The Blind Brawler [ Roronoa Zoro X OC]

Chapter 81: Everything Falls

My body felt stiff and numb as I was jarred awake. The ground beneath me was shaking, and someone was holding me tight. A cough rattled my chest as I tried to take a deep breath. The person holding me gasped as I groaned and opened my eyes.

My vision blurred for just a second before my girlfriend came into focus. She looked roughed up, as if she had been hurt again since the last time I saw her. My brow furrowed as I tried to speak, and my throat ached, "Ka... ori?" Her expression shifted from concern to relief. I grunted in surprise as she abruptly pulled me into a crushing hug.

I was so confused, "Wasn't she on the Going Merry? How did she get here? Why does she look hurt again? Wait, how long was I out? What happened to Eneru?"

My body ached and felt tense from my injuries, but I managed to raise my arm up to wrap around her shoulders, "You alright?" She nodded silently. I closed my eyes briefly as I sighed in relief before I murmured again, "And the others?"

She pulled back so I could see her face as she answered, "I think everyone's okay. Sanji and Chopper are both unconscious, but they're alive."

I nodded before I sat up and looked around. The sky was nearly black with thick storm clouds, and lightning was flashing in every direction. We were sitting amongst the upper ruins of the City of Gold, suspended in the island cloud. Usopp was with Sanji while Robin was gingerly holding Chopper. Gan Fall was just starting to sit up and look around while Pierre looked to be knocked out beside him. Wyper was back on his feet already, staring at the destruction around him with his fists clenched at his sides and his expression dark. There was a little girl I did not recognise, but she was wearing similar clothes to Wyper, so I assumed she must be a Shandorian.

It was only then that I realised I was still grasping something tightly in my hand. I looked down at it and saw the broken remains of Wyper's skate, "The sea prism stone! That's right. I still have it," I cast a wary glance at the Shandorian Warrior before I silently pocketed the skate without him noticing.

Usopp seemed elated as he saw we were moving, "Zoro! Weird old guy! Oh, good, you're awake now! There's not a moment to lose! Do you think you can walk yet?"

Gan Fall moaned in pain as he sat upright, his eyes haunted as he took in the storm raging around us, "So... Eneru has begun."

Robin spoke with a grave voice, "We must all hurry now. There is truly nothing more we can do here," She stood and looked up at the sky, "He's far above now. It's only a matter of time until his ship reaches the top of the vine."

"I don't get it," Gan Fall muttered, "What is it that Eneru wants up there?"

Robin turned to him as she answered solemnly, "I believe he's trying to get to the golden bell."

Kaori nodded without looking up at her, "He is. He told us that when we went to rescue Nami."

"A bell?" Gan Fall echoed, puzzled.

Wyper suddenly turned his head and looked at Robin over his shoulder. He looked like he wanted to say something. Before he could get the chance, an impossibly large bolt of lightning crashed into the island cloud near us.

It cracked and boomed, shaking the ground as if drilling right through it. I grimaced and instinctively grabbed Kaori with one arm. The blind woman gasped as she almost fell against me in surprise. My brow furrowed as I looked at the damage left behind, "We gotta get outta here. Even if it's just to the edge of the island, we can't stick around this beanstalk."

"A golden bell..." Wyper started as he turned to face Robin, "Tell me. That's what you said, isn't it?"

The little Shandorian girl looked at him with a scared whimper, "Wyper..."