Chapter 121: Wapol and the Bliking Pirates
A colossal vessel, the pride of the Bliking Pirates, sliced through the open ocean with an imposing presence. This massive ship, adorned with the emblem of its captain, Wapol, boasted reinforced steel plating along its hull, a testament to both its durability and the might of its leader. The deck was bustling with activity as crew members scurried about, ensuring the ship's course remained steady.
At the helm stood Wapol, a man of considerable girth and stature. His rotund figure was draped in regal attire, a lavish fur-lined coat cascading over his shoulders, and a distinctive cylindrical hat perched atop his head. His presence exuded authority, and his eyes gleamed with anticipation as the silhouette of a snow-covered island emerged on the horizon.
Beside him were his two loyal lieutenants: Chess and Kuromarimo. Chess, the former Minister of Defense, was a tall, slender man with a sharp visage. His attire was reminiscent of an archer, complete with a quiver slung over his back and a bow resting against his side. His keen eyes scanned the approaching island with a mixture of nostalgia and vigilance. Kuromarimo, on the other hand, was a stark contrast to his counterpart. With a robust build and a distinctive afro hairstyle, he exuded an air of brute strength. His dark attire blended seamlessly with the shadows, and the spherical tufts of hair on his beard added to his unique appearance.
As the ship drew nearer to the island, the familiar icy peaks and snow-laden forests of Drum Island came into clearer view. The crew could not help but feel a sense of homecoming, albeit tainted with memories of their hasty departure. The vessel navigated through the icy waters, approaching a river that snaked its way deeper into the island's interior.
One of the crew members approached Wapol, bowing slightly before speaking. "Captain Wapol, we have arrived at Drum Island."
Wapol grinned, revealing a set of metallic teeth. "Excellent. Proceed along the river. Let us remind these islanders of their true king."
As the ship ventured deeper into the island, Wapol and his council stood on the deck, taking in the familiar sights. The snow crunched underfoot as the crew prepared to dock, their breaths visible in the frigid air. However, their attention was soon drawn to an unfamiliar ship anchored along the riverbank. This vessel was unlike any they had seen before, with a unique Jolly Roger emblazoned on its sail: a skull and crossbones adorned with a straw hat.
Wapol's brow furrowed as he observed the emblem. "A Jolly Roger with a straw hat? Quite odd, do not you think?"
Chess nodded in agreement. "It does not belong to any crew we have encountered before."
Wapol's eyes narrowed. "Chess, Kuromarimo, destroy that flag. Let them know whose territory this is."
Without hesitation, Chess retrieved his bow, nocking a flaming arrow with practiced ease. Drawing the string back, he took aim at the flag atop the mast of the unfamiliar ship. With a swift release, the arrow soared through the cold air, striking the flag squarely. The fabric ignited instantly, flames consuming the straw hat emblem. Within moments, the flagpole snapped, sending the burning flag plummeting into the icy waters below.
The commotion caught the attention of those aboard the other ship. Zoro emerged onto the deck, his three swords hanging at his waist, their hilts glinting in the dim light. He leaned over the railing, his sharp eyes locking onto Wapol's ship.
Johnny joined him, his swords at his side, his expression grim. The two swordsmen stood together, their breaths visible in the cold air.
Zoro called out, his voice carrying across the water. "Hey! What the hell do you think you are doing?"
Wapol sneered. "Just reminding trespassers of their place."
Johnny glanced at the burning remnants of their flag. "You realize that attacking a pirate's flag is a declaration of war."
Wapol chuckled. "Consider it a warning."
Zoro smirked, his hand resting on the hilt of one of his swords. "A warning, huh? Well, we do not take kindly to threats."
Johnny nodded, drawing his blades. "Since you are the first mate, I will follow your lead."
Zoro's grin widened. "Then let us teach them a lesson they will not forget."
The cold wind howled as Zoro gripped the hilts of his swords, Yubashiri and Sandai Kitetsu, their steel glinting under the overcast sky. His smirk was sharp, promising nothing short of carnage. Beside him, Johnny held his own blades, his knuckles white around the hilts. Both men stood firm, their breaths visible in the icy air, their eyes locked onto Wapol's ship.
Wapol, flanked by Chess and Kuromarimo, stood arrogantly at the bow. The captain sneered, his metallic teeth catching the light. "You two think you can take on the Bliking Pirates? Chess! Kuromarimo! Let us not waste our strength on these small fry. Send in the crew."
Chess stepped forward, his bow slung over his shoulder. "As you wish, King Wapol." He turned to the amassed pirates on deck, each armed to the teeth and radiating menace. "You heard the king! Tear those fools apart!"
The deck of Wapol's ship erupted in activity as over two dozen men leapt into action, shouting battle cries as they swarmed toward Zoro and Johnny.
---
The first wave of pirates stormed down the plank connecting Wapol's ship to the shore. Zoro was the first to move, his swords a blur as he charged headlong into the fray. His feet crunched against the snow as he swung Yubashiri in a wide arc, cleaving through three pirates with one fluid motion. Blood sprayed across the pristine snow, staining it crimson. One man's arm flew through the air, still clutching his sword. Another pirate's head rolled across the ground, his eyes still wide with surprise.
Johnny followed close behind, his blades flashing. A burly pirate lunged at him with a rusted cutlass, but Johnny sidestepped the attack with ease. His sword drove into the man's chest, punching through his ribcage. Johnny twisted the blade and pulled it out, spraying blood across the snow. The man collapsed, gasping, his lungs filling with blood.
"Is this all they have got?" Johnny sneered, stepping over the body of his latest victim.
Zoro chuckled, parrying a blow from a dual-wielding pirate before delivering a devastating counter-slash that opened the man from shoulder to hip. Intestines spilled out onto the snow, steaming in the cold air. "Guess they did not bring their best."
The second wave was larger, more organized, with a mix of swordsmen, archers, and brawlers. Zoro and Johnny did not falter.
An archer perched atop Wapol's ship loosed a flurry of arrows. Zoro deflected one with the flat of his blade, the impact vibrating up his arm. Another arrow zipped toward Johnny, but he sliced it out of the air with a contemptuous flick of his wrist.
"Nice try!" Johnny taunted, launching himself into the group of archers with a wild grin. He moved like a whirlwind, his blades cracking bones and shattering weapons. Blood splattered across his face as he took down one opponent after another. He drove his sword through a man's throat, the blade emerging from the back of his neck. He kicked the corpse off his blade and spun to face the next.
Zoro, meanwhile, found himself surrounded. Six pirates rushed him simultaneously, their weapons gleaming. He grinned, gripping his swords tightly. "Perfect."
With a roar, he spun in a full circle, his blades carving through flesh and steel alike. Limbs flew. Blood sprayed. Screams filled the air. One pirate's hand, still holding a sword, landed in the snow. Another man's leg was severed at the knee, and he fell, shrieking, clutching the stump. A third pirate was bisected at the waist, his upper body sliding off his lower half in a cascade of gore.
One pirate managed to get close enough to slash at Zoro's arm, the blade grazing him and drawing a thin line of blood. Zoro glanced at the wound and smirked. "Not bad. But not good enough." He drove Yubashiri through the man's chest, the blade punching out through his back. He kicked the body off his blade as he turned to face the next wave.
The snow around them was now a battlefield, littered with bodies and stained red. Johnny fought like a man possessed, his movements brutal and efficient. He drove his sword into a pirate's eye socket, the blade crunching through bone and sinking deep into the man's brain. The man's scream was abruptly cut off as he collapsed.
Another pirate swung a spiked club at him, but Johnny ducked under the blow and drove both blades into the man's stomach. He pulled them apart, eviscerating him. The man's intestines spilled out onto the snow, steaming in the cold air. He fell to his knees, clutching his stomach, and Johnny finished him with a slash across the throat.
"Stay down," Johnny growled, stepping over the writhing body.
Zoro was no less ruthless. A particularly large pirate wielding an axe charged at him, roaring with fury. Zoro sidestepped the attack, bringing Sandai Kitetsu down on the man's arm. The cursed blade bit through flesh and bone effortlessly, severing the limb at the elbow. Blood sprayed from the stump, painting the snow red. The pirate fell to his knees, screaming, clutching the bloody stump. Zoro ended him with a swift slash to the neck, and the man's head rolled across the ground, his body collapsing beside it.
The Bliking Pirates kept coming, but their numbers were thinning. Zoro and Johnny stood back to back, their breath coming in heavy puffs, their weapons slick with blood. Bodies lay scattered around them, dozens of them, some still twitching, most still. The snow was no longer white. It was red. Deep, dark red.
"This is getting boring," Zoro muttered, wiping blood from his cheek with the back of his hand.
Johnny smirked, flicking a piece of gore off his blade. "You are telling me. Where is the main event?"
As if on cue, the remaining pirates suddenly fell back, retreating toward Wapol's ship. Zoro and Johnny exchanged a glance, their eyes narrowing.
"Something is not right," Zoro said, scanning the battlefield.
Johnny nodded, his grip on his swords tightening. "They are gone."
Zoro's gaze snapped to Wapol's ship. The captain and his two henchmen were nowhere to be seen. Amid the chaos of battle, they had slipped away.
"Those cowards," Zoro growled, sheathing his swords.
Johnny sighed, his shoulders relaxing. "Guess they were not ready to face us after all."
The battlefield was silent save for the groans of the injured and dying. The snow was a macabre canvas, painted red with the blood of the fallen. Zoro and Johnny stood amidst the carnage, their weapons still drawn, their senses alert.
"This is not over," Zoro muttered, his eyes fixed on the horizon.
Johnny nodded, his expression grim. "They will be back. And next time, they will not be running."
The two men turned their backs to the battlefield, their minds already focused on the next fight. Behind them, the bodies of Wapol's crew lay scattered in the snow, broken and bleeding, a testament to the swordsmen who had ended them.
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