Side Story: Zoro and Kuina's Promise

The first World Swordsman Tournament of the New Era was held on an island in the middle of the new sea route.

That island was originally just a newly formed piece of land that was lifted up by ocean currents after the collapse of the Red Line.

But now, the island is filled with flags from all over the world.

Swordsman of the East Blue.

The Iai school of the West Blue.

The swordsmen who guard the various countries of the New World.

Many veteran swordsmen who had been in seclusion for years have even returned to the world in pursuit of the title of "World's Greatest Swordsman".

Everyone knows.

This tournament was no ordinary martial arts competition.

Because the man sitting in the highest stand was Jora Mihawk.

--The World's Greatest Swordsman.

Black Blade Night stood quietly beside him.

He simply sat there, and not a single swordsman in the entire hall dared to make a sound.

Roy sat to the side, lazily propping his chin up, looking down at the densely packed swordsmen below.

"It's so lively!"

Mihawk did not turn around.

"The New Era has reopened the seas, and swordsmen naturally need to re-evaluate their own paths."

Roy smiled.

To put it bluntly, a group of people want to kill you.

Mihawk's gaze remained calm.

"Let's talk when they come up to me."

On the other side of the stands.

Koshiro sat there, still wearing his Glasses, his expression gentle.

His gaze was fixed on the center of the field.

There, a green-haired youth was slowly drawing his sword.

Three knives.

I took a big bite out of it.

Both are firmly in my grasp.

Roronoa Zoro.

The defiant brat from Shimotsuki Village has now grown into a great swordsman who commands the world's attention.

Meanwhile, on the other advancement route, a woman in a white taekwondo uniform was also entering the arena with a sword in hand.

Kuina.

His black hair was tied back, and his eyes were cold and clear, yet they held a sharpness honed through life and death that he had developed since his youth.

What's even more remarkable is that her skin is so white it's almost translucent.

A hint of dark red occasionally flashed deep within his pupils.

Now, she is no longer the girl whose life was broken by fate.

She took her sword with her own hands and walked here with her own hands.

Tashigi stood at the edge of the audience seats, looking at Kuina with a complicated expression.

The face that was so similar to hers left her stunned for a long time when she first saw it.

But now, all she sees is admiration.

Because she knew that the woman was no one's shadow.

She is Kuina, a swordswoman who fought her way here with her own sword.

The conference progressed smoothly.

Zoro's fighting style is simple.

Cut.

Cut it again.

The formidable enemies standing in his way included those with elegant swordsmanship, those with Haki auras, and those with unpredictable Devil Fruit abilities.

But Zoro never takes detours; he's like a Beast that bites its prey and never lets go.

Each time he drew his sword, he was more ferocious than the last.

"Three-Sword Style: Purgatory Oni Giri!"

Black sword energy tore through the arena.

The opponent fell to the ground.

The entire room fell silent.

On the other hand, Kuina's battle was completely different.

Her sword was extremely steady, as steady as a straight line.

No matter how her opponent changes, she can always anticipate and exploit their weaknesses.

But she never relied solely on the fruit to brute force her way through.

Every victory was won with the sword.

Mihawk looked at her, a flicker of emotion crossing his eyes.

"Good."

Roy paused.

If you say it's good, then it really is good.

Mihawk said calmly, "Her sword held resentment."

"There is an answer."

Roy looked at Zoro on the other side.

"Where's that kid?"

Mihawk paused for a moment.

"His sword holds only one path."

"Forward."

Finally.

As the setting sun bathed the entire island in golden-red hues, the finalists were determined.

Roronoa Zoro.

Right.

Kuina.

All the swordsmen around the arena fell silent.

Koshiro slowly took off his Glasses and wiped the lenses.

No one knows what he's thinking right now.

Perhaps it was because he was reminded of that small dojo in Shimotsuki Village.

I remember the two children wielding their swords time and time again.

I remember that night.

I also thought of my daughter, who should have been taken away by fate, but who finally stood here again.

Zoro stood to one side of the arena, his three swords slowly unsheathed.

He looked at Kuina and grinned.

"I've been waiting for this day for a long time."

Kuina gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, his image reflected in her dark red pupils.

"Me too."

"Zoro."

"Don't lose too badly this time."

Zoro's smile widened.

"That's what I should be saying."

The next moment.

The two disappeared at the same time.

"Clang--!"

Blades clashed.

A terrifying shockwave exploded instantly, and the surface of the arena cracked inch by inch.

Zoro's Three-Sword Style surged forward with ferocious force, his swordsmanship as swift as a demon's stride, each strike vicious and giving his opponent no chance to breathe.

Kuina moved with a light and graceful figure, her black hair fluttering in the wind.

She did not back down.

One sword.

First block.

One turn.

One press.

Her sword seemed to always find the slightest opening when Zoro shifted his power.

"Three-Sword Style: Black Rope Dragon Twister!"

The violent sword energy transformed into a tornado and ascended into the sky.

Kuina's dark red wings suddenly unfurled, leaving a trail of afterimages in the air.

"Moon Shadow Style - Bloodwing Return!"

The crimson sword light sliced in from the side of the tornado.

"Boom!"

The two sword energies exploded simultaneously.

Stone fragments flew everywhere, and the swordsmen watching the battle retreated in disarray.

Tashigi gripped the hilt of her knife tightly, holding her breath.

"So strong..."

Roy had been leaning back lazily in his chair.

Upon seeing this, he finally sat up a little straighter.

"That's interesting."

Mihawk's gaze deepened.

"They've already found the door."

The battle raged from dusk until nightfall.

Zoro had several bloody wounds on his body.

Kuina's white taekwondo uniform was also torn by the sword energy, and beads of blood rolled down her shoulder.

Soon, the wounds slowly healed thanks to the regenerative abilities of the Mythical Zoan.

But her breathing became noticeably heavier.

The Vampire Form possesses astonishing regenerative abilities, but this comes at a price.

Zoro wasn't having an easy time either.

His arm was numb, and blood was trickling from the corner of his mouth.

But his eyes grew brighter and brighter, the kind of eyes that look when someone is about to risk everything.

Kuina understood, and she smiled softly.

"Is it coming?"

Zoro bit down hard on the knife in his mouth.

"Um."

Kuina gripped the swords with both hands, a dark red aura swirling around their blades.

"Then let's go."

A night breeze blew by, and the entire place was so quiet that only the two of them could be heard breathing.

The next moment.

Zoro unleashed a flurry of three sword strikes.

Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki intertwined on the blades, and black and red Inazuma danced across the three swords.

"Nine mountains and eight seas, without end—"

Kuina's wings fully unfolded.

Under the moonlight, she resembled a vampire queen who had stepped out of an ancient legend.

The sword's edge was stained with blood.

"Lunar Eclipse-- "

The two of them simultaneously shattered the ground.

"Shura!"

Heavenly Burial!

"Boom--!"

Sword energy shot into the sky, tearing through the clouds, and the entire arena shattered in an instant.

Smoke and dust obscured all visibility.

Countless swordsmen stood up, staring intently at the arena.

Much later.

The smoke and dust cleared.

Zoro knelt on one knee amidst the rubble, his body supported by three swords, his chest heaving violently.

Kuina stood opposite him, the tip of her knife pressed against the ground.

The wound on her shoulder reopened, and blood dripped down her arm.

The two stared at each other across the broken arena.

No one spoke.

The next second.

The knife in Kuina's hand trembled slightly.

She took half a step back.

Kneel on one knee.

The outcome is decided.

Zoro won by a narrow margin.

A moment of silence fell over the room.

Then, a deafening roar of cheers erupted.

Tashigi's eyes reddened.

Koshiro closed his eyes, a satisfied smile appearing on his lips.

Mihawk looked at Zoro and slowly stood up.

"Very good."

Roy smiled too.

"This kid has finally made it this far."

In the center of the arena.

Zoro, however, did not immediately cheer.

He stared blankly at Kuina.

She gripped her sword and fought him all the way to the end of the Swordsmanship.

Zoro suddenly didn't know what to say.

"Kuina..."

He had just opened his mouth.

Kuina suddenly looked up.

The next instant, she appeared in front of Zoro in Flash.

Zoro's pupils suddenly contracted.

Olala~

Before he could react, Kuina had already tiptoed and gently kissed the corner of his lips.

Time seemed to stand still, and Zoro froze on the spot.

The three knives nearly fell to the ground, causing an uproar in the audience.

"They kissed?!"

"She kissed him?!"

"The finals of the World Swordsman Tournament can be like this?!"

Tashigi covered her mouth with both hands, her cheeks flushed red.

Koshiro's hand holding the tea trembled slightly, leaving Roy dumbfounded.

Then, he laughed so hard his shoulders shook.

"This is much more exciting than the final."

Mihawk remained silent for a moment, then quietly sat back down.

Kuina took two steps back, putting her hands behind her back.

The moonlight fell on her face.

She turned to look at Zoro.

His dark red pupils held a bright smile he had never seen before.

"Zoro."

I'm really looking forward to it--

"The woman who will become the World's Strongest Swordsman ~"

Zoro's face turned red from his neck all the way to his ears.

"What the hell are you saying, you bastard?!"

Kuina turned around with a smile.

Wings gently unfurled behind him.

The night breeze ruffled her black hair.

She offered no further explanation.

He simply picked up his knife and walked out of the arena.

Zoro stood there, looking as if he had been struck by lightning.

After a long while.

He looked down at the knife in his hand, gritted his teeth, and whispered:

"The World's Strongest Swordsman...?"

"Then I absolutely cannot lose."

In the distance, Mihawk's calm voice drifted over.

"Roronoa Zoro."

Zoro looked up and Hawk-Eye already standing in front of the highest arena.

The Black Blade, Night, was slowly drawn from its sheath.

"You won the final."

"But we still need one last battle to reach the World's Strongest."

Zoro's eyes blazed instantly.

Kuina stopped and turned to look at him.

Roy sat in the stands, picked up his teacup again, and smiled meaningfully.

Under the cover of night.

Zoro slowly put on his bandana and gripped his three swords tightly.

Before him stood the World's Greatest Swordsman.

Behind him was the woman Promise her life to him.

The wind blows across the islands along the new sea route.

The sound of swords clashing rang out once more.

The story of the swordsmen of the New Era is far from over.