The Power of One Dream (A One Piece x Fairy Tail Story)

Part 25: Battle 11

[Back in the Mountain Glade/Battle Arena]

A wounded Erza cradled in his arms, Zoro looked on warily at their new opponents. And Jinbei beside them wore an equally wary frown beholding the two walking corpses, bracing himself for an assault from them AND the apparitions still surrounding them.

"How... How are..?..." Erza stammered, gritting her teeth through the pain. "How did the Master of Manticore Sting find our remains scattered as they were over Fiore and revive us as his puppets? It matters not..." the former Elite of the Spiggan 12 'August the Disaster' answered the red-haired swordswoman solemnly. "Though that man perverts the course of my Lord's dream as he abuses my own power, we are now his to command at his will. And though I am weary with much blood shed, it is now his will that you must die.", "I honestly don't give a damn about Zeref's dream or this dark guild's plans. I just want to finally see your downfall Titania!" the pink-haired swordswoman interrupted fiercely. "I bled to death pitifully after my humiliation at your hands at the Tower of Heaven, after never having lost a battle once before! Now only with your death and those of your companions can I finally redeem my failure and finally rest in peace. I SHALL NOT BE THWARTED AGAIN!!!"

Zoro gripped the hilt of Sandai Kitetsu in his left hand with lethal intent (supporting Erza with his right arm). Jinbei beside him promptly coated his arms in Busoshoku (Armourment) Haki. It was clear now (particularly weakened as they all were) that they were all in for a tough fight.

"Yasha Senku (Yasha's Empty Flash)!"

The eerie but beautiful swordswoman launched several slash waves through the air towards Erza. Narrowly blocked by the drawn Sandai Kitetsu even as Zoro then swiftly blocked a sword strike from the Kuina apparition. Jimbei meanwhile guarded his comrades from subsequent blows by the Simon and Fisher Tiger apparitions. And grunted in pain as the Elder Grand Wizard fired at his body with bullet-like projectile Magic. For though he was able to cover multiple areas of his body with Haki, the veteran Fish-Man pirate had not the stamina or even that level of skill to coat all his body at the same time. And August seemed to know exactly the areas to rapidly strike at once, causing the grimacing Jinbei the most anguish.

Zoro (accepting now this wasn't the real Kuina) knew he had to do something about the apparitions to get his comrades off the defensive, or they would eventually be overwhelmed! "Karazuma Gari (Crow Demon Hunt)!" Deciding the swiftest course of action, Zoro had released Erza and swiftly drawn all three swords (Wado Ichimonji held tight in his mouth), running at Ikaruga. But then jumped and sent three separate air slashes behind him, one for each apparition which were caught off guard, making their forms waver as they were struck. This freed up Jinbei (as much pain as he was in) to rush at the Wizard August with a Haki-imbued Go Sen Mei Gawara Sei Ken (5000 Tile True Punch). Zoro meanwhile continued his advance towards the undead swordswoman whilst Erza wounded on the ground looked on, furious at herself for feeling so vulnerable.

As Zoro advanced regarding the woman before him, he discerned that her speciality was speed and precision more than power. But the muscular Wizard was another story. Though he didn't doubt Jinbei's fortitude and hadn't (exactly) lost faith in Erza's resilience, assuming they defeated their current foes before long they still had to find a way to make use of the rifts in the sky (assuming they were actually a way out). And then sooner or later they would probably have to face the Manticore Sting Elites before they could get to Nami and Heartfilia. He didn't have a second to lose, but neither could he afford to waste much more stamina on a big attack.

"Hyakuhatchi Pondo Hou (108 Pound Cannon)!" he cried through Wado Ichimonji in his mouth, sending out three air slashes that joined midair into a powerful concussive blast, soaring straight at the swordswoman. But Ikaruga was too fast, and soon reappeared beside him with astonishing speed, launching her own devasting sword strike which Zoro narrowly blocked.