Pirates: Martial Arts Masters on the Straw Hat Ship

"A strong will."

Hawkeye slowly pulled the dagger from Zoro's chest, drawing out a string of blood beads.

He took a step back, his nonchalant attitude vanished, and for the first time looked at Zoro with the eyes one would use to look at an opponent:

"Boy, state your name!"

Despite the excruciating pain in his chest, Zoro regained his fighting stance, gripping his sword with both hands, and chanting the Wado Ichimonji in his mouth with resounding force:

"Roronoa Zoro!"

"Roronoa Zoro..." Hawkeye repeated in a low voice.

Then, under the breathless gaze of hundreds of people in the audience, he slowly extended his right hand and grasped the huge black sword behind him, which symbolized the world's strongest sword.

"Buzz—!"

The moment the black sword was drawn, a terrifying sense of oppression swept across the entire Barati.

That was the oppressive aura of the Supreme Grade Sword, and the spirit of the world's greatest swordsman.

"I will remember you, my long-lost strongman!"

Hawkeye, wielding a black sword with its tip pointed diagonally at the sea, declared: "Then... to show the respect due to a swordsman, I will use this world's strongest black sword—Night—to bid you farewell!"

"That's truly...incredibly grateful!"

Zoro took a deep breath and poured all his strength, blood, and spirit into the three swords in his hands.

He began to spin the twin swords in his hands at lightning speed, his entire being seemingly transforming into a storm.

"The Ultimate Technique of the Three-Sword Style—"

Hawkeye's figure vanished instantly, transforming into a black streak of light.

Zoro also moved, charging headlong into the stream of light that was powerful enough to cleave the heavens and earth!

"—Three thousand worlds!!!"

"Clang—!!!"

Two figures passed each other in the air.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

The waves stopped lapping, and the seagulls stopped crying.

"Snap! Snap!"

A crisp snapping sound broke the silence.

Zoro's two ordinary katana were instantly shattered into countless fragments by the sharpness of Yoru, which fluttered in the air like butterflies.

A huge bloody gash suddenly burst open on Zoro's chest, and blood gushed out like a fountain.

"Thump."

Zoro knelt down on one knee, and the broken sword slipped from his hand.

"We lost..."

"I never imagined... I would lose!"

He slowly sheathed the only intact "Wado Ichimonji".

"Is this... the strongest power in the world?!"

Zoro slowly stood up.

He turned around, and then he did something that surprised everyone.

He opened his arms wide, his chest generously exposed, facing Hawkeye with a fearless smile.

Hawkeye tilted his head slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his golden eyes: "What?"

Zoro grinned, revealing his bloodied teeth, and uttered that famous line that could shake the entire ocean:

"The scars on the back... are a swordsman's shame."

Hawkeye's pupils suddenly contracted.

The next second, a smile of extreme admiration appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"amazing!"

"Whoosh—!"

The black sword Yoru drew a beautiful black arc in the air and mercilessly slashed down towards Zoro's unsuspecting chest!

"Pfft—!"

Blood instantly stained the sky crimson, and Zoro's body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the sea.

"Zoro!!!"

This scene made Luffy, who had been suppressing his emotions, burst out laughing.

"asshole!!"

Luffy let out a fierce roar, his arm suddenly stretched out, ready to rush over and fight Mihawk to the death.

Just then, a strong hand pressed down hard on Luffy's shoulder.

"Calm down, Luffy!"

Ronan's voice boomed like a great bell in Luffy's ears.

"Let me go! Ronan! Zoro...!" Luffy struggled desperately, his eyes bloodshot.

Your mind is in turmoil!

Ronan shouted, "Use your Observation Haki to sense it! Zoro isn't dead! He's not even seriously injured!"

"Wh...what?" Luffy was stunned, and his struggling movements stopped.

He tried to calm his breathing and attempted to sense his surroundings.

Sure enough, in that sea stained red with blood, Zoro's breath, though weak, still burned tenaciously, and his heart continued to beat strongly.

"Zoro...is he alright?" Luffy asked blankly.

"Of course it's okay."

Ronan released his grip, glancing at Hawkeye as he sheathed his sword, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes:

"Besides Hawkeye showing mercy... have you forgotten what Zoro went through this week?"

The Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Hard Qigong, Second Stage—Copper Skin and Iron Bones.

Hawkeye watched as Zoro, who had fallen into the water, was hurriedly rescued by Johnny and Joseph.

He looked at the young man covered in blood, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"A powerful physique..."

Hawkeye looked down at his black knife.

As the world's greatest swordsman, his control over power is already incredibly refined.

Although he avoided fatal blows with that strike, he was well aware of the force of the blow.

But the feel of the blade cutting into Zoro's body surprised him.

That's not just muscle resistance.

Zoro's skin is as tough as cowhide, his muscles are as firm as steel, and even his bones are incredibly hard.

It was a body far beyond that of ordinary people, forged through countless trials and tribulations.

"Is it a natural talent... or perhaps, he/she has mastered some kind of special physical technique?"

Hawkeye secretly praised him.

Because of this ridiculously strong body, the knife only cut through the skin and flesh, without damaging the internal organs or the body itself.

Are you his partners?

Hawkeye turned around and looked at Ronan, Luffy, and the others standing on the deck.

"Thank you all... for watching until the end."

Hawkeye's voice rose in pitch as he looked at Zoro, carrying the expectation of a senior for a junior, echoing throughout the entire sea:

"You're too young to die!"

"I am Jorah Mihawk! See yourself clearly, see the world clearly, and become stronger!"

"No matter how many years pass, I will always be waiting for you in this strongest position!"

"Young man with a strong heart and a resilient body... surpass me! Roronoa Zoro!!"

These words, like a thunderclap, heralded the beginning of a new era.

Under everyone's gaze, Zoro, lying on the deck, his body wrapped in bandages and blood still seeping out, struggled to raise the only sword in his hand—Wado Ichimonji.

The blade's tip pointed straight to the sky, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.

Tears streamed down Zoro's face, mingling with blood.

He wept like a child, yet uttered the most solemn vow a man could make:

"Luffy... Ronan..."

"I've made you...worry, haven't I...?"

"If I don't become the world's greatest swordsman... you guys will be very troubled, right?"

Zoro mustered all his strength and roared:

"I...I will never lose again!!!"

"Before I defeat him and become the Great Swordsman... I absolutely, absolutely will not lose again!!!"

"Do you have a problem with that, Pirate King?!"

Luffy looked at his comrade who had raised his sword to swear an oath, and a bright smile appeared on his face:

"Hehehe! No!!"

Ronan stood aside, watching this scene, his heart filled with excitement.