My Name Is Roronoa Zoro!

After using the Dark-Dark Fruit to erase Mihawk's first strike, Bane had no intention of getting tangled up with someone this strong.

Though both Crocodile, whom he planned to kill, and Mihawk were great Pirates ranked among the Shichibukai, Bane did not consider Crocodile, who had yet to undergo his "enlightenment" in Impel Down, to be on the same level as Mihawk.

Crocodile might have fallen from grace now, but Mihawk was the genuine World's Greatest Swordsman!

If they really fought, Bane could not think of any way he could win!

"Quick, quick, turn the ship! Use our speed to shake him off!" Bane hurriedly called over his shoulder.

After a brief moment of shock, Nami quickly came to her senses. She pulled out a whistle, ready to summon Momoo swimming beneath the ship and have it tow them away at top speed.

After their initial panic, the crewmen sprang into action as well. Those who needed to raise the sails raised them, and those who needed to turn the helm turned it.

Under normal circumstances, that little boat could never catch up to this large three-masted sailing ship with its decent performance.

But Bane did not let down his guard. At this distance, if Mihawk abandoned his boat and came after them, he could catch up in the blink of an eye.

Yet before he could even finish worrying about Mihawk giving chase, Zoro, who had been sitting beneath the mast, suddenly rose to his feet, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Zoro!" Bane had just opened his mouth to tell him not to cause trouble, but it was already too late.

With Zoro's personality, there was no way he would let a master of Sword Arts pass him by!

Without another word, Zoro dashed across the deck in a few swift steps and leaped into the sea. Then Geppo erupted beneath his feet as he raced over the waves toward Mihawk.

For a moment, Bane deeply regretted teaching this guy Rokushiki!

But it lasted only a moment. Zoro had already rushed out, and Bane knew he could not stop him. After gritting his teeth and hesitating for an instant, he cursed, "Damn it! These damned swordsmen, every last one of them is so impulsive!"

After cursing, Bane raised a hand and shouted, "Stop the ship!"

Though everyone was confused by Bane's order, he was the captain, so they could only obey.

On the other side, Mihawk had merely been somewhat interested in Bane. He had not expected that before he could even pursue them, a swordsman would rush out from their ship!

As an old hand who had roamed the seas for years, especially one once known as the Marine Hunter, Mihawk naturally recognized at a glance that the other party was using Rokushiki, a Marine technique.

"A Marine?" Mihawk first made that guess, but immediately dismissed it. He did not seem like one.

He could not be bothered guessing the other man's identity. Standing on his small boat, he watched with interest as the young swordsman charged toward him at incredible speed.

Zoro had not known that the man ahead was Mihawk. He had only sensed a master of Sword Arts, but as the distance between them rapidly closed, he clearly saw the other man's face.

He might not recognize a Marine Admiral, and he might not know who the Four Emperors were, but he could never mistake the World's Greatest Swordsman, Hawk Eyes Dracule Mihawk!

The instant he recognized Mihawk, Zoro felt not fear, but excitement—overwhelming excitement!

Even though he had already witnessed, in Loguetown, just how terrifying the world's top powerhouses were through the scene caused by Garp's punch, he still chose to move forward. He would draw his blade against the strongest swordsman in the world!

How sharp were Mihawk's eyes? In that brief instant, he saw the changes in the young swordsman's expression.

"Interesting. It has been a long time since I encountered a swordsman who dared draw his blade against me like this." The corner of Mihawk's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a trace of appreciation.

Whether it was ignorant arrogance or something else, Mihawk believed that a true swordsman had to dare draw his blade against someone stronger. No matter how refined his technique, how great his strength, or how exceptional his talent, without the heart to press ever onward, he could never ascend to the pinnacle of Sword Arts!

Back then, Mihawk himself had been such an unrestrained swordsman. With one blade, he had cut down his way across the entire sea before finally taking his seat at the summit of Sword Arts!

Bane, who had stopped the ship, also prepared for battle. However, he did not rashly make a move. Instead, he carefully observed Mihawk's current state. When he saw that Mihawk's attention had shifted to Zoro, who was charging toward him, and that he had not immediately attacked Zoro, Bane relaxed slightly. Perhaps things were not as bad as he had imagined?

Still, he did not lower his guard. Zoro was his junior brother and his first companion. Since he had promised their master to look after him, Bane could not simply stand by and ignore him!

Besides, though Bane knew he could not defeat Mihawk, there was nothing to despair over. At worst, he could open a door and take Zoro and Nami away. Mihawk could not possibly chase them all the way to The Empire, could he?

In the blink of an eye, amid everyone's racing thoughts, Zoro had already reached Mihawk. Both hands pressed against the hilts of the two swords at his waist, while the already-drawn Wado Ichimonji was clenched in his mouth.

Precisely because he had recognized the man before him as the strongest in Sword Arts, there was no need for any probing attack. He opened with a killing move!

"Three Sword Style Secret Technique: Three Thousand Worlds!!!" The two swords in Zoro's hands flew from their sheaths and began spinning instantly. As he let out a furious roar, he used the technique of Soru in those final two steps, closing the distance between himself and Mihawk in an instant.

But Mihawk was the strongest swordsman, after all. Even at a moment like this, he still had the leisure to silently assess Zoro's swordsmanship.

His timing and technique are both quite good, but he is still far too immature.

With that thought flashing through his mind, Mihawk's hawk-like eyes saw through Zoro's killing move even without using Observation Haki. In an instant, the Black Blade Yoru moved before him with elegant poise.

The next moment, with a clang, Zoro's three swords converged at one point in a crossing formation and struck Mihawk's Black Blade Yoru.

The Secret Technique, Three Thousand Worlds, was blocked in an instant!

"What!?" Zoro was stunned, disbelief filling his eyes.

He knew his opponent was strong, but he had never expected him to catch his secret technique so effortlessly!

At that moment, he felt like a child who had only just learned how to hold a sword before this man!

But his shock lasted only an instant. Zoro's will was exceptionally firm. His gaze darkened, and he immediately changed his stance. His three swords spread apart as he spun, dancing like a blade, attacking Mihawk from three directions at once.

Decisive, strong-willed, unyielding. Even knowing the gap between them, he still dares attack someone stronger. Mihawk once again gave Zoro an approving assessment.

At the same time, he moved with extraordinary elegance, shifting and turning. It seemed as though his feet had not moved at all, yet he precisely avoided every one of Zoro's attacks. Then, seizing an opening, he flicked his hand, and the black blade tore through the air.

With a crisp ding, Yubashiri somehow flew from Zoro's hand and landed directly on Mihawk's small boat.

Before Zoro could react, pain flared across his neck, followed by flowing blood. Looking again, he found Mihawk's Black Blade Yoru resting on his shoulder. Its sharp blade aura had pierced his skin, leaving behind a shallow wound.

At that moment, Zoro knew he had lost. Before that, Bane had already come rushing over with Geppo beneath his feet.

Mihawk glanced at Bane's approaching figure, then said appreciatively, "You have a fine companion."

"That guy is my senior brother," Zoro said calmly. This was also the first time he had voluntarily called Bane "senior brother" in front of an outsider.

"Oh? Your senior brother? Does that mean his talent in Sword Arts is outstanding as well? Is he stronger than you?" Mihawk asked with interest.

Hearing that, Zoro did not care in the slightest that his life was in another's hands. He grinned and said, "No. His talent in Sword Arts is a complete mess."

"Ha ha ha ha!" Mihawk suddenly burst into laughter. "What an interesting pair of martial brothers."

As his words fell, he lowered his blade and looked at Zoro. "State your name, young swordsman."

And the moment he lowered his blade, Bane also stopped at the right time, standing atop the sea with Geppo beneath his feet as he watched Mihawk and Zoro.

Zoro's gaze darkened. There was not a trace of fear or retreat in his eyes as he stared resolutely at Mihawk. "Roronoa Zoro!"

Then, before Mihawk could speak, he added in a resounding voice, "One day, I will defeat you and stand at the pinnacle of Sword Arts as the World's Greatest Swordsman!"