Rushing out the entrance, Zain skidded to a stop on the Baratie's deck, eyes darting between a Marine vessel and a ship flying a Jolly Roger.
"Well now… whose ass am I supposed to kick?"
Scanning the deck, he spotted a pink-haired Marine with a woman clinging to his arm. Zain stomped toward him and barked, "Hey, pinky! Tell me what happened to our restaurant!"
The Marine gave him a tired glance. "I already told the other chefs—it was those small-fry pirates. Your friends already dragged their captain inside."
Zain deflated like a punctured balloon, his fighting spirit flickering. "What about the rest of the crew? Still on the ship?"
"Yeah, but I'm sure the bounty hunters on board are handling them." He turned away, clearly done with the conversation. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a date."
Zain didn't see this as bad news—just a time-sensitive challenge.
'Those damn bounty hunters aren't gonna steal my fight!'
In a blur, he sprinted toward the strange ship with a goat figurehead. Dropping low, he launched himself into the air—sandals flying off mid-leap.
On deck, two men lounged lazily. One had an impossibly long nose. The other, green hair and three swords. Near them, two others lay unconscious.
Perched atop the goat's head, Zain shouted, "Hey, grass-hat! Those guys at your feet—pirates or bounty hunters?"
The long-nosed one jolted upright, squinting at Zain. 'Did someone order a stripper?'
Greeny narrowed his eyes. "And why exactly would that be any of your business? Who are you?"
Zain grinned. "I'm Zain, and I'm gonna kick whoever's ass ruined my new ves—our restaurant."
He scratched the back of his head sheepishly before straightening up and pointing dramatically. "And it's rude not to give your name first."
"Well you see, I'm the great Captain Usopp! Legendary sai–" Usopp couldn't finish his sentence as the Jolly Green Giant spoke over him.
"I'm Roronoa Zoro. These two are Johnny and Yosaku—bounty hunters." He began, but Zain lit up.
"Then that makes you a pirate! And by the looks of it… a thief too." He gestured to Zoro's swords. "What an animal!"
"Wait, wh—" Zoro barely started before Zain was in his face, winding up a punch.
'Fast!' Zoro instinctively crossed his arms to block the hit.
The blow sent him skidding backward, arms trembling from the force. Zain's eyes sparkled with excitement. 'Strong!'
Grinning like a madman, steam pumped from his nose like a charging bull. Zoro, recognizing the challenge and now having the time, drew all three blades.
Zain's eyes widened. "Whoa! You use three swords? So cool!"
Zoro's jaw clenched. "That's what I was trying to say—these swords are—"
Too late. Zain rushed in again. "Like I care what you have to say, pirate!"
Zoro growled. "You're a real douche, you know that?"
Zain didn't respond. He simply swung another punch, which Zoro blocked—his swords rattling from the impact. Below deck, another of the pirates paused from rummaging through loot, now alert.
Zoro tried to counter, but Zain's long, claw-like nails struck at a brutal angle, staggering him. Zain followed up with an uppercut, stunning Zoro briefly, and then unleashed a flurry of jabs and scratches.
The flurry ended in a spinning kick that connected—
—but Zoro had recovered just enough to react.
Raising one sword defensively, he slashed Zain's leg mid-air, carving a deep gash.
Zain let out a raw, animalistic howl that echoed through the sky. His head tilted back unnaturally. Then, slowly, he looked down, face half-disguised by a wild, toothy grin.
"Hell yeah," he growled. "This is what I'm talking about."
Dropping to all fours, muscles bulging, his slitted eyes narrowed. Blood misted from his leg as he leapt again—leaving a splintered hole in the deck.
"Hey! You're gonna pay for that property damage!" Usopp shouted.
From the cabin, a ginger girl emerged with a raised brow. "Who ordered the stripper?"
Zain didn't hear them. He was mid-air again, blood trailing behind him like he was some sorta gore comet.
"Gee, Zoro, I didn't realize you played for that team," the girl pirate teased with a whistle.
"Shut the hell up, Nami," Zoro muttered, bracing as Zain closed in.
Zain dropped an axe kick from above, but had to bend his knee mid-motion to avoid Zoro's waiting blade. The two landed on opposite ends of the deck, now circling each other.
Back at the railing, Usopp was panicking. "This isn't a joke, Nami! That crazy guy just showed up, accused us of wrecking his ship, then started beating Zoro like it was a full-time job!"
He panted, trying to explain, "And that's not all—he's been getting faster and stronger with each round! Meanwhile, Zoro hasn't even landed a real attack!"
Nami chuckled. "Zoro always pulls through. I've got ten thousand Beli that says he wins."
Usopp flinched. Betting against his crewmate? 'Can I really call myself a brave warrior of the sea if I—'
"You're on."
'But I suppose ten thousand Beli is ten thousand Beli.'
Back in the ring, both fighters were battered—Zain bleeding freely but smiling wider, and Zoro hunched over, seemingly ready for a nap.
Despite his tiredness, Zoro was the first to realize that only a killing strike could win the fight—something Zain seemed all too eager to oblige.
They both moved at once.
"THREE THOUSAND WORLDS!" Zoro roared.
"BEAST KING BARRAGE!" Zain answered, fists turning into a blur.
But just before the clash—
"TOBASCO STAR!"
A cracking voice rang out behind them.
Zoro grimaced. 'Damn it, Usopp—'
The fiery pellet shot toward Zain's head—then disappeared in midair. Ripples in the air were all that remained, as if swallowed by water.
Then—
"AGH, GODDAMMIT USOPP! MY EYES!"
Zoro stumbled back, swords clattering. The tabasco shot had reappeared—right in his face.
He frantically rubbed his eyes. By the time he got his swords up again, nothing came.
Until—
"Bwayayayayaya! You guys are hilarious!" Zain's raspy laughter shook the deck. "Say, I'm leaving this place in a week—wanna join my crew?"
Everyone froze.
"What?!" they all shouted in unison—including Johnny and Yosaku, who had woken up half way through the fight but were too scared to intervene.
‐‐‐
A/N
Hope you all enjoyed. Also, if you don't remember, just before this, Johnny and Yasoku got got by fullbody so that's why they're conked out.
Also also, don't forget to tell me anything you see wrong with the chapter, especially if it's some sort of mischaracterization.