"Whoa, that's the Pirate Hunter Zoro for you! What an incredible attack!"
"That tornado was terrifying! I can't imagine what would happen if you got caught in that!"
"But Hawkeye is just as scary. All of that, and he's only just now drawn his real sword."
The pirates from Krieg's crew were murmuring in awe.
Johnny and Yosaku, who had returned to the scene, were watching with wide eyes.
"So that's Zoro's target?"
"He looks strong… but Big Bro Zoro is stronger! He'll definitely win!"
Usopp, standing beside them, couldn't help but feel that his two new friends had way too much blind faith.
"If you guys were actually watching the fight," he muttered, "you wouldn't be saying something so stupid."
Nami frowned.
She had seen fights like this almost every day during their training.
This was exactly what it looked like when Zoro fought Ray.
"As much as it sucks to say it," she sighed, "Zoro has basically no chance of winning."
"No way!" Johnny and Yosaku shot back. "Didn't you see? Big Bro Zoro had him on the ropes earlier!"
"Ugh, whatever," Nami gave up.
Luffy, watching from the rooftop, knew she was right.
This was a one-sided beatdown, just like the ones he and Zoro got from Ray every day.
"Ray," Luffy said, his voice tight, "in a swordsman's duel… if the challenger loses, the winner can kill them, right?"
Ray's eyes remained fixed on the battle.
"So, are you going to stop him?" he asked calmly.
Luffy clenched his fists, his teeth grinding in frustration.
"How could I? This fight means more than life itself to Zoro. I can't stop him!"
"Dammit!"
Agitated, Luffy leaped down from the roof to get closer to the fight, landing beside Johnny and Yosaku.
…
On the wreckage of the ship, Zoro and Mihawk stood facing each other, blades drawn.
An eerie silence fell over the sea, broken only by the sound of waves lapping against the wood.
"I'm coming," Zoro said, and charged.
Mihawk didn't move from his spot, effortlessly blocking Zoro's assault with his massive black blade.
Zoro's three swords moved with different patterns—slashing, thrusting, parrying.
It was a whirlwind of steel that actually forced Mihawk onto the defensive.
With a swift leap backward, Mihawk swung his sword, creating a gust of wind that sent Zoro stumbling back.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Impressive swordsmanship. You must have a good teacher."
Zoro smirked. "A teacher? Yeah, you could say that."
This new, more versatile style was something Ray had drilled into him to fix his previously one-dimensional attacks.
If I hadn't met Ray, Zoro thought, I wouldn't have even made it past that tiny dagger.
He refocused his attention just in time to see Mihawk charge, his black blade held to one side.
A terrifying wave of wind pressure slammed into Zoro, making it hard to even move forward.
He gritted his teeth, his arm muscles bulging as he roared.
"Three-Sword Style: Tiger Hunt!"
He used the raw force of his own attack to shatter the wind pressure, but the recoil left him stiff for a split second.
That was all Mihawk needed.
He closed the distance in an instant, his blade swinging down.
Dammit! Zoro thought, his eyes widening. Too fast… I can't block it!
A seemingly ordinary slash sent Zoro flying, a massive gash opening up on his chest.
"Having felt the gap between us," Mihawk asked, his voice holding a hint of warning, "do you still intend to fight?"
Zoro forced himself to his feet.
"Of course!" he declared.
Mihawk sighed. "You could have died a hundred times in that last exchange. If you come at me again, I won't hold back."
An overwhelming aura of power began to radiate from him.
Zoro just settled back into his stance.
"I can't retreat," he said, his voice firm. "Even if I die. If I take even one step back now, I'll never be able to face you, my best friend, or myself ever again!"
Hearing this, not only did Mihawk smile, but so did Ray in the distance.
Though they were far apart, they both spoke at the same time, their assessment of Zoro identical.
"Such unwavering resolve… Well said."
But Ray added one more sentence.
"But don't you dare treat death as an escape."
…
Watching them, Ray knew the next exchange would be the last.
His own fighting spirit, which he'd been building this whole time, was finally ready. He leaped down from the roof, landing beside Luffy.
'Red-Leg' Zeff tensed.
"What are you planning?" he asked.
Ray just glanced at the old man. "Get this restaurant further away."
Zeff's eyes widened as he understood. "Don't tell me you're going to—"
Ray didn't answer, his gaze fixed on Zoro.
Zeff took a deep breath.
"Patty, Carne! Prepare to weigh anchor! The second their fight is over, we're moving out!"
…
"Thanks for giving me time to prepare," Zoro said to Mihawk.
"Consider it an apology for using that small blade on you," Mihawk smirked.
"Come, Roronoa Zoro—show me the depth of your resolve!"
Zoro grinned back. "Then I'll show you! Armament Haki: Coating!"
With his unwavering determination, all three of his swords turned jet-black.
Mihawk's eyes widened slightly.
To have learned Haki in the weakest of the four seas… I look forward to your future even more now, Zoro.
He gripped his sword with both hands.
Opposite him, Zoro brought his three swords together, the blades rotating as he suddenly charged.
"Three-Sword Style Secret Technique: Three Thousand Worlds!"
At the same time, Mihawk swung his own blade.
They clashed in an instant and passed each other by.
The force of their attacks tore the rest of the ship's wreckage to pieces.
A gust of wind blew past. Zoro stood up straight.
The moment he did, multiple jets of blood erupted from his body.
"So strong…" he gasped, the vast, insurmountable gap between them now painfully clear.
Mihawk turned to face him.
"Your technique was so powerful, it was difficult for me to control the strength of my counter."
Zoro just laughed, a bitter, self-deprecating sound.
"Powerful? I never thought a man like you would try to comfort the loser."
With those words, the Haki faded, and the two swords in his hands shattered into pieces.
Zoro didn't get it, but Ray did.
Mihawk wasn't comforting him; he was telling the truth.
In the original story, Mihawk had left a single, deep wound.
This time, there were multiple, shallower cuts.
It meant that Zoro's attack had been so strong that Mihawk couldn't perfectly control the focus of his own slash, causing the damage to scatter.
A small smile curled beneath Ray's mask.
Zoro… you really have gotten stronger.