Zoro's sudden action triggered a chain reaction.
The people inside the restaurant, though unsteady on their feet, instinctively followed him.
Step by shaky step, they made their way out onto the deck.
"Luffy! Usopp! Wait for me!"
Hearing the commotion, Luffy and Usopp rushed out after him.
What they saw outside left everyone speechless.
The massive flagship of the Krieg Pirates was split clean in half.
The raging sea devoured the shattered vessel mercilessly.
The starving pirates clung desperately to broken planks and splintered masts, their bodies weak from hunger and exhaustion.
Some managed to grab hold of debris, barely keeping their heads above water. Others weren't so lucky — sinking beneath the crashing waves with screams of terror.
And the one responsible for this devastation soon appeared before their eyes.
A small, eerie coffin-shaped boat glided silently across the water.
Two candles flickered at its bow, casting pale green reflections on the waves.
A man in a black wide-brimmed hat sat at the helm, composed and proud.
A massive black cross-shaped sword rested on his back.
He wore a crimson shirt under a flowing black coat, his posture regal and unbending.
Gin's pupils contracted instantly. His face turned ghostly pale.
"It's him… it's really him!" he whispered, trembling.
All eyes turned toward the man in black.
His gaze was sharp as a hawk's, piercing and cold enough to freeze blood.
Even from a distance, his presence exuded absolute dominance.
The man was none other than Dracule Mihawk — Hawk-Eye Mihawk, the greatest swordsman in the world.
A living legend of the Grand Line.
He sat quietly, one leg crossed over the other, as though the destruction around him was nothing more than a passing breeze.
The Krieg Pirates' annihilation was merely dust beneath his blade.
Zoro's eyes locked onto him, his body trembling with excitement.
"The world's greatest swordsman… Hawk-Eye Mihawk!" he shouted.
"World's greatest swordsman?" someone repeated in confusion. "He doesn't look that special."
"Wait— are you saying he's the one who sliced our ship in half with a single stroke?"
The murmur of disbelief spread through the crowd.
But no words were needed. The truth was right before them.
One of Krieg's surviving pirates dragged himself upright, glaring at Mihawk.
"What the hell do you have against us?!" he shouted. "Why won't you just leave us alone?!"
Mihawk didn't even glance at him. His voice was calm, bored, and cold.
"Life is dull," he said simply. "I was looking for a little fun."
"What? You're joking, right?!"
The furious pirate pulled a pistol from his belt and fired.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bullets tore through the air — but not one came close.
Each one veered off course mid-flight, as though drawn away by invisible force.
"What the hell?!" the pirates screamed. "We were aiming straight at him!"
No one could believe what they were seeing.
Zoro, meanwhile, was trembling — but not from fear. His eyes burned like fire.
He had found him. The man he had sworn to surpass.
The mountain he had to climb to fulfill his promise to Kuina.
Without a word, he began to walk forward.
Step by step, the deck creaked beneath him.
"Zoro! What are you doing?!" Luffy shouted.
But Zoro didn't look back. The fire in his chest only grew stronger.
Within the Krieg Pirates' ranks, someone finally recognized him.
"Wait… that guy's got three swords!"
"Could it be…?"
"Roronoa Zoro, the three-sword style bounty hunter?!"
The chefs inside Baratie froze in disbelief.
The green-haired man they'd been treating like a kitchen hand — was that Roronoa Zoro, the legendary pirate hunter of the East Blue?!
Meanwhile, Zoro's shipmates, Johnny and Yosaku, had just arrived from the Going Merry.
They gasped as they saw him striding straight toward Mihawk.
"What's Big Bro doing?!"
"Is he… is he actually going to challenge Hawk-Eye Mihawk?!"
Their voices trembled with awe and fear.
On Ron's back, Nami still clung tightly like a koala, her focus drawn to Zoro's bold advance.
"Is he really going to fight him?" she asked curiously.
"That's right," Ron said with a grin, still holding his plate of fried rice. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime battle. Might as well enjoy the show."
He leaned back comfortably, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
On the deck, Zoro had already spoken his challenge.
Mihawk regarded him for a moment, then smiled faintly — a calm, superior smile.
He reached into his coat and pulled out a tiny dagger.
Gasps erupted around them.
"What kind of knife is that?"
"Is he planning to slice fruit with it?"
"Even if he's the world's greatest, isn't that a bit insulting?!"
But Ron chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"He's not underestimating him," he said. "He's showing mercy."
"If Zoro wants to chase him someday, he'll have to survive this lesson first."
He sighed, a knowing smile crossing his lips.
"Even after Zoro defeats King on Onigashima someday, there'll still be a huge gap between him and Mihawk."
As if to prove his words, the battle began.
And just as Ron predicted — it was no contest.
With only that small dagger, Mihawk parried every strike, dismantled every attack.
Zoro's three blades blurred through the air, yet not a single one touched him.
Each clash rang like the tolling of a bell, each strike shattering against Mihawk's effortless precision.
Within moments, Zoro was on his knees, breathing hard, blood dripping down his chest.
The crowd fell silent.
Even Ron paused mid-bite, his eyes gleaming faintly.
Then it happened.
A mechanical chime echoed softly in his ears.
Ding!
Congratulations, Host. You have witnessed the clash of Zoro and Mihawk.
You have unlocked a Divine Talent.
New skills acquired: One-Sword Style (Intermediate), Three-Sword Style (Intermediate).
Ron froze.
For a long moment, he just stared blankly ahead, his mind spinning.
"What the hell…" he muttered.
His body — had it just learned their swordsmanship on its own?!
He glanced down at the chopsticks in his hand.
Then back up at the two swordsmen crossing blades before him.
His expression was a mix of disbelief and awe.
"This is insane…" he whispered. "Did I just… unlock swordsmanship by watching?"