"An unyielding will."
Hawkeye slowly withdrew the small blade from Zoro's chest, drawing a string of blood droplets with it.
He stepped back, putting away his earlier nonchalance. For the first time, he looked at Zoro as a true opponent.
"Boy. State your name."
Enduring the searing pain in his chest, Zoro reset his stance. Both hands gripped his swords, Wado Ichimonji clenched between his teeth, each word ringing with steel:
"Roronoa Zoro!"
"Roronoa… Zoro."
Hawkeye repeated the name softly.
Then, under the breathless gaze of hundreds watching, he slowly reached behind his back and grasped the enormous blade that symbolized the pinnacle of the world.
"Hum—!"
The moment the black blade Yoru was drawn, an overwhelming pressure swept across the Baratie.
The aura of a Supreme Grade Blade—and the presence of the world's greatest swordsman.
"I'll remember you, long-awaited strong one!"
Holding Yoru, Hawkeye angled the blade toward the sea.
"Then, as courtesy between swordsmen, I shall send you off with the world's strongest black blade—Yoru!"
"That is… much appreciated!"
Zoro drew a deep breath, pouring every ounce of strength, blood, and spirit into his three swords.
His twin blades spun rapidly, his body becoming a raging storm.
"Three-Sword Style Secret Technique—"
Hawkeye vanished in an instant, turning into a streak of black light.
Zoro moved as well, charging head-on into that world-cleaving radiance without a shred of hesitation!
"—Sanzen Sekai!!!"
"CLANG—!!!"
The two figures crossed paths in midair.
Time froze.
The waves ceased their crashing. The seagulls fell silent.
"Crack! Crack!"
The sharp sound of breaking steel shattered the stillness.
Zoro's two ordinary katana were obliterated under Yoru's edge, exploding into countless fragments that fluttered like butterflies through the air.
At the same time, a massive gash tore open across Zoro's chest, blood erupting like a fountain.
"Thud."
Zoro dropped to one knee, the broken blades slipping from his grasp.
"I… lost…"
"I never imagined… I could lose."
He slowly sheathed the only blade left intact—Wado Ichimonji.
"So this is… the power of the strongest in the world."
Zoro rose to his feet.
Then, to everyone's shock, he did something no one expected.
He spread his arms wide, openly exposing his chest, facing Hawkeye head-on with fearless resolve and a calm smile.
Hawkeye tilted his head slightly, golden eyes flashing with curiosity.
"What are you doing?"
Zoro grinned, blood staining his teeth, and spoke the words that would shake the entire sea:
"A scar on the back… is a swordsman's shame."
Hawkeye's pupils shrank.
The next moment, an expression of pure admiration curved his lips.
"Magnificent!"
"Whoosh—!"
Yoru traced a beautiful black arc through the air, mercilessly slashing down at Zoro's unguarded chest!
"Slash—!"
Blood painted the sky as Zoro's body was flung backward like a severed kite, crashing into the sea.
"ZORO!!!"
At last, Luffy's suppressed emotions exploded.
"Bastard!!"
With a furious roar, his arm stretched out as he charged forward, ready to fight Hawkeye to the death.
A powerful hand slammed down on his shoulder.
"Calm down, Luffy!"
Ronan's voice thundered in his ears.
"Let go of me, Ronan! Zoro—!"
"Your mind is in chaos!"
Ronan barked. "Use your Observation Haki! Feel it—Zoro isn't dead! He's not even critically injured!"
"W-what…?"
Luffy froze, his struggle stopping.
He steadied his breathing and focused.
Sure enough, within the blood-red waters, Zoro's presence—though weak—still burned stubbornly. His heartbeat was steady, powerful.
"Zoro… he's okay?" Luffy murmured.
"Of course."
Ronan released his grip, eyes sharp as he watched Hawkeye sheath his blade.
"Besides Mihawk holding back… have you forgotten what Zoro went through this past week?"
Thirteen Guardians Body Tempering, second stage—Bronze Skin, Iron Bones.
Hawkeye watched as Johnny and Yosaku hurriedly pulled the blood-soaked Zoro from the water.
A hint of surprise flickered through his eyes.
"A formidable body…"
He glanced down at Yoru.
As the world's greatest swordsman, his control over power was absolute. He knew exactly how much force that slash carried, even after avoiding vital points.
Yet the sensation as his blade cut into Zoro had been unexpected.
It wasn't just muscle resistance.
Zoro's skin was as tough as hide, his muscles dense like steel—his very bones astonishingly hard.
A body tempered far beyond ordinary limits.
"Natural talent… or training in some unique physical art?"
Mihawk silently praised him.
Because of that unreasonable toughness, the slash had only torn flesh—leaving organs and fundamentals untouched.
"You are his companions?"
Mihawk turned toward Ronan, Luffy, and the others on deck.
"My thanks… for witnessing this to the end."
His voice rang across the sea, carrying the weight of a senior acknowledging a successor as he looked at Zoro.
"You are far too early to die!"
"I am Dracule Mihawk! See yourself, see the world, and grow stronger!"
"No matter how many years pass, I will wait for you at the summit of strength!"
"Young man with an unbreakable heart and a tempered body… surpass me! Roronoa Zoro!!"
The declaration struck like thunder, heralding the dawn of a new era.
Before everyone's eyes, Zoro—lying on the deck, wrapped in bandages, blood still seeping—raised his sole remaining blade: Wado Ichimonji.
The blade pointed skyward, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.
Tears streamed down Zoro's face, mixing with blood.
He cried like a child, yet spoke the most solemn vow a man could make:
"Lu… Luffy… Ronan…"
"I made you worry… didn't I…"
"If I don't become the world's greatest swordsman… it'd be a problem for you, right?"
Summoning every ounce of strength, Zoro roared:
"I… I will never lose again!!!"
"Until I defeat him and become the greatest swordsman—"
"I will absolutely! Never lose again!!!"
"Do you have any objections, Pirate King?!"
Luffy stared at his sworn brother, sword raised in oath, and broke into the brightest smile imaginable.
"Shishishi! None at all!!"
Ronan stood beside them, his heart surging as he witnessed the moment.
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