Open Your Eyes and Watch Closely (continued)

"What a strange guy!"

Perona muttered.

"Help me up!"

"Do as he said!"

Moria spoke through gritted teeth, a gleam in his eyes.

His pride, shattered by humiliation, was now being rebuilt by his own hands, and before long, it would be whole again.

At that moment, Moria's heart soared, filled with boundless dreams and anticipation for the future.

Meanwhile, elsewhere on Thriller Bark.

The atmosphere suddenly froze, despair and icy tension filling the air.

Bartholomew Kuma looked down at the swordsman standing firmly in his way with Three Swords in hand, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"You intend to trade your life for your captain's survival?"

The green-haired swordsman's gaze was firm and solemn as he nodded emphatically. "That's right!"

"Tell me your name, swordsman!"

Kuma suddenly spoke in a deep voice.

A measure of respect rose within him for the swordsman's courage.

"Roronoa Zoro!"

His powerful voice rang through the air.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning streaked through the air.

A tall figure emerged from the lightning atop a nearby crumbling wall.

Zoro turned his head. When he saw the newcomer, his pupils abruptly contracted, followed by a flicker of excitement.

"The Marine teacher who taught me flying slashes?!"

At those sudden words, confusion flashed through Kuma's eyes. He turned to look at Xia Le, who stood atop the wall.

"Moss Head, don't go calling me that!"

"I never taught you any swordsmanship, and I'm certainly not your teacher."

Xia Le shook his head with a smile.

"You should be worrying about your own situation instead!"

"As a Marine, I'm on the exact opposite side from you!"

Zoro froze, then his expression grew grave.

He had blurted it out only because their last seemingly hopeless battle had, in fact, benefited the entire Straw Hat Pirates.

From Xia Le's Tempest