Zoro's Growth

"Wow, as expected of the Pirate Hunter Zoro, such a strong attack."

"That tornado is terrifying. I can't even imagine what would happen if I were inside it."

"Hawk Eyes is also terrifying. Zoro's powerful consecutive attacks only made him draw his sword."

Aside from the complaints of the fodder pirates, Johnny and Joseph also returned to the scene.

"Is that Zoro-bro's target?"

"He looks so strong. But bro is stronger, he'll definitely win."

Usopp, standing beside the two, felt that these guys were putting a bit too much trust in Zoro.

"If you two had watched the fight seriously, you wouldn't be saying things that sound like you haven't watched it at all!"

Nami also frowned. She saw this kind of fighting scene almost every day.

It was what Zoro and Can Yue looked like during training. Zoro was constantly being beaten down by Can Yue.

This situation, where Zoro gave his all and the opponent was only slightly serious, indicated a huge gap in their strength.

"Although this might hurt to say, Zoro has basically no chance of winning," Nami sighed.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Johnny and Joseph stated firmly, refusing to believe it.

"In the previous fight, Zoro-bro had control of the battlefield."

"Hmph, believe it or not!" Nami said helplessly.

Not only Nami, but even Luffy, watching from above, thought the same.

This conclusion was drawn from the fact that he and Zoro were both beaten by Can Yue every day.

This situation was clearly a complete crushing.

"Can Yue, in a swordsman's duel, if the challenger loses, the opponent can execute him."

Luffy said worriedly to Can Yue.

Can Yue's eyes remained fixed on the battlefield between Zoro and Hawk Eyes, and he calmly asked Luffy, "Are you going to stop Zoro now?"

Luffy clenched his fists in frustration, gritting his teeth as he replied, "How could I? This fight is more important to Zoro than his life, I absolutely cannot stop him."

"Damn it!" The anxious Luffy jumped up and down, unable to stay still. He leaped from the rooftop and landed beside Johnny and Joseph, the closest spot to Zoro's battlefield.

On the giant ship wreckage

Zoro and Hawk Eyes stood facing each other, swords drawn.

Zoro took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. The upcoming battle was exceptionally important to him.

Centered around the two, the entire Baratie, including the giant ship wreckage, was eerily silent. Only the sound of waves lapping against the wooden planks could be heard.

Almost all the onlookers' hearts were pounding in their chests, their breathing seemingly slowing down.

"I'm coming!" With that, Zoro immediately charged towards Hawk Eyes.

Hawk Eyes remained in place, effortlessly blocking Zoro's charge with his black blade.

Before one of Zoro's sword slashes could be blocked, he simultaneously swung another sword in a different direction.

All three swords seemed to possess unique attack styles, either slashing, thrusting, or parrying.

Although Hawk Eyes could parry every strike, he was being forced into a slightly passive position.

So, Hawk Eyes quickly leaped backward, swinging his black blade as he did, creating a gust of wind that blew Zoro away. A smile touched his lips as he commented, "Excellent sword skill, a perfect display of your Three Sword Style advantage. It seems you have a good teacher."

Zoro's lips curved slightly upon hearing this, "A teacher? I suppose so."

This combat style, with all three swords having different fighting methods, was Can Yue's suggestion to modify Zoro's previously monotonous attack patterns.

'If I hadn't met Can Yue, I might not have even gotten past the dagger stage.'

Zoro pulled his attention back to reality, focusing on anticipating Hawk Eyes' next attack.

Hawk Eyes pulled his black blade to one side and casually swung it as he charged at Zoro.

A powerful gust of wind pressure struck first.

Zoro, facing the terrifying impact of this skill head-on, found it difficult to advance. Then, the muscles in his arms bulged again, and he gritted his Wado Ichimonji, roaring, "Three Sword Style - Tiger Hunt!"

Using the fierce attack of 'Tiger Hunt,' he dispersed the wind pressure.

At the same time, Zoro's body entered a state of stiffness after unleashing the skill.

It was at this moment that Hawk Eyes arrived before him and swung his sword down.

'Bad,' Zoro's pupils widened. His entire body tensed, and with the help of adrenaline, he immediately adjusted his posture, attempting to block Hawk Eyes' slash with his two swords.

But his opponent was Hawk Eyes, how could he give an opponent who had exposed a weakness a chance to react?

'So fast, I can't block it.'

With Hawk Eyes' 'unremarkable' slash, Zoro was sent flying, blood gushing out.

Hawk Eyes watched Zoro being blown away, placing his black blade to his side, and asked with a tone that was both concerned and warning, "After personally feeling this gap, do you still intend to challenge me?"

Zoro propped himself up straight and said firmly, "Naturally!"

Hawk Eyes sighed, seemingly wanting to persuade the swordsman who had earned his admiration.

He then spoke, "In that instant, you could have died a hundred times. If you still want to go on, I won't hold back."

After speaking, Hawk Eyes was enveloped in sword intent, completely different from his casual demeanor just moments before.

Zoro said nothing more and readjusted his fighting stance.

After a deep breath, Zoro responded, "I won't retreat even if I die. If I retreat here, I fear I'll never have the courage to face you again, nor the courage to face my dear friends, nor myself!"

Upon hearing this, not only Hawk Eyes smiled, but Can Yue in the distance also smiled.

Even from a great distance, the two spoke in unison, expressing their evaluation of Zoro.

"Such a resolute heart is enough!"

However, Can Yue added a sentence that Hawk Eyes did not.

"But you shouldn't treat death as an escape."

Watching the two combatants enter their ready states.

Can Yue realized that the next move would decide the victor.

And he, having accumulated so much, had reached the peak of his fighting spirit and needed to make arrangements.

Thus, Can Yue leaped down, arriving beside Luffy.

Red Leg Zephyr's body tensed when he saw Can Yue descend, his intuition telling him that things were about to get complicated.

He looked at Can Yue and asked, "Do you have any instructions?"

Can Yue turned to look at the shrewd old man and said, "Sail this ship far away!"

Zephyr pondered for a moment, likely understanding Can Yue's intention, and asked with a frown, "Are you saying you're going to...?"

Can Yue's gaze remained fixed on Zoro, and he did not respond further to Zephyr.

Zephyr took a deep breath, his guess becoming even more certain.

"Paddy, Carnage, prepare to set anchor. Once those two are done fighting, we'll sail away!"

"Huh?? Roger that!"

Zoro adjusted his state, "Thank you for giving me time to prepare."

Hawk Eyes' mouth curved up on one side, and he replied, "Consider it my apology for underestimating you with my small blade. Come, Roronoa Zoro, let me see just how firm your resolve truly is!"

Zoro's lips curled upwards, "Then let me show you, Armament Haki - Cover!"

Due to the ample preparation time and his firm mindset, Zoro's three swords had temporarily turned black.

Seeing this, Hawk Eyes' sharp pupils trembled slightly for a moment.

To learn Haki in the weakest East Blue. Possessing both a strong conviction and the luck indispensable to the strong, I look forward to your future even more, Zoro.

Hawk Eyes thought this in his heart, and his body had already assumed a combat stance, gripping the hilt of his black blade with both hands and positioning the blade to the right of his body.

Opposite him, Zoro brought the hilts of his three swords together, the blades beginning to spin with his wrists, and then he charged forward fiercely.

"Three Sword Style Secret Technique - Three Thousand Worlds."

Hawk Eyes exerted his strength at the same time, and the two instantly clashed, then passed each other.

Accompanying the collision of their sword skills, the already shattered remnants of the giant ship were cut into even more disarray by the scattered sword energy.

A gust of wind blew, and Zoro slowly stood up. The moment he rose, multiple streams of blood spurted from his body.

"So strong!" Zoro's pupils trembled. This final exchange made him deeply realize the vast, insurmountable gap between himself and Hawk Eyes.

Hawk Eyes turned to look at Zoro, "Because the power of this move of yours was so great, it made it difficult for me to control the most suitable power for my attack."

Zoro gave a self-deprecating smile, "Powerful? I didn't expect a man like you to comfort a loser."

After saying this, Zoro retracted his Haki, and the blades held in his hands immediately all snapped.

Perhaps Zoro didn't understand, but Can Yue in the distance saw the exact process clearly.

Hawk Eyes wasn't comforting him; he was stating a fact.

In his memory, Hawk Eyes had left a deep sword wound on Zoro when dealing with Zoro's Three Thousand Worlds.

But in this duel, Zoro had sustained multiple wounds, which meant that during the sword skill collision, Hawk Eyes could no longer perfectly control the range of his attack.

It also indicated that Zoro's sword skill had become much more powerful, causing the sword energy contained in Hawk Eyes' attack to scatter, thus creating this situation.

Thinking of this, Can Yue's lips curved slightly beneath his mask.

Zoro, you have indeed become stronger.