The Greatest Swordsman in the World

Thirteen blinked at the ground where Usopp just was and muttered "Was he playing dead? Maybe he's a dog Mink…" before getting up and walking over to Zeff, asking "Can I have a break?" Zeff smacked his head and replied "Do you see any customers?!"

Thirteen looked around and Zeff kicked him out of the restaurant, grumbling as he walked to the door.

Thirteen flipped in the air and landed on his feet outside the restaurant doors to see a man with a hat, cutting a giant ship in half. He tilted his head at the scene before turning his attention to Johnny and Yosaku, who were crying "Big Bro Luffy! Nami stole the ship!"

Luffy blinked at them and scratched his head, asking "Why would she do that?" Sanji walked over and lit a cigarette as he said "If Nami-chan is hurt, I'll kill you both." while Usopp said angrily "How could she do that! The Merry!" Johnny and Yosaku explained that they were sneak attacked and thrown overboard as Nami said she was changing.

They were interrupted, when Sanji grabbed them both with red eyes and shouted "WHAT DID SHE LOOK LIKE!?" Johnny coughed and said seriously "We're righteous men, how could we look!?" while Yosaku said "I bet she looked good though." Sanji let them go and his cigarette started letting out heart shaped smoke as he went into a daze.

Johnny coughed and continued "Anyway! I think she's going to Cocoyashi Village, that's the direction she was heading in anyway." Yosaku added "We know the way." Luffy nodded and said "Usopp, Johnny, and Zoro, you guys follow Nami while me and Thirteen convince Sanji to join the crew."

He turned to Yosaku and said "Stay with us so we can get there after." Yosaku nodded and the others turned to leave. Thirteen tapped Luffy and pointed at Zoro, who was walking to Mihawk.

Sanji came to his senses and shouted "I SAID NO! Eh?" as he turned to Zoro.

Luffy said "Zoro?" Zoro said "This man is the greatest swordsman in the world! If I don't fight him now, I'll never get the chance!" Sanji said "Idiot! You're going to get yourself killed!" Luffy stopped Sanji and said seriously "Let him go."

Zoro smirked and stepped to the swordsman, pointing a sword at him, shouting "Mihawk! I challenge you!" The swordsman, who's name was Mihawk, turned to Zoro and said "Oh? I'm afraid I don't have a sword small enough."

Zoro tensed up and clenched his fists around his swords as he said "Are you mocking me?" Mihawk took his necklace and pulled a small knife out from it as he replied "On the contrary, you simply don't use a machete to gut a rabbit."

Zoro bit on a sword and charged at Mihawk with 3 swords at once.

Thirteen watched as Mihawk parried every single one of Zoro's sword strikes before throwing him back and asking "Why do you fight, weak one? What burdens do you bear for you to seek such power?" Zoro ignored him and prepared a big move before lunging at Mihawk.

Mihawk pierced through the move and into Zoro's chest, stopping him in his tracks.

Thirteen's foot shifted and the wooden floor creaked but Luffy stretched out an arm, stopping him from moving as he said "This is Zoro's fight." Thirteen blinked and looked at his own feet in confusion, wondering why they moved on their own, not understanding anything.

Mihawk looked at Zoro, who didn't step back and said "Why aren't you withdrawing. Do you intend to let me pierce your heart?" Zoro bled from his mouth and said laboriously "I don't know why… but I have a feeling that if I step back… All those promises and important things will be shattered… I won't be able to come back to where I am now…"

Mihawk stared at Zoro in the eyes and asked "Even if you'll die?" Zoro grinned and stared right back replying "I'd rather die." Mihawk stared at him before slowly taking back his knife and saying "Kid, state your name." as he stepped back and sheathed his knife.

Zoro stood straight and held his swords in front of him as he said "Roronoa Zoro!" Mihawk replied "I'll remember it, strong one." as he grabbed the big black sword from his back and added "As a swordsman's courtesy, I'll sink you here and now with the world's strongest Black Blade."

They paused for a moment before Mihawk got into a stance and Zoro started spinning his swords, Mihawk sped forward and Zoro shot towards him as well. Thirteen caught Mihawk's pupils constrict for a brief moment as they clashed and ended up behind each other.

Suddenly, Zoro's swords, excluding the one he kept in his mouth, shattered and blood sprayed from his body. Mihawk turned around and charged at Zoro with his sword, when Zoro sheathed his last sword and turned around, spreading his arms out and looking at Mihawk with a strange grin, stalling Mihawk for a split second as he said "What are yo-"

But Zoro cut him off and said "Scars on the back are a swordsman's shame!" Mihawk's eyes lit up and he shouted "Excellent!" as he slashed down, cutting across Zoro's torso, sending him flying into the water.

Johnny and Yosaku screamed "BIG BRO!" and jumped into the water to get him. As they did so Luffy and Thirteen charged at Mihawk and both punched at him, causing Mihawk to block with the side of his sword, stopping them in their tracks.

Mihawk turned to the duo and stared at them, while Johnny and Yosaku brought Zoro to a ship they had prepared and shouted "He's alive! Thank god!" Luffy stopped and turned to the ship, but Thirteen charged at Mihawk again with a red tint glowing in his eyes.

He threw a punch down from the air as his entire arm was fully 'hardened' but Mihawk jumped back, leaving Thirteen to punch a hole through the driftwood. Mihawk looked at Thirteen and said "A mink in the East Blue? You wouldn't happen to be the 450 million belli gift, would you?" Thirteen stared at Mihawk as his eyes turned fully red and a crazed smile took over his face as he said "And if I am~?"

While he unfurled a chain and swung it randomly, chuckling eerily. Mihawk narrowed his eyes and said "YOU can't beat me either." Thirteen chuckled and spun the chain in a circle, saying "You don't know that." as he blurred from his spot and appeared behind Mihawk, chuckling "You don't know anything, birdy."

The chain moved like a snake to Mihawk's feet as Thirteen's other hand 'sharpened' and flashed black, stabbing through the air above Mihawk.

Mihawk jumped up and blocked Thirteen's claw with his blade side, adding "Troublesome… What has the boy been through?" Thirteen back flipped, landing on the platform with his feet and one hand while shaking the hand that was blocked by Mihawk as he replied "We had a lot of fun in Hell~ Ehehehe"

Mihawk hummed and said "I see… So he was a slave… Unfortunate." as he readied his blade for real. Thirteen giggled and his hands and feet turned hardened, flashing black, as he got ready to pounce.

Suddenly, there was a loud voice.

"Luffy!" Luffy turned to the boat and muttered "Zoro?" Zoro held his sword in the air and continued "Did I worry you…? You need no less than the World's Greatest Swordsman… Right?" as he took heavy and laborious breaths, he paused before shouting "I will not…! I WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED AGAIN! UNTIL THE DAY I DEFEAT HIM AND BECOME THE WORLD'S GREATEST SWORDSMAN… I WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED! GOT ANY PROBLEMS WITH THAT, KING OF THE PIRATES!?"

Luffy was stunned before a big grin took its place and he chuckled "Nope!"

Mihawk smirked and looked at Thirteen, who stood up and shook his head, looking at Mihawk blankly as he put his chain back. Mihawk put his sword away and said "Overcome yourself, or you'll be eaten alive."

Thirteen looked at his hands and clenched them, cracking his neck violently before nodding.

Mihawk turned to Zoro and smirked "As for you…" before shouting "I am Dracule Mihawk! Live well, young swordsman! I shall hold this title until you come and take it from me! Survive and meet me at the top! SURPASS ME, RORONOA ZORO!" before hopping on his small boat and sailing away with his arms crossed.

Johnny and Yosaku started applying medicine to Zoro's wound with Usopp's help. When they were done, Yosaku hopped off the boat and they sailed away to Cocoyashi, leaving Luffy, Thirteen, Yosaku, and Sanji behind.

Luffy and Thirteen watched the ship leave in silence before Luffy said "Good thing he's alive." Thirteen rubbed his hand and hummed in agreement, before Luffy turned to him and grinned "Let's go get our cook! Shishishishi!" as he dragged Thirteen with him back to the restaurant.