The man on the coffin-shaped boat has an imposing figure. He wore a black top hat adorned with white fluff, a burgundy patterned shirt under a black vest, and white trousers. But it was his eyes—sharp and piercing, like a hawk's—that commanded attention, sending a shiver of primal fear down the spine of anyone who met his gaze.
"It's him! The man who stopped us!" Gin cried, his face contorted in terror. "He chased us all the way from the Grand Line! Why is he here?"
Krieg's face dripped with cold sweat. The confidence he'd projected just moments before had completely vanished, replaced by a deep-seated anxiety.
"Who is he?" Luffy asked, his head tilted in confusion.
"He looks amazing," Usopp whispered, his mouth agape. Just looking at the man made him feel a profound chill.
"One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule 'Hawkeye' Mihawk," Zoro and Zeff said in unison, their voices heavy with a mixture of awe and tension. Zoro had been chasing this man's shadow for years. Zeff, with his vast experience, knew the name and the legend that came with it.
"The Seven Warlords? The world's greatest swordsman?" the others repeated, the titles unfamiliar to them.
"The Seven Warlords are seven powerful pirates recognized by the World Government," Zeff explained, his voice grim. "Each of them possesses strength comparable to that of an entire nation. They serve the government and are, in essence, the enemies of all other pirates. Mihawk is one of them."
The revelation stunned the room. A pirate who served the government? A man with the power of a nation? It was a concept almost too terrifying to grasp.
But Zoro didn't hesitate. In a flash, he was on the deck, standing before Mihawk, his eyes burning with an unyielding fire. He had waited for this day for too long. He had to fight, even if it meant his death.
"A frog in a well," Mihawk said, his voice calm and steady. He knew what Zoro wanted without a word being spoken. He had faced countless challengers in his life. He took a small knife from around his neck, a look of apology on his face. "Sorry, this is the only knife I have on me."
Zoro's eyes flashed with anger. He was a renowned pirate hunter, yet this man was underestimating him so completely. "Oni Giri!" he roared, launching himself forward, his three swords a blur of motion.
"Oh? Three-Sword Style? Interesting," Mihawk noted, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "But you're too weak."
Clang!
The sound of steel on steel rang out. Mihawk had effortlessly blocked Zoro's full-powered attack with his tiny knife.
"How is this possible?" Zoro stammered, his mind reeling. "The gap between us... it's this big?" He felt his entire worldview collapsing.
"A frog in a well," Mihawk repeated, his voice devoid of malice. "Open your eyes and see how big the world truly is." He waved the knife again and again, each movement precise and effortless.
"I don't believe it! I don't believe the world is so far out of my reach!" Zoro roared, his frustration and disbelief fueling a desperate, wild flurry of slashes.
Stab.
Mihawk extended his hand, and the small knife pierced Zoro's chest. All of Zoro's movements ceased. He stared at Mihawk, a dazed look on his face. "Is this... the world?" he murmured, a newfound understanding dawning in his eyes.
"Why do you still have a fighting spirit?" Mihawk asked, a hint of surprise in his voice. He was the world's greatest swordsman, and Zoro was just an unknown from the East Blue. Yet, even after being so utterly defeated, the fire in Zoro's eyes had not been extinguished. It was a persistence, a will to fight, that Mihawk recognized as the essential quality of a true master.
"Because... of a promise!" Zoro roared, gathering every last ounce of his strength, his spirit, his will. His eyes blazed with renewed ferocity. "Three Thousand Worlds!"
He became a whirlwind of steel, his three swords spinning in a devastating vortex as he lunged forward one last time.
"Interesting," Mihawk said, his eyes narrowing. He finally reached for the massive black sword on his back, the Yoru.
The two blades met.
Blood spurted from Zoro's chest as a massive gash was torn across his back. He stumbled, his strength finally giving out. "Is the gap really this great?" he whispered. Then, with a defiant smile, he opened his arms and faced Mihawk.
"What are you doing?" Mihawk asked, surprised.
"A wound on the back is a swordsman's shame," Zoro said, his voice weak but unwavering.
Even a man like Mihawk was moved. This was the soul of a true swordsman. The young man's technique was unrefined, but his spirit was terrifying. "Impressive," he said, a rare note of respect in his voice. "I remember you, Roronoa Zoro. Grow stronger. I will be waiting at the top for you to surpass me."
With a final, clean slash, he cut a deep wound across Zoro's chest, sending him flying into the sea.
"Brother Zoro!" Johnny and Yosaku screamed, diving into the water to rescue him.
"Zoro!" Luffy yelled, his arms stretching out to grab his fallen friend.
"He's not dead yet," Mihawk said calmly, easily dodging Luffy's attack.
Luffy paused, a wave of relief washing over him. The surrounding crowd, however, was in a state of shock. The famous pirate hunter, Zoro, had been defeated so easily. The gap between him and the world's greatest was like the distance between the heavens and the earth.
At that moment, a crescent-shaped wave of sword energy shot out from the Baratie, slicing through the air towards Mihawk.
"Interesting," Mihawk said, his eyes lighting up. "Is there another swordsman of this level in the East Blue?" He raised the Yoru and met the attack with a green slash of his own.
BOOM!
The two waves of energy collided, and the resulting shockwave tore through the sea. The small pirate ships that had belonged to Don Krieg's fleet were instantly cut in two.
"Who was that?! They actually blocked a slash from Hawkeye!" Zeff exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"It's him! The swordsman from the crew that wrecked our ship!" Sanji said, recognizing Moonlight as he stepped onto the deck.
The other chefs stared in amazement. He had not only challenged Hawkeye but had also matched his power.
"Moonlight!" Luffy and Usopp cried out, a mixture of shock and pride in their voices.
"What a powerful slash," Mihawk said, nodding at Moonlight in acknowledgement. "I didn't expect to find a swordsman like you in the East Blue."
"I am Moonlight of the Straw Hat Pirates," Moonlight replied, his voice calm and steady. "Zoro is my companion. Since you defeated him, it's my duty to restore his honor." He stared at Mihawk, his own Haki flaring as he imbued the Pheasant Sword with a dark, shimmering energy. He knew he couldn't hold back against an opponent of this caliber.
The slash he had just unleashed had been his full-power Three-Stage Cut, yet Mihawk had countered it with ease. The difference in their strength was clear. His Armament Haki enveloped the Pheasant Sword, turning the blade black.
"Armament Haki?" Mihawk's expression grew serious. "I truly didn't expect to find someone who could use Haki in the East Blue. It seems I can't take you lightly." He gripped the Yoru tightly, his stance shifting as he prepared for a real fight.
"Sword Draw!" Moonlight moved again, his blade a blur of motion as it shot out a slash of pure, moon-like energy. It was incredibly fast, a perfect fusion of his Haki and swordsmanship. Even Mihawk was momentarily surprised by its speed, but he reacted instantly, countering with another green slash from the Yoru. The two attacks met and canceled each other out, the resulting shockwave sending massive waves rolling across the sea.
"He blocked it again," Moonlight thought, his resolve hardening. "The world's number one truly lives up to his name. But I still have more." He knew Mihawk's strength was likely in the realm of level 5 or 6, a significant gap from his own. He could likely only contend with him for a short time before being overwhelmed. But he had to try.
"Raptor's Air Rend!"
Moonlight became one with his sword, a phantom of energy and steel, darting across the surface of the sea. His afterimages flickered everywhere, moving so fast that he was impossible to track.
"Well, this trip to the East Blue has been worthwhile," Mihawk said, a rare smile touching his lips. "I acknowledge your strength, Moonlight. But there are too many distractions here. We will fight another day." He raised the Yoru, not to attack Moonlight, but to deflect a bullet that had been fired from the Baratie. It was Krieg, trying to take a cheap shot while the two swordsmen were engaged.
Mihawk glanced at Krieg with disdain, then gave Moonlight one last, meaningful look before leaping back onto his coffin-boat and sailing away.
Moonlight, furious that his duel had been interrupted, turned his cold gaze on Krieg. But before he could act, Luffy stepped forward. "If I help you get rid of him," he said to Zeff, "will that make up for the damage I caused?"
"Of course," Zeff nodded.
"Good," Luffy said, clenching his fists as he faced Krieg.
"Moonlight, leave this to me," he said.
"Alright," Moonlight replied, nodding. A despicable coward like Krieg wasn't worth his time anyway.
"Hmph, you underestimate me?" Krieg sneered, unimpressed by Luffy's challenge. In his eyes, winning was all that mattered; the method was irrelevant.
"Luffy, be careful," Usopp warned. "That guy is mean, but he's not weak."
"It's okay," Luffy said, his eyes cold. "For freedom, and for Moonlight, I'm going to send this guy flying!"