Chapter 33

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East Blue – Baratie 

"What the hell is that?", Zoro asked, seeing Mihawk draw a small blade that he wore as a necklace. 

"A blade", Mihawk said, stating the obvious. 

"That's clear. What I want to know is if you're really going to fight me with a bread-cutting knife?", Zoro asked, slightly irritated by the humiliation. 

"Hmm, I don't think it's necessary to use a cannon to kill a rabbit", Mihawk replied, pointing the blade at Zoro. 

"One thing's for sure, you're definitely underestimating me a lot." 

"Then prove me wrong, boy." 

"Fine", Zoro said, dashing forward using Soru and delivering a downward slash from right to left with his three swords, all imbued with Armament Haki. Mihawk easily dodged using Observation Haki. 

"Interesting, Haki in the weakest Blue", Mihawk commented, effortlessly dodging Zoro's constant attacks. 

The fight advanced with Zoro relentlessly trying to land a blow on Mihawk but failing as Mihawk continued to evade all his strikes effortlessly. 

Gaining some distance, Zoro crossed his arms, positioning his two swords vertically parallel in his hands, then imbuing them with Armament Haki. He dashed forward using Soru at full speed. Upon reaching Mihawk, he unleashed a 'Santoryu - Oni Giri' which Mihawk blocked with the tip of his small blade, completely stopping the momentum of the attack. 

"My turn", Mihawk said, swinging the blade and sending Zoro flying backward. 

The battle resumed, but this time Mihawk didn't just defend and dodge, he also attacked. 

From this point on, Zoro had no room to strike back, forced to dodge and barely defend against Mihawk's attacks, accumulating shallow cuts all over his body as the fight continued. 

Things changed when Zoro managed to create a tiny gap between himself and Mihawk and launched a 'Santoryu - Tora Gari' at him, only to be interrupted midway by Mihawk's small blade piercing his chest. 

If the blade had been pushed a bit deeper, it would have pierced his heart. 

"ZORO!", Kaya shouted in worry. 

"Luffy, do something", Nami said, preparing to go and help Zoro. 

She was stopped by Luffy, who watched the unfolding battle with a serious expression. 

"Hmm? Why don't you retreat? If you don't, and the blade penetrates your chest a little further, it will reach your heart", Mihawk asked, curious. 

At that moment, an oppressive presence spread across the area, with Zoro at its center. 

This pulse of Conqueror's Haki knocked out all of Don Krieg's pirates and the restaurant's chefs. Only a few remained standing and conscious, among them were Gin, barely managing to stay on his feet while sweating profusely, and Patty in the same condition. Zeff and Sanji sweated a little but stood firm. Luffy's crew remained unaffected, as they were used to Luffy using his Conqueror's Haki to train them. 

Since Luffy's Haki was much more potent than Zoro's, this pulse didn't affect them at all. 

"If I take even one step back, I'll be breaking my promise and won't be able to lift a sword again", Zoro said, spitting blood and staring at Mihawk with an intense gaze, his indomitable will evident. 

"Yes, that's called 'defeat'", Mihawk replied, raising an eyebrow, impressed that there was a Conqueror in the weakest Blue. 

"Yeah, that's why I can't step back", Zoro said, smiling. 

"Even if it results in your death?" 

"I'd rather die than live with regret", Zoro said, looking at Mihawk intensely. 

Mihawk withdrew the blade from Zoro's chest, sheathed it, and placed it back around his neck. He stepped back slightly and took Kokuto Yoru from his back, pointing it at Zoro. "Roronoa Zoro, right? I'll remember that name. Now, come at me with everything you've got." 

The fight resumed, with Zoro being mercilessly pressured, accumulating more and more cuts of varying sizes and depths. 

Zoro was drenched in blood but still standing, refusing to fall, feeling himself becoming stronger and faster. 

Yet, it seemed that no matter how much stronger or faster he got, it made no difference in the end. Mihawk either dodged or blocked the few attacks Zoro managed to execute amidst the constant pressure. 

Finally, Zoro realized that his next strike would be his last. After that, not even his willpower could keep him standing much longer. 

Positioning himself, Zoro said, "Kiki Kyutoryu", and to all the observers, it appeared that Zoro had gained two additional heads and four more arms. 

Mihawk, realizing that this would be Zoro's final attack, prepared himself, sensing that this time would be different. 

"Ashura Ichibugin", Zoro said before charging at Mihawk, creating several sonic booms along the way, leaving marks on the ground from his footsteps. 

Zoro slashed with his swords imbued with Armament Haki, appearing behind Mihawk, who had also slashed. 

The sea became turbulent from the impact of the blows before calming once more. 

Zoro's additional arms and heads disappeared like illusions, and a deep slash appeared on his torso, blood gushing out. 

Spitting out a mouthful of blood, the two swords in his hands shattered into pieces. 

Removing Wado Ichimonji from his mouth, Zoro sheathed it and turned to face Mihawk, opening his arms in the process. 

He then noticed Mihawk looking at him with a slight smile, a shallow cut on his cheek with a trickle of blood running down his face. 

Wiping the drop of blood with his thumb, Mihawk asked, "What are you doing?" 

"A scar on the back is a swordsman's shame", Zoro said with a bloody grin plastered on his face, for he had wounded the world's greatest swordsman. It might seem small, but in reality, it was a huge achievement for a guy from East Blue who had just begun his journey. 

"Splendid", Mihawk said with a smile before delivering a deep slash across Zoro's torso in a diagonal motion from left to right. 

As Zoro fell, blood gushing from his body, Luffy suddenly appeared and caught him. 

Laying him down gently, Luffy stood up and faced Mihawk, exerting his full Conqueror's Haki at maximum potential, causing several structures around them to tremble, creak, and tear apart. The sky darkened with lightning crackling between the clouds, and the nearby sea became turbulent. Yet, it was a precise and controlled pulse directed only at Mihawk. 

"Very interesting. Two Conquerors in the same crew, what could that lead to? Roronoa Zoro, it's too early for you to die. Live, reach your true potential, and get stronger. I'll be waiting for you at the top for a rematch", Mihawk said, addressing Zoro, seemingly unaffected by the pressure directed at him. 

"What's your dream, boy?", Mihawk asked Luffy. 

"I'm going to find the One Piece and become the King of the Pirates", Luffy said, staring at Mihawk intensely. 

"An interesting dream", Mihawk replied, moving toward his boat to leave. 

"L-Luffy", Zoro said, raising Wado Ichimonji in the air. 

"Zoro", Luffy responded, looking at his first mate. 

"From now on, I won't lose to anyone again. Until I become the greatest swordsman, I won't lose again", Zoro said, covering his tearful eyes with his free hand. 

After a pause, he added, "Is there a problem with that, King of the Pirates?" 

"Shishishishi, not at all!", Luffy replied, giving him a warm smile. 

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(AN: 1,199 Words)

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