"Hmph!" Momousagi, watching from afar, sneered. Zoro's powerful attack could inflict terrifying damage on ordinary pirates in the New World, or even somewhat stronger opponents, but in the eyes of a powerhouse like Momousagi, this level of attack could not cause any real harm.
Ronglin smiled and gently raised his right hand. Lightning still flickered across his palm, though it gradually dimmed. He had casually raised his hand and blocked Zoro's slash, leaving behind faint glowing lightning marks.
"How did you do that?" Zoro withdrew his attacking stance, turned back with a dark expression, and stared at Ronglin.
"I raised my hand and blocked it," Ronglin said after thinking for a moment.
"I mean, how did you become this strong?" Zoro's voice rose and fell. "So strong that all I can see is the light around you—I can't even tell where you are!"
At the instant they had clashed, Ronglin's aura had suddenly erupted, causing Zoro's slash to lose its direction in an instant. That strike had been swung purely on Zoro's sharp innate instincts.
"You could still hit me even when you couldn't see me. Your Divine Sense seems quite keen." Ronglin smiled and extended a hand toward Zoro. "So, are you willing to join me? I can teach you and show you how to become as strong as I am."
The surroundings fell silent. Zoro stared at Ronglin in silence, blood dripping from the hand gripping his swords. Every slash he had made at Ronglin had been with his full strength, yet Ronglin had not counterattacked at all, simply allowing Zoro to attack. But not only had Zoro failed to injure Ronglin, he had instead been shaken into injuring himself.
"Zoro!" Nami and Chopper were both filled with grief and indignation. They knew Zoro sought the throne of