In the realm of dreams, Uta was the absolute god. With only the cost of her stamina, she could manipulate the fabric of this world at will—controlling mass, time, and space.
The note soldiers she conjured were towering warriors, each standing a full three meters tall. To Luffy and his friends, these massive figures inspired an instinctive fear, their very presence imposing enough to make hearts race. And if that wasn't intimidating enough, they could fly.
Zoro was at a loss.
Two note soldiers turned their gaze on Luffy, an old adversary, their yellow, glowing eyes flashing with a grotesque, toothy grin. They looked every bit like monsters. The soldiers aimed their spears at Luffy, holding shields protectively in front.
The two note soldiers dived down in an aerial assault. It was nearly impossible to dodge—they descended with the swiftness of hawks, outpacing any attempt to escape. The only chance was to brace, preparing to knock them off balance in the split second they attacked.
As Luffy grew stronger, so did Uta's creations. The terrifying power of Devil Fruits lay in their adaptability; with the right fruit and a bit of development, a single person could become a one-man army. Most people could only dream of even touching that kind of potential.
Luffy glanced at Zoro, took a deep breath, and assumed his stance.
"Iron Body!"
Zoro drew his sword, gripping it tightly as he stood by Luffy's side, readying himself for the onslaught.
"What… are these things?" Zoro yelled, staring wide-eyed at the note soldiers. "Did Uta… make them too?"
"Yep, that's right," Luffy confirmed, nodding.
"Relax, it's just a game. Even if you get a hole punched through your chest, Uta can heal you in an instant. The pain, though—that's real."
"A super-realistic game. Pretty cool, huh?"
Clang!
A tremendous force struck Luffy's blade, and his arms nearly gave out from the impact. Instinctively, he almost reinforced his arm with Haki to absorb the shock. But, remembering this was for sword practice, he resisted the urge.
Struggling against the weight, Luffy adjusted his blade, deflecting the attack just enough to redirect the excess force into the ground. He was tossed back by the blow, landing and rolling on the soft sand to dissipate the impact. Even so, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Zoro, who had been the secondary target, wasn't much better off, though he had fewer injuries.
After their aerial assault, the note soldiers slowed down, entering a more grounded approach. Luffy and Zoro each faced one soldier as they approached, advancing with steady, heavy steps.
"Can you keep going, Zoro?" Luffy asked, breathing heavily.
"Of course! I don't fully get what's happening, but beating these things sounds like the right move!" Zoro gritted his teeth, feeling his body tremble as he faced the giant before him.
This was unlike anything he'd fought before—an enormous, towering enemy.
"Take it easy, then," Luffy advised, before sprinting forward with his sword in hand, closing the distance with his opponent.
The note soldier crouched, shield raised and spear lifted, ready to defend. But Luffy's charge was only a feint—he used the shield as a foothold, launching himself into the air above the soldier.
With a flash of steel, he swung his sword with a powerful spinning slash. The blade cleaved through the soldier's neck, sending its head soaring.
The massive figure toppled to the ground with a crash.
Swish, swish…
Luffy twirled his sword, sheathing it with a confident grin. He raised a thumb to his mouth, wiping away the blood at the corner of his lips, then turned to look at Zoro.
I'm so cool! he thought. Another day of being dazzled by my own style.
Meanwhile, Zoro was struggling. Inspired by Luffy's charge, he tried to follow suit, but his feet sank into the sand, leaving deep, uneven footprints.
"What's with this sand?" he growled in frustration. "It's impossible to run like this!"
As he struggled, the looming shadow of the note soldier fell over him. He looked up to see the soldier's yellow eyes and raised spear, ready to strike.
With a desperate block, Zoro managed to intercept the spear. Sparks flew from the clash, but a diagonal slash appeared across his chest, tearing his clothes and exposing his well-toned body beneath.
"Ugh, that hurts!" he shouted, gripping his sword tightly. With just one strike, the weight of the enemy's power had shattered his stance.
This thing was huge, powerful—how could he possibly stand up to it?
His eyes flickered to Luffy, who had easily defeated his opponent, and his resolve hardened. Even though he was afraid, he was determined not to lose.
I have to win! Kuina, I'll surpass you someday!
The sand made running difficult, so he adapted, rolling to dodge the next thrust. Sand and blood clung to his clothes as he scrambled to his feet, narrowly avoiding the blow. The note soldier's spear sliced through the air just inches away, and he felt his heart race from the close call.
If that had hit, he'd be dead for sure, he realized.
"Need a hand, Zoro?" Luffy called out.
"No, I've got this! I can do it on my own!" Zoro shouted back, covered in sand and sweat, his grip on his sword tightening.
This was real combat. This was a battle. I won't lose! Kuina, I'll beat you!
If the sand made it hard to run, he'd roll his way to victory! It didn't matter how clumsy it looked, so long as he won.
As the spear came down again, Zoro rolled, rose to one knee, and slashed at the giant's arm, scoring two long cuts.
The monster didn't even bleed; it didn't react to his attack at all.
Damn it!
Frustration bubbling, Zoro saw another attack coming—a shield bash. He rolled again, dodging the heavy blow, and found himself at the giant's feet.
If only I had another sword, I could land more hits!
Gritting his teeth, Zoro took advantage of the position and hacked at the giant's leg. He slashed once, twice, rolling and slashing repeatedly, slowly adjusting to the soldier's rhythm.
Despite its size and strength, the soldier's attacks were slow and predictable. As long as he didn't face it head-on, he knew he could find a way to win.
Finally, Zoro's sword bit deep into the creature's leg, severing it and sending it crashing to its knees. Taking his chance, he drove his sword into its torso, tearing upward and exposing the strange music notes within.
The two fallen note soldiers dissolved into light, disappearing.
Zoro, chest heaving, shouted, "See? I told you—I can do it!"
Sword in hand, he turned to Luffy, his expression fierce.
"I'm not dead last, you jerk!"
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