Second Gear, Zoro VS Mihawk

Mihawk looked at Zoro and said "Pitful, Weakling if you're a competent swordsman in a way then you must have known to strength me and you. So, why do you want to fight, is it your ignorance?" Then why he stared at Luffy and said "You should know in this challenge, he may die so why do you want your partner to fight to know our difference?"

Luffy shakes his head and pointed at Zoro. At his moment, Zoro said, "It comes from my Ambition and my promise to my friend."

Luffy walks away leaving Zoro and Mihawk alone, he knows Zoro will lose but this is also good for his crew. He just prays for Zoro not to die.

"Luffy, are you sure?" Nami didn't have a clue about strength but she could see, previously if Luffy hadn't dodged that attack, he would have been seriously injured.

"Don't know, I just hope Hawk-Eyes don't kill Zoro." Luffy walked near Zeff while comforting Nami.

"Head Cook, if we defeat Krieg for you then would you give an honest review on Sanji food?" Luffy asked

"Yes" Zeff knows his current condition, so he agreed without hesitation. He also wanted to send Sanji on his adventures.

"Then, let me finish this quickly" Luffy stretches his body and move towards Krieg and shouted "Hey, Jackass in golden armor, come and face me"

This made everyone speechless, even Mihawk. Krieg had blue veins then he shouted "Kid, Do you want to die?"

Luffy didn't look at him instead, he looked at Nami and Usopp, he smiled and said "Look carefully, next moment don't blink your eyes even for a single second."

Although his face was full of smile, Nami and Usopp could get seriousness in his words. They nodded their head. Then he looked at Krieg, smile and his fist touched the ground in a low position. He then murmured "Second Gear"

"Ba-dump" "Ba-dump"

His skin turned red and steam comes out of his body. The blood flow in his body increased by several times, his power increased to another level. This scene made everyone startled, even Mihawk had a surprise expression on his eyes.

Then, the next moment Luffy disappeared and appeared in front of Don Krieg making him unable to react. Luffy shot a punch at him with a loud voice "Jet-Pistol"

"Baam" His fist shot at Don Krieg, making him fly back with a powerful impact. Then, Luffy disappeared again. Don Krieg hadn't still landed when Luffy appeared above him. Luffy's body was horizontal, he spins very fast gaining powerful momentum. Then, his body stopped when Krieg was about to strike against the boat.

At this moment, Luffy's finger was entangled with each other and then he slammed "Jet Hammer" at Don Krieg's body.

"Crack, crack, crack" With these sounds, his golden armor breaks into pieces, as for himself, he fell vertical due to Luffy's impact and was currently standing. Then Luffy appeared near Nami, Usopp, and others. He raised his hands and he had a serious face this moment. Then he clenched his fist and Krieg's body fell.

Steam in Luffy's body disappeared, making Luffy a little weak but no one dares to do anything to him. Nami moved forward and let Luffy support by her own body. Luffy smiled and said, "Did you learn anything?"

Nami and Usopp said at the same time "Our weakness"

"Well, this is enough for now" Luffy nodded his head and looked at Mihawk and Zoro.

Mihawk looked at Zoro and said "Your Captain is strong"

"Otherwise, he won't be my Captain" Zoro smiled but in his heart, he was freaking shocked. He never thought the gap between Luffy and him would be so great.

"Why do you want to fight me?" Mihawk asked

"To understand the gap between us and for the promise" Zoro replied

"You may really die," Mihawk said

"Death is better than defeat" Zoro replied with a stern face

Mihawk didn't say anything, he took out a knife. This knife was hanging on his neck, its size was very smiled.

Seeing this, Zoro got angry and shouted "What do you mean by this?"

"Have you ever seen, using cannon to kill the ant" Mihawk made a carefree smile and said

"Don't underestimate me" Zoro shouted and rushed at Mihawk shouting "Three Swords Style- Onigiri"

"Ding" But his words were blocked Mihawk swords, this made Zoro shocked and helpless. He shouted in his heart 'How can the gap between us be so long? I didn't lack behind in my training, so why? I don't believe it'

He continuously slashed his swords at Mihawk but Mihawk without using much strength block every single attack. When he slashed, with every slash he realized the gap between them. He kept mumbling and thinking at heart 'I didn't train so hard until now just to fight this little thing.' "I trained to win." 'You're lucky, you're boy Zoro. I wanted to become the world's best too.' This moment, he had Kuina face in his mind.

'Someday, one of us will become World's Greatest Swordsman. Let's compete to see which of us will be that person. It's a promise.' "I came to beat this man." 'I'll become even stronger for her sake. I swear I'll become the World's Greatest Swordsman whose name is famous enough to reach even heaven.'

"What kind of burden are you carrying, why do you desire strength to this extent? Weakling" Mihawk asked looking straight at Zoro's eyes.

At this moment, Johnny and Yosaku were already awake, they were still watching sitting near Luffy and others. When they heard Mihawk, they shouted "How dare you call our bro, weakling?"

"We'll teach you a lesson, bastard"

"You two stay put" But Luffy knocked at their head, shouting at them. His face was really nervous after all he wasn't sure whether Mihawk will kill Zoro or not?

Zoro rolled and get himself in position holding two swords vertically and one sword was still in his mouth making a cross. He shouted "Tiger Hunting", in his heart; Luffy's image appeared with his words 'World's Greatest Swordsman that sounds great. If you're gonna be Pirate King's Shipmate then you should be at least able to pull that off otherwise it'll be embarrassing to me.'

But his attack didn't work, and Mihawk knife pierced near his heart.

"Bro" Johnny and Yosaku shouted in

Luffy was very nervous, his face could no longer be the same. He didn't know whether Mihawk will really kill Zoro or not?

Just like Luffy knows, Zoro didn't back down instead step ahead. This made Mihawk startled and he asked "Why do you refuse to step back? Do you want me to pierce your heart?"

"Beat me….. Not really sure myself….. But I get the feeling….. If I were to take even one step back right now, I'd lose something very important to me…. A promise or oath or whatever it will be irreversibly broken….. And that I'd never been able to return back to where I'm standing right now." Zoro forcefully opened his mouth in pain but this pain wasn't from the wound.

Instead, he was feeling pain by losing to a man which he desired to defeat. More than that he felt the distance between them which was very large.

"Yes, such is a defeat" Mihawk nodded looking at Zoro with respect in his eyes.

"I'd much rather die," Zoro said with a silly smile on his face.

"Kid, tell me your name" Mihawk took out his knife and asked

"Roronoa Zoro" Zoro said

"I shall remember it. For your strength not often seen in this world and to pay to respect you as my fellow swordsman. I shall end this duel with my black sword, world's strongest sword." Mihawk had respect in his eyes when he says these words. He took out his black sword, getting into the position.

"He unsheathes it"

"That sword, he used to cut our ship"

Those of Krieg pirates shouted when they saw Mihawk taking out his sword.

'So this will be my final attack. I'll give it my all whether I lose or win. Luffy, it seems you have to find another worthy swordsman for your crew.' Zoro thought when he gets into the position. His one sword was in his mouth. His two hands hold two swords, in a diagonal position where each hilt of that sword touches each other.

"Die" Mihawk whispered in his position. He bends a little, stomps his feet, and pounced towards Zoro with a slash.

To counter attack Mihawk, Zoro rotates both of his swords. Then both him and Mihawk crossed their swords.

"Three Swords Style- 3000 Worlds"

At this moment, Mihawk saw something that completely changed his view on Zoro. His face described as a shock but it was more of excitement. He was excited about Zoro's Style.

"Ding"

Zoro was on his knees, two of his swords were broke. He sheathes his last sword and thought 'So this is my end. Luffy was right. I was too weak for Grandline. Marine Admirals, Shichibukai, Four emperors, Luffy, it seems I can't continue my journey with you.'

Then he turned towards Mihawk, spread his arms, waiting for his death. Seeing, Zoro surrendering like this made Mihawk frown and asked "What?"

Zoro smiled and said "A wound on one's back is the shame of a Swordsman"

"Splendid" Mihawk praised and slashed.

Though Luffy knew, this would happen. He couldn't control his emotions and shouted "Zoro". He rushed at Zoro and Mihawk but Zoro had already fallen on the sea.

"Zoro Bro" Johnny and Yosaku jumped on the sea and brought him out.

"You aren't going to attack me?" Mihawk was surprised by Luffy's silence. He thought this young man will surely attack him.

"He isn't dead, right?" Luffy stay silent for some time and asked.

"Yes, he is too early to die" Mihawk answer him, then looked at Zoro shouted, "Roronoa Zoro, I am Dracule Mihawk...."