The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

The Straw Hat crew, who were on high alert, finally looked back at Zoro's face.

His expression remained unchanged, still the same calm that had never changed before, carrying a faint sense of detachment and scrutiny.

"Although we already know from Luffy that the Navy has landed on this island..."

Zoro took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and met Hawkeye's gaze.

"But I never expected to see you here."

After saying that, he gripped his twin swords tightly and assumed a starting stance that allowed him to both attack and defend.

Enma seemed to sense its master's fighting spirit and the pressure of facing a powerful enemy. The blade hummed slightly, and a little purple demonic energy uncontrollably escaped.

Hawkeye did not respond immediately upon hearing Zoro's words.

He simply raised his right hand and gently tapped the brim of his hat upwards with his long, slender index finger.

His hawk-like eyes were fully revealed, and his gaze naturally fell on the two swords in Zoro's hands.

Especially the Yama, whose blade was long and slender, shrouded in ominous purple ghostly energy.

"Tsk." Hawkeye clicked his tongue softly, his brow twitching slightly.

"You changed your knife?"

"Where is that black sword (Qiushui) from before?"

Zoro was startled.

He hadn't expected Hawkeye's first words to be like this.

But he only paused for a moment, without flinching, glancing at the slightly trembling Yama in his hand, and replied in a deep voice.

"It has been returned to its rightful owner."

"That sword (Shusui) was originally a national treasure of Wano Country."

Hawkeye's eyes narrowed slightly, his scrutinizing gaze becoming even sharper.

It has a gaze that can see through every detail of Zoro wielding his sword, and even sense Enma's unruly "temperament".

"Foolish." Hawkeye commented bluntly, "That black sword (Autumn Water) was entrusted to you by its previous owner (Ryoma) before his death."

The bond between a swordsman and his sword cannot be simply defined by ownership.

You gave up on the process of getting to know and grow with a black sword that had already accepted you, but chose this one instead…

His gaze swept over Enma again, "A sword filled with 'resentment' and 'ambition'."

"To put it bluntly, Kozuki Oden's sword might not be more suitable for your 'Path of Asura' than Shusui."

As Zoro listened to Hawkeye's almost admonitory words, his throat bobbed involuntarily, and he swallowed hard.

Pressure...immense pressure!

It wasn't just the pressure of sheer strength; there was also a sense of pressure from a senior kendo master, someone who could even be considered a "teacher."

(Although he was not formally apprenticed, Hawkeye did mentor him for two years.)

Zoro knew perfectly well that Hawkeye was right.

Qiu Shui actively chose him, acknowledging his swordsman's spirit; he was a "mature" black sword with immense potential.

As for Enma... although powerful, she is an unruly "sword" that can even turn against its master.

Mastering it requires more effort and involves greater risks.

But he also had his own reasons and determination for choosing Enma.

But at this moment, under Hawkeye's all-seeing gaze, these reasons seemed somewhat weak.

But what weighed even heavier on Zoro's mind was the current situation!

Hawkeye appeared here, and judging from his appearance, he was calm and composed, without a trace of battle dust or wrinkles on his body.

It perfectly matches his clean and efficient image.

On the other hand, on their side, some were injured, some were crippled, and they were exhausted.

Add to that the crisscrossing, bottomless, massive cuts on the surrounding beaches, and the smooth, clean cuts on the distant reefs…

This can only mean one thing: Blackbeard Pirates officers (Van Augur, Burgess, Shiryu) may have been in this area before...

It has probably already been completely "dealt with" in its encounter with Hawkeye.

Moreover, the process is likely to be one-sided.

If Hawkeye is hostile towards them right now...

Given the Straw Hat crew's current state, if Hawkeye really wanted to keep them...

I'm afraid... no one can escape.

Chapter 688 Two years later, how far are you from the 'Black Knife'?

The sea breeze blows across the beach, stirring up fine sand.

Hawkeye's gaze lingered on Zoro for a moment, his brow furrowing.

"The wounds on your body..." Hawkeye's voice was steady, "...could they have been left on you by Rain's Hope?"

Zoro was taken aback, not expecting Hawkeye to ask that.

But he still honestly shook his head.

"It's not Shiryu. It's Blackbeard."

Upon hearing Zoro's answer, Hawkeye's perpetually unchanging expression softened slightly.

“Indeed.” Hawkeye nodded slightly, his tone arrogant and matter-of-fact.

"If it's that 'impure swordsman' Shiryu who can leave you with a wound..."

He emphasized the words "not a pure swordsman," his tone revealing undisguised contempt.

"Then you'll probably never have the chance to touch the hem of my clothes in your entire life."

In Hawkeye's view, Shiryu of the Rain's swordsmanship had reached the threshold of a great swordsman.

He could have pursued a higher level in Kendo.

However, he later chose to rely on the power of the Clear-Clear Fruit.

In Hawkeye's eyes, who seeks direct confrontation and victory through sheer force of will, this is a different story.

This is undoubtedly a misguided path and a disgrace to the name of "swordsman".

A "swordsman" who relies on his Devil Fruit powers and resorts to underhanded tactics.

In the face of a true master swordsman, they are utterly insignificant.

Therefore, if Zoro had been injured by Shiryu in that manner, Mihawk would have been disappointed.

This proves that Zoro's capacity and strength are far from sufficient.

Upon hearing Hawkeye's seemingly approving assessment, Zoro's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

At least for now, he could sense that Hawkeye wasn't hostile.

So I took a deep breath, mustered my courage, met Eagle Eye's gaze, and spoke out my most pressing need.

"Then... could you move aside? We need to get back to the ship."

While speaking, he tried to keep his tone calm, but his hand gripping the hilt of the knife remained firm.

He leaned forward slightly, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.

Hawkeye raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this.

"No."

The answer was concise, straightforward, and left no room for negotiation.

"Why?" Zoro's heart sank, and he pressed for an answer.

Nami and the others behind them tensed up again.

Hawkeye did not answer immediately.

The hem of the black trench coat swayed gently.

"because……"

“Gern said that the moment of choice… ‘can’t leave yet.’”

"The moment to choose? Can't we leave yet?"

Zoro frowned, completely baffled by what he was saying.

"What does this mean? Whose choice is this?"

Hawkeye withdrew his gaze and returned it to Zoro's face.

"What do you mean?" he repeated Zoro's question. "Heh...who knows."

Perhaps it was the island's 'choice,' or perhaps it was the 'choice' of some people's fate...

He paused, then his gaze, seemingly directed, turned back towards the depths of the island.

"Or perhaps... we still need your captain here, to 'play' something."

"Playing a role?!" Zoro's pupils contracted.

This word made him extremely uneasy.

Luffy is currently in danger, rescuing Vegapunk alone. What does Hawkeye mean by that?

Is it possible that Robi has also been drawn into a larger plan or conspiracy?

"Explain yourself clearly!"

Zoro stepped forward, and Enma seemed to sense its master's emotions, causing the purple demonic energy on the blade to surge suddenly!

But Hawkeye remained unmoved by his reaction.

He even turned slightly to the side, turning his gaze back to the vast sea, leaving Zoro with only a solitary and upright profile.

"The words have been made very clear."

Hawkeye's voice drifted on the sea breeze.

“You cannot leave this coast until you receive new orders, or… the ‘choice’ is completed.”

“Of course.” Hawkeye changed the subject.

“I can also give you an additional ‘option’.”

The moment the words fell

An invisible sense of territory quietly spreads from the eagle eye!

This is Hawkeye's Conqueror's Haki!

It's similar to Zoro's demonic aura, but unlike demonic aura, Hawkeye prefers to call it 'momentum'.

A kind of "presence" naturally cultivated by those who have stood at the pinnacle of swordsmanship for a long time, looking down on all swordsmen in the world.

In an instant, this momentum spread.

The fine sand on the beach stopped rolling in the wind, and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore seemed to be shut out.

This space is silently declaring

This place is ruled by the world's greatest swordsman.

Hawkeye still didn't draw his sword, but simply stood there.

That sharp edge, capable of cutting through everything, already represents everything!

"That is..." Hawkeye's gaze locked onto Zoro.

"Defeat me."

"Anyway..."

Hawkeye's gaze seemed to briefly drift towards a certain direction in the distance.