One Piece: The Deadly

The Thousand Sunny was docked at a lively island port, teeming with bustling merchants and curious travelers. The Straw Hat crew had split up to explore, with Luffy already hunting for food, Nami keeping an eye on the crew's funds, and Kikidori tailing Zoro as usual.

The afternoon was calm until a commotion broke out near the marketplace. The loud clanging of steel and sharp insults echoed through the streets. Zoro, with his hands casually resting on his swords, turned his head toward the noise.

"Sounds like trouble," Zoro muttered, his usual nonchalant demeanor unshaken.

Kikidori followed his gaze and saw a man striding through the crowd. His presence was intimidating—tall and broad-shouldered, with a long scar running diagonally across his face. His sword, almost as big as Zoro's Wado Ichimonji, gleamed under the sunlight. This was Emerald D. Lake, a pirate infamous for his skills as a swordsman. His bounty poster had been plastered across the island—**20.4 million berries**.

Lake approached Zoro with a cocky smirk, his boots thudding against the cobblestone road. "So, you're the famous 'Pirate Hunter' Roronoa Zoro," he sneered. "I've heard the stories, but you don't look like much. Guess they exaggerate a lot these days."

Zoro didn't even flinch. "You done talking?"

Lake chuckled, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "What's the matter? Can't handle a little criticism? Face it—you're overrated. I've seen better swordsmen in backwater villages."

Kikidori, who had been standing behind Zoro, clenched his fists. He idolized Zoro, and hearing someone insult him like that ignited a fire in his chest. He couldn't just stand there and let it happen.

"Hey!" Kikidori stepped forward, his voice shaking but loud enough to catch Lake's attention. "Take that back! Zoro's the best swordsman there is!"

Lake turned to Kikidori, raising an amused eyebrow. "And who's this little runt? Your apprentice?" He laughed mockingly. "What are you gonna do, kid? Cry?"

Kikidori's grip tightened around the hilt of his sword. His heart pounded in his chest, but he wasn't about to back down. "I'm not going to let you insult him!" Without thinking, he unsheathed his sword—**Ophiophagus Hannah**, its dark energy swirling faintly around the blade.

Zoro's eyes narrowed as he watched Kikidori step forward. "Kid, don't—"

But Kikidori was already moving. Fueled by anger and determination, he charged at Lake, his sword held high.

Lake smirked, clearly unimpressed. He drew his own blade with a flourish, prepared to counter the attack. "You've got guts, kid, I'll give you that. But guts won't save you."

What happened next was almost too fast to see. Kikidori swung his sword with surprising precision, and for a moment, the air seemed to hum with energy. Lake's smirk faltered as he realized too late that Kikidori wasn't aiming for a simple warning strike.

"*Slice.*"

The sound was sharp and final. Lake's eyes widened in shock as a clean, diagonal slash appeared across his chest. Blood spattered onto the cobblestones, and the notorious swordsman crumpled to the ground, his sword clattering beside him.

The marketplace fell silent. People stared in stunned disbelief as the infamous Emerald D. Lake lay motionless, his bounty poster fluttering in the breeze.

Kikidori stood there, his chest heaving, his sword still raised. His hands trembled—not from fear, but from the realization of what he had just done. He had taken a life.

Zoro walked up behind Kikidori and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Kid, put the sword down."

Kikidori lowered his blade slowly, his breathing still uneven. He turned to Zoro, his eyes wide and filled with a mix of emotions—shock, fear, and a strange sense of pride. "I... I did it," he whispered. "I protected you."

Zoro sighed, scratching the back of his head. "I didn't need protecting, kid. But... you've got guts." He glanced at Lake's lifeless body. "You've also got a lot to learn about what it means to take a life."

The rest of the Straw Hats arrived shortly after, drawn by the commotion. Luffy looked at the scene with his usual casual demeanor, while Nami and Chopper were visibly concerned.

"Kikidori," Nami said, kneeling beside him. "Are you okay?"

Kikidori nodded slowly, though his hands were still shaking. "I... I'm fine."

Luffy grinned, patting Kikidori on the head. "You did good, kid. But next time, leave the big fights to us, okay?"

Chopper immediately began checking Kikidori for any injuries, though he was unharmed. "You're lucky you didn't get hurt! What were you thinking, going up against someone like that?"

"I wasn't thinking," Kikidori admitted, his voice quiet. "I just... I couldn't let him insult Zoro like that."

Robin watched the scene from a distance, her expression unreadable. She glanced at Zoro, who gave her a slight nod, as if to say, *We'll talk about this later.*

As the crew regrouped and prepared to leave the island, Kikidori couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions. He had proven himself, but at what cost? He looked down at his sword, its dark energy now faint and dormant. For the first time, he realized just how heavy it felt in his hands.

Zoro walked up beside him as they boarded the Sunny. "You've got potential, kid," he said gruffly. "But you need to learn discipline. Killing isn't something you should take lightly."

Kikidori nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "I understand. I'll work harder."

Zoro smirked, ruffling Kikidori's hair. "Good. You've got a long way to go if you want to catch up to me."

As the Sunny set sail once more, Kikidori stood at the railing, staring out at the endless ocean. He felt a new sense of determination rising within him. He had made his first kill—a grim milestone on his journey to becoming a true pirate. But he knew he still had much to learn, and he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

End of Chapter 21