Hawkeye Mihawk

"Rumble--!!"

With a world-shattering roar, the flagship of the East Blue overlord was inexplicably sliced into three sections!

The massive wreckage of the ship kicked up waves several meters high, and under the tug of the whirlpool, it slowly sank towards the bottomless sea.

"What... what is this?!"

The restaurant patrons were so terrified they collapsed onto the floor, the scene before them beyond their comprehension.

No cannons, no explosions, just an instant, and a sea fortress was destroyed?

"Is this... the strength of the world's top powerhouses?"

Ronan stared intently at the chaotic sea, his expression more serious than ever before.

His body trembled slightly, not from fear, but from an astonishing desire originating from the depths of a warrior's soul.

In his Observation Haki, the will contained within those two slashes was vast as the sea and sharp as the heavens.

"A casual strike, like a natural disaster."

Ronan muttered to himself, the Zhangba Iron Spear in his hand seemed to sense his master's fighting spirit, emitting a faint hum.

"Hey, Ronan..."

Luffy, pressing down his straw hat, his usually playful eyes now filled with solemnity, looked at the sinking giant ship, his voice low:

"What is that? Is it a monster?"

"Was that a slash?"

Zoro's hand was already on the hilt of the Wado Ichimonji.

Sweat trickled down his forehead, dripping onto the deck.

As a swordsman, he was most sensitive to that kind of sharpness.

In that instant, he felt like an ant at the center of a storm, pitifully small.

"Yes."

Ronan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, "That was... a casual strike from a great swordsman!"

The smoke and mist dissipated.

On the turbulent sea, a starkly contrasting, minimalist single-person boat slowly sailed into view.

The boat was too small, so small it seemed like a single wave could capsize it.

The hull was black, shaped like a floating coffin.

The main mast where the sail was attached and the crossbeam formed a giant black cross.

At the bow and stern, several green candles burned quietly, their green flames unmoving even in the sea breeze.

And beneath the cross, a man sat.

He sat with his legs crossed, elegantly seated on a throne-like chair.

Beneath the brim of his wide hat, a pair of golden eyes, sharp as an eagle's, indifferently observed everything before him.

He carried a giant black sword on his back.

The blade was as black as night, emitting a heart-stopping cold light, and the massive guard resembled an unfurled cross, ornate and solemn.

It was the supreme grade sword, one of the twelve, Yoru.

"That is..."

Ronan stared intently at the figure, feeling an invisible pressure wash over him, "The World's Greatest Swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk."

He had truly seen him.

No longer black and white lines in a manga, no longer colored pixels on a screen.

But a living, breathing powerhouse standing at the pinnacle of this world.

"Ha... ha..."

Zoro's breathing became rapid and ragged.

He watched the approaching small boat, cold sweat pouring down his head, his body trembling uncontrollably.

He couldn't tell if it was nervousness or excitement.

"Could it be... that's..."

Zoro's voice was hoarse, each word squeezed out as if through gritted teeth, "The World's Greatest Swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk!"

"That's right."

On the second-floor balcony, Red-Foot Zeff crossed his arms, his gaze deep as he looked at the man, and said solemnly, "That is the man who stands at the apex of all swordsmen in the world!"

Luffy turned to look at Zoro, he could feel the explosive aura emanating from his companion:

"Hey, Zoro, is that the man you've been looking for?"

"Ah..."

Zoro reached up and untied the dark green bandana from his arm, his eyes burning with a wild fire:

"I didn't expect... to see him so soon."

"The promised time... has finally... arrived."

As the small boat named "Coffin Ship" slowly approached the Sea Restaurant.

Usopp's hands trembled like a sieve, "Is that something a human can do? Moving such a huge ship..."

"Thump!"

A dull thud interrupted Usopp's gasp.

Zoro moved.

Without hesitation, without backing down.

He leaped forward, jumping directly in front of Mihawk's small boat, standing on the deck of the Sea Restaurant less than five meters from the world's strongest man.

The sea breeze ruffled Zoro's clothes. He tied the dark green bandana tightly around his forehead, his gaze sharp as a blade, staring directly into those golden hawk-like eyes.

"I set sail to meet you!" Zoro's voice was firm, echoing through the entire space.

Mihawk slowly raised his head, his golden eyes showing no ripple, as if looking at a speck of dust:

"What is your goal?"

Zoro's hand rested on the hilts of his three swords, and he uttered two words:

"The strongest!"

Mihawk narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone carrying a hint of faint mockery and weariness:

"Foolish."

"What did you say?!"

Zoro's nerves were struck by those two words.

He suddenly drew Wado Ichimonji, the sharp tip pointing directly at Mihawk, who sat on the boat, his fighting spirit boiling:

"You're bored, aren't you? Let's have a spar!!"

"Hey! Who is that? Is he tired of living?"

"Good heavens! That... that guy is Zoro! He's that famous Pirate Hunter, the Three Sword Style user, Roronoa Zoro!"

The customers of the Sea Restaurant and the surviving pirates cried out in surprise. They hadn't expected anyone to dare challenge this monster who had cut through a giant ship at this critical moment.

Mihawk looked at the blade tip pointed at him, a faint, cold smile curling the corner of his lips. It was a pity for the ignorant weak.

"A spar? Hmph... pathetic weakling."

Before he finished speaking, Mihawk didn't even stand up.

With just an instantaneous release of his aura, Zoro felt as if he were being stared at by a prehistoric beast, every hair on his body standing on end.

"If you were truly a first-class swordsman, even without clashing, you should be able to see the gap in strength between us."

Mihawk's voice was calm and elegant, yet each word struck like a dagger to the heart:

"To dare draw your sword against me, should I say you have courage... or are you driven by ignorance?"

This question struck Zoro's heart like a heavy hammer.

Of course, he felt it!

With his newly awakened Observation Haki, Zoro knew better than anyone the terror of the man before him.

He was a mountain that soared into the clouds, its peak completely invisible.

But he couldn't retreat.

"It's because of my ambition!"

Zoro gritted his teeth, holding Wado Ichimonji in his mouth, and simultaneously drew his other two swords with his hands, striking his strongest Three Sword Style stance.

In his mind, Kuina's unwilling smile flashed by.

"And... for the promise between sworn friends!"