn't this my plunder from the Marines?" Luffy stated seriously, glancing at Logan.

Logan nodded, raising his hand. "That's correct. It's your spoils. I bear witness!"

Zoro felt disheartened. But... it did seem to be true. He had lost his sword, which he should reclaim from the Marines. The sword in Luffy's possession was indeed seized from the Marines. What justification did Zoro have to demand its return?

As he watched the two depart, Zoro contemplated. Suddenly, he shouted, "Hey, Luffy! I heard you're aiming to become the King of the Pirates!"

"Huh? Who leaked that news?" Luffy turned, one hand picking his nose.

Unbelievable! Picking his nose and then touching my sword...?

"Cough... cough, Luffy, I meant..." Coby cautiously raised his hand, wearing an apologetic expression.

With Luffy's confirmation, Zoro assumed a stance.

"Hey, future King of the Pirates, let's have a fight!"