One Piece: Shiro Oni

"Not bad, rookies," he murmured.

For a moment, everything seemed calm. The chaos of battle felt distant, and the ruins of the town were eerily quiet. But then Noir's sharp senses kicked in, the faint tremor of danger prickling at his skin.

He shifted his gaze, spotting a figure approaching from the distance.

The man strode forward with a deliberate pace, his presence radiating an oppressive aura. He was tall, clad in a pristine Marine Captain's coat, its edges swaying in the breeze. His expression was cold, and his sharp features bore an unmistakable resemblance to someone Noir had killed not long ago.

Ihwa, lying on the ground, noticed the man first. She struggled to push herself up, her eyes narrowing in confusion. "Who…?"

Before she could finish, the man's boot slammed down on her stomach with brutal force.

The sound of her ribs cracking echoed through the air, followed by her sharp, agonized cry. Blood spewed from her mouth as her body jolted from the impact.

"Ihwa!" Maki screamed, her voice raw with desperation.

The other three women, despite their exhaustion and injuries, sprang into action. Yuki, Fubuki, and Maki charged at the man without hesitation, their determination burning brighter than their pain.

"You bastard!" Yuki roared, throwing a wild punch at the man's face.

But the man moved with terrifying precision. He sidestepped Yuki's attack, delivering a crushing elbow to her side. She gasped, her body crumpling as she was sent flying into a nearby wall.

Fubuki, using the last of her strength, hurled debris at him with her telekinesis. The man swatted the projectiles away effortlessly, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye. His fist slammed into her stomach, lifting her off the ground before sending her sprawling across the rubble.

Maki, wielding the jagged remains of her shattered staff, aimed for his head. He caught the weapon mid-swing, snapping it in half with a single hand. His foot lashed out in a brutal kick, sending Maki crashing into the already weakened wall. The structure groaned under the impact, cracking further as she slid to the ground, unconscious.

The three women lay motionless, their bodies battered and bloodied.

Noir exhaled a plume of smoke, his expression unchanging. His eyes remained fixed on the man as Zoro stirred awake nearby.

The swordsman sat up, his gaze darting between the fallen women and the imposing figure who now stood before them.

"What the hell's going on?" Zoro muttered, his hand instinctively moving to his swords.

As Zoro stood, drawing his blades, Noir raised a hand to stop him.

"Hold it, moss head," Noir said calmly, his voice carrying a sharp edge.

Zoro frowned, his grip tightening on his swords. "And why the hell shouldn't I cut this guy down?"

Noir stood slowly, flicking the burnt-out cigarette to the ground. His sharp eyes locked onto the man before him.

"That killing intent isn't aimed at you," Noir said, his tone cold. "He's here for me."

The man smiled faintly, a cruel curve of his lips. "You've got good instincts."

Noir's smirk mirrored his. "You've got Gary's face. Let me guess—you're his brother?"

The Marine Captain's smile widened. "Commander Vincent, Marine Headquarters. And you're the bastard who killed my brother."

"Ah, so I did get rid of that trash," Noir said nonchalantly, crossing his arms. "And now you're here to avenge him?"

Vincent's eyes darkened. "Gary may have been reckless, but he was still my brother. And you—" He stepped forward, his aura growing more menacing. "—are going to die for what you did."

Noir smirked, shaking his head slightly. "You talk a lot for a Marine. Is that your strategy? Boring me to death?"

Vincent's patience snapped. His fist shot forward, faster than Noir could react.

The blow connected with Noir's face, sending him flying backward. The wall behind him shattered into rubble as his body crashed through it, tearing through wooden beams and furniture before coming to a halt in the far corner of a ruined house.

As Noir lay amidst the wreckage, coughing out blood, his mind raced. It suddenly clicked why Gary had been able to conduct his slave trade so openly in East Blue.

'So that's it,' Noir thought, pushing himself up from the debris. 'This bastard must've been covering for him. Manipulating reports, making sure the Marines stayed out of Gary's way.'

He wiped the blood from his lip, his sharp eyes narrowing.

'I killed his cash cow. No wonder he's pissed.'

Noir activated his analysis ability, assessing Vincent's stats as the Marine Commander stepped through the rubble, his every movement oozing confidence.

[Name: Vincent]

[Age: 35]

[Title: Grizzly Bear]

[Race: Human]

[Devil Fruit: Kuma Kuma no Mi Model: Grizzly]

[Potential: C] [Awakened]

[Strength: SR+]

[Endurance: SR]

[Durability: SR+]

[Speed: SR]

[Intelligence: B]

[Luck: B]

Noir frowned slightly, brushing the dust from his coat. 'Figures. He's on a whole different level compared to Gary and Morgan'

Vincent cracked his knuckles, a smug grin on his face. "Not so cocky now, are you?"

Noir adjusted his sunglasses, the faint glint in his eyes betraying his excitement.

"Oh, I'm still cocky," Noir replied, his voice calm. He rolled his shoulders, ignoring the sharp pain in his muscles. "But you better not disappoint me, Captain. I've been itching for a real fight."

Vincent's grin faded, replaced by a look of cold determination. "Then I'll make sure this is the last fight you ever have."

Noir smirked, his hands sliding into his pockets as he stepped forward. The air between them crackled with tension, the calm before the inevitable storm.

The stage was set, and the battle between Noir and Vincent was about to begin.

****************

Zoro POV

I stirred awake to the sound of violence. The low thud of impact, the sharp cries of pain, and the faint cracking of bones echoed through the air, pulling me from sleep. It wasn't the first time I'd woken up to chaos, and it sure as hell wouldn't be the last.

Opening one eye, I scanned the scene in front of me. Ihwa was on the ground, blood dribbling from her mouth as she struggled to breathe. Maki wasn't much better—she'd been thrown into a wall, her staff broken into useless splinters. Yuki and Fubuki were sprawled out nearby, battered and barely moving.

What the hell happened while I was out?

I pushed myself up, the familiar weight of my swords comforting as my hand instinctively rested on them. My eyes locked onto the man standing at the center of it all. He was tall, his Marine coat spotless despite the carnage around him. His face was sharp, cold, and completely unfamiliar to me.

Who the hell is this guy?

The women had given it their all, that much was clear. Their wounds told the story of a desperate fight against an opponent far stronger than them. And judging by the smug look on his face, the Marine bastard hadn't even broken a sweat.

I could feel my blood boiling.

My first instinct was to draw my swords and cut him down, but then Noir's voice rang out, calm as always.

"Hold it, moss head."

I glanced over, seeing Noir standing casually against the rubble like he didn't have a care in the world. His cigarette was burning low, the faint trail of smoke curling into the air.

"What the hell, Noir?" I muttered, my hand tightening on my sword. "That guy just beat the crap out of everyone, and you're telling me not to fight him?"

Noir flicked his cigarette to the ground, crushing it under his heel. He adjusted his sunglasses and stepped forward, his sharp eyes locked onto the Marine.

"That killing intent isn't aimed at you," he said, his voice cold and deliberate. "He's here for me."

The Marine smirked, his expression oozing arrogance. "You've got good instincts," he said, his voice calm yet dripping with malice.

Noir smirked back, a faint curve of his lips. "You've got Gary's face. Let me guess—you're his brother?"

Gary? Who the hell is Gary? I didn't recognize the name, but I wasn't about to interrupt. Noir seemed to know exactly who this guy was, and if Noir was taking him seriously, then he was no small fry.

The Marine introduced himself as Vincent Hargrave, a Lieutenant Commander with some pompous title: "Grizzly Bear."

I didn't give a damn about his rank or his name. What mattered was the way he carried himself—calm, confident, and completely certain he'd win.

Noir seemed unfazed, as usual. He made some snide remark about Gary being trash, which only seemed to piss the Marine off more.

Then it happened.

Vincent moved faster than I expected, his fist connecting with Noir's face before I could even blink. The impact sent Noir flying backward, crashing through a wall and into the ruins of a house.

Dust and rubble filled the air, and for a moment, everything was silent.

I instinctively stepped forward, my swords drawn. The Marine was strong—there was no denying that—but so was I. I wasn't about to let Noir handle this guy alone, not when he was still recovering from his fight with Buggy's crew.

But then I stopped, my feet rooted to the ground.

Ihwa's voice echoed in my mind, sharp and clear.

"Noir doesn't like being helped. If you try, he'll kill you first before finishing off his opponent."

Yuki's voice followed, more playful but just as serious. "Yeah, seriously. He's got this whole 'don't interfere with my fights' thing. It's kind of annoying, but you'll get used to it."

Damn it.

I looked toward the wreckage where Noir had landed. The guy was tough—no denying that—but even he wasn't invincible. His shoulder was still messed up, the wound far from healed. If Vincent pressed the attack, Noir would be in trouble.

Still, rushing in wasn't an option. Noir wouldn't let me live it down if I stepped in uninvited.

Through the dust and rubble, I saw Noir emerge. He brushed the debris from his coat, his sunglasses still intact. There was blood dripping from his lip, but his expression hadn't changed. If anything, he looked amused.

That cocky bastard.

Noir adjusted his sunglasses, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "Oh, I'm still cocky," he said, his voice calm.

I couldn't help but chuckle under my breath. Only Noir could take a hit like that and act like it was nothing.

Vincent didn't seem amused. His expression darkened, his muscles tensing as he prepared to attack again.

The air between them was thick with tension, and I knew the fight was about to get serious.

But for now, all I could do was watch.

***************

Noir barely managed to steady himself before Vincent was on him again. The Marine Commander moved with terrifying speed, closing the distance in an instant. His hand shot out, grabbing Noir by the ankle.

"You're too light," Vincent growled, lifting Noir as though he weighed nothing.

With a swift motion, Vincent swung Noir through the air like a ragdoll, slamming him into the wall of a nearby building. The force of the impact sent cracks spiderwebbing across the structure before it collapsed, sending Noir flying through the debris. His body crashed into the neighboring house, smashing through a wooden table before landing hard on the stone floor.

Coughing, Noir wiped the blood from his mouth, his ribs screaming in pain. Yet his grin persisted, sharp and wild.

"Is that all you've got?" he rasped, his voice laced with exhilaration.

Vincent stepped through the wreckage, his towering frame unscathed. "You're still grinning? What's wrong with you?"

Noir chuckled, slowly rising to his feet despite the ache in his ribs. "Wrong? Nothing. This is the best fight I've had in years."

Vincent's gaze darkened, his muscles tensing as he prepared his next attack.

Before Noir could fully stand, Vincent lunged, his fist slamming into Noir's midsection with the force of a battering ram. The blow lifted Noir off his feet, sending him crashing through the remains of the wall and into the streets beyond.

Noir groaned, rolling onto his back as the sky spun above him. Every breath was agony, the broken ribs grinding against each other. But even as blood dripped from his lips, his grin only widened.

"You're insane," Vincent muttered, stepping over the rubble toward him.

Noir pushed himself up onto one knee, panting but defiant. "Maybe. But you're not making this boring, so keep going."

Vincent didn't need a second invitation. He grabbed Noir by the head, his fingers digging into his scalp. With a grunt of effort, he hurled Noir like a projectile, sending him crashing through the roof of another house.

The wood splintered beneath him as Noir smashed through the ceiling, tumbling onto the second floor in a cascade of broken furniture and dust. The force of his landing obliterated the floorboards, sending him plummeting to the ground level.

Noir landed in a heap amidst shattered chairs and a broken table, coughing up blood as he tried to sit up. His body was battered, his clothes torn and bloodied, but his laugh echoed through the wreckage.

"This is perfect," he muttered, his voice hoarse but filled with unrestrained joy.

As Vincent leapt down into the ruined house, Noir staggered to his feet. His movements were sluggish, his body protesting every motion, but his excitement burned brighter than the pain.

With a calm, deliberate motion, Noir removed his sunglasses and set them down on the remains of a shelf. The glint in his eyes was feral, a predator who had found his perfect prey.

"Guess I'll get serious," he said, tear his bloodied shirt and tossing it aside. His torso was riddled with bruises, the evidence of Vincent's brutal assault, but Noir didn't seem to care.

Vincent tilted his head, watching with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. "Taking off your shirt won't make you stronger."

Noir chuckled, cracking his neck as he assumed his stance. "No, but it feels damn good."

The next exchange was as brutal as the last. Noir launched forward, his fist driving toward Vincent's jaw in a perfectly executed Kyokushin Karate strike.

Vincent caught the punch with his palm, his grip like a vice. "Too slow."

Before Noir could react, Vincent twisted his wrist, forcing Noir to his knees with a sickening crack. Noir gritted his teeth, suppressing a scream as the pain shot through his arm.

Vincent's knee came up, slamming into Noir's ribs with enough force to send him skidding backward across the floor. Noir's body slammed into the wall, his ribs burning with every breath.

But even as blood dripped from his mouth, Noir laughed again, his voice raw but full of life.

"You're strong," he said, wiping his chin. "Stronger than I expected."

Vincent's expression remained cold. "You're still grinning. Why?"

Noir smirked, his eyes gleaming with unrestrained excitement. "Because this is exactly what I've been looking for."

Vincent pressed the attack, his fists moving with a speed and precision that seemed impossible for someone of his size. Each blow was a calculated strike meant to destroy, to end the fight.

Noir dodged when he could, his movements fluid and calculated, but Vincent's strength was overwhelming. Every punch and kick Noir managed to land was either deflected, blocked, or shrugged off as though it were nothing.

A spinning roundhouse kick from Noir connected with Vincent's side, but the Marine didn't even flinch. He grabbed Noir's leg mid-spin, slamming him into the ground with enough force to leave a crater.

Noir groaned, his vision blurring as he tried to rise. His ribs felt like they were on fire, the pain radiating through his entire torso. But his grin never wavered.

"This is insane," Vincent muttered, watching as Noir struggled to his feet. "You're half-dead, and yet you keep coming."

Noir wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes locked on Vincent. "That's because I'm having fun. You should try it sometime, bear boy."

Vincent's patience snapped, his fists tightening as he charged forward once more.

Noir barely had time to adjust before Vincent was on him again. The Marine Commander's movements were merciless, each attack calculated to completely incapacitate Noir.

Vincent's fist came down in a devastating arc, slamming into Noir's left arm. The sound of bone cracking echoed through the air, and Noir staggered back, his left arm hanging limp and broken.

"Your body is falling apart, yet your grin is still there. Why?" Vincent demanded, his voice sharp with frustration.

Noir chuckled through clenched teeth, the pain laced with exhilaration. "Because this fight's too damn good to stop now."

Vincent's eyes narrowed, and without a word, he grabbed his head and hurled him through the shattered remains of the building. Noir's body smashed through the wall, tumbling onto the street outside.

The impact left him gasping for air, his vision swimming. Dust filled his lungs as he lay on the ground, his broken arm screaming with pain. But as the shadow of Vincent loomed over him, Noir forced himself to roll to the side just in time to avoid the Marine's descending fist.

The ground where Vincent's punch landed exploded, leaving a crater in the stone street. Noir scrambled to his feet, his grin unwavering even as blood trickled down his face.

"You're making me work for this," he said, his voice hoarse.

Vincent didn't respond. Instead, he blurred forward, his leg snapping out in a high-speed kick aimed at Noir's chest.

Noir braced himself, throwing his good arm forward in a desperate punch to counter the kick. But Vincent was faster. He twisted mid-motion, avoiding Noir's fist and spinning his body into a devastating hook that connected squarely with Noir's face.

The force sent Noir crashing into the ground, his head slamming into the stone with a sickening crunch. Blood pooled beneath him as Vincent stood over his prone form, shaking his head in disdain.

"You're outmatched," Vincent said coldly. He grabbed Noir by the ankle, swinging him like a hammer and slamming him repeatedly into the ground. The sheer brutality left the stone beneath them cracked and broken.

Noir coughed violently, blood spilling from his lips, yet he still grinned. "Is that… all you've got?" he rasped, his voice weak but defiant.

Vincent scowled, his patience wearing thin. He tossed Noir into the air, waiting until he plummeted back down before delivering a monstrous punch that making half his head buried in the ground.

Vincent turned away, his focus shifting to Zoro, Luffy, and Nami, who had been watching the battle unfold. Luffy stood confidently over a defeated Buggy, while Nami clutched a massive haul of treasure, her face pale with fear.

"You're next," Vincent said coldly, walking toward them.

But then, a faint sound reached his ears, stopping him in his tracks.

"What a relief…..a little mistake and I could lose consciousness," came Noir's voice, muffled but unmistakably amused.

*****************

Zoro POV

Noir was still fighting.

The guy was insane—there was no other way to put it. I'd seen him take more hits than anyone should and still grin like a madman.

"Damn it," I muttered to myself, standing up. I carefully gathered the unconscious women one by one, laying them against a nearby intact wall. If Noir was the one taking those hits, the least I could do was keep these idiots out of the way.

As I moved Yuki, a sharp groan escaped her lips. Her eyes fluttered open briefly, pain flashing across her face. "Z-Zoro…" she whispered, her voice weak.

"Stay down," I said gruffly, setting her against the wall. "You've done enough. Let him handle it."

Her gaze flicked toward the battle, terror and guilt mingling in her expression. "He… doesn't… want help…"

"Yeah, I figured."

I adjusted my swords at my hip, scanning the ruins for any sign of the fight. Dust and debris clouded the air, making it hard to see, but the sound of Noir's laughter cut through the chaos.

"What the hell is wrong with him?" I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.

The laughter was closer now. Then, with a deafening crash, Noir's body shot out of a collapsing wall, tumbling onto the stone street like a ragdoll.

I froze, watching as he coughed up blood, his body bent at unnatural angles. He rolled to avoid a punch from his opponent—a towering Marine whose strength rivaled anything I'd seen.

Vincent.

I didn't know much about him, but one thing was clear: this guy was out for blood, and Noir was barely hanging on.

Nami appeared at my side, clutching her haul of treasure. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear as she stared at Noir. "He's… he's going to die," she stammered.

"Shut up," I snapped, my hand instinctively gripping my sword hilt. "He's not dead yet."

Vincent advanced on Noir, his movements deliberate and calculated. Every step radiated confidence, like he knew this fight was over. Noir barely managed to stand, his body swaying, but that damn grin of his was still plastered across his face.

Luffy, standing a few feet away, was silent. Too silent. His straw hat cast a shadow over his face, but I could feel it—his belief.

"You're not going to step in?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.

Luffy didn't look at me. "Noir's not done yet."

I clenched my teeth. This wasn't just a fight—it was a massacre. Noir was strong, but Vincent? He was on another level. I'd seen plenty of monsters in my time, but this Marine was something else.

"Idiot," I muttered, adjusting my stance.

My hand rested on my swords. I could feel the tension in the air, the weight of the decision hanging over me. Ihwa's words echoed in my mind, her warning sharp and clear: Noir doesn't want help. If you step in, he'll kill you before his opponent.

I wasn't scared of Noir, but I wasn't stupid either. This fight was personal, and stepping in wouldn't just piss him off—it would rob him of whatever twisted joy he was getting from this battle.

"What's wrong with him?" Nami whispered, her voice trembling.

"Hell if I know," I replied.

The ground shook from the impact. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring my view, but I could still hear Vincent's voice, cold and merciless.

"Noir!!"

Noir didn't respond immediately. Then, with a voice that was barely more than a rasp, he said, "What a relief…"

The dust cleared further, revealing Noir's face half-buried in the ground, his body battered and broken.

"…a little mistake, and I could lose consciousness," he finished, his tone almost amused.

I stared, my hand tightening on my sword hilt. That bastard wasn't just fighting—he was enjoying this.

And somehow, despite everything, I couldn't help but smirk. Noir really was a monster.

**************

Luffy POV

The moment Buggy soared into the sky, flailing helplessly, I couldn't help but grin. My Gomu Gomu no Bazooka had sent the clown captain rocketing far beyond the clouds, his obnoxious laughter finally silenced.

"Guess that takes care of him," I muttered, dusting my hands off.

I turned to Nami, who was frantically securing her haul of treasure into two massive bundles. Her face was pale, and her eyes darted around nervously. Not far from her, Zoro crouched near the unconscious women, carefully moving them to a safer spot.

"Oi, Nami, stop shaking. Buggy's not coming back anytime soon," I said, my voice lighthearted.

But she didn't answer. Her gaze was locked on something else entirely.

It was then that I heard it again—the thunderous sound of fists meeting flesh, of stone shattering under the weight of a brutal impact. My grin faded, and I looked toward the source of the noise.

Noir.

He'd been fighting since before I finished with Buggy, but now the intensity of his battle had grown so much that the ground beneath us seemed to tremble. Dust and debris clouded the air, and Vincent's towering figure moved like a predator through the chaos.

Noir, though, was something else. Even as his body was slammed into walls, thrown through buildings, and crushed beneath Vincent's monstrous strength, he never stopped grinning.

"Oi, Zoro," I called out, my eyes glued to the scene.

The swordsman didn't look at me. He was too busy shifting Ihwa into a more comfortable position, her bloodied face barely visible beneath her tangled hair.

"I see it," he replied curtly.

"Then why aren't you helping him?" Nami's voice was sharp, trembling with panic.

Zoro glanced at her, his expression as cold as ever. "Because he doesn't want it."

"What?!" Nami's voice rose, her hands tightening on the treasure bundles. "He's going to die if we don't do something!"

"Noir doesn't die," Zoro said, standing up and resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. "He's too stubborn for that."

I didn't say anything. My eyes were fixed on Noir as Vincent's fist connected with his side, the sickening crack of broken ribs audible even from here. Noir's body flew through the air, skidding to a halt in a pile of rubble.

Despite everything, he laughed.

That laugh. It wasn't just a laugh—it was something wild, something feral. It was the sound of someone who had nothing left to lose, who lived for the chaos of the fight.

"Crazy bastard," Zoro muttered under his breath, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

I stepped forward, ignoring Nami's protests. My sandals crunched against the broken stone as I approached the edge of the ruined street. Noir was down again, his body battered and broken, but his grin hadn't faltered.

Vincent loomed over him, his massive frame casting a shadow over Noir's bloodied form.

"You're outmatched," Vincent said coldly, his voice echoing through the ruins. He grabbed Noir by the ankle, swinging him like a weapon and slamming him into the ground repeatedly. The sheer brutality of it made Nami gasp, her hands flying to her mouth.

But I didn't move.

"You're not going to stop this?" Nami's voice was almost a whisper, filled with disbelief.

I didn't answer right away. Instead, I watched as Vincent delivered another devastating punch, leaving half of Noir's head buried in the ground. The dust settled, and for a moment, everything was silent.

Then, from the rubble, Noir's voice emerged, faint but clear.

"What a relief… a little mistake, and I could lose consciousness."

My grin returned.

"That's why," I said, finally answering Nami's question. "Noir isn't just a fighter."

Nami looked at me, her confusion and fear evident.

"He's our monster," I said simply, my tone filled with certainty.

Zoro chuckled at that, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall. "Couldn't have said it better myself."

Because no matter how much blood he lost, no matter how broken his body became, Noir wasn't done. Not yet.