"Where did you all go?" thundered a deep voice. Even the clenching of fists made the air tremble. "Damn, maybe I should have gone one floor higher. Why can't they just give more detailed descriptions?" The presence felt overpowering; the frustration in his voice rang through the church. Maxwell backed away, intimidated as if he could feel a sharp blade at his throat.
A dark green coat waved in the dying storm. Three swords hung from his right hip, while his left hand rested on the hilts. A scar closed his left eye as rough hands scratched the back of his head in confusion.
What on earth did he summon into this world? Maxwell wondered. The aura froze the air so no wind dared to flow into the church any longer. His narrowed right eye roamed the destruction like a hawk's gaze, finally settling on Maxwell.
"Welcome, oh brave warrior of God! I have been awaiting your arrival." Maxwell shouted. But in the face of the situation, his words felt powerless.
"Huh?" The voice was raspy, but it held a note of surprise. Slowly, his fingers wrapped around the beautifully bound katana hilts. The blades hummed at the lightest touch.
"You have my thanks for taking on this long journey. Together, we will decide the upcoming battle in our favor!" Maxwell bowed his head. The joy made any age that plagued his bones disappear. The battle was imminent, and the road stretched into eternity.
"Hey, give me a break. You've got the wrong guy, Grandpa," the man replied, looking towards the exit. 'Where have I ended up here? I'd better find my friends quickly.'
The man was about to turn away towards the church exit.
"With your help, we will destroy the false holy relic. Praise be to our lord for this unique opportunity!"
"Shut your hooves!" the man stammered. "I already told you that you had the wrong guy. What is even going on?"
"I don't quite understand."
"Have you seen my captain by any chance? He has a rubber body and should be about as tall as me..."
"Oh, what an honor meeting a member of Noah's Ark! You must be exhausted from the stormy voyage. If you want, you could rest while I organize the journey and some food."
"Huh?" grunted the man, puzzled. "The Noah pirates? I've never heard of that gang. I'd better let Luffy know," the stranger muttered, one hand on his chin.
"Noah pirates? Didn't the almighty lord send you to destroy the Holy Grail?"
It was the first time Maxwell voluntarily took a step back. The aura still roared like a storm. His trembling bones wanted to seek shelter on the ground. He had planned a big reception and had even cleaned the church. Why is everything going wrong now?
He did perform the ritual flawlessly... Or so he thought. Was there a mistake he didn't notice? Maxwell swallowed. 'Don't tell me I summoned a soul from the afterlife and not God's chosen one? Oh no...'
His body seemed to be paralyzed. For a brief moment, Maxwell even forgot about the servant in his church. Then the swords clanged.
"Now I understand," the stranger muttered slowly. One could almost call it a horrible growl. "So you belong to Enel's lice-infested gang."
Unable to resist the pressure, he took another step back. Had he disappointed his Lord? Was this the punishment that would judge him for this outrage?
Nevertheless, Maxwell pulled himself together.
"Who is this Enel you speak of, if I may ask?" Drops of sweat formed on his forehead. The thought of the command spell briefly crossed his mind before he violently tore the idea out of his head. After all, Maxwell had no right to enslave a soul from God's realm.
The stranger relaxed his stance. The situation seemed strange, but he couldn't feel danger from the old man. So, where did the uneasy feeling come from? It was somewhere but seemed to show no interest in observing the situation.
'I can't sense Luffy and the others either... The old man must know what's going on.'
"Tell me, what island have I landed on? And is there any way to get to a boat?"
"Ehh, island? Well, I wouldn't call this land an island. But..."
"Not an island? How is that possible... But I'm still on the Grandline?"
"What kind of line?" asked Maxwell.
They both looked at each other as if they came from different worlds. Possible answers raced through both their minds. Maxwell's face went pale, and his gaze drifted down to the Magic Circle.
'What kind of mess have I made? My Lord, please forgive me; I'm doing everything to help this lost soul!'
He had to destroy the Grail at all costs and then let God decide his fate.
The stranger also thought about what had happened. The hand did not leave the handles despite the shock. It all reeked of foul seawater.
"What, you don't know the Grandline? Ehe, okay, ehe, what sea are we on then?"
"We're in the middle of Italy; the only sea you'll find here is the Mediterranean Sea and maybe some rivers."
Why was the old man using an unfamiliar name? No, it couldn't be. After all, everyone knew the four seas from the newspapers. Had he somehow been thrown onto an isolated unknown island, like back then?
'Wait,' the man thought. 'I remember a light; maybe that's why I'm standing in a different place. But didn't I deflect it?'
Maxwell, observing the servants's perplexity, decided to explain the situation.
"I was supposed to summon a holy warrior in the name of the Lord to destroy a sinful artifact. I'm sorry for dragging you into this; it was not my intention," Maxwell explained, bowing as low as he could. Oh, how ashamed he was! Now, he was no better than the countless magi in Fuyuki!
"Can you send me back?"
"That's not necessary. You're a copy of the original. After the Grail ends or you pass away, your memories should be sent to you in your homeland. At least I hope so," Maxwell whispered at the end.
"Drink less alcohol, dude. It's not good for you."
"I don't drink."
The man shook his head. "So, we just have to destroy an old chalice, huh?" the man asked. Strange. The words sounded as if the grandpa had had one glass too much, yet he didn't doubt the truth. Why?
Haki heightened his senses. Something strange bubbled like fire in his veins. Did something else change? His body felt different. Maxwell staggered and seemed to be on the verge of losing consciousness. He noticed the uneasy feeling again. 'Mhh, what would Luffy do now?
Suddenly, the man laughed out loud. "You're interesting, dude. Let's go then; I have to get back to my friends."
Maxwell rubbed his head and leaned on an overturned bench. "The Grail won't appear until a certain number of heroic spirits die though."
The stranger frowned. How could you destroy something that didn't even exist? But a fight against other warriors sounded tempting. What swordsmanship could he possibly find here?
"Alright, where is this war taking place? I can't keep my captain waiting any longer." The swords hung loosely in their sheaths again, and Maxwell could breathe a sigh of relief for the first time. The pressure that had brought the church to the brink of collapse vanished as if it had never been here.
"Despite everything I've done, you're following me into battle in Japan?"
"I only follow one person! We're only working together because it's the quickest way for me to get home. Let's go to Japan!" The man roared, turning around and heading for the open gate. Maxwell immediately hurried after him.
"Wait a minute; Japan is far too far away."
"Well, say that earlier. That means we need a ship first. Do you know where we can get one?"
"That would be an option, but the journey would take too long. A flight is quicker, but you'd have to take off your swords."
"What? No one's taking my swords." His hand moved to the hilt as he turned sideways to block Maxwell's view of these treasures.
"Sorry, that's not what I meant. However, You can't just turn up at the airport armed."
"Why? What else are you supposed to do if you get mugged?"
"Yeah, well, how do I explain that to you? Only law enforcers carry weapons here."
"Damn, I guess I'll have to watch out for the Marines too."
Was Maxwell talking to a wall? His comparison was not entirely inaccurate. Even if the police were less of a problem. He sighed. "Can't you just take on a spirit form? Or at least make your swords disappear?"
"Is that the custom here?"
"No," The hand was about to slap his face. "Heroic spirits, like you, possess unique skills that allow them to go unnoticed in the ordinary world. Why don't you give it a try?"
The stranger just nodded and closed his left eye. After a short time, the swords began to flicker and disappear. It seemed natural to him! Strange knowledge simply existed inside his skull. Things that shouldn't be there. He didn't like that.
"Feels strange," the man muttered, looking at his empty hip. The katanas were near him, but somehow, he missed the weight on his hip.
"Oh yeah, I should probably introduce myself properly. You can call me Roronoa Zoro."
"Maxwell here's to good cooperation. You should also change your clothes. No one will let you on the plane like this."
"Why? Do I look funny?"