General & Others [FanFic] One Piece Reloaded Vol. Ⅰ: The Dragon & the Samurai

[The_Real_Katakuri]

Hi! I've been writing a One Piece fanfic for some time and I just thought there might be someone here who enjoys it. So, without further ado, welcome to...

Prologue
Act Ⅰ: Land of the Samurai

1. Chapter 910 + i : Ghost ship
2. Chapter 911 + 2i : Adventure in the land of the samurai
3. Chapter 912 + 3i : Fateful encounter
4. Chapter 913 + 4i : Commodore Mocaccino
5. Chapter 914 + 5i : Crocodile bait [Part 1] & [Part 2]
6. Chapter 915 + 6i : Tobi Roppō
7. Chapter 916 + 7i : Shipwreck
8. Chapter 917 + 8i : Timeskippers
9. Chapter 918 + 9i : Operation Dragonslayer
10. Chapter 919 + 10i : Fire in Bakura town
11. Chapter 920 + 11i : Cottonmouth
12. Chapter 921 + 12i : The strongest man in all of Wano
13. Chapter 922 + 13i : Romance of the Five Kingdoms
14. Chapter 923 + 14i : The girl with the fiery hair
15. Chapter 924 + 15i : Wano's will
16. Chapter 925 + 16i : The Kurozumi household
17. Chapter 926 + 17i : Governor-General Kaidō
18. Chapter 927 + 18i : Tengu of the Gyōza mountains
19. Chapter 928 + 19i : Sergeant Murasaki [Part1] & [Part 2]
20. Chapter 929 + 20i : Assassination Banquet
21. Chapter 930 + 21i : Shogun of Wano, Kurozumi Orochi
22. Chapter 931 + 22i : Records of the Five Kingdoms
23. Chapter 932 + 23i : Commander Hayato
24. Chapter 933 + 24i : Oihagi bridge
25. Chapter 934 + 25i : Curable disease
26. Chapter 935 + 26i : Escape
27. Chapter 936 + 27i : Fanboy
28. Chapter 937 + 28i : 7
29. Chapter 938 + 29i : Nightmare

Entr'acte Ⅰ
Act Ⅱ: Conquest of Pirates

1. Chapter 939 + 30i : Kōzuki Oden
2. Chapter 940 + 31i : Gol D. Roger's last voyage
3. Chapter 941 + 32i : The hall of the mountain King
4. Chapter 942 + 33i : Ironman
5. Chapter 943 + 34i : Black crow down
6. Chapter 944 + 35i : The relics of the Great Sorcerer
7. Chapter 945 + 36i : Broken
8. Chapter 946 + 37i : Memories from another life [Part 1] & [Part 2]
9. Chapter 947 + 38i : Mutiny [Part 1] & [Part 2]
10. Chapter 948 + 39i : The Blue Viper
11. Chapter 949 + 40i : Phase two
12. Chapter 950 + 41i : Omen [Part 1] & [Part 2]
13. Chapter 951 + 42i : Cursed

Entr'acte Ⅱ
Act Ⅲ: Scales of the Dragon

1. Chapter 952 + 43i : The legendary hour
2. Chapter 953 + 44i : Himatsuri [Part 1] & [Part 2]
3. Chapter 954 + 45i : Kamikaze
4. Chapter 955 + 46i : Stealing in the dragon's den
5. Chapter 956 + 47i : Ronin of Wano vs. Emperor Kaidō [Part 1] & [Part 2]
6. Chapter 957 + 48i : Who's Who [Part 1], [Part 2] & [Part 3]
7. Chapter 958 + 49i : A long day of vengeance
8. Chapter 959 + 50i : ℝ
9. Chapter 960 + 51i : Children of the Damned
10. Chapter 961 + 52i : Kowa Kowa no Mi
11. Chapter 962 + 53i : The difference in Numbers [Part 1] & [Part 2]
12. Chapter 963 + 54i : Pirate Luffy vs. Yonkō Kaidō [Part 1] & [Part 2]
13. Chapter 964 + 55i : Charlotte Linlin & the captain's kid [Part 1] & [Part 2]
14. Chapter 965 + 56i : Clubbed to death [Part 1], [Part 2] & [Part 3]

To be continued...
I intend to post new chapters here as I release them, so for those of you who don't feel like reading all those past chapters, I'll make some summaries as well.

Summaries (up to the end of Act Ⅲ)

• Mugiwara pirates
• Heart pirates
• Children of the Damned

Note to mods: Since there is no specific section for fanfics, a moderator told me I could post this in the One Piece section (provided is One Piece related). If this shouldn't be here, I apologize in advance.

 

[rerere]

Ngl I checked out some links and the attention to details is impressive.
I'm probably gonna start reading it out of respect.

 

[HA001]

Zkk?

 

[The_Real_Katakuri]

第 Entr'acte Ⅲ 話 『Loading... Please wait』​

Channel 0, skull's rooftop, Onigashima

Lightheaded and with slightly blurry eyesight, Zoro stands up. Above him, the gray clouded sky. Beneath, the great gray skull of Daidara. As his vision regains focus, Zoro sees the gray scales of Kaidō's back in his hybrid form.

Zoro to himself in confusion

(Was he gray all this time?)

Without worry, he looks down in search of his katana, kneels and extends his gray arm at the gray Sandai Kitetsu.

Zoro

(WTF? Why's everything gray all of a sudden? Am I colorblind now? Maybe I had too many hits to the head...)

Disregarding the Kitetsu as he looks at his gray hand, Zoro looks up and shouts at Kaidō.

Zoro

KAIDŌ!! WE'RE NOT DONE YET!!

But Kaidō doesn't answer. He doesn't even turn to face the calmly confused gray-haired pirate. And it is then that Zoro notices how silent everything is. A sepulcral silence that has him wondering again.

Zoro

(Have I gone deaf too??)

An answer soon arrives as the quietness is finally broken by the loud and lonely sound of a pair of clapping hands.

Zoro surprised

(What?)

Zoro turns to look behind him and finds the source of the sound.

Zoro

You again...

Death

Long time no see, Roronoa Zoro.

The gray bony figure looks at Zoro in awe despite his inability to show facial expression, slowly still clapping his hands. A crow standing on the scythe's handle chirps at the creature clothed in rags.

Death

What is it? Oh! I concur, Rosendo, absolutely! This has been a magnificent passing! The greatest one we've witnessed in a battlefield for centuries, I dare say.

Rosendo chirps back in response. Confused, Zoro looks at them and turns back to Kaidō saying...

Zoro

I don't have time for this.

Ignoring the looming figure with the old jagged scythe as though it were a hallucination, Zoro sets his gaze fixed on Kaidō.

Zoro

I gave you fair warning. (Now it's up to you if you want to be cut at the back.)

「Ittōryū Ōgi: Oni-Ō no Sōgi (One-sword style secret skill: Funeral of the Ogre King)」❕❕​

​

As if a powerful spring had just been released, Zoro lunges forward as he stands up grabbing the Sandai Kitetsu with his right hand. Not exactly. His fingers pass through the katana's handle without touching it. The blade remains still on the ground, yet at the same time, firmly held in Zoro's hand, a glimmering crimson shadow comes forth from within the katana, identical in shape. Zoro swings his ethereal blade at the huge dragon-ogre in front of him passing through him. He immediately turns back to keep slashing but halts. Kaidō isn't cut. At least not any more than he already was. Not only that, the yonkō doesn't even flinch, doesn't look at Zoro nor does he emit any sound. It's now that Zoro realizes he passed through Kaidō's body just like Perona's ghosts did through his. Slower than before, Zoro crosses through his enemy's body once more as he looks at his right hand to find it has no blade. And it is from this perspective that he sees the Sandai Kitetsu on the ground, exactly where he thought he had taken it, and his own body lying not too far from there. Beyond, the macabre figure with the scythe and the crow waiting for him.

Death

Oh, Rosendo, isn't it cute that he's still trying?

Rosendo caws with dismay.

Death

No, don't tell me... He thinks he's still...?

Rosendo makes a short squawk.

Death

You're right! How have I not realized sooner? Indeed, it is my fault after all.

talking louder to address Zoro

Excuse me. May I have your attention, please?​

​

Zoro nods as he walks towards Death

But make it quick. I've got things to sort out. And soon.

Death

Oh, believe me. You don't have to worry about that now. I assure you. You have plenty of time to spare.

Zoro

I don't remember you so talkative. Cut the crap and get to the point: Who are you? And what do you want from me?

Death

Fair. The name's Yama and it is my job to send all lost spirits into the afterlife. Because of that, some refer to me as "Death", which kind of suits me, I guess, in a poetic way.

Zoro sarcastic

Suits you in a poetic way? Or you guess in a poetic way?

Rosendo squeaks at Zoro in disapproval.

Death

It's okay, Rosendo. He's bitter. It's not usual, but understandable.

to Zoro

Suits me. It suits me in a poetic way... I guess.​

As for what I want from you, I want to send you to the afterlife, because you, Roronoa Zoro, are dead.​

​

Zoro reflects on those words in silence as he reaches his interlocutor.

Zoro

Is that true...? Then, how come is this not the first time I see you?

Death

Right... About that, I'm sorry. I understand your confusion. The thing is...

Zoro interrupting

Look. You seem like a nice...

(guy? person? ghost? demon?)​

... someone. But you talk too much and I should really get going.​

​

starts going back to his body

I realized the moment I saw myself on the ground. I'm just having an out-of-body experience. I heard Robin talk about it with Chopper once. Traumatic brain damage can trigger it. It means being hit hard in the head. The sooner I put myself back in the same point of view as my body, the sooner this shit will end and I'll hopefully be awake before it's too late.​

​

Death following Zoro

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Wait.

(How the hell did this guy come up with that explanation?? How do I prove him...)​

That... is really not the case.​

Look at your friend Kaidō over there. See? He hasn't moved an inch.​

(He has truly not moved an inch in this whole time... He should have moved a little bit at least. Could he be just thinking about something? It's weird...)​

This is because we're in「channel 0」and he's in「channel 1」. Time flows differently in each channel. And channel 1 advances much much slower than where we are now. That is also the reason why you couldn't cut him and passed through him instead, or why you couldn't grab your katana either. We're in a different plane of existence, you cannot interact with the living any more.​

​

Zoro

(Is it possible to hallucinate words I don't even understand? What the hell's a plane??)

Okay. I'm not convinced, but what you said about the big guy not moving is true, so maybe I do have some time. I'll let you amuse me with...​

​

Death extends his right hand, glowing in purple, pointing at Zoro.

Death

「Lái (Come)」.

Automatically, Zoro's chest is pulled, as if by gravity, and he covers, levitating, the dozen or so meters separating him from Death in a moment until the ominous figure lowers his arm.

Death

I feel sympathy for you, Roronoa Zoro. I may be marveled by your escapades and might have even written a song or two about you. But I'm not here to amuse you, boy. I am a shepherd for wandering spirits like yourself. So, please, accompany me for a little walk before I send you on your way. Rosendo does all he can, but after some centuries, this job can get tedious and lonely.

The two start to walk, away from Kaidō and Zoro's corpse.

Death

First of all, allow me to apologize for the misunderstanding. It's true that we've seen each other a number of times in the past and you lived. That's because there are certain situations in which the physical health of a living being is compatible with both life and death. I believe the technical term is near-death experience. In those situations, dying or staying alive depends solely on the mind. A strong will to keep on living will succeed and a weak one will meet its end.

In some circumstances, health can even be a little bit tilted towards death and the spirit will start detaching from the body. In those cases, a very strong will can still hold onto life tightly and with a little push from me, I can send the spirit back to its body with a minuscule chance at survival. You seem to be inclined, to get in that kind of situations quite often. It was in those times that you saw me.​

​

Zoro

Hmm... That makes sense to me. What about those「channels」you spoke of? Also what am I? A ghost?

Death

Technically, no. You're not a ghost yet. But in essence, yes, we could say you are. Let me explain. There are, at least, 10 channels, that I know of. You can think of them as parallel dimensions or... different realities. I don't know. I'm not too good with technical stuff. One is the plane you lived in. The only reality you ever knew. I call that「channel 1」. The other one is where we are now. Some call it「limbo」, others「purgatory」, I call it「channel 0」. It's where the spirits of the dead go after leaving「channel 1」. This channel is pretty much empty and you can see channel 1 from here, but it's not the same. That's why you couldn't touch things. They're not really here even though they look like it. You can tell by the colour. Everything looks gray in here.

Actually, you couldn't touch things even if you were in channel 1, because you're just a spirit now. But that's a different story. And, by the way, you'll see other spirits don't look quite like you. Being able to manifest your own appearance is a rare thing. Only beings with a very strong will can do that.​

​

Zoro

Is that so? What does a spirit usually look like then?

Death

Right, we haven't come across any other spirits...

(That's odd, they were popping up one after the other until a moment a go. Could the fight have ended already? I don't think so.)​

Also, although not completely unheard of, being able to project your own voice is very very rare. In my eight hundred years of service, I haven't seen this more than a handful of times, including you.​

(And being able to manifest a spiritual version of an object as he did with that katana? That's something I never came across, nor is there any record of such a thing! But he doesn't need to know tha...)​

​

looking at Zoro's hip

(What is that katana doing there?? That's not the one he tried to grab before, nor is it some kind of spiritual energy he's harnessing in some way. How long has it been there?? He should only be manifesting his appearance. The shape of his body in the way he best remembers it or thinks it better shows who he is, the clothes he's most used to or attached, but a sword?? What's the meaning of this?? I'm sure it wasn't there when he first manifested himself. It isn't even one of his! Although... I have the feeling that I've seen it before, but I can't quite put my finger on it. It's not the cursed one, not the white one and definitely not Shūsui. This one has a completely black scabbard.)​

​

Zoro

And where do you say you want to send me?

Death

To the afterlife.

It's the place all spirits are supposed to go when they die. Most of them reach it on their own. But if the person, or animal, died under disturbing circumstances or is specially attached to its life for whatever reason, it can be difficult to accept fate and they wander through here, lost.​

​

Zoro

Is that when you come in? Do I need your help too?

Death

Yes. And yes. Spirits that can manifest their own appearance are always very attached to the realm of the living. Those always require my guidance. Otherwise, they eventually fall through a rift in the channel's fabric and go back to channel 1. It is then that they're called ghosts. There, it's impossible for them to control their appearance, if they've got one to begin with, and by the time they reach their loved ones, they have long moved on. In their attempt to contact their friends and family, to get their lives back, all they accomplish is haunting their homes and unintentionally torment them. That situation gets worse with time as the ghosts get frustrated to the point of going mad. That despair is a very strong emotion that eventually strengthens their manifesting capabilities, allowing them to sporadically touch objects or form a more visible appearance and driving their loved ones insanse too. I'm sure you know some such horror tales, don't you?

Zoro

I understand. Yes, I've heard many such legends and myths from old times.

Death

Exactly. Old times. Back when no one did this job...

Zoro

Right... And what was that you said about writing songs?

Death

Oh, that... Well, in my line of work, I see people die every day, but some have such unique and beautiful deaths that sometimes I kind of watch over certain people that piques my interest due to the way they live, the things they do. I've witnessed some amazing lives and deaths. In my spare time I write about them, so that those great lives are known to others. And yes, I've written some things about you already. Of course, nothing's published yet. I never publish before the subject's death. In your case, I hoped for a longer song, but this is going to be a great ending nevertheless.

Zoro smirking

Songs about me, huh? Okay, this is what I gathered from what you told me: You feel some sympathy for me. I am strong enough to still be clinging onto my life to the point you're convinced I'd find my way back to... channel 1, ¿isn't it? on my own. You can give me a "push" into staying alive with a "minuscule chance at survival". You'd love for my life to go on longer. And you claim you want to help me.

Rosendo, scandalized, squawks and flutters around Zoro.

Death outraged

What!? No. NO! I... Stop right there, Roronoa Zoro. I know where you're getting at and I refuse! NO. You're... You're twisting everything I said on purpose!! I'm sorry, but that's not happening.

Zoro

Why?? Looks like a win-win situation to me.

Death

You don't know what you're talking about, boy. You are already dead. You can't go back to your old life. That's just not possible.

Zoro

We can try. Brook did it!

Death

No. Your skeleton friend has a devil within that granted him that chance. It's different.

Zoro looking intently

Don't I have a devil at my side too now? We try and if it doesn't work, you send me to... where did you want to send me?

Death

To the afterlife. But no. It won't work and there's no point in trying. Don't you think I've tried already? I was young once, you know? I've tried everything there is to try and I know what works, what doesn't and what consequences everything has. A wandering spirit must always be sent to the afterlife. Only then can it return to the realm of the living.

Zoro

Oh! So, there's a workaround? One that takes longer, I suppose. Although time is relative in here, right? Tell me about it. How do I do it?

Death jaded

Aaargh... No. That's not what I wanted to say either. I was talking about「reincarnation」. You need to go to the afterlife in order for your soul to be able to follow the cycle of reincarnation and eventually be born again in channel 1. As a different being. Very likely at a different time. And most definitely not having a single memory of your past life.

Zoro bummed out

Oh, that... You certain? What's the afterlife like? What channel is it?

Death

Actually... I don't know. But that's the most reasonable hypothesis I've read about.

Zoro startled

Excuse me?

Death

I don't know how it is. I don't even know if it's its own channel or anything. I've never been there.

Zoro

You're sending dead people somewhere, but you don't know where? And you dare say you're helping them??

Death

Look, that's the way it's meant to be. Every other way fucks things up for everybody. And I'd love to know what it's like over there, but I don't because, big surprise, I'm old but I'm not dead. And only spirits can go there.

Zoro

This is outrageous. I want to speak to your manager.

Death

My manager? Are you out of your mind, boy??

Zoro

According to you, I am, yes.

Death

There is no manager. Look around, boy. There is no one else.

(Well, I suppose there is that thief of spirits too, somewhere. But he doesn't need to know that either. Not that I've ever seen him... or her. He's too damn sneaky... or she is.)​

It's just me. And only because, like your skeleton friend, I have a devil in me too that allows me to be here and send you off. And that's what I'm going to do.​

​

Zoro serious

Over my dead body.

Death

Obviously.

Zoro

(Oh, right... that was stupid of me.)

I'm going back to where I came from. Whatever the cost.​

​

Death

Do you think I like this job??

Zoro

Actually, yes. I think you do.

Death

Hell yeah I do! And I take pride in doing my job to the letter. I am to send you to the afterlife and you better start making up your mind, boy!

Zoro

Can't you just make an exception??

Death serious

No exceptions. That's the rule.

Zoro annoyed

You sure? Then, what's the deal with the dead bird?

Death to himself, annoyed too

(Oh, for the lost king's sake! Is this guy really dead?? I'm starting to doubt it. Dead spirits are always agreeable and easy to handle. Sometimes they're confused or regretful, but never this obstinate. I've guided the most confident warriors, the most arrogant kings and the most attached lovers, and none of them had a single complaint nor did they try to disobey me! How can he be so unyielding!? The most trouble I've ever had was with that pirate that partied so hard that he drank himself to death. The first and only time I've seen a drunk spirit. After exchanging a few words for a minute, he didn't want to go to the afterlife and leave me behind. He insisted the night was young and that he'd hook me up with that pretty woman named Rosie... I still don't know how did he know I liked Rosie!! And why am I digressing in my own mind again??)

Zoro

Hah, gotcha!

Death

Wha...? No, no. I got lost in thought for a moment. No. You see, Rosendo... I found him in a nest on a dead tree, just a as he was about to come out of the egg sitting next to his dead mother. His father, I found dead too at the bottom of the tree. The heat and the drought of that season made for a harsh environment. No sibling of his came out of their eggs either. I took him with me, raised him, taught him... he was my child until the day he died at forty-four years old. Since then, he's stayed here by me and helped me with this job. See? He won't despair, he torments nobody, because he still has me the same way he did before. He is the exception to the rule of no exceptions.

Zoro

Well, then make another exception! You said it's possible for me to go back. With your help, I bet I can get there pretty soon. No suffering, no despair, no nothing you spoke about. I won't torment anyone, but my friends need me and they need me now.

Death calming down

It's not only for your friends that you need to let go. It's for you too.

When someone's spirit is about to detach from its body, it emits a purple glow. It makes for an easy way to spot where I have work to do, considering the whole workplace is gray.​

​

Zoro

Is that how you first found me?

Death

Oh, no. Not at all. You have been giving me quite the workload ever since you stopped keeping people alive to cash in their bounties, you know?

Anyway, that oni back there, Kaidō, you might have not noticed, but he's emitting that glow. Faintly, but he is. I'm sorry to tell you, and I don't want to upset you, but... You did a number on him too. You almost had him. I mean, even in the state he is now, taking away the last ounce of lifeforce he's got left would be harder than killing one thousand healthy other people. But I don't think he has ever been this close to death. You butchered his body. Booze and depression have long ground his mind. Poor little thing, he sure would have loved for you to end his misery.​

​

Zoro upset

Your point?

Death

Yes, sorry. My point is... look.

Focused in their conversation, Zoro hasn't paid too much attention to where Death was taking him. And now he finds himself in front of Luffy's body.

Death

This is a friend of yours, isn't it? You see it, don't you? His spirit is about to pop in here.

(Again, this should have already happened with how long have we been talking... What's going on??)​

I know him a bit too. He's a tough one and he's suffering a lot.​

​

Zoro impotent

That's why I need to go back!

Death interrupting him with a louder voice

No, that's why you don't!

His body is messed up for good on the inside. His death is certain. And even if I push him back when his spirit starts poking in here, that would only be cruelty. I'd be giving him one last ride into all that suffering for him to die a little bit later any way. I can do nothing to stop it and neither could you.​

​

Death grabs Zoro's left wrist and leaps down the skull. Zoro feels the grip of his gray guide. It's strong but gentle, almost as though he couldn't deny it. Zoro's taken down the cliff, moved around like a child does with a balloon. Death lands heavy on his feet. Without doing nothing, Zoro arrives swiftly, not hitting the ground, just... getting there. He's surprised. He was ready for the impact. Before them, a gruesome scene.

Death

Another one.

Zoro to himself

(Sanji...)

remembering​

Down on his knees and elbows and with a massive cut through the right half of his back almost tearing his body apart, a gush of blood comes out of Sanji's mouth near the ground. His eyes watered in red. His throat bulging out from the spasm and juices going through. But what makes this scene most horrible and disturbing is the quietness and stillness. As if it were a picture in three dimensions, there's nothing to hear. Sanji doesn't move. The juices coming out of him don't fall to the ground. They're unmoving in mid-air. Even Zoro has a hard time looking at it for more than a couple of seconds.

Death pointing towards the skull's wall

There are more inside the skull. It's a bloodbath in there. You, people, have had me cleaning up the whole night.

Is this what you want, Roronoa Zoro? Going back as a ghost only to find your friends dead or see them die while you can do nothing to stop that from happening?​

​

With his eyes set on his agonizing friend, Zoro says nothing. Near them, from within the skull, a small round purple smoke-like shadow comes out moving like a disoriented tadpole.

Death

There you are! I knew there was one more.

「Yī lù zǒu hǎo (May you have a good journey)」​

​

Rosendo gets off the scythe's handle and Death swings his tool towards the spirit. As the blade passes through the smoky shadow, it glows brighter for a moment before disappearing into the afterlife.

∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺
Hopefully continued in case I'm able to double post.
Edit: No, I can't. :( Is there a workaround to not be able to post anything longer than 34999 characters?
Edit 2: In the mean time, if anyone would be kind enough to reply something, that'd allow me to post the end of the chapter. Thank you.

 

[Owl Ki]

Filler post cause auto-merge is a menace to society.

 

[LolonoisZolo]

Excellent! I will definetely read it.

 

[Alexis2282AE]

第 Entr'acte Ⅲ 話 『Loading... Please wait』​

Channel 0, skull's rooftop, Onigashima

Lightheaded and with slightly blurry eyesight, Zoro stands up. Above him, the gray clouded sky. Beneath, the great gray skull of Daidara. As his vision regains focus, Zoro sees the gray scales of Kaidō's back in his hybrid form.

Zoro to himself in confusion

​

Without worry, he looks down in search of his katana, kneels and extends his gray arm at the gray Sandai Kitetsu.

Zoro

​

Disregarding the Kitetsu as he looks at his gray hand, Zoro looks up and shouts at Kaidō.

Zoro

​

But Kaidō doesn't answer. He doesn't even turn to face the calmly confused gray-haired pirate. And it is then that Zoro notices how silent everything is. A sepulcral silence that has him wondering again.

Zoro

​

An answer soon arrives as the quietness is finally broken by the loud and lonely sound of a pair of clapping hands.

Zoro surprised

​

Zoro turns to look behind him and finds the source of the sound.

Zoro

​

Death

​

The gray bony figure looks at Zoro in awe despite his inability to show facial expression, slowly still clapping his hands. A crow standing on the scythe's handle chirps at the creature clothed in rags.

Death

​

Rosendo chirps back in response. Confused, Zoro looks at them and turns back to Kaidō saying...

Zoro

​

Ignoring the looming figure with the old jagged scythe as though it were a hallucination, Zoro sets his gaze fixed on Kaidō.

Zoro

​

​

As if a powerful spring had just been released, Zoro lunges forward as he stands up grabbing the Sandai Kitetsu with his right hand. Not exactly. His fingers pass through the katana's handle without touching it. The blade remains still on the ground, yet at the same time, firmly held in Zoro's hand, a glimmering crimson shadow comes forth from within the katana, identical in shape. Zoro swings his ethereal blade at the huge dragon-ogre in front of him passing through him. He immediately turns back to keep slashing but halts. Kaidō isn't cut. At least not any more than he already was. Not only that, the yonkō doesn't even flinch, doesn't look at Zoro nor does he emit any sound. It's now that Zoro realizes he passed through Kaidō's body just like Perona's ghosts did through his. Slower than before, Zoro crosses through his enemy's body once more as he looks at his right hand to find it has no blade. And it is from this perspective that he sees the Sandai Kitetsu on the ground, exactly where he thought he had taken it, and his own body lying not too far from there. Beyond, the macabre figure with the scythe and the crow waiting for him.

Death

​

Rosendo caws with dismay.

Death

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Rosendo makes a short squawk.

Death

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​

Zoro nods as he walks towards Death

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Death

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Zoro

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Death

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Zoro sarcastic

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Rosendo squeaks at Zoro in disapproval.

Death

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​

Zoro reflects on those words in silence as he reaches his interlocutor.

Zoro

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Death

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Zoro interrupting

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​

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Death following Zoro

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Zoro

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Death extends his right hand, glowing in purple, pointing at Zoro.

Death

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Automatically, Zoro's chest is pulled, as if by gravity, and he covers, levitating, the dozen or so meters separating him from Death in a moment until the ominous figure lowers his arm.

Death

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The two start to walk, away from Kaidō and Zoro's corpse.

Death

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Zoro

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Death

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Zoro

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Death

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​

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Zoro

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Death

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Zoro

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Death

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Zoro

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Death

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Zoro

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Death

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Zoro smirking

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Rosendo, scandalized, squawks and flutters around Zoro.

Death outraged

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Zoro

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Death

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Zoro

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Death

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Zoro looking intently

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Death

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Zoro

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Death jaded

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Zoro bummed out

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Death

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Zoro startled

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Death

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Zoro

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Death

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Zoro

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Death

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Zoro

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Death

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Zoro serious

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Death

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Zoro

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Death

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Zoro

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Death

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Zoro

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Death serious

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Zoro annoyed

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Death to himself, annoyed too

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Zoro

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Death

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Zoro

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Death calming down

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Zoro

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Death

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Zoro upset

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Death

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Focused in their conversation, Zoro hasn't paid too much attention to where Death was taking him. And now he finds himself in front of Luffy's body.

Death

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Zoro impotent

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Death interrupting him with a louder voice

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Death grabs Zoro's left wrist and leaps down the skull. Zoro feels the grip of his gray guide. It's strong but gentle, almost as though he couldn't deny it. Zoro's taken down the cliff, moved around like a child does with a balloon. Death lands heavy on his feet. Without doing nothing, Zoro arrives swiftly, not hitting the ground, just... getting there. He's surprised. He was ready for the impact. Before them, a gruesome scene.

Death

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Zoro to himself

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remembering​

Down on his knees and elbows and with a massive cut through the right half of his back almost tearing his body apart, a gush of blood comes out of Sanji's mouth near the ground. His eyes watered in red. His throat bulging out from the spasm and juices going through. But what makes this scene most horrible and disturbing is the quietness and stillness. As if it were a picture in three dimensions, there's nothing to hear. Sanji doesn't move. The juices coming out of him don't fall to the ground. They're unmoving in mid-air. Even Zoro has a hard time looking at it for more than a couple of seconds.

Death pointing towards the skull's wall

​

​

With his eyes set on his agonizing friend, Zoro says nothing. Near them, from within the skull, a small round purple smoke-like shadow comes out moving like a disoriented tadpole.

Death

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Rosendo gets off the scythe's handle and Death swings his tool towards the spirit. As the blade passes through the smoky shadow, it glows brighter for a moment before disappearing into the afterlife.

∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺
Hopefully continued in case I'm able to double post.
Edit: No, I can't. :( Is there a workaround to not be able to post anything longer than 34999 characters?
Edit 2: In the mean time, if anyone would be kind enough to reply something, that'd allow me to post the end of the chapter. Thank you.

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! 🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥

 

[The_Real_Katakuri]

Channel 1, behind the skull dome, Onigashima

A portal opens up. At the other side, Joseph takes his right hand out of a bag of chips and into his mouth.

Joseph talking with his mouth full

I'm back boss! I brought you your favourite flav... What the hell is going o...?

As soon as Joseph sets foot in this world, his shocked face, his blinded eyes and all of him stop still. As if time itself had stopped, beside him, Nico Robin watches the scene impassive.

Maja is still in mid-air, lying as though he had been thrown sideways, the clothes in his torso torn, his chest bleeding profusely from an big and open wound shaped like a claw, the blood fixed in place as well. It's difficult to know whether he's conscious or not.

A couple of meters in front of Joseph, Guernica is being literally thunderstruck. The boss of the Cipher Pol Aigis-0 has a still dazzling lightning bolt coursing through his chest and all the way down his body to the ground. It's so bright that's almost impossible to tell apart the bolt, the government agent and Carrot, levitating motionless in front of his face with her legs tucked in, drawn to her chest and her left arm stretched, piercing his flesh and bones with her claw at the same spot the lightning struck, ripping his heart.

Suddenly, and despite everything and everyone is locked in place, a kind of breeze starts to blow. And somehow, this breeze, glints in a pale blue.

∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺∺

Channel 0, atop the skull dome

Back at the top, near Kaidō and Zoro's dead body, Death, Rosendo and Zoro make it back from their walk.

Zoro

So... Why the scythe?

Death surprised

The scythe? Oh! I... I don't know. I have a kitchen garden at home and... the first time I had to send a spirit to the afterlife I happened to have this scythe with me. I'm comfortable with it and channeling my ability through it made it easier to handle at first. I don't need it now, but it has other perks like increased reach and I think it looks cool so, I still use it. Rosendo likes it too. Right, Rosendo?

The crow chirps in response.

Death asking back

Why the katana?

(What's the deal with that katana hanging from his hip? It still bugs me. His body's got three scabbards, but none of them is this one and yet I know I've seen it somewhere before... Not that it makes it make any more sense, though...)​

​

Zoro not realizing he's been asked precisely for the one he carries now

I don't have a home. I'm comfortable with them and they've proved useful for survival and earning a living. Their reach is quite good too and they, definitely, look really cool.

But Death doesn't pay attention to Zoro's answer. There's something else that's caught his eye.

Death interrupting loudly

I knew it! You wouldn't pass on a spirit like his, would you?! Who are you?? SHOW YOURSELF!! WHERE DO YOU WANT TO TAKE HIM?? WHAT DO YOU GET FROM THIS??

Zoro clueless

Hey, Shinigami-san. What's wrong? Who are you talking to?

(🎧 recommended: Can you feel my honour?)

The æther around them, that had been completely still until now, starts to circulate slowly but with a smoothly increasing velocity and to shine in waves with different shades of blue.

Death looking in all directions trying to glimpse something

A thief.

There's a thief of spirits that hardly ever shows up but has never failed to take spirits from me when the æther turns blue.​

​

Zoro astonished

A thief of spirits?? Is that a thing...? Wait, you said there was no one here beside you!

The æther swirls faster and faster in sympathy with the winds in channel 1, yet not at all nearly as fast as the latter do. Nothing's gray any more. Intense blue light radiates everywhere from a gargantuan wall of wind surrounding everything within a radius of 60 meters.

Zoro

What's happening?? Is this normal??

Death aghast

Boy, I have no idea... But I'm not going to sit here waiting for that thief to snatch you right in front of me.

It's been a pleasure talking to you, Roronoa Zoro, and now, it's time to get going.​

​

Zoro alert

No! I told you I can't leave yet. I have to go back!!

Death as he raises his scythe

And I told you I'd send you no matter what.

「Lái (Come)」​

​

Extending his right arm, Death pulls Zoro to him again. But it fails midway when Zoro shouts at him with confidence, thus falling to the ground.

Zoro dead serious

I said no!

I gave my word to my friend, that one of us would become the number one sword master in the world, and you already took her.​

I gave my word to my captain, that I'd never lose a fight again.​

I gave my word to that Oni standing over there, that I'd kill him.​

​

Death interrupting

Well then, maybe you should have not given your word so carelessly.

Zoro uninterrupted

And that is what I'm going to do! Because, as a good friend once said: When a man has given his word, not even death is an excuse ❕❕

Death striking down with his scythe

「Yī lù zǒu hǎo (May you have a good journey)」❕❕

Zoro instinctively brings his hands to his right hip to draw his three katana, but he only finds one.

Zoro to himself

(Yubashiri❕)

As he unsheathes it with his left hand, his right draws a crimson shadow out of nowhere that takes the shape of Sandai Kitetsu again.

Zoro

「Nitōryū: Rengoku Shinigami Giri (Two-swords style: Purgatory God of Death cutter)」❕❕

In a flash, Zoro throws himself at the grim reaper before the scythe can touch him. As Zoro sheathes back his katana and the spiritualized Kitetsu vanishes, Yama, the lord of the dead, falls to the ground abundantly bleeding from his open abdomen. Panicking, Rosendo flutters in front of Zoro as if to protect his father from further harm.

Zoro solemnly

I will find my way back. With, or without your help.

As Zoro walks away, Yama, laughing nervously, rolls over, lying face up.

Yama

Rosendo. Take me home, Rosendo. I need to write this down. I need to finish the song. This is... unfathomable. Roronoa Zoro... the man who opposed death.

But none of them go too far. For in a split second, the blue-shining winds engulf everything.

And as suddenly as it started, it ends and everything goes back to how it was before.

Act Ⅳ: Soul of the Samurai

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つづく​