"Let's go, let's go see the hot-tempered guy who's willing to risk his life for a dream!"
Luffy led the way, the smile on his face fading, replaced by a rare, serious expression. Behind him, Sanji followed in silence. He reached into his pocket, took out a cigarette, lit it, and put it in his mouth. His fingers trembled slightly, not from fear, but from the turmoil of emotion inside him.
They stepped outside, and everyone outside the restaurant held their breath.
Before them, a small, coffin-shaped boat slowly approached, with a lit candle on it. In the middle, a man with a powerful and intimidating aura sat, his sharp eyes like those of a hawk. He was Hawkeye Mihawk, the world's strongest swordsman, a ruthless individual with a bounty that would one day reach 3.59 billion berries!
Mihawk ignored the crowd outside and steered his boat straight ahead, as if everyone else was just dust.
But then—
Boom!
A fierce wave of air swept across the sea, and an overwhelming sense of oppression hit them from outside the restaurant. It was an unrestrained Conqueror's Haki, a warning: Do not let your boat go any further!
"Hmm? This aura... what a surprising find?"
Mihawk suddenly turned his head toward the shore, his eyes narrowing like an eagle's. The man with the Straw Hat smiled at him, as if he were the one in control of everything.
"A rare strong individual!!"
Mihawk murmured softly. "I can feel it... That unrestrained fighting spirit, is it? Straw Hat, are you challenging me?!" He was already boiling with excitement. It had been a long time since he'd met someone worthy of drawing his sword!
"A challenge has rules, first come, first served. I have a brother who wants to fight and duel with you."
Luffy's bluntness made the surrounding chefs gasp in surprise.
"Your brother? No, I only want to fight you," Mihawk said firmly. Because he could feel it, besides Luffy, everyone else was too weak.
"No, if I steal a fight from him, he'll be mad at me." Luffy shrugged. He turned to Mihawk's boat, which was still afloat, and frowned. "I told you, get off the boat and fight. Where else do you think you're going?!"
As soon as he finished speaking, his arm suddenly stretched back. Armament Haki was instantly shot at Mihawk's boat.
Gum-Gum...!!
With a boom, the boat was destroyed.
Mihawk didn't flinch, he swayed slightly then walked outside the restaurant. He looked at Luffy and murmured softly, "You broke my boat, you owe me a new one."
"Alright, no problem." Luffy was ready to agree, but his heart suddenly thumped, feeling that something wasn't right. "I'm curious, your boat doesn't even have a paddle, how do you steer it? Did you use that black blade to paddle through the water?"
Mihawk was speechless, thinking, How did this guy guess that?
The Krieg Pirates were destroyed because they saw me paddling with my black blade. Now look... this Straw Hat kid, his life is over!
Mihawk looked around and saw everyone staring at him with curiosity. Seriously, curiosity kills the cat!
Just then, Zoro said with displeasure, "Using a good sword to paddle a boat, are you a swordsman or what?"
But he quickly ignored this small matter, unsheathed his three long swords and yelled with excitement, "Come on! Duel with me, let my name echo in the skies!"
Luffy said, "Show some respect to my friend, use your long sword."
Mihawk was speechless again, thinking, These two are truly desperate!
He glanced at Luffy's Straw Hat. Even though this guy is a bit arrogant, he really deserves Red-Haired's praise. This one, he's not bad.
Zoro didn't realize that Mihawk wasn't taking him seriously at all, and he approached with his long swords.
You want to duel with my great sword?
Mihawk's eyes immediately turned cold. "You pitiful weakling, if you were a true first-rate swordsman, you would understand how great the difference is between us."
"To dare to draw your sword on me, are you tired of living?"
Zoro grinned. "If you have the ability to take my life, take it!"
Mihawk was no longer bothered. A faint sneer appeared on his face. He took out the small cross-shaped knife hanging from his chest.
In an instant, Zoro's gaze turned as cold as steel. "Are you insulting me?"
"Like the stars and the moon, you are not worthy of me drawing my sword. This small knife is enough to deal with you." Mihawk said provocatively, holding the small, palm-sized knife. Zoro wasn't provoked. Instead, he was calm and went straight on the offensive.
"If you die, don't blame yourself for being too arrogant!"
Mihawk, who was eager to fight with Luffy, had no mind to waste his time here. "You live in a well, today I'll show you how big the world is!"
Three Sword Style—Great Dragon Shock!
With a casual swing!
The air was torn apart. A terrifying slash swept in all directions, carrying a sharp force that roared toward the sea, creating a deafening sound.
Pfft—
A pillar of blood erupted from behind Zoro. The two long swords in his hands were instantly shattered into spiderweb patterns.
"The difference is too great," Sanji muttered to the side, his cigarette falling from his mouth. "He could really beat me even without using his full strength, but in front of him, he's as weak as a child."
But was Zoro really just a child?
Mihawk looked at his ripped clothes and fell silent. After a while, he looked at the man who stood with his arms outstretched, his eyes firm. "You..."
"Come on, a wound on the back is a disgrace for a swordsman, hit me hard from the front!"
Zoro accepted his defeat and quietly waited for Mihawk's attack.
"Incredible... Young man, tell me your name."
"My name is Roronoa Zoro."
Hearing this name, Mihawk rarely smiled. Slowly, he unsheathed his long sword "Yoru," then swung it hard. Blood gushed from Zoro's chest, but he smiled, even feeling a sense of glee, as if he had grasped the essence of this world.
With a splash, he fell into the water and was pulled out by Usopp. Although he took a hit, at least he survived.