The Battle for the World's Number One Swordsman

Bang!!

A wave of air rippled out between Franky and Gab.

The two men's palms locked together, straining against each other. They dug their feet into the ground, causing cracks to spread across the surface.

Gab opened his sharp, beast-like fangs and began to charge up an attack to cleave through the shockwave.

Seeing this, Franky immediately threw his head back and then slammed it forward!

"Franky's Head Crusher!!"

Bang!!

With a roar, Franky's forehead smashed hard into Gab's face, interrupting the cleaving shockwave. However, it didn't break through the dark Haki defense covering Gab's forehead.

"Franky's Purifying Flames!!"

Hoo!!

Franky puffed out his cheeks and spat flames from his mouth. The expanding inferno engulfed Gab's entire upper body!

A wave of heat washed over them, and the burning light illuminated the entire space.

Hoo!

Under Franky's panicked gaze, a ferocious, beast-like, pitch-black face shot out from the raging flames and slammed into his own!

Bang!!

"Puwah--"

The powerful blow sent Franky spitting blood, his mind reeling as if his soul had left his body.

"Roar!!"

Bang!!

Gab roared and stomped hard on Franky's chest, kicking him flying like a cannonball into a broken wall.

"Cough! Cough, cough!"

Pushing aside a large rock that had fallen on his head, Franky, covered in blood, struggled to his feet from the rubble. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at his opponent with a grim expression.

Gab stepped out, bathed in flames. His upper body clothes were completely burned away, revealing a physique of solid, cast-iron muscle.

Thick, dark Haki covered his entire body, making him look like a ferocious demon who had broken free from hell. He stood with his legs apart, arms resting at his waist.

"Martial Body: Lion Demon!!"

With a low growl, Gab's muscles suddenly bulged, veins popping. One look was enough to see the terrifying power contained within.

He stomped down, shattering the floor, and lunged forward, his hair flying and his face contorted in ferocity, like a black lion entering a hunting state!

Franky grinned, no trace of fear in his eyes. Instead, his fighting spirit blazed. He slammed his iron fists together in front of his chest and charged forward!

"Crushing Heavy Fist!!"

Bang!!

Franky swung his arms and punched, landing squarely on Gab's jaw, snapping his head to the side and spitting blood.

Gab gritted his teeth, grabbed Franky's arm, and pulled him in, throwing an uppercut to his abdomen!

"Lion Demon's Mighty Strike!!"

Bang!!

The punch sent out a gust of wind, and an impact coursed through Franky's body from back to front. Franky's body arched like a shrimp, his eyes wide with rage, his mouth agape as bile surged from his chest up to his throat and out of his mouth.

Gab followed up with a whip kick, whistling through the air and smashing into Franky's side.

Bang!!

Enduring the intense discomfort churning in his insides, Franky instinctively grabbed Gab's leg, stomped, and charged forward, circling around to Gab's back. He hooked Gab's leg and threw him backward!

"Franky's Skull Shattering Backbreaker!!"

Bang!!

Gab's back of the head slammed hard into the ground, cracking the massive stone tiles. His brain went blank, entering a brief state of shutdown.

Franky quickly got up and seized the opportunity, straddling Gab and raining down blows with both fists!

"Franky's Ruthless Beating!!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Bang! The ground trembled with each muffled thud, blood and gore flying.

After taking more than a dozen consecutive iron punches, Gab finally relied on his tenacious will, using the last remnants of his consciousness to turn his head and dodge a heavy blow.

He opened his mouth and bit down!

Bang!!

His left arm was bitten off by those sharp, steel fangs. Franky lost his balance and stumbled forward. Gab, on the ground, seized the opportunity and hooked his leg around Franky's neck.

He then grabbed Franky's descending right fist and pulled it straight!

Cross-arm lock formed!

When strength is similar, once this move is formed, it's almost impossible for the opponent to break free. And with Gab's terrifying monstrous strength, it becomes one of the most lethal grappling techniques.

Even the world's hardest alloy steel began to twist and deform bit by bit, emitting 'crackling' explosive sounds.

If it were anyone else, the outcome would be decided the moment the lock was formed. However, Franky, being a cyborg, was the exception!

His hand, held tightly by Gab, opened a round cover on his palm, revealing a cannon barrel. Under Gab's panicked gaze, the barrel rapidly expanded!

"Wind Cannon!!"

With a roar from Franky, a compressed shockwave with terrifying power, capable of tearing apart even warships, erupted suddenly!

BOOM!!

The ground was carved into a massive gully by the shockwave. Everything in its path was swept away like dust, extending all the way beyond the ruins.

BANG!!

Finally, Gab's body plummeted from the sky, crashing into the deep pit in the ground, eyes rolling back, clearly having lost consciousness.

Behind the castle ruins, far from the territory of the giants, dense foliage intertwined to form an elevated, deep, and secluded green forest.

Clusters of cotton-white island clouds were scattered and attached to ancient branches. Stepping into it felt like being in a sea of trees, bringing a sense of peace.

And at this moment, within this undisturbed sea of trees, the air was filled with the cold glint of swords and the clash of blades.

CLANG!

CLANG! CLANG!

Blades collided fiercely, continuously splashing sparks. Two figures were engrossed in this intense sword duel.

"Two Sword Style: Second Slash - Demon Bear!!"

Zoro descended from the sky, raising his two swords behind him. The powerful, heavy slash was like the giant paw of a demon bear striking down!

Hawk Eyes held his sword with both hands, raising the Black Blade Night above his head. The pitch-black blade tilted slightly.

CLANG!!

Simultaneously blocking and deflecting most of the force, then using the remaining momentum to leap back, Hawk Eyes' sharp gaze flashed with cold light as he swept his greatsword horizontally through the air!

SWISH!

A large wave of sword light flashed, and a sharp flying slash tore through the air, speeding towards his previous position.

Facing the wide-ranging, massive slash, Zoro immediately crossed his swords to block.

SCREEECH--!!

A piercing cutting sound accompanied by splashing sparks, and the blades, locked in a stalemate, vibrated with a "creaking" sound.

At this moment, Hawk Eyes' second slash followed, two thousand blades merging into one and suddenly expanding!

SLASH--!

Zoro gritted his teeth in resistance, his feet dragging black marks on the thick branch. The soles of his feet burned as he slid back over ten meters.

"Two-Strength Form!"

The muscles in his upper arm bulged by a circle. The powerful enhancement finally halted his retreating momentum. Zoro shook his arm, and the slash before him was shattered with a roar.

Turbulent airflow surged out, rustling countless leaves around them.

Just as he resolved the opponent's attack, before Zoro could catch his breath, Hawk Eyes had already rushed before him, dragging his long sword. The pitch-black blade slashed upwards from below!

CLANG!!

His two swords pressed down, blocking the blade. The immense force immediately sent him flying backward, his back hitting a giant tree branch suspended in the air with a "bang."

"What's going on, this pressure..."

Zoro gritted his teeth, struggling to free himself from the tree trunk, a hint of apprehension mixed with confusion in his eyes.

It was even more exaggerated than during his training, as if he had returned to two years ago, even though he had become stronger.

After pulling himself free, he pushed off the tree branch with his feet and immediately leaped away.

The next moment.

SWISH!

A blade of light swept past. A tree trunk, five meters in diameter and as tough as steel, was cut in half with a smooth cut and fell towards the underworld below.

Stomp, stomp, stomp--

Zoro's toes tapped the ground repeatedly. He moved at high speed along a moss-covered vine, constantly evading. His gaze was fixed below, where he stood motionless on a giant leaf, holding his swords, facing a figure.

Hawk Eyes also maintained a vigilant gaze, waiting for the opportune moment. Their eyes met, and a murderous aura filled the entire space.

Stomp!

Unable to find a flaw even after countless mental rehearsals, Zoro had no choice but to make a move and seek an opportunity. He exerted force with his feet, and his figure rapidly shot forward.

Screech--Screech--

Black lightning, faintly flickering, wrapped around the blade. A crimson glint flashed in Zoro's eyes as a fierce sword light exploded!

"Three Sword Style Secret Technique: Six Paths Crossing!!"

Hawk Eyes' expression was as calm as still water, his eyes sharp as swords, staring intently at the revealed sharpness before him.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Clang! Five vertical and one horizontal, six ferocious slashes instantly appeared, cutting the leaf and a section of the branch below into strips.

The moment Zoro drew his swords, Black Blade Night accurately thrust out. The movement was slow yet fast, breaking through the blockade of slashes while simultaneously stabbing towards his throat!

His technique was seen through instantly?!!

In that moment of crisis, Zoro hastily turned his head. Everything in his vision seemed to slow to an extreme. At almost zero distance, he watched the pitch-black blade cut through his clothes and slice open his flesh.

Ch-

A spray of blood bloomed in the air behind him. A searing, burning pain shot from his shoulder. His unbalanced body, thrown into a panic, fell onto a branch below.

Zoro curled up and rolled a few times, rising with a pounding heart, and quickly turned back, assuming a defensive stance.

However, Hawk Eyes did not press his advantage. Instead, he leaped onto another green leaf, looking down at him. His eyes revealed a hint of weariness.

"You disappoint me, Roronoa. Is this all the growth you've achieved?"

"Isn't it a bit too early for you to say that?"

Zoro responded coldly, his voice deep.

Hawk Eyes quietly watched him, silent for two seconds, then said with a chilling tone:

"Can't you tell? You can't win against me in your current state."

"Stop joking!"

Zoro roared, his eyes glaring at Hawk Eyes.

"I absolutely have the strength to challenge you now!"

"A truly excellent swordsman should recognize the gap in strength between both sides at first glance. You said that yourself, didn't you!"

"Whether it's strength! Speed, swordsmanship, or Haki, I'm no longer inferior to you in any aspect!"

As he spoke, Zoro's gaze deepened. He shook his two swords, holding them at his sides. A powerful Haki surged out, rustling the surrounding leaves.

"Today, I will definitely defeat you and become the greatest swordsman in the world!"

"Why."

Hawk Eyes questioned him with the same chilling tone.

The sudden counter-question made Zoro falter.

Why.

The throne of the World's Greatest Swordsman was the goal all swordsmen pursued.

He didn't understand why Hawk Eyes would suddenly ask such a question. Moreover, his opponent wasn't someone who wasted words during a fight.

No, even outside of combat, he had always been a man of few words, never using two words when one would suffice.

Zoro couldn't fathom the meaning behind his words.

Before he could ponder further, he heard Hawk Eyes' voice again.

"Why must you be fixated on today? Fixated on this battle? Does today hold any special significance for you?"

"If you defeat me tomorrow, the throne of the World's Greatest Swordsman will still be yours. The same applies the day after tomorrow, or even in two years."

"Tell me, why must it be today? What is the reason you absolutely must have this battle?"

Hawk Eyes pressed him, word by word.

There was one thing Zoro hadn't said wrong: the gap between them was already minuscule, whether it was speed, strength, swordsmanship, or Haki.

Zoro lacked nothing, but he couldn't bring it all to bear.

The promises and agreements had fueled his progress, leading him to where he was now, but at this crucial final moment, they had become a burden that bound him.

His sword was not pure enough.

Hawk Eyes had seen it the moment they clashed. Although Zoro's swordsmanship had improved greatly, his Haki control was better, and he had even learned to imbue his attacks with Conqueror's Haki.

But in Hawk Eyes' view, Zoro's combat mentality was even worse than when they sparred in Kuraigana. It had regressed to their first encounter in the East Blue.

It was as if he was desperate to prove something, to finish the fight with him immediately.

The previous move wasn't because Hawk Eyes had instantly seen through his technique, but because Zoro himself had exposed a weakness.

Faced with Hawk Eyes' question, Zoro stood frozen, as if struck dumb, unable to utter a single word.

"Still haven't realized? Then let me use this to show you."

Hawk Eyes gripped his long swords again, bent his knees slightly, and then exerted force, charging down at extreme speed.

This was the first time he had moved offensively since their battle began.

Zoro immediately became fully focused, his eyes fixed on every one of his opponent's movements, terrified of exposing an opening.

The great sword cleaved down from above, with no fancy moves, just the perfect timing, angle, and force of the swing pushed to the absolute limit.

Clang!!

Zoro raised his two swords to block, his slanted blades deflecting most of the force, and he quickly pulled back, leaping away.

Hawk Eyes' blade stopped just a hair's breadth from the ground, without wasting a single ounce of power. With a twist of his wrist, the blade flipped up and slashed, a massive flying slash chasing along the ground!

"Was there no chance to counter just now? Why did you choose to retreat?"

Hawk Eyes tapped his toes on the ground repeatedly, charging out right behind the slash.

"Three Sword Style: 1080 Pound Phoenix!!"

While retreating rapidly, Zoro gritted his teeth and swung his swords, blasting the incoming slash.

Hawk Eyes' figure surged forward, sticking close. He dodged Zoro's direct slash by sidestepping, gripping Black Blade Night with one hand and thrusting it out.

"You're in a hurry to prove yourself, wanting to fulfill your promise, so your swordsmanship is aggressive."

Clink!

Zoro blocked with a sword held in front of his chest, sent flying back by the immense force, his feet digging into the ground as he retreated dozens of meters.

Seeing Hawk Eyes catching up, he pushed off with his feet and immediately leaped away from the spot, unaware that his back was already completely soaked in sweat.

However, Hawk Eyes was faster, anticipating his movements a step ahead and unleashing a slash to intercept his path.

"But you are also afraid, you fear failure, so your swordsmanship isn't aggressive enough."

Clang!!

Zoro raised his swords to block again, only to be sent flying back once more, his back hitting a branch heavily with a "Bang!".

Zoro gasped for air, though the fight had only just begun, he looked utterly exhausted, drenched in sweat.

Hawk Eyes stood on a branch, Black Blade Night pointed at Zoro, and said coldly:

"A sword whose offensive desire is restrained by its master is too dull."