The Swordsman's Trial Ground!

Outside the bar, Jozu gritted his teeth and growled, "Mr. Rayleigh... why?!"

Vista gripped his twin swords tightly, his eyes grave. "It seems he doesn't want to get involved."

"Then we'll rely on ourselves!" Jozu roared, "Rescue Marco!!"

The two charged at Luffy and Ace again, reigniting the battle!

Just as the fierce battle raged in the Sabaody Archipelago, three uninvited guests arrived on Kuraigana Island.

The Warship slowly docked at the edge of the island. The eerie, dense forest, like a gaping maw, breathed in and out damp mist, and a strange sense of oppression filled the air.

Zoro, with three swords slung across his waist and his feet firmly planted on the soft sand, frowned slightly. "Brother Roy sent us here, saying there was a worthy opponent? This place looks like an abandoned Onigashima."

Kuina's slender hand lightly rested on the hilt of her knife, her sharp gaze sweeping across the surroundings. Not a single bird's chirp, not a single rustle of leaf escaped her notice.

"His arrangements are never without purpose... I can sense an unusual sense of oppression on this island."

Behind him, tiny Chopper came running down, panting, his little blue nose wet. "Zoro, Kuina... wait for me! This place is scary..."

Zoro scoffed, "What's there to be afraid of? I'm here."

Kuina glanced at him and coldly warned, "Don't be careless; danger may not be just on the surface."

After a brief discussion, the three slowly stepped onto the island.

Kuraigana Island - Deep in the Jungle

"Roar--!"

A muffled roar suddenly shattered the silence, causing the branches and leaves to rustle and startling a flock of Crows into flight.

Zoro and Kuina stood back to back, their hands on their sword hilts, while Chopper, standing between them, trembled uncontrollably. "W-What was that sound?!"

"Whoosh!"

A dark figure suddenly swooped down from the treetops, hurtling straight towards them with a whooshing sound!

Kuina's eyes flashed, Wado Ichimonji was drawn with Inazuma!

"Clang--!"

The blade clashed violently with the massive weapon, sparks exploding and a deafening clang of metal echoing through the forest.

With a flick of her wrist, Kuina unleashed a backhand slash like a flowing moon, sending the dark figure flying several meters away!

"Bang!"

The dark shadow slammed heavily against the roots of a Mangrove, emitting a low, angry roar.

The three of them looked closely and their expressions changed slightly. It was a baboon covered in thick leather armor and wielding a giant Baboon!

"A Baboon?!" Chopper's jaw nearly dropped to the ground. "He... he can use a knife?!"

Zoro's lips slowly curled into a smile, a fighting spirit burning in his eyes. "... Interesting."

"Rustle--!"

Suddenly, the surrounding bushes shook violently, and dozens of Baboons emerged from all directions!

They are tall, move in unison, and have fierce eyes like well-trained warriors.

Some wielded heavy greatswords, some held long axes, and others held two short knives. The blades flashed coldly in the dense forest, instantly surrounding the three.

Chopper was so startled that he immediately crouched down, his ears twitching. "W-so many?! What do we do?!"

Zoro grinned, biting down hard on his third sword, his voice trembling with excitement. "Perfect timing!!"

"Three-Sword Style: Oni Giri!!"

"Whoosh--!"

Zoro's figure was like a tearing whirlwind, his three swords flashing like ghostly light as he sped through the Baboon horde.

The clang of metal against metal echoed wave after wave, and in an instant, the three Baboons were sent flying by the violent sword energy!

However, the Baboons that were knocked down were just the tip of the Iceburg; many more fearless Baboons roared in unison and pounced on the three of them...

Zoro grew increasingly astonished during the fierce battle, his three swords twirling like the wind. "These guys... they actually know swordsmanship?!"

"Whoosh--!"

A large Baboon suddenly slashed in from the side, its samurai sword gleaming coldly, its sword strike clean and swift, aiming straight for Zoro's throat with a whistling wind!

Zoro's eyes sharpened, and he leaned back slightly, narrowly avoiding the attack. At the same time, he swung his sword in a backhand motion, unleashing a dull thud as metal clashed, sending his opponent flying dozens of steps!

"You even know 'thrust'?!" A smirk appeared on his lips, his fighting spirit growing even stronger.

On the other side, Kuina stood close to Chopper, the Wado Ichimonji flowing between her fingertips, the sword light surging like a flowing spring, surrounding the two of them, and successively slaying several Baboons that tried to get close.

She frowned slightly and analyzed in a cold voice, "Their attacks... are not the instincts of Beasts. These are movements trained by swordsmen."

Chopper's eyes widened, his voice trembling. "Teach... teach Baboon to fight? Who would be so bored as to do something like that?!"

"Bang!!"

A baboon wielding a battle Baboon charged at her. Kuina's eyes turned cold, and her blade flashed. A sharp slash sent the Baboon flying. It crashed heavily into a tree trunk with a loud bang and then passed out.

But the loud noise seemed to be a signal, and the Baboons from all directions instantly went berserk, surging forward like a tidal Impact, with countless flashes of swords and axes rushing towards the three of them.

Kuina's steps were steady, her fingers tightening slightly around the knife. "It seems this is just the beginning..."

Meanwhile, inside the ancient Castle in the center of the island

The Castle hall was so quiet that you could hear the ticking of the clock on the wall.

Sunlight streamed through the towering arched windows, landing on the gently swaying wooden rocking chair in the center of the hall.

Jora Mihawk leaned back slightly in his chair, the cuffs of his burgundy patterned shirt slightly loosened, his short black hair slightly disheveled, and his angular jawline covered with a neatly trimmed short beard.

Those sharp, golden eyes, like those of an eagle, were fixed on a crumpled letter.

The letter was written in a crooked and illegible handwriting, completely lacking any of the politeness expected of a letter.

Oi~ I'm Roy.

I sent two promising swordsmen over to you to train with, to help me develop their skills.

P. S.: Don't kill him, or I'll come and beat you up.

"Smack--"

Mihawk's long, slender fingers trembled slightly, causing the paper to shake.

His eyes twitched slightly, a flash of anger Flash his brows, and his lips pressed down slightly in impatience.

"That bastard..."

"How dare you order me around like that?"

A low, cold snort echoed in the empty hall.

He had originally intended to throw the letter directly into the fireplace, but stopped a second later.

Roy's bizarre and unsolvable Teleportation ability, and his terrifying power to easily change the course of the Battlefield, flashed through his mind.

After a moment of silence, Mihawk suddenly chuckled, his shoulders relaxed slightly, and the anger in his eyes slowly dissipated, replaced by a long-lost hunter's interest.

"... never mind."

He gently placed the letter on the table, his hawk-like eyes narrowing slightly. "'Two promising swordsmen'?"

He slowly put down the letter, flicked the paper lightly with his fingertip, and the letter trembled slightly in the wind.

Mihawk rose from the rocking chair and stepped toward the Castle's enormous French windows.

Outside the window, the sea breeze, carrying the damp scent of the forest, wafted into the room, with a faint, salty smell.

The trees in the distance swayed gently in the wind, as if whispering secrets.

He raised his wine glass, his sharp, golden eyes, like those of a hawk, piercing through the layers of jungle, as if he could already see the swordsman stepping onto the island.

"If I'm just being used to hone a few good-for-nothings, I'll throw them back into the sea without hesitation."

He slowly set down his wine glass, turned and walked to the weapon rack, reaching out to take down the jet- Black Blade, as deep and dark as the night sky—[Night].

The moment the blade was drawn, a deep clang seemed to echo in the air, as if sensing the fighting spirit surging within its master.

Mihawk held the knife in one hand, slowly raising it, his fingertips lightly tracing the cold back of the blade. His hawk-like eyes grew colder inch by inch, radiating an incomparably sharp sword pressure.

Roy,

His voice was deep and resonant, like Razor slicing through the silent night sky.

You'd better not have misjudged him.