Hawkeye remained calm and indifferent.
"Apologies, I don't carry smaller blades. And I don't hold back—whether it's a lion hunting a rabbit or a swordsman facing a rookie. For someone like you, using this knife is already me being serious. Let me show you strength beyond your understanding."
Zoro narrowed his eyes.
"Fine. If that's how it is—don't blame me if you die. Three Sword Style… Oni Giri!"
Zoro launched forward at full speed, slashing toward Hawkeye with all three blades.
Clang!
To everyone's shock, Hawkeye effortlessly blocked the attack—with a small knife.
"No way!" Zoro gritted his teeth, immediately following up with a relentless barrage of strikes.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
No matter how many times Zoro struck, every blow was blocked with minimal effort. Hawkeye wasn't even breaking a sweat.
"This is the gap between us," he said flatly. "You may have resolve, but you've never left the East Blue. You don't know how vast the world truly is."
Johnny and Yosaku looked on, stunned.
"Is the difference really this huge? Zoro's one of the most feared swordsmen in the East Blue…"
At the Baratie, Zeff crossed his arms.
"He's still green. Hawkeye isn't even trying. That kid hasn't seen real strength yet."
The crowd whispered among themselves.
"So that's the world's strongest swordsman…"
"He's blocking everything with a tiny knife. He's not even trying!"
But Zoro didn't back down. His fighting spirit only burned hotter.
I didn't come this far to give up. I left my village to surpass this man—I won't lose here!
The pressure mounted. Zoro's mind flashed with memories—his oath to Kuina, his dream, his promise to never lose again. With renewed intensity, he pressed forward.
Hawkeye's eyes sharpened. He could feel the shift in Zoro's spirit.
"What drives you? What do you carry on your shoulders? Weakling… answer me."
Zoro paused mid-swing.
"I aim to be the world's greatest swordsman. For myself—and for a dear friend I swore I'd never let down."
He reared back. "If ordinary attacks won't work… I'll use my strongest technique. Watch closely. This is everything I have!"
Zoro began spinning, faster and faster, blades blurring.
"Three Sword Style Secret Technique… Three Thousand Worlds!"
He launched forward with full force.
Clang!
Slash!
The moment the blades clashed, Hawkeye's knife found an opening—piercing through the defense and cutting deep into Zoro's chest.
"This is your limit," Hawkeye said coldly. "Now you understand."
Zoro's body shook. Blood poured from his wound.
So this is the strength of the world's best...
"You could've dodged," Hawkeye said, stepping back. "Why didn't you move?"
Zoro, gasping, answered firmly.
"If I step back now, everything I've sworn to protect… everything I've promised… would mean nothing. I'd never be able to pick up a sword again."
He spread his arms wide.
"I've lost. Finish it."
Hawkeye's eyes narrowed. "You've earned my respect. I'll end it with my true blade… Yoru."
---
Meanwhile, back at the Going Merry—
Nami shouted at Luffy, panicked.
"Why are you just standing there?! He's going to die!"
Luffy didn't budge.
"This is his fight. If we step in, Zoro would never forgive us."
Shin'ya leaned casually against the railing.
"Relax. Hawkeye won't kill him. He'll be badly hurt, but not beyond saving. Once he's back, I'll heal him. He'll be fine."
Just as he said that, Hawkeye slashed across Zoro's chest, leaving a deep, brutal wound.
"Zoro!!"
Luffy sprang into the air, using Krieg's ship as a launch point. Like a bullet, he flew across the water, catching Zoro before he hit the ground.
Before Luffy could say anything, Shin'ya appeared beside him in a flash. He reached out and activated Imprintless Healing. In moments, the massive wound began closing.
"I'll leave a scar," Shin'ya said calmly. "It'll remind him to keep growing."
Zoro gritted his teeth as the pain subsided.
"Thanks… This scar will keep me moving forward."
Hawkeye watched in silence, then finally turned to Zoro.
"I'll wait for you on the summit. Keep chasing me, Roronoa Zoro. I've held the title of the world's strongest for far too long."
He turned to Luffy.
"You. The straw hat. What's your goal?"
Luffy didn't hesitate.
"To become King of the Pirates!"
"…I see. Then press forward. That road won't be easy," Hawkeye replied.
Zoro, still lying in Luffy's arms, looked up—tears brimming in his eyes.
"Luffy… sorry to make you worry. But from now on… I won't lose. Ever again. Until I defeat him—until I become the world's greatest swordsman—I'll never lose. Got a problem with that, future Pirate King?"
Luffy grinned. "None at all."
Shin'ya crossed his arms and looked toward the horizon.
"You two can chat back on the ship. The next fight is mine. Stay on the Merry. This'll get messy."
Luffy smacked Shin'ya's back with a laugh. "Alright. Go wild. We'll handle things here."
Once they returned to the ship, Shin'ya turned to Hawkeye.
"Let's move. If we fight here, the Baratie won't survive."
"Agreed," Hawkeye said. "But didn't you have a request earlier?"
"I want the methods to train in Haki—both Armament and Observation. I've got power, but most of it comes from my Devil Fruit. My Sage Mode lets me hit Logias, but I still need to master Haki."
"…You know Haki?" Mihawk raised a brow
"...Very well. After our duel, I'll give you what you want. You and your crew—especially them—need it."
"Deal." Shin'ya smiled.
He turned and vanished in an instant, lightning crackling beneath his feet as he darted far across the ocean.
Stopping at a distant spot over the waves, he stood calmly on the water, hands forming signs.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence."
A soft glow pulsed from his body, rippling across the surface of the sea.
Back at the Baratie, the ocean trembled.
Then—suddenly—a massive forest burst up from the water. Towering trees rose one after another, forming a colossal arena of dense, living wood across the waves. A battlefield born from nature itself.
---
I would have released 2 chapters today but I had to drop chapters for my other Fanfics too.
So the next chapter would be till tomorrow.
Send Powerstones, Once we reach 100. I'd drop 5 bonus Chapters.