Chapter 26: Absolute Difference, Swordsman's Oath.

"Pirate Hunter Zoro!"

"He's a master, maybe he can..."

"That guy?" Sanji, standing in the restaurant, frowned. Wasn't he the waiter Luffy's companion...

"Zoro..."

"What?"

Facing Zoro's eyes full of fighting spirit, Roman opened his mouth but only said three words.

"...Be careful."

?

Taking a deep breath, Roman walked stiffly forward, —maybe only he truly understood the terror of Hawk Eyes here, while others just felt an inexplicable awe.

"Roman, where are you going?"

Facing Luffy's question, Roman waved his hand and walked away from the crowd.

"I'm going to get the medical kit."

??

---

"Pathetic,"

"Weakling."

Facing Zoro's challenge, the man named Mihawk stood up.

"If you consider yourself a swordsman, the gap between us should be obvious."

"What gives you the courage to challenge me? Arrogance? Or—pure ignorance?"

With Wado Ichimonji in his mouth and holding his two swords, the man named Zoro took his stance.

"This is my dream,"

"This is the dream I promised to a dear friend!"

Facing Zoro, who was exuding fighting spirit, the man opposite him just took off the cross on his chest and opened it, —it turned out to be a small knife.

Hmm, a small knife that would be great for peeling, filleting fish, or cutting food and roasting meat.

But: its purpose should definitely not include fighting!

"Are you looking down on me?!"

Facing Zoro's angry question, Mihawk calmly replied.

"Sorry, this is already my smallest knife."

Good thing he didn't bring a nail clipper, otherwise...

"Don't blame me if you die!"

With a roar, Zoro suddenly charged, his three swords shining with a cold light!

The battle began.

---

"Ah, this..."

It only took a few seconds for Roman, who could fly, to fetch the medical kit. However, when he returned, the scene was already:

Zoro was being beaten miserably by a small knife, and his chest had even been pierced by the opponent. The man known as 'Hawkeye' remained spotless.

It was like an adult playing with a child... no, it was more like Ultraman playing with a child!

"Why don't you retreat?"

Facing Zoro, who was almost pierced through the heart, Hawkeye's cold yellow eyes showed a slight ripple.

"I don't know... but I feel that if I retreat, many important vows and things will be lost..."

"That's failure!"

"Heh, then I can't retreat even more."

Interesting, rather than failing, he'd choose death?

Hey, hey, hey, don't be foolish, Zoro!

Luffy, who was enduring it, Yosaku and Johnny, who were being held down by Luffy on the deck, and Roman, who had a serious expression. They all stared intently at the two fighting, or rather, their companion: Zoro.

How could you possibly beat Hawkeye...

"Very well, it's been a long time since I've met such a 'strong' person."

Hawkeye took a few steps back, put away the small knife he was playing with, and drew the huge black sword - Yoru!

"State your name!"

It was clear that he acknowledged Zoro. —Not his strength, but his determination as a swordsman.

"Roronoa Zoro!"

"Come, I'll end you with the world's greatest black sword."

Facing Hawkeye's declaration, Zoro silently crossed his three swords in front of his chest, then:

"Three-Sword Style Secret Technique - Three Thousand Worlds!"

Hawkeye: Normal Attack

The two figures flashed past each other, and the result was:

Crack!!

Except for the 'Wado Ichimonji' in his mouth, the two katanas in Zoro's hands shattered into pieces on the ground!

Lost... it doesn't matter,

He never thought he would lose...

Covered in blood, Zoro's mind recalled the promise he made with a little girl when he was young. And Roman's serious words: 'Facing those masters, we would be killed in an instant with just a glance!'

Is this the power of the world's greatest swordsman...

Roman, you were right, I was a frog in a well.

Clang!

The 'Wado Ichimonji' in his hand suddenly returned to its sheath, and the man named Zoro turned around, spreading his arms to face the enemy!

"What do you mean?"

Facing Hawkeye's question, Zoro raised his head proudly, his face fearless, even smiling!

"A scar on the back is a swordsman's shame!"

"Well said,"

The huge black sword flashed, and Zoro's chest splattered with blood!

...Not as skilled...

"Zoro!!!"

Swoosh—

Whoosh—

Using his extended arm, Luffy suddenly lunged at the man named Hawkeye! His clenched fist was full of anger! However, the opponent calmly sidestepped, causing Luffy's attack to miss.

"Are you this swordsman's companions?"

Whoosh~~

As Luffy attacked, Roman also leaped to Zoro's side, grabbing him and kicking back! The white wings on his back spread out, carrying them both backward.

"Don't worry, he's still alive."

?

Originally ready to attack, Luffy immediately turned to look back.

"Roman!"

"No vital organs were hit,"

While quickly treating the wound, Roman's words calmed the furious Luffy. The sword wound across Zoro's chest looked terrifying, but it miraculously avoided all major blood vessels, nerves, and tendons, making it a true "flesh wound"!

Such exquisite swordsmanship could only be achieved by the world's best, right?

"My name is Dracule Mihawk."

The man, putting the black sword back on his back, looked at Zoro, who was being treated by Roman.

"Know yourself,"

"Know the world!!"

"Become stronger, Roronoa!"

After saying this, he turned gracefully, lightly leaping onto his small raft and sitting down.

"In the years to come, I will be waiting for you on the throne of the 'world's strongest'! Try to surpass me."

Is this the demeanor of the strong...

"Kid, what is your dream?"

Hawkeye glanced at the boy who had just attacked him and the straw hat on his head.

And the one who just saved him... two Devil Fruit users?

"Pirate King!"

Faced with Luffy's unwavering answer, Hawkeye did not mock him for overestimating himself but nodded seriously.

"This is a difficult path, harder than surpassing me."

"I don't care, I will definitely become the Pirate King!"

"...Hey... Luffy..."

Meanwhile, lying on the ground, being bandaged by Roman, Zoro raised his last sword, 'Wado Ichimonji.'

"...Can you hear me... I lost..."

"...If I can't even become the world's greatest swordsman... it will make you uneasy, right..."

"Hey, don't talk."

While quickly cleaning the blood and stitching the wound, Roman calmly stopped Zoro.

"The wound will split open."

"I will never... lose again!"

However, Zoro, with tears streaming down his face, continued to shout.

"Until I defeat him... I will never lose again!!"

What an idiot... winning or losing... just to be worthy of being Luffy's 'Pirate King' crew member... no, it's Luffy's trust.

Roman's hands paused while bandaging the wound, then continued. Letting Zoro keep shouting!

"What do you think? Pirate King!"

·············

Arrogant words echoed on the battlefield, making the surroundings fall silent, then:

"Hehehe,"

Luffy grinned cheerfully, "I have no objections."

"Nice team."

Hawk Eyes nodded coldly.

"I look forward... to meeting you all again..."

---

"Zoro's injuries have stabilized, but—"

Hawk Eyes left gracefully, leaving behind a mess. After the bandaging was done, Roman looked at Luffy.

"I'm losing the sense of direction from Nami's bandages... Are you sure you don't want to leave with us?"

"No, I still have something to take care of."

It was clear that Luffy wouldn't give up on recruiting a 'chef'. And—the Krieg Pirates were eyeing the 'sea restaurant' hungrily, this place would soon be in chaos. With Zoro just heavily injured and Usopp not suited for a brawl... so:

"Alright, I'll go after Nami with Zoro and Usopp first."

Roman didn't hesitate, using a 'paper stretcher' to carry the injured Zoro to the nearby merchant ship.

"I'll bring Nami back, you focus on convincing the chef to join us."

"Of course!"

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