One Piece: The Cryo Doctor on the Straw Hat Ship

His only thought at that moment was to unleash the full power of his blade.

"Three-sword style..."

There was no unnecessary chatter.

The moment the two swordsmen drew their blades marked the start of the battle.

Zoro suddenly lowered his body, his center of gravity shifted, and his feet slightly staggered on the shattered deck wreckage.

Fragments of memories from countless sparring sessions with V, where he was driven to the brink of despair, exploded in his mind like a lit fuse.

The tearing pain, the splattering blood, and the almost savage "sense of growth" of being forcibly pulled up after each fall—all of these have now become memories deep within the muscles.

"Demon... Slash!!!"

Whoosh!

Zoro's figure vanished from the spot, flickering in the void like a ghost.

Even in Hawkeye's discerning golden eyes, Zoro's movement trajectory was still clearly discernible.

But this time, the speed of that trajectory caused the world's greatest swordsman to twitch his eyebrows almost imperceptibly.

Hawkeye raised an eyebrow slightly.

At this moment, he had to admit that he had indeed underestimated Donghai.

But that doesn't change anything.

Clang—!

The clanging of metal was like a thunderclap.

Hawkeye's cross-shaped dagger precisely blocked Zoro's Wado Ichimonji at the last second.

Zoro followed closely with his other two blades, slashing at Hawkeye's neck and ribs from the left and right sides respectively.

however--

Hawkeye didn't even move his other hand.

He merely twisted his wrist slightly, and the cross-shaped knife traced a blurry afterimage in the air.

Clang! Clang!

Two more crisp metallic clanging sounds followed.

Zoro's pupils suddenly contracted.

He clearly felt that what his other two knives struck were actually three parries made by Hawkeye at the same time from different positions using his cross-shaped knife!

"H-How is this possible!?"

On the deck of the Baratie restaurant, Sanji's pupils contracted sharply, and he almost dropped the cigarette he was holding.

He stared intently at the two figures on the sea, his voice filled with disbelief:

"That green algae-headed guy... I couldn't even see the speed of his slash just now!"

"But that man, with just a small knife..."

Zeff stood beside him, his expression equally grave:

"It's not a speed issue."

"It's a difference in levels, brat."

“That hawk-eyed man… he saw through all of Zoro’s attack trajectories, and even predicted the landing point before Zoro drew his sword.”

"That's why we can achieve the most perfect defense with the least amount of movement."

Not far away, Nami stood by the railing, her face pale, her hands gripping the wooden bars tightly.

"The difference...is it really that big?"

Usopp's legs went weak and his teeth chattered.

"It's over... It's all over... Zoro will be killed... He definitely will..."

Even Luffy, who is usually fearless, rarely put away his smile at this moment.

His brow furrowed slightly, and his rubber hands clenched unconsciously.

"Zoro..."

Luffy murmured softly, a deep concern for his companions' safety appearing in his eyes for the first time.

What Hawkeye just demonstrated was "absolute strength" far beyond the level of understanding in the East China Sea.

His effortless and confident demeanor was even a hundred times more composed than when V was training Zoro.

however--

Just when everyone thought Zoro would waver and back down because of this daunting disparity...

"Just as V said."

Zoro grinned, a smile that was almost ferocious.

There was no fear or hesitation in that smile, only an almost obsessive excitement!

He knew all along!

He already knew it the moment V easily deflected his full-force slash with his mantis arm!

The gap between oneself and the world's top is not something that can be bridged by working hard for a few days or mastering a few new skills!

but……

So what!

"Three-Sword Style: Tiger Hunt!"

Zoro suddenly lowered his body and charged along the ground like a cheetah!

He had no intention of giving Hawkeye a chance to catch his breath—even though the other man didn’t need to catch his breath at all.

With his left foot pushing off the ground and his right knee bent, he simultaneously slashed out with three knives at an extremely tricky angle, aiming straight for Hawkeye's lower body!

This attack came without warning, completely disrupting the conventional starting stance of swordsmanship.

It was the pose his body instinctively remembered after he was repeatedly slashed to the ground by V, the one most suitable for counterattack!

A hint of surprise flashed in Hawkeye's golden pupils.

He didn't expect that after witnessing such a huge difference in skill, the swordsman from the East Sea would not be discouraged, but instead would launch an even more ferocious and... crazy attack!

The cross-shaped knife was swung again.

Clang clang clang clang clang—!

The sound of metal clashing was as loud as a torrential downpour!

Zoro's figure transformed into a green afterimage, moving at high speed around Hawkeye.

Each time he flashes by, he unleashes more than ten slashes!

The angles of the slashes became increasingly tricky, the footwork increasingly unpredictable, and the killing intent condensing on the blade became increasingly intense!

He has mastered the technique of high-frequency stomping in the silent step!

His toes tapped repeatedly on the deck wreckage, each touch unleashing terrifying propulsion that pushed his speed to new heights!

"Not enough...not enough!!!"

Zoro roared, his eyes bloodshot.

He replayed every detail of his sparring session with V in his mind—

Those wounds inflicted by the mantis's arm...

Those moments when the electric shock arm caused complete paralysis...

Those slashes that erupted instinctively from the body when cornered, slashes that even the person themselves found unfamiliar...

Everything! Remember everything!!!

"Three-Sword Style: Tornado!"

Zoro suddenly spun around, his three swords creating a violent gust of wind, and he transformed into a green tornado, sweeping towards Mihawk!

The blade tore through the air, emitting a piercing shriek!

This strike was already very close to the limit he could achieve at this moment!

On the deck of the Barrati, everyone held their breath.

Sanji dropped his cigarette butt on the ground, completely unaware.

Zeff's single eye gleamed.

Nami and Usopp gaped, almost forgetting their fear.

Even Luffy loosened his clenched fist, and his eyes regained their light:

"Zoro...you bastard..."

however--

Faced with this ferocious attack, Hawkeye simply sighed softly.

"pity."

He spoke in a low voice, a complex expression flashing in his golden eyes.

The cross-shaped knife suddenly emitted a blinding, cold light!

A slash, as solid as a crescent moon, shot out, instantly tearing apart Zoro's tornado and piercing precisely towards his heart.

Pfft!

A delicate dagger suddenly pierced Zoro's heart.

In an instant, all the flashing swords and the storm of attacks vanished.

Instead, we see Zoro, wielding two swords and heavily wounded.

Why not avoid it?