The moment Usopp saw the white-haired swordsman actually draw his blade, his soul nearly left his body.
He turned and bolted.
Behind him, Logan chased with Zhenhai held in a reverse grip, swinging as he ran, roaring:
"You sharp-tongued bastard, Usopp! I dragged you out of the sea and you still dare call yourself 'sir' in front of me?!"
"I'll chop you in half!"
"I—I was wrong! I won't run my mouth anymore!" Usopp wailed, begging for mercy—
yet somehow, his running speed only got faster.
Ahead of them stood a powerfully built swordsman. His chest was wrapped in bandages, muscles taut and ridged beneath his skin.
Short green hair, sharp features, and three gold teardrop earrings hanging from his left ear.
He heard the familiar cries for help.
Turning toward the sound, he saw a white-haired swordsman chasing Usopp with blade in hand.
Without the slightest hesitation, he drew the only remaining white katana at his waist and charged straight toward Logan.
The instant killing intent rose in his heart—
Logan sensed him.
When he clearly saw the man's appearance, Logan recognized him immediately.
Roronoa Zoro—
one of Luffy's most trusted companions.
Usopp also belatedly noticed Zoro's presence. But when he saw Zoro rushing in with a life-or-death expression, he panicked and shouted:
"Zoro, don't fight! I'm fine!"
But Zoro, already in motion, paid him no attention.
At this moment, his entire focus had fused with his sword.
In the blink of an eye, Zoro arrived.
His face was icy cold.
Using his waist to drive his elbow, his elbow to drive his arm, his entire body began to spin as he roared:
"Tatsumaki!"
Sword qi surged.
A violent whirlwind rose from the ground, leaves, grass, and debris ripped free and hurled skyward, filling the air.
Logan's expression remained calm, but his heart stirred.
As expected of Zoro.
With injuries that severe, he can still unleash a technique like this.
Unfortunately—
With only one sword, this Tatsumaki had impressive momentum, but little substance.
It was more than enough to deal with fodder.
But against Logan—
It wasn't enough.
Logan stepped forward.
He raised Zhenhai and brought it down in a single, clean slash straight into the heart of the whirlwind.
The roaring vortex collapsed instantly.
Leaves drifted back to the ground as if nothing had happened.
"So strong…!" Zoro's eyes widened in shock.
His full-power strike—
dispelled so easily.
His expression turned solemn.
Facing this white-haired swordsman gave him the same oppressive feeling he'd once felt against one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—
Dracule Mihawk.
Usopp, standing to the side, was just as stunned. He knew Logan was strong—but not this strong.
When Zoro was about to raise his sword again, Usopp hurriedly shouted:
"Zoro! He's not an enemy! If it weren't for him, I'd already be dead in the sea!"
Only then did Zoro stop.
He shot Usopp an annoyed look.
"Then why didn't you say that earlier?"
"I did say it! You just never listen!" Usopp cried, on the verge of tears.
Even so, Zoro still held Wado Ichimonji tightly, calmly facing Logan.
"I'm Roronoa Zoro," he said.
"I can feel how strong you are. I hope we can spar someday."
Usopp nearly fainted.
He grabbed Zoro in panic.
"Zoro, are you trying to get yourself killed?! You're seriously injured! Sparring with him now is suicide!"
"Usopp," Zoro said flatly, "I've made my decision. If we're partners, don't try to stop me."
Usopp could only droop helplessly, clasping his hands together and praying to the heavens.
Logan smiled faintly, looking at Zoro with appreciation.
"My name is Logan. I'm a swordsman."
"I can agree to spar with you—but not now."
"When you feel you can defeat me someday, come challenge me then."
"I won't refuse."
"Besides," Logan continued calmly, "Usopp is right. You're badly wounded, and you only have one sword."
"Facing me at your peak would be the real respect between swordsmen. Don't you think?"
Zoro opened his mouth—
Then froze.
His eyes widened, his body stiffening like stone.
Without any warning—
Logan suddenly tightened his grip on Zhenhai, turned around, and swung toward the distant sea.
His voice was soft.
"Sea-Severing Slash."
In an instant—
A gigantic sword wave, over ten meters long, cleaved downward, splitting the sea in two.
Near the shore, the seabed itself was laid bare, rocks fully exposed.
Only after two full seconds did the water crash back together, the ocean returning to calm.
Logan's breathing grew slightly heavier, but his expression remained composed.
"I can't accept your challenge right now," he said evenly,
"but I can teach you this sword."
"When you can cut the sea like that with a single strike—"
"Come challenge me again."
Zoro stared at the scene in utter disbelief.
His calm heart erupted into a raging storm.
He understood better than anyone just how terrifying that slash was.
Perhaps only Hawk-Eyes Mihawk could contend with it.
That overwhelming sword had touched something deep within him.
He felt as though he had grasped the edge of a truth—
Yet when he reached for it—
It slipped away.
Even so, that alone was enough to leave Zoro exhilarated beyond words.
Usopp, meanwhile, went completely limp and collapsed to the ground.
"…Monster," he muttered.
"Thank you for the guidance, senior!" Zoro said excitedly.
"I will become the world's greatest swordsman!"
At this point, he no longer had any thought of challenging Logan.
Logan smiled indifferently.
Greatest swordsman?
That title's yours.
I'll just be the teacher of the greatest swordsman.
"All right," Logan said. "You two go find Luffy. He probably needs you right now."
With that, he stepped into the air using Moonwalk and departed.
"Oh—one more thing."
"When you see Luffy, tell him this—"
"His big brother is already here."
"So don't hold back. Do whatever you want."
Usopp and Zoro exchanged looks, both seeing the same shock in each other's eyes.
Usopp swallowed.
"Luffy's brother is a freak… How is he this strong? Why didn't Luffy ever mention him?"
"At the very least," Zoro said seriously, "he's on the level of a Warlord of the Sea."
At the same time, on the other side of the island—
Luffy's ship slammed into the shore and came to a stop.
Still dizzy from the impact, Luffy hadn't even recovered when he saw a pirate-looking man sprinting toward him, crying hysterically:
"Usopp is dead!"
"Nami killed him!"
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