Kirishima Bupai seemed amused by their stunned expressions.
He cleared his throat and added, "Ahem, who said I wasn't going to the Grand Line?"
With a faint, ambiguous smile, Kirishima looked into Zoro's eyes, where a small flame had rekindled. "Right now, I'm just considering..."
As he spoke, he turned his gaze toward the deep sea, which seemed to hold endless secrets. His tone took on a trace of indescribable... loneliness and... boredom.
"What meaning this journey has, that's all."
He withdrew his gaze and looked at Zoro again, his eyes calm and unruffled, yet holding an absolute confidence that made Zoro's very soul tremble:
"This world has no way of drawing out my full POWER."
"Someone who could make me fight with everything I've got..."
"Doesn't exist!" He tilted his head slightly, as though stating the simplest of facts. "Since that's the case, whether I go to the Grand Line or not..."
"What difference does it make?"
Boom-!!!
If his earlier talk of slacking off had upended their worldview, then this was an outright declaration of arrogance that broke through the heavens.
The best in the world?!
He didn't just consider himself the world's Greatest Swordsman. He even considered himself... invincible?!
In the entire world, there wasn't a single opponent who could make him go all out?!
Luffy's eyes widened, his mouth opening wide enough to fit a watermelon.
Nami covered her mouth, her eyes full of disbelief, while Zoro shook all over as though struck by a thunderbolt.
He admitted the man was strong, unfathomably strong, but... strong enough to believe he was invincible?
This... this was no longer confidence, but... arrogance? Or... the truth?
Seeing their expressions of speechless shock, Kirishima Bupai seemed to feel he had achieved the desired effect.
He stood up, picked up Yamato