Chapter 18 : Are You Worthy To Compete With The Straw Hat Kid?

Sabaody Archipelag.

On a giant screen, the scene of the Summit War is still playing.

On higher ground, the Supernovas are gathered there, watching.

As the chat room shows Hawkeye's evaluation of Zoro, Killer, one of the Supernovas, speaks in a deep voice: "As a swordsman, to be praised by Hawkeye like that..."

Beside him, Kid sneers: "What are you thinking? Isn't he just the world's greatest swordsman? Sooner or later, we'll bring him down! Then you'll see what it means to be the world's greatest swordsman!"

...

Killer doesn't respond.

He knows his captain doesn't tolerate anyone in his eyes, and he doesn't bother to argue with him.

"The luck of Straw Hat Luffy is really something! He actually got a powerful teammate like Zoro, the swordsman of the Straw Hat Pirates so easily."

Trafalgar Law leans against a large rock, crossing his legs leisurely.

To the left, Scratchmen Apoo bursts into laughter: "Ahpapapa! Who would've thought the second strongest of the Straw Hat Pirates got tricked into joining by Straw Hat Luffy!"

"Quit the nonsense, look, they're about to fight again!" 

Urouge reminds them.

On the screen

[Luffy and Morgan begin to clash.]

[Though Morgan is physically strong, his combat abilities are no match for Luffy's. Soon, Luffy knocks him down!]

[Grabbing Morgan by the collar, Luffy angrily shouts: "You Marines have crushed Koby's dream!"]

[Just as he's about to punch Morgan, Helmeppo points a gun at Koby's head, threatening Luffy!]

["If you don't want him to die, don't move!" Helmeppo shouts.]

[Luffy releases Morgan and turns to face Helmeppo.]

["Gum-Gum no Pistol!! -"]

[Luffy activates his ability, stretching his arm instantly toward Helmeppo!]

[But just as he's about to land a hit, Morgan, whom he had let go, stands behind him like a wall, raising his axe high...]

Gol D. Roger: "Can this kid really be so careless in a fight?"

Rocks D. Xebec: "Risking your life for someone useless—what an idiot!!"

Charlotte Katakuri: "He has the ability to control the situation, but he's letting others lead him. It'll be hard to achieve greatness this way!"

Shiki: "A useless person who begged to join the Marines, and a temporary partner who just agreed to team up—how did he survive under Morgan's axe in a situation like that?"

["Luffy, watch out behind you!" Koby, in a panic, yells as he sees Morgan raising the axe.]

But Luffy doesn't even turn his head. He just calmly says, "Zoro."

Swish! –

A flash of cold steel!

Morgan's blood splatters, and he crashes to the ground!!

A figure appears where Morgan fell, holding a sword in each hand, with a third clenched in his mouth!

It's the swordsman of the three-sword style, Zoro!!

Zoro slightly turns, casually saying, "No sweat, Captain!"

Monkey D. Luffy: "So cool, Zoro!!"

Luffy, watching with great excitement, shouts out like he's enjoying a show.

Roronoa Zoro: "Hey, Luffy, you idiot! Who praises their crewmate in front of everyone like that…"

Trafalgar Law: "Zoro, handling the situation like that was impressive! But the Straw Hat captain sure has an eye for people. He just accepted you into the crew, and already trusts you enough to let you guard his back!"

Gol D. Roger: "Whoa!! That kind of trust reminds me of the bond Rayleigh and I had back in the day!"

Silver Rayleigh: "Yes, Roger. Those were the days, weren't they?"

Gol D. Roger: "Huh? Rayleigh, you're here! Why haven't you said anything until now?"

Silver Rayleigh: "Shakky won't let me talk, says I won't get drinking money if I do."

Gol D. Roger: "Haha! So, Shakky's got you under her thumb now, huh?"

Shiki: "The right-hand man of the Pirate King, a henpecked husband? Rayleigh, you're killing me here! Shihahaha…"

Shakky: "Old Rayleigh's just kidding. He woke up still drunk. Ignore him, he's talking nonsense!"

Silver Rayleigh: "Hahaha!"

Rocks D. Xebec: "Damn it! Shiki, Whitebeard, Kaido, Linlin, Ochoku, all of you—look at how they treat their captain! And then look at you lot!! All of you either betrayed or ran away in battle—useless trash!!"

Shiki: "Rocks, you comparing yourself to that Straw Hat kid? Can you show that kind of trust toward your crew? Can you do it?!"

Edward Newgate: "Trust is a two-way street! Rocks, do you even know what kind of person you are? Quit blaming us and look at yourself!"

Kaido: "I didn't run from the fight! I didn't know you were heading to the God Valley! If I had known, you'd all be dead already!"

Charlotte Linlin: "I went, but I'm not your nanny! If you wanted to die, why should I follow you to your grave?"

Borsalino: "Wow! Seeing all these legendary pirates tearing each other apart is really scary."

Kizaru, that guy, enjoying the chaos, stirs the pot professionally.

Indeed, under his provocation, the chat room becomes even more chaotic...

Just then, the large screen with the white border starts to dim...

The large screen with the red border next to it gradually lights up...