One Piece: The Deadly

The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the Thousand Sunny as it sailed through the open sea. Kikidori stood on the deck, his sword gripped tightly in his hands, sweat glistening on his forehead as he attempted to strike the air in front of him. The blade of *Ophiophagus hannah*, his newly acquired sword, felt heavy in his hands.

Zoro stood a few paces away, his arms crossed, watching Kikidori with a bored expression. "Focus," Zoro said, his voice low and serious.

Kikidori nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration. He swung the sword again, trying to mimic Zoro's perfect form. The blade swished through the air, but the cut was sloppy, unrefined. The tip of the sword wobbled, and the movement didn't have the force or precision that Zoro's strikes had.

Zoro sighed. "Again."

Kikidori, panting slightly, gripped the hilt tighter and tried again, his legs wobbling from the effort. But once more, the swing wasn't right. His posture was wrong, his footwork uneven, and the sword didn't cut through the air with the clean, deadly sharpness that Zoro's strikes had.

"I'm not good at this... am I?" Kikidori asked, his voice filled with frustration.

Zoro raised an eyebrow. "You're getting there, but you've got a long way to go. You can't just swing a sword around like you're swatting flies. It takes discipline."

Kikidori dropped his shoulders in defeat. "I really want to be a swordsman, though. It's hard..."

Zoro looked at him for a long moment, his usual gruff demeanor softening just a bit. "If you want to get serious, you'll need to train every day. The sword isn't just for fighting. It's about mastering yourself. You need to get your mind in the right place. You think you can handle that?"

Kikidori nodded, determination lighting up his eyes. "Yeah. I'll keep practicing. I won't give up!"

Zoro gave him a small, approving grunt. "That's the spirit."

But before Kikidori could swing his sword again, the distant sound of cannon fire broke the silence.

BOOM! BOOM!

Kikidori's heart skipped a beat. He froze, staring out at the horizon, where smoke was rising above a distant ship. "What was that?!" he yelled, panic rising in his voice.

Zoro cursed under his breath. "Marines," he muttered. "They're coming after us again."

Luffy, who had been lounging nearby, jumped up, grinning. "Looks like it's time for a good fight! Let's go, everyone!"

The crew immediately began to prepare for battle. Nami grabbed her weapons, Usopp loaded his slingshot, and Sanji lit a cigarette, ready to kick some Marine butt. Franky and Brook both rushed to their positions, while Chopper transformed into his Heavy Point form, ready for anything. Even Robin prepared herself, her fingers glowing as she used her Hana Hana no Mi powers.

Kikidori, his sword still in his hands, looked uncertainly at Zoro. "What do I do?" he asked. "Do I fight them... do I kill them...?"

Zoro turned to him with a serious look on his face. "No, you don't need to kill them. Just make sure you're protecting yourself and your crew. Fight to defend, not to kill. Only take them down if you absolutely have to."

Kikidori nodded slowly, though the weight of his sword felt heavier now. He had only just started learning how to use it, and the thought of hurting someone still made him hesitate.

"Don't overthink it," Zoro added. "The moment you hesitate, that's when you'll get hurt. Trust yourself. Trust the sword. We're pirates. We do what we need to do to survive."

Kikidori tightened his grip on *Ophiophagus hannah*. He wasn't sure if he was ready, but if the crew needed him, he would do his best.

The Marines were getting closer, and the sound of cannonballs continued to echo through the air. The Straw Hat crew quickly spread out across the deck, preparing for the inevitable clash.

Kikidori stood at the edge of the ship, staring at the approaching Marines. He felt his heart race in his chest, and for a moment, the sword felt like it was burning in his hands. Was he really ready to fight? Could he do this?

Zoro stood beside him, his expression unreadable. "I'll back you up. Just don't let your guard down."

With a deep breath, Kikidori nodded. "Right. I won't let you down."

The first wave of Marines began to board the ship, their weapons drawn. Kikidori's legs shook as he raised his sword, remembering Zoro's words: fight to defend. He didn't need to kill them, but he needed to protect the crew. And that was enough for him to steel his resolve.

A Marine lunged at him, swinging a sword in a wide arc. Kikidori barely managed to block the strike, his sword rattling in his hands as he deflected the blow. He stumbled back, his eyes wide, heart racing. The Marine charged again, but this time, Kikidori was ready. He swung his sword, managing to land a solid strike, knocking the Marine off balance.

It wasn't a perfect cut, but it was enough to send the Marine tumbling to the deck. Kikidori stood there for a moment, panting heavily, surprised by his own action. He had actually done it. He had protected himself.

He glanced at Zoro, who gave him a quick nod, approving of the effort. "You're doing better than I thought, kid."

Kikidori couldn't help but smile, despite the chaos around him. He was scared, yes, but he was starting to understand what Zoro meant. It wasn't about being the best swordsman right away—it was about learning and improving, step by step.

The battle raged on, with the Straw Hats fighting off the Marines, but Kikidori stood tall, ready to do his part, no matter how small it seemed.

The sound of swords clashing and the shouts of the crew filled the air, and Kikidori realized something important: He didn't need to be a perfect swordsman right now. He just needed to be part of the crew, fighting alongside them, defending his family.

And that was enough.

End of Chapter 19