Their worldview had collapsed.
Yes—
When Kuina and Zoro saw Ryukawa slice open a mountain with a single sword stroke…
Their fragile understanding of the world crumbled on the spot.
"Senior Brother… is really too strong…"
Kuina murmured blankly, staring at Ryukawa's silhouette.
His strength was simply beyond imagination.
How were they supposed to catch up to someone like that?
Even if they pushed themselves to their limits—
Even if they trained until their bodies broke—
They doubted they could ever reach the realm where one could casually split a mountain.
That distance was too far.
So far that it crushed their hearts with a sense of utter helplessness.
"Senior Brother…"
For the first time, Zoro spoke the title with genuine, unquestioned respect.
A respect for overwhelming power.
A respect for someone standing on a peak he couldn't even see.
To Zoro—
Ryukawa had already become a terrifyingly powerful existence.
The two villagers, meanwhile, were completely frozen.
"T-the mountain… was split…"
Their voices trembled, eyes wide and unfocused.
They stared at the massive scar carved into the mountainside—
A jagged fissure through which one could see the world beyond.
"This… this is really something a human can do?"
"That was a mountain… and he cut it open?"
"This man… his strength is terrifying!"
To them, this was no longer human ability.
This was divine might.
They lived in the East Blue, the weakest sea—
Their experiences were limited.
So when they witnessed a man split a mountain, they could only interpret it as—
The power of a god.
"How could mere humans possibly resist this level of strength?"
"With him here… there's absolutely no need to worry."
"This time… the bandits will finally experience despair!"
"Their nightmare has arrived!"
Zack and Kanbal clenched their fists, bodies trembling with excitement and hope.
They could already imagine it—
The bandits screaming, weeping, collapsing under unimaginable fear.
Before such overwhelming force—
Bandits?
They weren't even ants.
"This is my current limit…?"
Ryukawa exhaled slowly, eyes reflecting the massive fissure in the mountain.
"A bit too weak… perhaps acceptable in East Blue.
But placed in the Grand Line? I'd be painfully average."
But the thought didn't trouble him for long.
Why?
Because…
This power was something he achieved in only a few days of swinging a sword.
If given more time—
He would only grow stronger.
Much, much stronger.
"All right. Since I've tested my current limit… time to get back to business."
Ryukawa's eyes sharpened.
With such a commotion, the bandits would never sit still.
No need for him to climb the mountain—
The bandits would naturally come running down, desperate to investigate.
As expected—
Footsteps reached his ears.
"They're coming."
Ryukawa turned back toward the still-shaken Zoro and Kuina.
"Y-yes!"
Both snapped out of their shock, gripping their weapons tightly as they took defensive positions around the villagers.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
A group of bandits emerged from the woods, each holding crude blades, their faces twisted and vicious.
Then they froze—
Their eyes widening at the sight of the split mountain behind Ryukawa.
"H-holy—"
"What happened to the mountain?!"
The bandits recoiled, goosebumps rising across their arms.
They couldn't comprehend what force could cause such destruction.
"You bastards! Where did you take my daughter?!"
Zack and Kanbal shouted in fury, eyes bloodshot.
The bandits turned, regaining their senses.
Then—
They burst into mocking laughter.
"So these brats are your rescue party?!"
"You villagers must really be scraping the bottom of the barrel!"
"Hahaha! Three snot-nosed kids—this is the best you could do?!"
"Senior Brother…"
Kuina drew Wado Ichimonji, eyes cold.
"I'll handle it."
Ryukawa stopped her with a raised hand.
His gaze swept over the bandits—calm, amused, almost bored.
He wondered…
How long would it take to finish all one hundred of them?
Five minutes?
Too slow.
Three minutes?
Maybe.
The bandit boss stepped forward.
A burly man with a jagged scar across his face and a massive iron-studded club slung over his shoulder.
"Sir, that man is Kuison… their leader,"
the villagers whispered with trembling voices.
"His name doesn't matter."
Ryukawa stepped forward, wooden sword in hand.
To him—
A dead man didn't need a name.
"Huh? A wooden sword?"
Kuison blinked, then erupted into laughter.
"Boys, look!
This brat thinks he can fight us with a wooden stick!"
"This must mean the villagers haven't suffered enough!
They really brought CHILDREN as their backup!"
"Fine! Once we kill these kids—
We'll head back and finish off that pathetic village!"
"We'll butcher every last one of them!"
"Men, get ready! Their lives— belong to us!"
The bandits roared with excitement, bloodlust in their eyes.
Ryukawa stopped walking.
He was now less than five meters away from their leader.
He lifted the wooden sword slightly—
Expression calm.
Voice soft.
But every word carried a death sentence.
"Sorry to interrupt your nonsense."
"But I should tell you the truth."
"None of what you just said…"
"…is going to happen."
"Because standing before me—"
"None of you are escaping alive."
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