"I'll remember it. I haven't seen anyone like you in a while, strong one.
"Thus... as a courtesy between swordsmen, I'll sink you using the world's strongest black sword!"
Shing!
With a flash, Mihawk drew the great black sword from his back, acknowledging Zoro as a worthy opponent. He was referring to Zoro's inner strength, as a true swordsman must have a powerful will to become even stronger.
"I appreciate that!" Zoro said, unafraid, as he spun his two swords like a windmill.
"Santoryu Ogi: Sanzen Sekai!"
"Perish...!"
Mihawk's figure blurred, and in a flash, he swung his sword.
Clang!
Swoosh!
A shockwave of air spread out, kicking up dust from the deck. The two stood facing each other. The two swords in Zoro's hands had been cleanly broken, and a long, narrow wound appeared on his chest, with blood once again staining his shirt.
"I lost," Zoro said, dropping the broken blades and taking the Wado Ichimonji from his mouth. "I never imagined I'd ever lose." He slowly sheathed the Wado Ichimonji.
'Is this the power of the strongest in the world?'
Zoro thought to himself, then turned around and spread his arms, exposing his defenseless chest.
"What are you...?" Mihawk asked, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
"Scars on the back are a swordsman's shame!" Zoro said with a bloody smile.
"Admirable!" Mihawk said with a joyous smile. He then brought his black blade down.
Swoosh!
The giant, sharp blade sliced across Zoro's chest. Blood splattered, and Zoro fell into the sea.
"Zoro!" Luffy shrieked.
Splash!
Johnny and Yosaku also cried out and jumped into the sea to find Zoro.
"Damn you, damn you, damn you! GAHH!" Luffy roared, clenching his fists and preparing to attack Mihawk.
"Calm down, rookie."
Aeridar placed a hand on Luffy's head, stopping him. "That moss-head swordsman isn't dead. That guy held back."
"Really?" Luffy asked, surprised.
"Are you that young swordsman's comrade? ...You also impressed me for watching it to the very end. Don't worry, that man is still alive," Mihawk said, looking at Luffy from a distance.
Luffy finally relaxed when he heard Mihawk's words.
"Aniki! Aniki, say something!" In the sea, Johnny and Yosaku had found the severely injured Zoro and brought him onto the small boat Usopp had steered over.
"It's still too early for you to die. My name is Dracule Mihawk! Learn about yourself, learn about the world, and get stronger! No matter how many years it takes, I will hold this seat of the strongest and wait for you! Surpass this sword! Surpass me! Roronoa Zoro!" Mihawk said with his arms crossed. It would be a waste for such a promising young swordsman to die so early.
"To think he got 'Hawk-Eyes' Mihawk to say something like that..." Zeff said, sounding amazed.
"Hehehehe," Aeridar chuckled.
After he finished talking, Mihawk slightly turned and looked at Luffy. "Kid, what's your goal?"
"The Pirate King!" Luffy said without a second thought.
"That's a more difficult path than surpassing me," Mihawk said with a smile.
"How woul I know when I haven't done it yet?!" Luffy said without a care, sticking his tongue out at Mihawk.
"He's alive! He just passed out!"
"Aniki!"
"Aniki, say something!"
"Aniki!"
On the small boat, Usopp shouted in delight, and Johnny and Yosaku were in tears.
Thump.
Waking from his unconscious state, Zoro endured the intense pain in his chest, reached for his Wado Ichimonji, and lifted it high.
"Lu... Luffy... can you hear me?"
"Yeah!" Luffy quickly replied.
"Cough... Did I worry you? Huff, huff... You.. You need no less than the world's greatest swordsman, right? Cough." Zoro said, out of breath and coughing up blood.
"Aniki, please don't talk anymore!"
"Aniki!" Johnny and Yosaku cried out in worry.
"I... I will never lose again!" Zoro said, his forehead in his hand as he cried. "Until I defeat him and become the World's Strongest Swordsman, I... I'll never lose again! You have a problem with that, Pirate King?"
"Hehehehe! Nope!" Luffy said, a wide grin on his face.
"You're a good team. I hope to see you again," Mihawk said with a wry smile. He then turned and prepared to leave.
"Hehehehe... That's a great vow!" Aeridar said with a strange laugh, placing his foot on the Baratie's railing. "A swordsman 'Hawk-Eyes' Mihawk recognizes, and a pirate who bears the 'D.' name... they're both rookies with great potential. So, what do you think? Should I exercise my power as a Seven Warlord of the Sea and crush them both right here, Mihawk?"
"A Warlord!"
"The Seven Warlords?" The people around them were stunned. Some knew what that title meant, but others didn't.
"He's my prey!" Mihawk suddenly turned around, his hawk-like eyes piercing Aeridar with a sharp gaze.
"What if I take out that straw hat guy? Hehehehe," Aeridar said with a strange laugh, putting emphasis on the words "straw hat."
"Are you provoking me? Golden Ring Aeridar!" Mihawk's face turned grim, and a hint of killing intent emanated from him.
"Th-That man..."
"Y-Yeah, it's him!"
"A big shot like him came back to the East Blue!"
"The master of the World's Neutral Zone!"
"The pride of the East Blue!"
"Golden Ring Aeridar!" At this moment, the chefs and pirates recognized Aeridar. The East Blue is the weakest of the four seas, where the Grand Line and Devil Fruits are just legends, and only a handful of people have been to the New World.
Originally, aside from Roger, there were no top-tier pirates from the East Blue before Luffy. This is why countless pirates and people from the East Blue worshipped and felt proud of Luffy when he became famous.
Now, Aeridar, who also came from the East Blue, took that position. Countless pirates were obsessed with him, and people from the East Blue were proud of him. However, the pirates in the East Blue were generally too weak, and even if one or two pirate crews were lucky enough to make it to the Grand Line, they were swallowed up by it, which is why the East Blue remains a closed-off place.
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