The Blind Brawler [ Roronoa Zoro X OC]

Chapter 48: Race to the Clock

⚠️Content Warning: Blood/Gore/Injury⚠️

Time was quickly running out. The battle between the Rebel and Royal armies roared around me. I was alone, surrounded by agents of Baroque Works. Then here, in the midst of it all, was Pell, one of the finest of Alabasta's warriors, crumpled on the ground.

"Looks like fate's on our side after all, guys," One of the assassins sneered, "The princess may have slipped away, but the boss is sure to give us a promotion if we finish off a strong fighter like Pell the Falcon," His partners all began to agree and snicker darkly as some of them turned to the unmoving man.

Fury propelled me forward as I lunged at the agent closest to the Alabasta guard. I roared as I sent the creep flying with a punch to his jaw and spun to face the other agents, "You bastards aren't gonna lay a finger on him!"

"You're really starting to get on my nerves, girl," Another agent growled as he lifted his arm to point at me.

I heard a gun cock and I scowled, "Shit! My legs are still injured. He's too far away for me to knock his gun away. If I try to dodge it, he'll hit Pell. Fuck! What do I do?!"

While I gritted my teeth to prepare to take the bullet somewhere nonvital, a figure ran up behind the agent aiming down his sights. They cut them down cleanly with one swipe of their blade and the assassin cried out as he collapsed. For a moment, I thought it was Zoro, however, this person only carried one sword and had a much smaller build.

The swordsman stood up straight and called out in a commanding and eerily familiar woman's voice, "Men, defend the Strawhat pirate and Pell!"

"Yes, Sergeant Major!" A chorus of voices responded to her. There was the thunder of several men running and clashing with the Baroque Works agents. A few of them fell into formation around Pell and me, defending us from further attack.

The woman walked into the formation and stood across from me, guarded but not hostile, "Are you alright? You appear to be injured."

My heart leapt into my throat as I realised where I recognized her voice from, "That's the woman from Rainbase. The one Zoro had us hide from. She's a Marine!" I threw my hands up into a boxing stance and held my ground, "If you think I'm going down without a fight, you've got another thing coming!"

I sensed her raise her hand up in a peaceful gesture and lowered her sword, "I understand your suspicion, but we're here to help, not fight. I have been informed of the situation with the bomb and came to assist you and your crew," Her voice took on a more interrogating tone, "You are a member of the Strawhats, correct?"

"Who wants to know?" I challenged her, not lowering my guard.

"I am Sergeant Major Tashigi of the Marines," She answered firmly, "I serve under Captain Smoker."

"Smoker?" I echoed. Hearing that name gave me pause. He was the Marine Captain that let us go for saving his life back in Rainbase. With a low chuckle, I slowly lowered my fists, but did not uncurl them, "Guess this is his way of getting even with us so he can arrest us with a clear conscience later down the line."

Tashigi did not seem keen on my tone as she almost growled back at me, "So you are a Strawhat, then. You must have joined them after Lougetown. I don't recognise you."

I nodded, "That's right," I felt it was best not to give the Marine my name. The less information they have on the crew, the better.

The Marine woman seemed to understand that I was not going to volunteer information to her freely, so she pressed the conversation forward, "Were your eyes injured? Do you need medical attention?"