The pressure of the World's Greatest Swordsman!
Against Zoro and Kuina, who had already mastered Armament Haki and Observation Haki, the "Human Imitation" Baboon army was almost powerless to fight back.
"Whoosh!"
"Clang!"
Swords flashed, and sparks flew through the dense forest.
Kuina's Wado Ichimonji drew a cold, sharp arc, each strike precisely striking the enemy;
Zoro unleashed three sword strikes simultaneously, a perfect combination of power and speed, slicing away one Baboon after another!
"Boom!!"
The last Baboon was sent flying by Kuina's sharp blade, crashing into a giant tree before losing consciousness.
The entire dense forest finally returned to silence, with only the sound of rapid breathing echoing through the woods.
Chopper slumped to the ground, patting his chest and panting, "Phew... finally, it's over..."
"Chopper, you don't seem to have done anything~" Kuina chuckled.
"What?!!"
However, just as she breathed a sigh of relief—
"Roar!!"
A deafening roar came from the depths of the dense forest, shaking the ground violently!
"Bang! Bang! Bang--!"
Accompanied by heavy footsteps, a tall and imposing figure slowly emerged from the shadows.
It was a Baboon King nearly three meters tall! Its muscles were as bulging as rocks, covered with old scars, its eyes were blood red, and it held a giant longsword in its hand, the blade of which gleamed with a cold light.
With each step it took, the earth trembled slightly, and a sense of oppression enveloped the three of them as if it were a tangible force.
Zoro's lips slowly curled into a hunter's smile, "This one is mine!"
"Roar!" The Baboon King raised his long sword high and slashed down fiercely!
"Whoosh!"
The blade's wind was like a raging hurricane, instantly bending the vegetation along its path, its sharpness aimed directly at Zoro!
"Clang--!"
Instead of retreating, Zoro advanced, raising all three swords simultaneously to meet the attack head-on!
The pure force clashed, the deafening sound of metal exploding, sparks flying.
The ground beneath Zoro's feet cracked, but his eyes gleamed with even greater excitement.
"This swordsmanship... it's not just Beast instinct; it's definitely imitating a true swordsman!"
Zoro made up his mind instantly, a knife dangling from his lips, and said lightly, "Since that's the case—"
"I don't need to Haki!"
"I'll defeat you with just my swordsmanship!!"
Kuina was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but then she understood his intention.
She slowly sheathed her sword and stood aside, quietly watching the battle, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Chopper, pounding his little hooves in excitement, his eyes shining, yelled, "Zoro!! Go for it!!"
The battle has suddenly escalated!
The Baboon King's longsword whistled through his hand, its momentum like a raging storm, each strike carrying an oppressive force capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks.
The blade stirred the air currents, whipping up large swaths of fallen leaves, sweeping through the dense forest like a raging hurricane!
Zoro's figure flickered like a phantom, his three swords intertwining, each block producing a crisp metallic clang, and the powerful Shockwaves shattering the surrounding leaves.
"Clang! Clang! Clang--!"
After dozens of rounds, the two sides exchanged blows, their fierce blades clashing in the forest, sparks flying, and even leaving deep sword marks.
"Roar!!"
The Baboon King roared, its eyes burning with fighting spirit, and its longsword suddenly unleashed power, swinging out in a strange arc.
The swordplay carried a profound sword intent, seemingly imitating the skills of a human swordsman!
Zoro's pupils contracted, and his heart skipped a beat. "This move... is the 'Three-Sword Style: Tiger Hunt' I used before?!"
"Whoosh--!"
The next instant, the Baboon King perfectly imitated Zoro's sword style, unleashing a three-stage combo with overwhelming force, the blade whistling as it arrived!
Zoro's fighting spirit surged. "I see... He can imitate other people's moves? Interesting!!"
His feet staggered, his body suddenly plummeted, and the swirling wind of the blade instantly coalesced into a violent aura:
"Three-Sword Style: Tornado!!"
"Boom--!"
A sudden gust of wind arose, and the blades swirled like a tornado, lifting the Baboon King's longsword high into the air.
But the Baboon King did not give up. He shifted his weight, slammed his palms against the ground, and gripped his long sword in mid-air.
In an instant, he adopted the exact same starting stance as Zoro, attempting to replicate the trajectory of "Tornado" once again!
Zoro was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "You can even learn this move?!"
He did not back down. Instead, he took a step forward, and with a chorus of three swords, he unleashed a thunderous strike!
"Clang--!"
The Twin Dragons clashed, their blades so fierce they severed the surrounding trees at the roots! The shockwaves kicked up dust, forcing Chopper to retreat repeatedly.
After the fierce collision, the Baboon King's figure was swallowed up by the wind of the blades, and its ferocious imitation was finally shattered!
"Bang!!"
A dull thud rang out as the Baboon King was struck hard by the back of Zoro's sword, its massive body slamming into the ground, sending dirt and rocks flying everywhere.
"Roar..."
It tried to get up again, but its strength was exhausted, and the long sword had already slipped from its grasp. It could only let out a low, unwilling roar as it braced itself on its arms.
Zoro slowly sheathed his sword, his shoulders heaving slightly, but his eyes still burned with excitement. "Not bad..."
"Able to mimic the opponent's moves during combat."
He smirked. "But to become a true swordsman... you're still a long way off."
The dust of the battle finally settled, Baboon King collapsed to the ground, his chest heaving violently, having lost his will to fight.
Zoro exhaled a long breath, his bangs sticking to his cheeks with sweat.
Kuina stepped forward slowly, her gaze still wary. "Is it resolved?"
Chopper plopped down on the ground, his hooves on his chest, panting heavily. "Phew... it's finally over..."
Before he finished speaking, the surrounding air suddenly froze.
"Boom--"
An invisible force pressed down like a tsunami!
The wind in the dense forest stopped instantly, birds and beasts took flight in fright, and even the leaves in the distance seemed to be nailed to the air.
Chopper shuddered, a trembling sound escaping his throat, "W-what... what terrifying aura is this?!"
Kuina's expression changed drastically, and her heart pounded like a drum.
She was already able to use Observation Haki, but she found that her senses were completely crushed by the pressure of the sword, as if only a sharp and incomparable blade remained in the world!
Zoro slowly raised his head, his breathing slightly labored.
He felt the entire world compelling him to draw his sword.
That wasn't Haki, but a sword pressure that was even purer and more intense than Haki!
"Thump... thump... thump..."
The steady, slow footsteps came from the depths of the dense forest, each step seeming to strike the hearts of the three.
The Baboon King suddenly stood up, but instead of raising his knife again, he lowered his head and retreated to the side, trembling.
Even the horde of ferocious Baboons dared not make a sound, and all prostrated themselves on the ground.
Kuina's gaze was fixed on the direction of the sound, and her hand quietly moved to the hilt of her knife.
Zoro also clenched his teeth, the hilts of his three swords trembling slightly in his palms, but he did not draw his swords immediately.
That aura told him—
If you act recklessly, you will be crushed in an instant!
The shadows of the trees were slowly parted, and a figure in wine red emerged from the forest.
The man wore a dark-patterned shirt, and his golden eagle eyes were cold and sharp, as if they could see through all illusions.
Behind him, the long Black Blade "Night" was silently carried, yet it was sharper than any unsheathed weapon.
The World's Greatest Swordsman, Shichibukai, Jora Mihawk.
They are slowly walking into this Battlefield.
His steps were unhurried, but each step made the atmosphere of the entire forest heavier, as if the air itself was being Cut sharp edges.
Mihawk's gaze swept over the fallen Baboon King, then lingered on Zoro and Kuina:
"Roy was talking about 'two promising talents'..."
"Is it you guys?"
His voice was calm, yet every word was like a sharp blade, piercing straight into the depths of the soul.
Zoro's Adam's apple bobbed, his fists clenched silently, and his fighting spirit burned fiercely within him, yet at the same time he felt an irresistible pressure.
This was the first time Kuina had faced the aura of the pinnacle of swordsmanship, and a long-lost sense of awe and longing welled up within her.
The figure of the World's Greatest Swordsman slowly came to a stop in front of them.
(P. S.: I'd love to receive some free little gifts!)