23: Chapter 23 Challenging HawkeyeZoro and Kuina, having calmed their excitement, slowly walked up to Hawkeye.Hawkeye looked at the two with a hint of interest.Zoro untied the bandana from his arm and put it on his head, while Kuina drew her Wado Ichimonji from her waist and assumed a fighting stance.Hawkeye stood at the bow of the ship, the sea breeze brushing against his clothes.His sharp, hawk-like eyes calmly stared at the two challengers in front of him.
"We set sail to challenge you, Hawkeye.Accept our challenge!" Zoro said firmly to Hawkeye.Hawkeye's expression remained calm, and he did not draw the black sword behind him.His voice was calm but questioning: "For what?"
The two answered in unison: "To surpass you and become the strongest!"
Their voices echoed in the sea breeze, as if proclaiming their resolve to the entire ocean.Hawkeye's eyes flickered slightly, seemingly showing a hint of interest in their response.
The sea breeze continued to blow, and the ship rocked slightly on the surface.Hawkeye silently observed the two men before him; their bodies were tense, radiating a strong fighting spirit.Hawkeye could sense their pursuit of strength and their desire for victory.
An atmosphere of challenge permeated the air, the tension almost suffocating.Hawkeye's lips curled into a slight, disdainful smile."If you were truly top-tier swordsmen, you'd sense the gap between us even before we've exchanged blows.I'd say you're either foolish or incredibly audacious."
Neither of them answered further.Zoro drew his three swords from his waist, put one in his mouth, and wielded the Imperial Arm, Kirito Ichimonji, in his left hand and the Imperial Arm, Murasame, in his right, assuming a Three-Sword Style stance.Hawkeye looked at the Murasame in Zoro's right hand, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes.As a top-tier swordsman, he could sense the sword's peculiarity.Kuina's adjustment of her breathing, assuming the starting stance of Flower Breathing, also piqued Hawkeye's interest.This tedious pursuit of Krieg had unexpectedly led him to two interesting swordsmen.He removed the cross hanging around his neck, drew out the small knife inside, and pointed it at the two men."I have no smaller knife than this," he said, seemingly sensing their confusion, uttering the most humiliating words in a calm tone.The two men were thoroughly enraged by Hawkeye's words."Three-Sword Style: Demon Slash!"
Zoro unleashed a sword attack towards Mihawk.A closer look at Zoro's Demon Slash revealed the force of fire and lightning, a result of Luffy's recent acquisition of the Flame and Lightning Breathing techniques.Zoro had trained to incorporate these two breathing styles into his own moves.However, this swift attack was blocked by Mihawk's dagger: "Flower Breathing, Second Form: Shadow Plum Blossom."
Seeing Hawkeye being held back by Zoro, Kuina flashed behind him and unleashed four arc-shaped slashes like plum blossom petals.Hawkeye didn't even turn his head, easily knocking Zoro away.He then turned and quickly swung his dagger to block Kuina's attack.Kuina followed in Zoro's footsteps and fell onto the deck not far away."Is the difference in strength really that big?" the two thought resentfully, looking at the figure standing there.They then regrouped and launched another fierce attack on Hawkeye.However, no matter how they changed their moves, Hawkeye easily deflected them with his dagger.As the battle intensified, Kuina's disadvantage as a woman gradually became apparent.After being knocked away countless times, Kuina withdrew from the battle due to exhaustion.Seeing the unwilling Kuina, Luffy wondered if he should prepare a suitable Devil Fruit for her.
"Three-Sword Style: Tiger Hunt"
After Kuina withdrew, Zoro unleashed an even more ferocious attack.However, Hawkeye swiftly stabbed Zoro in the chest.Seeing this, the Sword God and the Sword Saint drew their weapons, ready to avenge their elder brother.Luffy pressed them down and said in a deep voice, "This is Zoro's own battle.You are not allowed to disturb him."
That being said, Uta, watching from the sidelines, noticed Luffy's tightly clenched fist and sensed that Luffy was more nervous than anyone else.Hawkeye, moved by Zoro's will, drew his dagger and asked, "Do you want to die?Why didn't you dodge?"
Zoro coughed up blood, enduring the pain from his wound, and replied, "I don't know why.I only know that if I avoid it, I won't become the world's strongest swordsman.In that case, it's better to die."
Hawkeye looked at the resolute man before him with admiration, drew the black sword from his back, and said approvingly, "What a powerful will!Well then, to show the courtesy of a swordsman, I will use this world's strongest black sword to finish you off.Boy, give me your life."
Roronoa Zoro
Zoro unleashed his ultimate attack, Three Thousand Worlds, charging towards Mihawk.Mihawk also assumed a fighting stance to meet him.After a flurry of sword flashes, the sword in Zoro's mouth shattered, revealing a gaping wound on his chest.He collapsed to his knees, utterly powerless.Mihawk raised his sword and walked towards Zoro, who opened his arms, facing death with composure."The scars on my back are a swordsman's shame," Zoro said.
Faced with Hawkeye's doubts, Zoro answered with a smile.Hawkeye was completely moved by Zoro's unwavering will to survive.He swung his sword, and Zoro's blood splattered as he fell into the sea.Kuina anxiously jumped into the water and rescued Zoro.Hawkeye then left, raising his black sword and shouting, "Don't be in such a hurry to die, young and powerful swordsman!You're dying too soon.I am Dracule Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman!See yourself clearly, see through the world, and become stronger!No matter how much time passes, I will be waiting for you on the throne of the world's strongest swordsman.Surpass this sword, and then surpass me, Roronoa Zoro!"
At this moment, Zoro also woke up.After hearing Mihawk's words, he lifted Murasame and shouted with all his might, "Luffy.Luffy, I made you worry, didn't I?You must be troubled if I don't become the world's greatest swordsman, right?Defeat him and become the world's greatest!""I will never lose to a great swordsman again, do you have a problem with that, Pirate King!"
Zoro's resolute voice echoed across the vast sea.Luffy, donning his straw hat and flashing his signature smile, responded in kind: "No."
Hawkeye smiled faintly at Luffy, who was wearing a straw hat, and was about to leave when Luffy leaped in front of him, assuming a fighting stance: "Hawkeye, let me test your strength too."
A smirk flickered in Hawkeye's eyes.He clearly sensed that Luffy's strength far surpassed Zoro's.Now that Luffy had brought it up, he wanted to test the strength of the boy Shanks had entrusted to the new era."I'm going!Multiply by 15!Open the gate!Gate of Life open!Drywood, Drywood Fall!Wind God Bazooka!"
Luffy's aura surged, his palms whipping around in a whirlwind as he slammed them towards Mihawk.Mihawk drew his black sword and unleashed a burst of sword energy to test Luffy's strength.The collision of palms and sword energy created a massive shockwave.The crew clung tightly to the railings, Mihawk remaining firmly on the battlefield.As the shockwave subsided, they could see the scene clearly: Luffy's hands trembled slightly, indicating that blocking Mihawk's attack had been no easy feat.Mihawk understood why Shanks had entrusted the creation of a new era to Luffy; at such a young age, he possessed such strength, suggesting his future potential was immense.Perhaps he would become one of the World Government's biggest headaches in the future.