A Contest of Skill, a Fight to the Death (3rd Update)

Raftel Bar.

The Boss Lady, Shakky, was serving a man whose demeanor resembled that of a medieval European nobleman.

Jora Mihawk.

Red-Haired Shanks' lifelong rival and friend, a man who holds the title of the World's Greatest Swordsman!

"... Another glass of absinthe, please."

The man who spoke had sharp, eagle-like yellow eyes and a neatly trimmed mustache.

After leaving Mary Geoise, he did not return to Kuraigana Island, but instead traveled the world in a small boat.

The path of swordsmanship is endless, and Dracule Mihawk is not complacent because of his current achievements.

The "spreading the word to all beings" incident Awakening his Power of Lightning.

This also became an opportunity for progress.

Hawkeye came to the Sabaody Archipelago to hone his newly created Lightning Sword Technique, using Silvers Rayleigh as a durable whetstone.

In this world, a person's strength does not decrease with age.

As time goes by, the longer the lifespan of an old monster, the more terrifying its combat power becomes.

Whitebeard's case, plagued by numerous ailments, is an isolated incident and cannot be considered a normal occurrence.

Unlike Edward Newgate, Silvers Rayleigh is now even stronger than he was when he was on Pirate King Roger's ship.

In fact, Mihawk believed that Rayleigh was more suited to honing his swordsmanship than Red-Haired Shanks, one of the Four Emperors.

After all, Shanks lost an arm in the East Blue.

For a swordsman, losing an arm means the complete loss of balance.

Even if it's not your dominant hand, it can still significantly reduce your combat effectiveness.

"Rayleigh is actually coating the Straw Hat Kid's ship?"

Mihawk, slightly tipsy from drinking too much, had his sharp, apricot-yellow eagle eyes narrow slightly.

Anger flashed across his face, and the white fur on his black top hat fluttered even without wind.

The bar seemed to be filled with the atmosphere of a battlefield.

"Um."

Shakky smiled and handed him a Crystal glass, "Luffy is a man worth helping. Finished your drink again? Anything else?"

Absinthe.

Mihawk's answers were always the same.

This shabby bar has absolutely nothing good. The dry red wine tastes like over-fermented sugar water. Only the absinthe has any character and is barely drinkable.

He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his dark red patterned shirt and poured himself a drink, feeling stifled.

"Jora Mihawk?!"

A suppressed voice rang out from behind.

He had heard similar sounds far too many times.

Without even turning around, Mihawk knew it was just another boring challenger.

Hawkeye downed the dark green absinthe in one gulp, then slowly stood up. His black trench coat, as hard as iron, weighed heavily on one's heart.

His gaze fell on the Green-haired fellow man holding three knives, and he subconsciously stroked the small cross-shaped knife on his chest.

Mihawk's lips curled up slightly. "Stranger swordsman, state your name."

After saying this, he took out the world's strongest Black Blade from behind his back.

"Roronoa Zoro".

An excited expression appeared on the face of the Three Sword Style Green-haired fellow swordsman.

His eyes were sharp, his hands were steady, and his expression was firm.

"I challenge you to take the title of the greatest swordsman in the world!"

Dracule Mihawk nodded slightly.

The other party was not the kind of naive, ignorant frog in a well.

This Three Sword Style swordsman has forged his own path.

He can be called a swordsman.

Zoro deserves to die by the Black Blade!

However, just as Mihawk's fighting spirit was rising, Zoro took the initiative to sheath his sword.

"Are you scared?"

"What a disappointing brat."

Hawkeye sneered, feeling somewhat displeased.

Zoro, however, smirked and stared at the empty wine glass in the other's hand.

A cool, ruthless smile appeared on his face, "This isn't your prime time."

"Three days! Three days from now, at the same time and in the same place, see you there."

After speaking, Zoro turned and left without saying another word.

In the Pirate Plane, the promises between swordsmen are never broken, and no one will resort to tricks.

This is very different from World Without Magic.

On Earth, two swordsmen, Sasaki Kojiro and Miyamoto Musashi. The latter deliberately arrived half a day late, making his opponent impatient and restless.

In fact, Miyamoto Musashi even abandoned his preferred Two-Sword Style in that battle and specially crafted a huge, long blade to counter Sasaki's "Swallow Turn" sword technique.

Through various means, Miyamoto Musashi won the duel.

Such a disloyal person to the way of swordsmanship did not become a laughing stock in the industry, but instead made a name for himself in this battle.

"A true swordsman... a worthy opponent."

Watching Zoro's departing figure, Dracule Mihawk's eyes blazed with fighting spirit.

Time flies like an arrow, Sun Moon.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

The gimmick of the battle for the title of the world's greatest swordsman attracted many passionate men from the high seas to watch.

At this moment, there were also quite a few women watching.

Because among those participating in the duel were Luffy's crewmates.

"Zoro... this guy seems to be a big pirate with a bounty of over 100 million, he should be quite capable."

"His bounty was solely due to his provocation of the Celestial Dragons, wasn't it?"

"To have provoked the Celestial Dragons and still be alive today, you must be quite capable."

"The Straw Hat Pirates was just lucky. They were only bullying a poor wretch who had been ostracized from the center of power and lost the political struggle."

"No wonder..."

Honest advice is hard to hear, and good medicine tastes bitter; the truth always sounds harsh.

These well-meaning people who revealed the truth were quickly driven to the brink of madness by Luffy's fan club.

"What do you know? The crew that Luffy has chosen, even if they're weak, are still stronger than you!"

"A bunch of poor, out-of-touch bastards probably have no idea that Zoro received a blessing from Lord Absolute Justice while he was in Thriller Park, which increased his strength many times over."

"Exactly! Didn't you see that Dracule Mihawk acknowledged the other party's identity as a swordsman? The weak see only the weak, that saying is indeed true."

"The [Flame Crest] bestowed by Lord Wang Yan, a miraculous item capable of transforming a person completely..."

"It is said that this treasure is now worth a billion Beli on the black market, but none of them have ever been circulated."

"Don't reveal valuable intelligence to these guys who can't see the situation clearly; they're not worth it."

If it weren't for Shakky and Silvers Rayleigh holding the fort, a bloody conflict would probably have broken out here before Zoro and Dracule Mihawk's duel.

Hawkeye and Zoro ignored the discussions of the onlookers.

In their eyes, there was only each other.

"The Twelve Supreme Grade Swords, Night, Random Blade, Heavy Flower, Two-Leaf Pattern."

Hawkeye's eyes narrowed slightly as he gripped his long blade tightly, as if introducing it to Zoro, or perhaps muttering to himself.

"The Demon Blade Sandai Kitetsu, the Good Quick Sword Yubashiri, and..."

Zoro bit his lower lip, staining the hilt of his beloved sword with blood.

"Kuina's Blade, Wado Ichimonji!"

He is not fighting alone.

The departed childhood sweetheart entrusted him with her dreams and future.

This is a...

A contest that does not accept defeat.

The two stared wide-eyed, their attention more focused than ever before, their gazes meeting.

The room fell silent, a silence that sent chills down one's spine.

No one wanted to spoil this sacred moment.

The atmosphere gradually became heated.

Skill, spirit, energy, physical fitness, belief, willpower...

Everything was concentrated and gathered at one point, gradually brewing to its peak, thus transforming into the strongest attack of the two.

This move...

It not only distinguishes between the superior and the inferior, but also determines life and death!

Why did Zoro bite his lower lip instead of his upper lip?

He was a reserved person, and certain rituals he performed were not for others to see, but for himself and a woman who had passed away.