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"Makino!? What does it have to do with her?"
Luffy looked confused. He was so naive that he couldn't understand the meaning of Red's words.
But soon, he changed the subject.
"Never mind."
"Red, you said there will be a chance for us to become stronger quickly. Is that true?"
"Of course, when have I ever lied to you?"
Red smiled calmly, showing his shining white teeth, which was very convincing.
At least to Luffy.
"Whee."
Luffy put his hands behind his head and said relaxedly: "Of course I believe you."
"I'm just a little excited!"
"A world-class swordsman~ If I can defeat someone like that, I shouldn't be far from becoming the Pirate King, right?"
"Well..." Red looked slightly hesitant, "If it's only to that extent, it probably won't be enough..."
"If even Usopp could defeat him, then you could almost become the Pirate King!"
"Huh? You think so!?"
Luffy looked slightly disappointed, but he didn't feel that what Red said was impossible.
After all, these were Luffy's crewmates, and with Red as his first mate...
He believed that his crew would definitely become strong individuals who could stand on their own! All that mattered was time!
Looking at Usopp pushing a wheelbarrow out, Luffy grinned: "If you say that, I want Usopp to work hard!"
"Sounds great!"
Red smiled casually, very happy to see his captain willing to help him squeeze out the potential of the crew!
...
Soon after.
Before the Baratie's chefs and the tourists in the nearby sea could recover from the shock of Luffy destroying the battleship with one punch...
A coffin-shaped boat glowing with green flames slowly emerged from behind the wreckage of the battleship.
On the small boat, a man with sharp eyes like a hawk raised his head, looked at the damaged battleship, and then glanced in the direction of the Going Merry.
He spoke calmly with a hint of regret:
"The toy I finally found to pass the time seems to have been broken!"
"Brother Zoro, that man is..."
On board the Merry, Johnny and Yosaku were immediately shocked when they saw the visitor, and pointed forward with expressions of awe.
Zoro had already focused his gaze on the man, staring directly at him.
"That's right!"
Zoro's throat tightened as he felt his heart pounding. He immediately answered with trembling hands: "He is...the man I've been looking for!!!"
Although he had already received warning from Red...
When the goal he had been pursuing suddenly appeared before him, Zoro couldn't help but tremble with anticipation.
The scene of his promise with Kuina under the moonlight flashed involuntarily through his mind.
The Merry sailed slowly toward Hawk-Eye. After arriving near his boat, Zoro immediately jumped onto the wreckage of the battleship.
He adjusted his bandana, and a sharp light suddenly flashed in his eyes.
Then he slowly drew the three swords at his waist, and raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a young and confident smile.
"The world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk!!!"
"I went to sea to find you!"
"You seem to have some free time, right?"
"Let's have a duel!?"
Under the scorching sun, the three swords flashed with blazing light.
Zoro issued his challenge in a tone that could not be refused.
"Oh?"
His voice successfully caught Mihawk's attention.
In an instant, the entire sea suddenly fell quiet.
Sanji, standing on the Merry, lit a cigarette.
Although he had a general understanding of Zoro's dream through Johnny and Yosaku's explanation...
When he saw Zoro challenging Mihawk without hesitation, his pupils trembled subconsciously for a moment.
"Challenge me?" Mihawk lowered his head and spoke with a steady voice: "What is your goal?"
Zoro replied without hesitation: "To surpass you! To become the strongest!!!"
The sea breeze blew, sending waves across the quiet waters.
"Hmph~"
Mihawk let out a chuckle: "How foolish!"
With that said, he finally stepped off his boat and came to stand opposite Zoro.
Then, just as in the original storyline, he took out a small cross-shaped knife from around his neck.
"I can sense that your swordsmanship is good enough in these area."
"But if this alone makes you think you're qualified to challenge me..."
"That would be a little too ridiculous."
Mihawk obviously had no interest in fighting weaklings.
He raised the palm-sized knife in his hand, with a look of disdain in his eyes: "Sorry!"
"This is already the smallest blade I have."
Zoro frowned.
Although this was included in the "future" described by Red, when it actually happened, he still felt insulted.
But in an instant, he smiled confidently.
"Really? Then I hope you can hold on, but..."
"I will make you draw your sword!!!"
Crack!
Dazzling lightning suddenly erupted around Zoro's body, covering him like golden armor!
The next second, Zoro looked up.
His normally determined eyes now resembled those of a ferocious beast, looking at everything before him with hungry intensity!
Without giving the scornful Mihawk any chance to prepare, he lunged forward.
"Three-Sword Style: Thunder Dragon Slash!!!"
ROAR!!!
There was no warning! The power of thunder and lightning wrapped around Zoro's body suddenly expanded, forming a roaring dragon head that charged toward Hawk-Eye.
At the same time, a slight pressure suddenly invaded Mihawk's mind.
It was Zoro's ability - intimidation.
"Hmm!? This feeling..."
Sensing the aura released by Zoro, Mihawk's expression finally changed.
This was unmistakable!
Although this pressure was still very slight, it was definitely something that could be found in only one person in a million—Conqueror's Haki!
"Interesting~"
The corners of Mihawk's mouth curved upward.
Although he was a little surprised, there was no hesitation in his movements.
SLASH!
With just a slight thrust forward, without any flashy effects or unnecessary movements...
The thundering dragon seemed to have its energy instantly suppressed, as if someone had pressed down on its head.
Mihawk suddenly spoke to Zoro: "I have to admit, I was a little blind."
"I didn't expect that in this weakest of seas, I would encounter such an interesting swordsman as you."
"It seems my journey was worthwhile after all."
"Unfortunately..."
"You are still far too weak!!!"
SWISH!!! Mihawk suddenly swung his blade!
The sword's light passed through the air, and the thunder dragon—formed by the fusion of one hundred thousand volts and Zoro's sword techniques—was cut cleanly in half before dissipating instantly.
"What!?"
Zoro's expression changed to one of surprise.
Although he knew the gap between himself and Mihawk would be huge—after all, even Luffy, who could easily defeat him, was judged by Red as unable to withstand a serious attack from Mihawk—
He never imagined that the attack he unleashed with all his strength would be so easily defeated by Mihawk with just a small knife.
"Indeed, it's still too early!"
After Zoro's eyes trembled momentarily, he immediately gritted his teeth, brandished his swords, and launched a relentless attack on Mihawk.
The next scene didn't deviate much from the original plot.
Zoro kept changing his sword techniques.
Oni Giri, Shishi Sonson, Tatsu Maki...
But no matter what techniques he used, they were always effortlessly countered by Mihawk with the small knife in his hand.
Even though Zoro had entered the steel-cutting realm, even though he had learned to channel Pokémon energy...
In front of Mihawk, he was still as helpless as a newborn.
Zoro's eyes flashed with determination, but it couldn't change the outcome.
SLASH!!!
Bright red blood suddenly spurted out, staining Zoro's clothes.
Mihawk frowned, looking at Zoro who continued to attack despite having an opportunity to dodge. He couldn't help but ask: "Do you want to be stabbed through the heart?"
"Ha~!" Zoro chuckled defiantly: "It's just a wound!"
Zoro didn't hesitate at all, completely ignoring the knife that was dangerously close to his heart, and twisted his body forcefully.
The three swords suddenly slashed at Mihawk like a swift hurricane.
"What!?"
This time, it was Mihawk's turn to look surprised.
He suddenly released the knife stuck in Zoro's body and stepped back.
But even so, Zoro's unexpected attack still caught the edge of his shadow.
Whoosh!
A gust of sea breeze blew past, and the black hat on Mihawk's head suddenly flew upward.
On the brim of the hat were three clean slash marks.
They were caused by Zoro's attack!
Splash!!! Zoro suddenly pulled the knife from his chest, allowing blood to flow freely.
But he ignored it and threw the bloody knife into the sea with all his strength, then grinned: "Now, I should be qualified to ask you to draw the black sword on your back!?"