"Pirate Hunter Zoro!"
"He's an expert. Maybe he can..."
"That guy?" Sanji, standing in the restaurant, frowned. Wasn't he the partner of that waiter, Luffy...?
"Zoro..."
"What?"
Facing Zoro's battle-hungry eyes as he turned around, Roman opened his mouth, but in the end, only managed three words.
"...Be careful."
?
Taking a deep breath, Roman forced his stiff legs forward. Maybe he was the only one here who truly understood how terrifying Hawk Eyes was. Everyone else merely thought he looked impressive without really understanding why.
"Roman, where are you going?"
Facing Luffy's question, Roman waved a hand and walked away with his back to everyone.
"I'm getting the first-aid kit."
??
"Pathetic."
"Weakling."
Facing Zoro's challenge, the man named Mihawk rose to his feet.
"If you can even be called a swordsman, then the gap between us should already be obvious at a glance."
"What gives you the courage to challenge me? Arrogance? Or—simple ignorance?"
With the Wado Ichimonji, left behind by his childhood friend, clenched between his teeth and his own two swords in hand, Zoro assumed his stance.
"This is my dream."
"This is the dream I promised a dear friend!"
Facing the battle aura radiating from Zoro's entire body, the man opposite him merely removed the cross pendant from his chest and opened it. It turned out to be a small knife.
Well, it would certainly be useful for skinning fish, gutting them, and slicing grilled meat.
But it definitely should not have included combat among its uses!
"Are you looking down on me?!"
Facing Zoro's furious question, Mihawk merely answered calmly.
"My apologies. This is already my smallest blade."
Good thing he had not brought nail clippers, or else...
"Don't blame me if you die!"
With a roar, Zoro lunged forward. Three katana gleamed with icy light!
The battle began.
"Ah, this..."
He had only gone to get a first-aid kit. For Roman, who could fly, it had taken barely more than ten seconds. Yet by the time he returned, the scene had become this:
Zoro was being utterly overwhelmed by a small knife, beaten into a miserable state. His chest had even been pierced by a single thrust, while the man nicknamed Hawk Eyes remained spotless.
It was completely like an adult playing with a child... No, it was more like Ultraman playing with a child!
"Why didn't you retreat?"
Facing Zoro, whose heart he had nearly pierced, a ripple passed through Hawk Eyes's cold yellow eyes.
"I don't know... But I feel like if I retreat, I'll lose many important vows and things..."
"This is defeat!"
"Heh heh, then I have even less reason to retreat."
Interesting. Rather than accept defeat, he chose death?
Hey, hey, hey, don't be stupid, Zoro!
Luffy was holding himself back with all his might. Joseph and Johnny were pinned down on the deck by Luffy, while Roman wore a grave expression. All of them stared unblinkingly at the two people fighting—or rather, at their companion: Zoro.
How could you possibly defeat Hawk Eyes...?
"Very good. It has been a long time since I encountered such a 'strong one.'"
Hawk Eyes took several steps back, put away the little knife he had been using to play around, and drew the enormous black blade on his back—Yoru!
"State your name!"
Clearly, he had acknowledged Zoro—not his strength, but his resolve as a swordsman.
"Roronoa Zoro!"
"Come. I shall use this World's Greatest black blade to end you."
Facing Hawk Eyes's declaration, Zoro merely silently held his three swords across his chest, then:
"Three-Sword Style Secret Technique—Three Thousand Worlds!"
Hawk Eyes: Basic attack.
The two figures flashed past one another. As for the result:
Crack!!
Other than the Wado Ichimonji in his mouth, the two katana in Zoro's hands shattered into fragments all over the ground!
He had lost... It did not matter.
He had never thought he would lose...
As blood gushed from all over his body, Zoro recalled the promise he had made with that little girl as a child. He also remembered Roman's solemn words: Against those experts, we'd be instantly defeated by a single glance!
So this was the strength of the World's Greatest Swordsman...?
Roman, you were right. I had been a frog in a well.
Clang!
The Wado Ichimonji in his hand suddenly slid back into its sheath. Zoro turned around and spread his arms wide, facing his enemy!
"What do you mean by this?"
Facing Hawk Eyes's question, Zoro held his head high. There was no fear on his face. He was even smiling!
"A wound on the back is a swordsman's shame!"
"Well said."
The enormous black blade flashed, and blood sprayed from Zoro's chest!
...His skills were inferior...
"Zoro!!!"
Whoosh—
Swoosh—
Using his stretching arm, Luffy lunged fiercely toward the man named Hawk Eyes! His clenched fist was filled with rage! Yet his opponent merely calmly sidestepped, causing Luffy's attack to miss.
"Are you the companions of this swordsman?"
Splash~~
At the same time Luffy attacked, Roman flew to Zoro's side. He scooped him up, kicked backward, and the white wings spread behind him carried both of them flying back.
"Don't worry, he's still alive."
?
Luffy, who had been about to attack again, immediately turned toward the rear.
"Roman!"
"It didn't hit anything vital."
As Roman rapidly treated the wound, his words calmed the enraged Luffy. The sword wound running across Zoro's entire chest looked terrifying and vicious, yet it had miraculously avoided every major blood vessel, nerve, and tendon. It was a genuine flesh wound!
Only the World's Greatest could slash with such exquisite swordsmanship, right?
"My name is Dracule Mihawk."
The man returned the black blade to his back and looked at Zoro, who was receiving emergency treatment from Roman.
"Know yourself."
"Know the world!!"
"Grow stronger, Roronoa!"
With that, he turned away gracefully, lightly leaped onto his small raft, and sat down.
"In the years to come, I will wait for you upon the throne of 'World's Greatest.' Try to surpass me."
Was this the bearing of the strong...?
"Kid, what is your dream?"
Hawk Eyes glanced at the boy who had just attacked him, as well as the straw hat on his head.
And that one who had just saved him... Two Devil Fruit users?
"King of the Pirates!"
Facing Luffy's immediate answer, Hawk Eyes did not laugh at his overconfidence. Instead, he nodded seriously.
"That is a difficult road—more difficult than surpassing me."
"I don't care. I will definitely become the King of the Pirates!"
"...Hey... Luffy..."
Meanwhile, Zoro, lying on the ground as Roman bandaged his wounds, held up his last sword, the Wado Ichimonji.
"...Can you hear me...? I lost..."
"...If I can't even become the World's Greatest Swordsman... it'll make you uneasy, won't it...?"
"Hey, stop talking."
As he rapidly cleaned away the blood and stitched the wound closed, Roman calmly stopped Zoro.
"The wound will split open."
"I will never... lose again!"
Yet with tears streaming down his face, Zoro only continued shouting.
"Until I defeat him... I will absolutely never lose again!!"
What an idiot... Winning or losing... Was this all so he could live up to being a crew member of Luffy, the future King of the Pirates...? No, it should be because of Luffy's trust.
Roman's hands paused as he bandaged the wound, then resumed moving. He let Zoro continue shouting!
"What do you say, King of the Pirates!"
The arrogant words echoed across the battlefield, leaving the surroundings deathly silent. Then:
"Heh heh heh heh,"
The cheerful Luffy grinned broadly. "I have no objection."
"Not a bad crew."
Hawk Eyes nodded coldly.
"I look forward... to meeting you again..."
"Zoro's condition has stabilized, but—"
Hawk Eyes left in style, leaving behind a complete mess. After finishing the bandaging, Roman looked toward Luffy.
"I'm almost unable to sense the direction of the bandages on Nami anymore... Are you sure you won't leave with us?"
"No, I still have something to deal with."
Clearly, Luffy would not give up until he recruited the chef. Besides, the Krieg Pirates beside them were eyeing the Baratie hungrily. This place would soon descend into chaotic battle. Zoro had just been badly injured, and Usopp was not suited for a melee... Therefore:
"Fine. Zoro, Usopp, and I will go after Nami first."
Roman did not stand on ceremony. Using a paper stretcher to carry the injured Zoro, he flew toward the merchant ship nearby.
"I'll bring Nami back. You just focus on persuading the chef to join us."
"Yeah, of course!"
Before you continue