Chapter 145: Zoro vs. Laffitte

"Three-Sword Style, Oni Giri!"

Just as Laffitte was entirely focused on Rolando, Zoro appeared before him out of nowhere, adopting a battle stance and launching into a terrifying, high-level technique right from the start.

Wielding his Three-Sword Style, two of his swords crossed in a slashing attack aimed at Laffitte, while the Wado Ichimonji held firmly in his mouth blocked Laffitte's only path forward.

Faced with Zoro's sudden ambush, Laffitte's brow furrowed deeply.

He had no desire to come into conflict with these Marines—not because he feared Rolando, but because he did not want to ruin his captain's plans.

After all, Rolando was merely a Rear Admiral. Even if there were rumors that he had defeated a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, how strong could his actual combat power possibly be?

He did not hold a mere Rolando in any regard, let alone this unknown swordsman holding the rank of Lieutenant Commander right in front of him.

"You've forced my hand."

Laffitte's gaze turned chilling. Carefully putting away the Nameless blade, he drew a slender Western-style rapier from his cane and met Zoro head-on.

Although the fine grade sword Nameless was sharper than his cane sword, he had used his rapier for too long. Switching to a traditional Japanese katana would require time to adapt before he could unleash his true strength.

The current situation was clearly not the right occasion to hone his skills, especially with Rolando lurking nearby, watching him like a tiger eyeing its prey.

Unless it was absolutely necessary, he really did not want to fight Rolando.

Because once his captain learned that he had exposed them due to some personal matters, his captain would certainly not let him off.

Compared to the relentless pursuit of the entire Marine organization, he feared that captain—who always looked like an honest and kind-natured man—even more.

Once a fellow like that lost his temper, he was undoubtedly far more terrifying than anyone who looked visibly ferocious.

Laffitte's cane sword collided with Zoro's twin blades. Both men recoiled backward, deep wariness gleaming in the depths of their eyes.

Zoro knew nothing of Laffitte. Earlier, upon seeing this fellow snatch a sword and immediately turn tail to run, he had assumed the man was nothing more than a petty thief rather than any kind of expert.

Now, it seemed he had underestimated this guy. Laffitte's strength was definitely superior to his own—and by a wide margin at that. He was certainly no match for him.

Yet, an enemy of this caliber was precisely what Zoro had been longing for.

An opponent like this could hone his swordsmanship and elevate his combat capabilities.

Laffitte was equally surprised that such an obscure swordsman possessed such formidable strength.

Although he was certain this fellow was no match for him, for some inexplicable reason, Laffitte felt that if he allowed this youth any more time to develop, he might one day find himself completely unable to catch up to him.

Suppressing this absurd thought deep within his heart, Laffitte brushed it aside; he had no leisure to dwell on it now.

After all, the opponent was merely a Lieutenant Commander-class swordsman. Killing him would certainly not cause as much fallout as killing Rolando.

It was best to make quick work of this and shake off that annoying Rolando as soon as possible.

With that thought, Laffitte hesitated no longer. Brandishing his cane sword and flapping his wings, he closed in on Zoro rapidly.

Bolstered by his Devil Fruit ability, he flashed through the air almost like a streak of white rainbow, arriving right in front of Zoro in the blink of an eye.

"Clinging little trash, go die."

With a chilling, low growl from Laffitte, his cane sword thrust forward like lightning, gently tapping toward Zoro with the grace of an elegant dancer.

Though he could barely trace Laffitte's movements, Zoro sensed imminent danger in that very instant, and a cold sweat broke out, drenching him from head to toe.

Pushing his reflex nerves to their absolute limit, Zoro narrowly dodged Laffitte's attack, then let out a fierce roar as a sharp, piercing offensive surged outward once more.

"Three-Sword Style, Crab Pincer!"

Zoro gripped his twin swords in a reverse hold, crossing them horizontally while aligning them with the Wado Ichimonji in his mouth, resembling a hunting crab poised for a strike.

All three blades aimed simultaneously at Laffitte's head, though Zoro was not arrogant enough to believe he could defeat Laffitte outright with this single technique.

Aside from launching a counterattack, his primary objective in using this move was to buy himself time.

Laffitte's terrifying offensive earlier still made Zoro's hair stand on end just thinking about it.

He had no intention of handing the initiative back to Laffitte, knowing he wouldn't be lucky enough to dodge those fatal strikes every single time.

Rather than waiting for that, it was better to disrupt Laffitte's rhythm and drag him into his own pace of battle.

If he managed that, he might still carve out a sliver of a chance for survival.

Yet this technique seemed to achieve little against Laffitte.

Possessing a unique Devil Fruit ability, Laffitte simply beat his wings and soared high into the sky the very moment Zoro launched his attack.

If not for the presence of Rolando waiting below, Laffitte would undoubtedly have used this opportunity to flee the scene entirely.

"Three-Sword Style, Bull's Dart!"

Laffitte's reaction was entirely within Zoro's expectations.

Though inferior in raw power, when it came to battle experience, Zoro—who had hunted down countless pirates across the East Blue—was hardly lacking compared to Laffitte.

As Laffitte shot upward into the sky, Zoro once again reversed his twin blades, striking a pose resembling the horns of a bull.

Instantly, the strength in his legs erupted. He stomped fiercely onto the roof and, utilizing the powerful recoil, vaulted straight into the sky, chasing closely behind Laffitte.

Upon reaching Laffitte's side, he slashed his three blades in a rapid flurry, unleashing at least eight high-frequency attacks in a single breath.

Yet none of this mattered to Laffitte.

The overwhelming disparity in power allowed Laffitte to neutralize the onslaught effortlessly.

Wielding only his cane sword, he thrust it forth like lightning, not only parrying Zoro's attacks one by one but even weaving a counter-strike into the gaps, tapping squarely against Zoro's shoulder.

At that exact point, a bloom of blood burst open.

Crimson blood spilled from Zoro's shoulder, staining his Marine justice cloak red as he plummeted straight down from the sky, smashing through the roof and crashing into a residential home below.

Facing the two stunned occupants inside the house, Rolando felt a rare blush of embarrassment creep onto his cheeks. Offering an apologetic expression, he leaped straight out the window and returned to the rooftop.

Sure enough, the moment he emerged, Zoro immediately spotted Laffitte trying to escape, still being relentlessly intercepted and hindered by Rolando.

"Rolando, let me continue! I feel like I can still fight!"

Tearing a strip of fabric from his clothes to tightly wrap the wound on his shoulder, Zoro shouted up toward the sky.

"Alright."

Rolando nodded. Since Zoro still wished to continue the fight, he would let him.

True strength was never forged solely through stagnant training; it had to be tempered through real, hard-fought battles.

Aside from the system's aid, hadn't his own power been forged through grueling battles against the exotic beasts on the floating island?

Those had been genuine life-and-death struggles. During that first year, hadn't he come close to dying at the claws of those beasts time and time again?

What Zoro needed right now was precisely that kind of combat. Only through this could he continuously break through his limits and grow ever stronger.