Arrogant?
No—just ignorant.
Luoyu looked at Zoro's burning fighting spirit and couldn't help but recall that moment in the original story—when Kizaru faced the Supernovas.
The look on their faces back then… was exactly like this.
"Youth really is the currency of recklessness," Luoyu said, taking a sip of his earthen brew.
"This sword was meant to be decorative. But if you insist on using me for practice, I suppose I'll have to take you a little seriously. After all… you're all worth a bonus."
As his words fell, an invisible pressure radiated from him.
Everyone in the room suddenly felt a suffocating weight settle over them.
Those calm, water-clear eyes of Luoyu's seemed to reach into their chests and squeeze their hearts.
Zoro's expression tightened.
Just moments ago, this boy had seemed harmless.
Now, it felt like a bloodthirsty beast had locked its gaze on him—every pore on his body screamed in alarm.
What… is this feeling?
Koby and Helmeppo felt it too. Their nerves snapped taut.
"Zoro, Luffy—don't do anything rash!" Koby shouted. "Admiral Luoyu, please wait—Vice Admiral Garp is on his way!"
Garp?
Zoro's grip on his swords tightened.
A flicker of hope rose in his chest.
But he crushed it just as quickly.
His instincts screamed: This strike must be made.
If he didn't draw now, his blades would never again follow his will.
This man—this Admiral—was a wall he had to cut through.
"Let's go!"
Zoro surged forward, breaking through his hesitation.
With a thunderous step, he launched himself like a beast toward Luoyu.
The ten meters between them vanished in a blink.
"Two-Sword Style: Tiger Hunt!"
ROAR!
His blades tore through the air with a sound like a tiger's roar.
Sanji and Luffy didn't move.
They watched.
They trusted Zoro.
And they wanted to see—just how strong this new Admiral really was.
All eyes locked on Luoyu.
Luoyu stood still, feeling the wind of Zoro's charge.
He didn't dodge.
His right hand moved to the hilt of the sword on his back.
The blade that had nearly become a fishing rod… was drawn.
Tsubame Gaeshi.
VMMM—!
A sharp, piercing hum filled the air.
As his fingers closed around the hilt, Sasaki Kojirō's swordsmanship flooded his mind.
Not just technique—instinct.
The sword moved with his body.
His body followed the sword.
The long, narrow blade swept sideways—like a silver ribbon slashing through the void.
Yes.
Everyone saw it.
Luoyu's strike didn't even aim at Zoro.
It looked like he was cutting air.
Had he missed?
Was the blade too long to control?
Zoro's mind raced.
Then—his instincts screamed.
Danger.
Every hair on his body stood on end.
Without thinking, he twisted his body, swords raised to block.
SHNK.
Luoyu's blade lowered, pointing to the floor.
Zoro's momentum vanished.
He looked down.
SPURT.
A deep gash opened from his shoulder to his abdomen.
Blood sprayed like fireworks.
Everyone froze.
They'd seen it.
Luoyu had slashed beside Zoro.
And yet—Zoro was bleeding.
Badly.
What… what just happened?
Was this… the legendary "cutting through space"?
He slashed the air… and the air slashed me?
The room fell into stunned silence.
All eyes turned to Luoyu.
They remembered what he'd said earlier.
If this was just a "decorative" strike…
Then what did that make Zoro's twin blades?
Props for a street performer?
Even Koby and Helmeppo were stunned.
They'd seen Luoyu train under Bogard.
They knew he focused more on hand-to-hand combat.
Bogard had even said Luoyu's swordsmanship was "average."
But this?
If this was "average"…
What were the rest of them learning—dog tricks?
"Zoro, move!"
Sanji roared, launching forward.
They bickered constantly.
But in battle, they were the most reliable partners.
In a flash, Sanji closed the distance.
At the same time, Luffy's arm stretched out, wrapping around Zoro's waist and yanking him back.
Chopper, already preparing to flee, transformed and caught Zoro midair, cradling him.
The entire sequence took only seconds.
Years of life-or-death battles had forged their coordination.
Luffy's body steamed.
Gear Second.
He vanished.
Using Soru, he reappeared behind Luoyu.
Sanji and Luffy struck in unison.
"Diable Jambe: Flambage Shot!"
"Gomu Gomu no… Red Hawk!"
BOOM!
Flames exploded from their limbs.
Their attacks howled through the air and slammed into Luoyu.
They didn't hold back.
Zoro had gone down in one strike.
They had to end this—fast.
Give Nami and Chopper time to treat him.
That thought had barely formed when—
BOOM!
The impact shook the building.
Flames and shockwaves blasted outward, forcing everyone back.
When the smoke cleared…
Everyone's eyes widened again.