On a huge deserted island beside Kuraigana Island in the New World.
Two figures stood facing each other.
One had a head of green hair and wore a black suit.
Three teardrop-shaped gold earrings hung from his left ear, and he held a black sword.
The other had short black hair, sharp yellow eyes like a hawk's, a short beard, and a burgundy patterned shirt.
He held an enormous Black Blade.
"Hahaha, Roronoa Zoro, come on! Surpass me with everything you have!" the short-haired, middle-aged man said with a laugh.
"Dracule Mihawk, I've waited so long for this day. More than a decade, I think," the green-haired man replied.
The two standing on this deserted island were none other than Hawkeye-Dracule Mihawk-and Roronoa Zoro.
When Zoro first arrived on Kuraigana Island, he was already at the level of a powerful Emperor's second-in-command, touching the threshold of an Admiral's strength.
After Mihawk's instruction in swordsmanship over this period, his overall strength had risen another level.
He had even begun to master Conqueror's Haki coating!
Lott had brought Zoro to Kuraigana Island for two reasons.
The first was to improve Zoro's strength.
The second was to fulfill Zoro's dream of becoming the World's Greatest Swordsman.
After they finished training yesterday, Mihawk had told Zoro, "Roronoa Zoro, you might not be the most gifted person I've ever met.
"But you are certainly the hardest-working swordsman I've ever met.
"Although we haven't spent much time together, I have nothing left to teach you.
"Everyone's body is different. Only by forging your own path of the sword can you surpass yourself and become the greatest in the world!"
When Mihawk said those words, Zoro had actually already realized it himself.
Creating his own path of the sword was easier said than done.
Rather than rack