East Blue, Baratie.
"Hawkeye..."
Zoro stood on the deck of the Going Merry, looking down at the world's greatest Great Swordsman standing on Baratie's side deck.
Though he was technically looking down on Hawkeye from a higher position, the man's abyssal, imposing presence made him feel inexplicably uneasy.
It felt as though he had been targeted by some prehistoric beast!
As if he had seen through the shift in Zoro's emotions, Hawkeye's face filled with disdain as he mocked him.
"Is a weakling like you really worth a bounty of four hundred million Belly?"
"Weakling!? Don't look down on me, Hawkeye!"
"Hmph! You don't even have the courage to draw your swords and fight me. Doesn't that make you a weakling?"
"What I lack least is courage. Come and fight me to the death, Hawkeye!"
At that, Zoro's face darkened with anger. He leaped onto the restaurant's side deck, untied the green bandana around his arm, and tied it around his head.
Then, he drew the three long swords at his waist one after another, preparing to fight Hawkeye to the death.
Zoro admitted that the moment Hawkeye had fixed his gaze on him, he had panicked for an instant!
After all, the man before him bore the title of world's greatest Great Swordsman. He stood at the pinnacle of all swordsmen.
But...
That did not mean he lacked the courage to fight him!
In fact, even if Hawkeye had not come to provoke him, Zoro would have sought him out himself.
After all, the title of world's greatest Great Swordsman was simply too resounding!
Any swordsman who believed himself strong enough could not resist trying to seize that title and stand at the pinnacle of swordsmen.
When the diners nearby saw the two preparing to duel, they hurriedly rose