The arrival of this newcomer immediately caught my attention. With a cocky smile plastered across his face and a countenance that elicited an almost irresistible urge to introduce my fist to it, he stepped forward. "Captain Buggy, let me have the pleasure of tearing this girl apart," he proclaimed, his knife's tip ominously aimed in my direction. His tongue bore a striking resemblance to his captain's in both tone and arrogance.
However, rather than feeling threatened, I found the entire situation rather entertaining. A chuckle escaped me as I glanced at him, retorting, "Hehe, don't give me that look, you perv. Can't you see I'm the damsel in distress here?" My words held a playful edge, a deliberate choice to mock his apparent bravado. It was almost comical how he played into the stereotype so easily.
Leaning into the act, I continued, "Oh dear, please spare me, kind sir. I'm just a helpless little maiden." The sarcasm dripped from my words as I hammed up the performance. Despite not actually being a girl, I decided to lean into the role, all in the name of mocking this newcomer's arrogance.
Amusement danced in my eyes as I addressed him once more, "I must implore you, do try not to make a fool of yourself, especially in front of your esteemed captain. That, my dear sir, would indeed be a true tragedy." The thinly veiled jest in my tone was impossible to miss as I subtly taunted his bravado.
With a deeply enraged look in his eyes, he clenches his fists and leans in slightly before speaking, his voice dripping with disdain, "If you really want to die that badly, I will be happy to comply." His tone grows increasingly agitated with every word he utters, as if each syllable is a testament to his rapidly escalating anger, a crescendo of fury that matches the fiery intensity of his gaze.
While this exchange unfolded, Luffy, the man of the hour, seemed to completely disregard the newcomer's existence. His frustration radiated as he directed his anger at Buggy, shouting vehemently, "stabbing someone in the back! Thats fighting dirty! You got that! Big nose!!" His vehement protest seemed to be his primary focus, temporarily eclipsing the newcomer's theatrical entrance.
Upon hearing those words uttered by Luffy, a hearty chuckle escaped my lips before erupting into a full-blown fit of laughter. The infectious hilarity of the situation was just too much to contain. However, it seemed that not everyone shared my sentiment. Each of Buggy's lackeys stood there, their eyes widened in sheer shock, as the orange-haired girl's voice pierced through the air, her tone dripping with exasperation, "You fool! That's the one thing you should never—"
Before she could finish her admonishing sentence, Buggy's voice boomed out, a mixture of anger and wounded pride, "You dare to call me big nose?" His right hand shot forward as if driven by some invisible force. It was a surreal sight as his hand, gripping a gleaming dagger, detached itself from his arm as though guided by magic. The dagger sailed through the air, hurtling toward Luffy with an astonishing velocity.
In a chorus of worried shouts, both Zoro and I cried out in unison, "Luffy!" The tension in the air was palpable as the blade closed in, but in an unexpected twist, the blade's trajectory was disrupted. Instead of plunging into Luffy's flesh, the young pirate caught the blade between his teeth, his determination gleaming in his eyes. With a deft motion, he clenched his teeth down on the blade, causing it to shatter into a shower of glinting fragments. Luffy's voice rang out, his declaration laced with fiery resolve, "I swear I'm gonna clobber you!!"
Right after, my opponent's demeanor shifts suddenly. Without warning, he lunges forward with astonishing speed, his blade held menacingly high. In a split second, he propels himself into the air, his form graceful even in this ferocious attack. As he reaches the apex of his jump, his body contorts, and with a swift and powerful motion, he guides the blade downward, aiming directly at me.
My heart races as I'm slightly caught off guard by the sudden assault. In a frantic bid to defend myself, I instinctively raise my katana, its weight familiar and reassuring in my hands. My fingers tighten around the hilt as I hold it aloft, the blade creating a protective barrier against his impending strike. The impact of our clash reverberates through my arms as our blades collide, each ringing echo a testament to the intensity of this battle.
Not content with a single attack, my adversary swiftly shifts his tactics. His left arm, adorned with yet another gleaming dagger, arcs downwards in a menacing arc. The clash of steel against steel is thunderous as his second blade meets mine, the sheer force of our collision pushing me several steps back. The strain of the impact courses through me, a stark reminder of the relentless determination in his eyes.
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His breath comes in controlled, deliberate puffs, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're stronger than you look," he quips, his words dripping with a mixture of admiration and a challenge that propels me forward. There's barely a pause as he wastes no time, immediately launching into another offensive.
Frustration and urgency intertwine in my voice as I mutter, "I don't have time for this." My gaze darts momentarily to where Luffy and Zoro are locked in their own intense battles. Zoro's swords dance with unmatched precision, deflecting a flurry of ethereal attacks from Buggy's floating hands. However, before I can even consider lending them a hand, another threat materializes before me.
The newcomer's eyes gleam with relentless determination, his face a portrait of unwavering resolve. In the blink of an eye, a barrage of daggers hurtles towards me, their trajectory aimed with deadly precision. Reacting swiftly, I deflect each one with deft movements of my katana, my muscles straining against the onslaught.
A grin quirks at the corner of my lips, despite the intense situation. "You're a persistent bugger, aren't you?" I remark, acknowledging the unyielding spirit that fuels his unrelenting attacks.
"I can see that you really want to help them," he says with a slight grin, his eyes narrowing as if assessing my determination. "But do you really think I'll let you do that?" His voice drips with a mix of amusement and challenge, and in an instant, he produces two more gleaming daggers from the folds of his dark cloak.
As those daggers glint menacingly, he doesn't waste any time and swiftly lunges toward me, a determined glint in his eyes. It's undeniable; he's absolutely correct. Zoro, visibly weakened from the earlier battles, can hardly put up a formidable fight. And then there's Luffy, that impulsive fool, trapped within an iron cage. The burden of aiding them squarely falls on my shoulders.
Yet, the irony isn't lost on me. Despite my strong desire to assist them, this relentless assailant leaves me with precious little opportunity to be of any help. His movements are swift, each strike calculated with precision. His left arm arcs upwards, dagger poised menacingly, but I manage to raise my guard just in time, the impact reverberating through my arms. Almost immediately, his left leg follows through with a kick aimed at me, and once again, I manage to intercept the attack, though the sheer force sends me staggering backward.
Frustration courses through me. "Tch! This guy..." I mutter under my breath, my gaze flickering briefly toward Zoro and Luffy. In that crucial moment, I witness Zoro's brilliant move — a quick pivot of the cannon aimed at Luffy. Then, the girl by his side springs into action, igniting the cannon's fuse. The resulting explosion is nothing short of colossal, obliterating everything in its path.
"Captain Buggy!" The cry rings out as my opponent abandons his relentless assault, his concern for his captain eclipsing his obsession with me. In that fleeting instant, an opportunity emerges. Ignoring the dull ache that pulses through my body from his earlier onslaught, I sprint toward Luffy and Zoro. My heart soars as I see Zoro hoist Luffy's cage, determination etched on his face.
"Zoro, have you completely lost your mind? Can't you see the extent of your injuries?" I exclaimed, my voice carrying a mix of concern and frustration as I finally reached his side. The sight was undeniable – the moment Zoro lifted that iron cage, blood gushed out from his wound, staining the ground around him.
"I've always done things my own way!" he retorted, his voice strained as blood trickled from his mouth, his teeth gritted in defiance. "So don't lecture me about it!" With a determined stance, he pushed forward, each step marking his intention to move away from where we stood.
"You're beyond reckless..." I managed to utter, my worry evident as I voiced my thoughts. But in a strange twist, the very assailant who had been relentlessly attacking me now hurtled toward us with a rage that was impossible to miss in his eyes.
"Luffy!" My voice called out to him, and as his gaze turned towards me in confusion, realization dawned upon him that Zoro was the cause of my concern. "I'll be back in a moment, just watch out for yourself!" I reassured Luffy, my determination fueling every step I took towards the impending showdown with my adversary.
Luffy, his grin widening with understanding, responded loudly, "Right! Do your thing!" His encouraging words followed me as I distanced myself from him, moving swiftly toward the figure who had become my rival.
As I closed the gap between us, adrenaline pumping through my veins, I launched myself into the air with a fierce battle cry, aiming a drop kick at my opponent. "Let's bring this to an end!" The impact of my attack met his defensive stance, and together we tumbled downward, crashing into a narrow alleyway that embraced the chaos of our final confrontation.