Chapter 18: The Octopus's Blade Dance and the Saw-Tooth Gauntlet
[SYSTEM MISSION: CONFRONT ARLONG'S LIEUTENANTS. RECOMMENDED ACTION: ENGINEER DEATH. ACQUISITION: SIX-SWORD STYLE (UPGRADE) / DEXTERITY. SECONDARY GOAL: RELIEVE CREW MEMBERS.]
"Hatchan. The octopus swordsman. Six swords! This is exactly the kind of unique combat style I need to add to my repertoire. 'Six-Sword Style' would be amazing, allowing me to fight with multiple weapons like Zoro. Or 'Dexterity' for overall agility. I need to make sure he hits me with all six blades, a true overwhelming onslaught. Time to dance with an octopus, and then promptly get sliced and diced like calamari."
The assault on Arlong Park erupted into a furious free-for-all. Luffy charged directly for Arlong, Usopp tried to find a sniping position, Sanji dove into the submerged areas to deal with the water-based threats, and Zoro, predictably, sought out the strongest opponent. As Zoro faced off against the eccentric, six-armed Fish-Man, Hatchan, the air crackled with the clash of blades.
Hatchan, with his unique Six-Sword Style (Rokutoryu), was a formidable opponent, his multiple blades a blur of steel. Zoro, still recovering from Mihawk's devastating attack, was pushing himself to his limits. Seeing Zoro struggle, and recognizing the unique opportunity, my compass pulsed towards Hatchan. A system prompt followed, detailing the next acquisition.
[SYSTEM MISSION: CONFRONT ARLONG'S LIEUTENANTS. RECOMMENDED ACTION: ENGINEER DEATH. ACQUISITION: SIX-SWORD STYLE (UPGRADE) / DEXTERITY. SECONDARY GOAL: RELIEVE CREW MEMBERS.]
"Hatchan's Rokutoryu! This is a rare one. A style that requires immense coordination and speed. 'Six-Sword Style' itself would be a huge leap, or 'Dexterity' as a general improvement. I need to make sure he brings all six blades to bear, a true, overwhelming display of his technique. This isn't just about getting sliced; it's about understanding the flow of multiple blades. Time to get a close-up lesson in octopus choreography."
"Zoro, need a hand?" I called out, jumping into the fray, strategically positioning myself near Hatchan.
Zoro grunted, parrying a flurry of blows. "Stay out of the way, Adam! This is my fight!"
"Oh, but this looks like so much fun!" I countered, sidestepping one of Hatchan's blades with my Pussyfoot Maneuver. "And I've always wanted to learn a new dance! Something with more... limbs."
Hatchan, distracted by my taunts, briefly shifted his focus from Zoro. "Another foolish human! My Rokutoryu will turn you into sashimi!" He lunged, his six blades whirling like a deadly cyclone.
"Now! I need to let him connect with all of them. A full-body engagement. My Chop-Chop Fruit will protect me from being completely dismembered, but the sheer force and number of impacts will be overwhelming. This is about total, overwhelming, multi-directional attack."
I deliberately moved into the path of his onslaught, spreading my limbs, my Chop-Chop Fruit abilities allowing my body to split and rejoin to lessen the impact of individual blades, but the sheer speed and volume of his six-blade attack were too much. Blades crisscrossed over me, hitting every part of my body simultaneously. I felt the sharp, concussive force of his heavy blades striking my rubbery skin, some parts of my body detaching briefly, only to be hammered back together by subsequent blows. It wasn't a clean cut; it was a brutal, multi-faceted pulverization, like being caught in a meat grinder. The cumulative trauma, the rapid-fire impacts, the sheer, relentless assault from six different directions, shattered my perception. My consciousness spiraled, unable to process the simultaneous impacts. The last sensation was the relentless, overwhelming force of his unique style.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: DEATH RECORDED. KILLER: HATCHAN (ROKUTORYU). ABILITY ACQUIRED: SIX-SWORD STYLE (MINOR). REVIVAL INITIATING. PLEASE WAIT.]
"Six-Sword Style (Minor)! Incredible! I can feel it – an innate understanding of how to wield multiple weapons, how to coordinate independent movements. This is going to be so much fun. Imagine what I can do with this when I get a few more swords! Time for the grand re-entrance. And to show Hatchan what a truly coordinated multi-attack looks like."
I gasped, sitting up, perfectly whole and unharmed amidst the chaos of Zoro and Hatchan's battle. My body felt… oddly coordinated, as if each limb had its own distinct awareness, capable of independent action. My hands instinctively twitched, feeling a phantom weight of multiple blades.
Hatchan, who had been gloating over my (briefly) defeated form, shrieked, nearly dropping his swords. "You're alive?! How many times do I have to cut you?! You're not even bleeding!"
"My dear octopus friend," I said, standing up and stretching, a wide, triumphant grin on my face. "That was a truly magnificent display of choreography! Six swords! Bravo! But you missed one crucial detail: I'm immune to permanent dismemberment. And now, thanks to your generous lesson, I'm also a little bit better at wielding… multiple things at once." I then picked up two discarded Marine cutlasses from the ground with surprising fluidity, holding one in each hand, my movements feeling incredibly natural. My right foot instinctively twitched, almost as if it wanted a sword too. "This is going to be incredibly useful!"
Zoro, who had been watching the exchange, merely shook his head, a hint of awe in his eyes. "You're truly ridiculous, Adam."
"Only for educational purposes, my friend!" I retorted, then charged back into the fray, testing my new ability. I wasn't as skilled as Hatchan, but the intuitive coordination allowed me to block, parry, and even launch two simultaneous, fluid attacks that surprised the octopus Fish-Man. I was clumsy, but effective, creating openings for Zoro.
Hatchan, now thoroughly rattled by my resurrection and my mimicking his style, found himself on the defensive. My bizarre combat style, combining Chop-Chop with my newfound multi-weapon coordination, was enough to throw him off balance, allowing Zoro to land a decisive blow.
With Hatchan defeated, the Straw Hats pressed their advantage. My abilities were growing, not just in power, but in versatility, making me an increasingly unpredictable force in combat. The path to Arlong was clearer than ever.