Black Blade: Yoru

He had short black hair, yellow eyes as sharp as an eagle's, a curled mustache, a black top hat trimmed with white fur, a burgundy patterned shirt over a black vest, and white shorts.

He looked exceptionally capable, and exceptionally cold.

Especially his eyes. When they looked over calmly, they sent a bone-chilling chill rising from the depths of one's heart.

"That's the man who stopped us and chased us all the way from the Grand Line. Why is he here?!"

The moment Gin saw him, his face turned deathly pale, as though he had seen something terrifying.

"It's him!"

Cold sweat dripped down Krieg's face as the unease in his heart grew stronger.

"Who is he?"

Luffy looked puzzled.

"He looks really strong!"

Usopp said with his mouth hanging open, his face full of astonishment.

Just one look at him was enough to make them feel an icy chill.

"Such sharp eyes, just like an eagle's. One glance makes your skin crawl!"

"He really is incredible. I never thought someone like this existed in the world!"

The cooks all stared at the man before them in shock.

"One of the Shichibukai, the World's Greatest Swordsman, Dracule Mihawk!"

Zoro and Zeff stared fixedly at the man before them, speaking one word at a time.

He was Zoro's goal, so of course Zoro knew him.

Zeff had seen much of the world and had heard of his great name.

"One of the Shichibukai? The World's Greatest Swordsman? Dracule Mihawk?"

Everyone looked blank.

Clearly, they had never heard that name before!

"The Shichibukai are seven great pirates whose status is recognized by the World Government. Each possesses power great enough to rival a nation, and they serve the World Government as enemies of all Pirates. Dracule Mihawk is one of them!"

Zeff drew a deep breath and explained word by word.

"What?!"

"A great pirate?!"

"Recognized by the World Government?!"

"Power that can rival a nation?!"

"An enemy of all Pirates?!"

Hearing Zeff's words, everyone was stunned.

A figure like that was far too terrifying!

Buzz!

But at that moment, Zoro made his move. His entire body became a green blur as he appeared before Hawkeye.

As Zoro looked at the man before him, endless fighting spirit flashed in his eyes.

He had waited too long for this day. No matter what happened today, he had to fight him. Even death did not matter!

"A frog at the bottom of a well!"

The moment Hawkeye saw the look in Zoro's eyes, he knew what Zoro intended without needing to say a word.

Another challenger.

As the World's Greatest Swordsman, he had faced countless challenges throughout his life.

Yet even in the tiny East Blue, someone dared challenge him!

"Your courage is commendable!"

With that thought, Hawkeye nodded and took out a small knife from his chest.

He looked at Zoro with an apologetic expression.

"Sorry, this is the only knife I have."

"Are you insulting me?"

Anger flashed in Zoro's eyes.

He was the renowned Pirate Hunter. When had anyone ever looked down on him like this?

Oni Giri!

Zoro roared and drew his swords!

"Oh? Three Sword Style? Interesting, but far too weak!"

Hawkeye narrowed his eyes slightly. With his mastery of the sword, he naturally saw through Zoro at a glance and showed a flicker of interest.

Clang!

A crisp ring of metal striking metal echoed out.

Zoro's lightning-fast, all-out Oni Giri was effortlessly blocked by Hawkeye's small knife!

"How is that possible? Is the gap really this great?"

Zoro was stunned as he stared at the unbelievable sight before him.

He looked at Hawkeye again and felt an incomparably vast chasm between them.

"A frog at the bottom of a well. Open your eyes and take a good look. The world is vast!"

Hawkeye said calmly as his small knife swung again and again.

"I don't believe it! I don't believe the world is so far beyond me!"

That blow shattered Zoro's worldview in an instant. Everything he had believed in and every promise he had made turned into endless slashes, and he completely lost himself in fury!

Pfft!

Suddenly, Hawkeye reached out, and the small knife immediately pierced Zoro's chest!

All of Zoro's movements came to an abrupt halt as he stared blankly at Hawkeye.

"So this is the world?"

Zoro murmured, as though he had come to know the world anew. A glimmer of brilliance flashed in his eyes.

"Why do you still have fighting spirit?"

Even Hawkeye was taken aback as he saw the fighting spirit rising in Zoro's eyes.

He was the World's Greatest Swordsman, while the one before him was merely an unknown swordsman from the East Blue. Yet Zoro had dared to attack him, and even after his confidence had been crushed, his face was still full of fighting spirit. Setting everything else aside, that persistence toward the way of the sword surprised Hawkeye.

This was the most basic, yet most precious, quality needed to become strong. As long as someone possessed it, their future achievements would be limitless!

"Because... of a promise!"

Zoro roared. His essence, energy, spirit, blood, dharma, and power all gathered into one at that moment, and his gaze instantly became incomparably sharp!

The three swords on his body were held in his hands like prehistoric beasts!

The three swords merged into one and spun violently!

Three Thousand Worlds!

Man and sword became one, turning into a whirlwind that slashed forward with tremendous force!

"Interesting!"

Hawkeye narrowed his eyes. With his eyesight, he naturally saw the profundity and power of Zoro's technique. Though the gap between them remained immense, it was already quite good!

Then, he reached out and grasped the Black Blade, Yoru!

Slash!

The two separated the instant they clashed!

Pfft!

Blood sprayed wildly from Zoro as a sword wound appeared across his chest!

"Has the gap reached this extent?"

Zoro murmured, then suddenly spread his arms and faced Hawkeye!

"Hm?"

Hawkeye looked surprised.

"For a swordsman, being wounded in the back is a disgrace!"

Zoro smiled.

"Impressive. I'll remember you, Roronoa Zoro. Grow stronger as quickly as you can. You will definitely become a powerful swordsman. I'll be waiting there for you to surpass me!"

Even Hawkeye was moved by those words!

What was a Sword Soul? This was it!

That guy's swordsmanship was terrible, but his Sword Soul was frighteningly strong!

Hawkeye stopped holding back. One slash left a sword wound across Zoro's body, sending him flying into the sea!

"Big brother! Big brother!"

Johnny and Yosaku shouted and hurriedly jumped into the sea to rescue him.

"Zoro!"

Luffy shouted wildly as his arm stretched toward them!

"He's not dead yet."

Hawkeye easily avoided Luffy's attack and spoke calmly.

"Hm?"

Hearing that, Luffy could not help letting out a sigh of relief.

"So this is the strength of Hawkeye, one of the Shichibukai? It's too terrifying! Even the famous Pirate Hunter Zoro was so utterly helpless against him!"

"They're not even on the same level!"

"The difference between heaven and earth!"

Seeing the renowned Pirate Hunter defeated so easily, everyone around them gasped and stared at him in utter shock!

"That bastard!"

Gin and Krieg watched Hawkeye with wary expressions. This man was simply too terrifyingly strong!

Buzz!

But at that moment, a crescent-shaped Sword Aura suddenly slashed out of the void toward Hawkeye!

Sword Aura poured down like falling rain!

"Interesting. Is there a swordsman of this caliber in the East Blue?"

Seeing that Sword Aura, Hawkeye's eyes lit up as he swung the Black Blade, Yoru!