chapter 79 part 2
So he subconsciously raised his head and looked towards the distant sea surface.
Only to see at this moment—
"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"
The familiar sounds of slashing came again—the warships on the distant sea surface once again began to be sliced apart and then sank.
Without even thinking, Zoro could hear the wails and screams of those pirates, and... voices of confusion.
"When did that slash fly over there?"
Such a long distance, yet he didn't even see the slash's trajectory.
But it was clear that it no longer mattered.
Because—
As one warship after another sank again, Zoro's heart began to grow tense.
He naturally wanted to witness the outcome of this contest.
"It's very close—Koushiro's slash seemed stronger, but there was some loss during its flight."
"While Hai Zhu's slash was a bit weaker, and he didn't know how it got there, seemingly without any loss..."
He analyzed in his heart.
But in the next instant—he found his judgment meaningless.
Because just as that slash flew to slice another warship, sweeping to the middle position of all the warships...
"Boom!"
Accompanied by a massive flash of fire, Zoro could clearly see—that slash had exploded!
That powerful explosion spread in an instant, and the colossal explosion wave and fire light instantly engulfed all the surrounding warships.
The sea instantly receded, and the seawater churned violently and rose, almost obscuring everything from sight, leaving only thick smoke rising from the sea surface.
Zoro didn't even need confirmation to know.
"The remaining twenty-one warships... completely annihilated."
He looked at Hai Zhu incredulously, then at the fearsome destructive power on the sea.
"What kind of move was that, really?"
A slash that explodes? Is that even reasonable?
At this moment, Hai Zhu slowly retracted his finger, nodding with satisfaction.
"As expected of me."
He chuckled to himself.
At this moment, on the system interface before him, what had just happened was revealed.
[Paramecia-type, Swallow-Swallow Fruit, Level 4: Can swallow any object, including non-physical elemental entities such as 'clouds and mist,' 'Wind,' and 'slashes.' However, after swallowing, only that substance can be used, and its Logia transformation characteristic cannot be obtained.]
[Paramecia-type, Explosion-Explosion Fruit, Level 4: Can transform any part of the body, including exhaled breath, into bombs. The bombs can be detonated autonomously, and the user is immune to all explosion damage. After reaching Level 4, through Fruit development, the power of explosions will be further enhanced.]
[Paramecia-type, Mark-Mark Fruit, Level 4: Can set two marked points within the marked range. Any attack directed at oneself, regardless of enemy or ally, will be transferred to the vicinity of the marked points.]
This was the ability that 'Hai Zhu' possessed.
By the way, at this moment, the two marked points recorded by his Mark-Mark Fruit—one of them was, of course, a certain warship in the distance, and the other... was in his own mouth.
"Any attack will be transferred to my mouth by the Mark-Mark Fruit, and then digested by the Swallow-Swallow Fruit, becoming a part of my body."
"All attacks I perform, including slashes, are an extension of my body, so they can transform into immensely powerful bombs."
"The effect of the Mark-Mark Fruit can ensure that my attacks and bombs almost certainly hit their targets."
Under the mask, Loy was still satisfied with his skill combination.
Just as he had told Koushiro before, Hai Zhu's ability was indeed extremely dangerous!
From the moment Koushiro agreed to this duel, he was doomed to lose.
With sinking warships as the target, competing in raw destructive power, Hai Zhu's ability was almost the most suitable.
However—
"He probably doesn't mind, anyway."
Hai Zhu's gaze fell on Koushiro behind him.
From the very beginning when Koushiro took him to the bamboo forest, then Koushiro inexplicably started a fight with him—although the reasons given were reasonable, Hai Zhu always felt something was off.
The reason was simple—if powerhouses of their level were to fight, then Zoro's presence would be a burden.
This future Pirate King's first mate hadn't even set sail yet; he was far too immature.
To put it bluntly, Hai Zhu could casually exhale a breath now and potentially detonate the opponent to death.
If the two of them fought with Zoro nearby, they would inevitably hold back.
And Koushiro knew this, yet he still insisted, which made Hai Zhu feel very strange from the start.
And after arriving here and seeing Koushiro's reaction to his suggestion, Hai Zhu could almost guess the other party's true purpose.
And indeed, it was so.
"Zoro."
At this moment, Zoro, still clenching his fists, heard his master's voice from beside him.
"How is it?"
He turned his head, and saw Koushiro's face, which had returned to its usual gentle expression.
"...I understand, Master."
And it must be said, Zoro was not foolish.
Even at this moment, he had also realized Koushiro's intention.
"The true powerhouses on this great sea, like you, like that fellow..."
His voice was a little low.
"Facing them, if I rashly challenge them, I will lose."
He didn't hesitate to admit this.
"Mm."
Koushiro nodded with satisfaction, then asked again: "Do you still want to set sail?"
He looked at his prized disciple beside him.
Not long ago, Zoro was full of youthful ambition, believing his Three-Sword Style was enough to dominate the seas.
A young man's ambition is certainly precious, but on these seas, it is also what most easily leads to one's demise.
Especially after Zoro saw Hai Zhu, and developed a yearning for the Grand Line.
Koushiro realized even more that he had to let Zoro see the truth of these seas.
That's why he did everything he did today.
And his goal was to ask this very question at this moment.
After seeing the power of the true powerhouses on these seas, after realizing how naive his current swordsmanship was, after knowing all the cruelty and reality...
Roronoa Zoro, did he still want to set sail?
And the answer... was as expected.
"Of course!"
Zoro replied without hesitation.
He raised his hand and held the white-sheathed sword at his waist, named 'Wado Ichimonji.'
"Master, thank you."
"I will stay in the East Blue for now, hone my blade, and when I'm strong enough... I'll enter the Grand Line."
Saying this, he grinned: "I will become the World's Greatest Swordsman!"
"After all, I only promised that fellow that I would make my name echo through the heavens!"
He spoke of his goal as always.
But unlike any other time before—
This time, he had already seen the hardships and monsters he was destined to face on the road ahead.
This time...
"I am already resolute."
After all, it was a promise.
After all, it was an ambition.
So, Koushiro finally showed a heartfelt smile.
He looked at Zoro again, and vaguely, he saw three figures within him.
Outstanding talent, tenacious will, vast ambition, and that stubborn resolve.
"Papa, I want to become the World's Greatest Swordsman!"
That was his daughter, Kuina.
"Master, I want to become the World's Greatest Swordsman!"
That was his disciple, Zoro.
"Father, I want to become the World's Greatest Swordsman!"
That was his younger self.
His eyes became moist.
But then he wiped his eyes and stood up.
"Since you've decided, then depart."
He sheathed his blade at his waist, turned, and left.
"And—you don't need to thank me, Zoro."
Only his fading voice entered Zoro's ears: "I also... haven't swung my blade with such satisfaction in a long time."
(end of chapter)