"What will you use to block me this time?"
Whoosh!
Hawkeye swung his black blade, Yoru, unleashing another lethal slash, and said coldly, "Die!"
Crack, crack, crack…
Sword energy cut the ground, shooting rapidly toward the two exhausted pirates.
But no matter how they struggled, their strength had run dry.
"Hah, am I going to die?"
Sanji glared bitterly at the oncoming energy, utterly unable to resist.
"Damn it!"
Luffy rolled desperately toward the slash, hoping to use his body to shield Sanji.
Bang!
Suddenly, a figure descended from the sky, like a soldier from heaven.
Creak!
A hand intercepted the sword energy, crushing the lethal force effortlessly.
"Shirogai! Nami, Usopp, Chopper…"
Luffy and Sanji gasped at the sight of the three, seemingly unconscious but safe.
"How is it? Have you felt the gap between yourselves and the true powerhouses of the world?"
Shirogai turned to his companions, smiling lightly.
"Hehehe, he is indeed very strong!"
Luffy finally relaxed, slumping to the ground and laughing, praising the opponent who had nearly ended him.
"Hawkeye, the World's Greatest Swordsman, truly lives up to his reputation!"
Sanji, legs weak and trembling, teased from the ground, "That green-haired idiot wants to become the World's Greatest Swordsman? He's got a long way to go."
"Zoro doesn't need us worrying; he knows his own limits compared to Hawkeye," Shirogai said with a small chuckle.
He glanced at his exhausted companions.
"Do you think you'd have the confidence to take him on in a one-on-one fight later? The World's Greatest Swordsman is impressive, but it's nothing insurmountable."
Across from them, Hawkeye sheathed Yoru, standing calmly with arms crossed, showing no reaction to Shirogai's seemingly provocative words.
"Of course! I'm aiming to be the Pirate King!"
Luffy laughed, waving his arms and flopping back onto the ground.
"But I'm starving…"
He looked pitifully at Shirogai.
"I want meat!"
"Defeat the World's Greatest Swordsman?"
Sanji lit a cigarette shakily, exhaling with enthusiasm.
"If I defeat him before that green-haired idiot, wouldn't that prove I'm stronger?"
He could already imagine Zoro's frustrated expression.
Determination ignited in his eyes.
"Good, as expected of my companions," Shirogai said with a smile, before transforming into a purple glow, carrying the five of them away into the sky.
---
Hawkeye watched them leave, making no move to stop them.
The trial to temper the Straw Hats' resolve was over.
"Heh heh, my companions didn't exhaust your stamina too much, did they? Come find me at the port!"
A faint voice echoed in Hawkeye's mind, carrying the faintest hint of fighting intent, and he smiled coldly.
---
Clang!
Kuma grew multiple arms across his body, sending Zoro's two attacking swords flying.
Buzz!
The massive figure evaded a heavy hammer from Franky with surprising agility.
"Zoro, be careful!" Robin warned anxiously, attempting joint locks to restrain Kuma, but her efforts were futile.
Kuma reached Zoro, slamming him to the ground with a bear-paw imprint.
"Ugh, cough!"
Zoro coughed up blood, his lower abdomen injured, unable to stand.
"Your internal organs are damaged. One wrong move and you'll die," Kuma said indifferently before vanishing again.
---
The next moment, Kuma appeared behind Robin on the ship.
"Oh no!"
Robin spun, horrified, as a palm moved toward her.
"Pressure Cannon!"
The bear-paw-shaped air shockwave hit her, sending her crashing onto distant rubble.
"Damn it!"
Franky, enraged at being ignored, grabbed Kuma and pulled him fiercely.
"You, come here!!"
Franky's arms transformed into rotating saw blades, striking at Kuma midair.
"Awoo! Tyrant Kuma, you've angered me!"
"Too weak," Kuma remarked casually, sending a bear paw-shaped air bubble toward Franky.
Splat!
Franky's saw-like hands collided with the shockwave, causing an explosion that blasted him away.
"Lie down!"
Kuma moved to Robin and knocked her down with a single palm, leaving her temporarily incapacitated.
"I can still fight!"
Franky reassembled himself, transforming into a giant long sword.
"Super · Sword Man!"
Kuma opened his mouth, firing a blinding laser.
Whoosh!
Boom!
The explosion shattered Franky's giant sword form, scattering debris everywhere.
"Franky!!!"
Zoro, struggling upright, growled in anger.
"Awoo! Are you calling me?"
Franky reformed.
"Quickly take Robin and leave. You're no match for him," he advised.
Zoro, relieved, nodded.
"Don't worry about me; I'll hold him off."
---
Kuma paused, observing the determination in Zoro, a silent recognition passing through him.
Whoosh!
A purple light descended.
"Stop fighting; it's pointless."
Shirogai placed Luffy and the others onto Zoro, pinning him gently.
"Hey! You guys!"
Zoro rose, ready to protest, but seeing his companions exhausted and injured, he held back his anger.
"Why are you all so beaten up?"
He kicked Sanji lightly.
"Nothing major. Just a simple encounter with the World's Greatest Swordsman," Sanji replied, puffing his cigarette indifferently.
"Hawkeye is on this ship too?"
Zoro asked, frowning at the rising sword energy shooting skyward.
---
In the distance, a dark, ominous aura stirred.
Kuma also stood silently, watching.
Three Shichibukai appeared simultaneously.
"Franky, take care of them."
Shirogai floated into the air, eyes on the three Shichibukai, and chuckled.
"Zoro, watch closely. I'll show you how a swordsman can face three Shichibukai at once."
Whoosh!
A beam of light from the Thousand Sunny descended into Shirogai's hand.
It was the wooden stick he had rarely used, covered in dust.
"Famous Blade · Kisame!"
Shirogai held the stick, pointing at the Shichibukai.
"Come, fight!"
Swish, swish, swish!
Sword energy of unprecedented density spread across the sea, slicing the distant waves and leaving the waters perfectly still.
___
Happy New Month