Zoro VS Can Yue

Curious residents packed the square, surrounding it completely.

"What's happening?"

"Looks like they're about to fight."

"Why would they fight? Didn't they save us together?"

"Word on the street is they're pirates!"

"Knowing how pirates are, could it be...?"

"The winner of the duel will keep ruling us?"

"Tsk—we just escaped Morgan's cruel rule, and now we're about to be enslaved by pirates again?"

A wave of panic spread through the watching crowd. Some were already trying to flee.

The Lieutenant Colonel saw this scene and asked Koby beside him.

"What are they doing?"

Koby sighed helplessly.

"Mr. Zoro took the initiative to spar with Big Brother Can Yue, and Mr. Luffy isn't stopping him—he's just calling it interesting. These three are really messing around."

The Lieutenant Colonel understood immediately.

This must be a spar between swordsmen.

Those swordsmen loved nothing more than settling who was stronger!

"How childish. How old are they? Still so obsessed with winning and losing."

"But why is my blood boiling like this?"

For some unknown reason, the Lieutenant Colonel got excited.

He grabbed a megaphone and shouted.

"Town residents! The three people in the square are the heroes who saved our town!

Now, let me introduce them to you.

The young man in the straw hat is called Monkey D. Luffy.

The white-haired swordsman is named Can Yue.

The green-haired man with three swords is the Pirate Hunter, Zoro.

Right now, Pirate Hunter Zoro and White-haired Swordsman Can Yue are about to have a spar between swordsmen.

Let's give them our loudest cheers.

Everyone, enjoy this passionate battle!"

With the Lieutenant Colonel's excited shouts, the townsfolk immediately realized they had been overthinking things.

Then, a surge of excitement followed.

"Whoa!!!"

The townspeople, long living under oppressive rule, suddenly felt liberated.

Their emotions exploded as they watched the center of the square with excitement.

"Who do you think is stronger?"

"I think it's Pirate Hunter Zoro—he's a strong guy who's personally captured pirates worth millions!"

"Pfft, of course Can Yue will win."

"Why are you so sure?"

"Because looks are justice! And justice always wins!"

"Whoa, go Can Yue! Take down that Moss Head!"

In just a moment, a fan club for Can Yue, made up of women, was born!

"Dammit, Can Yue! My wife is cheering for him!"

"We men can't lose either."

"Go, Zoro! Real men win! Take down that pretty boy!"

Outside the square, the crowd split roughly into two groups.

Most of the men's group = Zoro supporters.

All the women, plus a few men = Can Yue's diehard fans.

Standing on the rooftop, Luffy watched this scene, grinned, and then shouted.

"A banquet! Let's start a banquet! Brothers, let's eat meat and enjoy this exciting spar at the same time!"

"ROOOAR!!!"

The townsfolk grew even more excited. In the blink of an eye, all the goods in the marketplace turned into banquet wine and liquor.

The atmosphere was unprecedentedly lively.

Can Yue and Zoro had already adjusted to their pre-battle state.

Zoro held his breath and focused his mind, completely ignoring the shouts of the surrounding crowd.

He tied on his headband, assumed the combat stance of Three Sword Style, and stared intently at Can Yue.

"Can Yue, I'm coming!"

Can Yue nodded and drew his sword in response.

In an instant, the two clashed at tremendous speed.

Zoro's strikes were fierce and powerful, his blade swings blindingly fast.

Though the slashes seemed chaotic, their rhythm was meticulous, and the angles were cunning.

Can Yue spent most of his time dodging.

Each missed attack instantly carved through the marble floor, the sheer visual impact drawing wild cheers from the men present.

"That's the man I admire—power is justice! Take down that pretty boy, Zoro, go!"

The Moss Head fan club shouted loudly.

Can Yue's blind followers refused to back down.

"Hmph, look at our Can Yue husband—expressionless, completely composed. He's definitely going easy on that Moss Head."

"That's right, that's right. Can Yue husband is invincible."

"Can Yue husband, I love you!"

Amid the chorus of "husband" from the women, all the men in the crowd broke down.

The Moss Head fan club lived up to its name—green as grass.

"Damn Can Yue! Zoro, go, take him down!"

"Beat him and we'll erect a monument for you!"

~

In the arena, Zoro and Can Yue continued their bout.

"Three Sword Style—Tiger Hunt!"

This was a sword technique Zoro had developed by imitating the hunting movements of a fierce tiger.

He lunged down from a high position, emphasizing sheer ferocity and overwhelming power to break all techniques.

Can Yue sidestepped to dodge, then seized the moment of Zoro's post-landing stiffness, swinging his blade down in a chop.

Zoro immediately adjusted his stance, using the blocking form of Three Sword Style to barely parry.

As they locked blades, Zoro was inwardly shocked.

"So strong—my move was completely useless!"

Impatient, Zoro pushed Can Yue's sword away and leaped back several meters.

The moment he landed, he gathered power in his legs and shot forward.

"Three Sword Style—Onigiri!"

Can Yue swung his sword to block again.

The violent impact caused a visible shockwave in the air.

The surrounding audience watched, dumbfounded.

"So strong—they're both so strong."

"But Can Yue can only barely hold the line; the rhythm of the fight is all Zoro's."

"Hahaha, Zoro will win for sure! Looks always lose!"

~

The two separated again. Zoro adjusted his breathing and spoke to Can Yue very seriously.

"Can Yue, I'll be very serious with this move."

Can Yue naturally sensed Zoro's dissatisfaction.

Rarely, he replied, "Fight well—I've always been serious!"

Zoro was stunned for a moment, then let out a relieved laugh.

"One move decides it all!"

Zoro spun with both swords in hand, and at the peak of his momentum, he shot forward.

"Three Sword Style—Three Thousand Worlds!"

Can Yue saw that this strike was exceptionally sharp and had to take it seriously.

"Sword Pressure!"

With a single swing of Can Yue's sword, Zoro clearly felt a surging force pressing down from above.

"Boom!"

Their attacks collided.

The powerful impact not only shook the air

but also sent stray sword energy flying in all directions.

"Damn it!"

Can Yue, Luffy, and Zoro all realized they had to deal with the leaking sword energy immediately, or the townsfolk would be caught in the crossfire.

Luffy launched a Rubber Rocket Punch, flying forward and smashing a chunk of sword energy that was about to hit a woman.

With no time to tend to his bloodied fist, his eyes darted to the other stray blades.

"Crap, not enough time." Luffy was frantic but helpless.

Zoro's heart was racing too, especially when he saw a blade of sword energy flying toward the little girl Rika.

"Can Yue and I are both locked in place by the shockwave from our clash—we can't move. Something bad's about to happen!"

Just then, a white figure shot out in an instant.

It blocked the sword energy about to strike the little girl while simultaneously unleashing even more, faster, azure-blue sword flashes that wiped out the rest of the stray energy.

The townsfolk were still cheering excitedly, unaware of what had just nearly happened to them.

Speed like a teleport, sword light sharp beyond compare—it deeply shook Zoro and Luffy.

Luffy grabbed a piece of meat, tore off a bite, and said with puffed cheeks, "Can Yue's really strong, and really fun too, hehehe."

At first, Luffy had been troubled by how Can Yue killed Morgan in an instant—he was afraid Can Yue was simply bloodthirsty.

But now, Luffy was happy. "He's gentle with ordinary people."

Luffy grinned and kept eating.

~

A moment later, Zoro regained his movement.

He sheathed his swords and walked slowly toward Can Yue.

"Can Yue, you! You weren't serious, were you?"

Can Yue frowned and replied, "I was always serious!"

Seeing that Zoro was still unwilling to accept it, Can Yue sighed and reluctantly added, "I was very serious in our close-quarters fight. Your close combat is strong."

Zoro was stunned for a moment, then laughed heartily.

"I get it! Thanks, Can Yue."

Zoro suddenly understood—Can Yue was indeed much stronger than him and could have won easily.

But instead of using greater speed or sword techniques to instantly defeat him, he had seriously used his own close-combat strengths to hone Zoro's battle instincts.

"Everyone has something worth learning from, strong or weak. Besides, are you weak?"

With those words, Can Yue turned and walked toward the seaside.

Zoro watched Can Yue's retreating figure, silent for a moment, then called out seriously.

"Can Yue, I'll keep getting stronger, and then I'll challenge you again!"