"Zoro!"
Usopp stared nervously from the ship's cabin, eyes locked on Zoro ahead.
"Relax. He's fine."
Genrou placed a hand on Usopp's shoulder, urging calm.
Seeing it was Genrou who spoke, Usopp let out a sigh of relief.
He understood—if Genrou said Zoro was okay, then he probably was.
Meanwhile, Mihawk's brows furrowed slightly.
"Boy, why didn't you dodge?"
"I don't really know. I just had this feeling... if I dodged, I'd lose something important. Whether it's my goal—or the trust my friends have placed in me."
"Is that so... What an interesting lad," Mihawk said, the corners of his mouth rising in faint amusement.
He withdrew the dagger lodged in Zoro's chest, then reached for the massive Kurogata Yoru (Black Blade Yoru) strapped to his back, pointing it at Zoro.
"You're a fine warrior. Though your swordsmanship is not yet at Genrou's level, your spirit as a swordsman is worthy."
"And so, let me end this with the world's strongest blade."
Upon hearing those words, Zoro's face immediately lit up with a smile.
He didn't say anything. In that moment, waves of miniature sword aura began spilling out from around his body, carving deep scars across the deck.
"Santoryu, Tsuki no Kokyū: Sanzensekai! (Three Sword Style, Moon Breathing: Three Thousand Worlds)!"
At the peak of his momentum, Zoro's entire body transformed into streaks of red-and-black light, impossible for the naked eye to track, and launched himself at Mihawk.
Mihawk's eyes narrowed. He stepped forward, crouched, and swung in one smooth motion.
In a flash—
Zoro's massive sword wave sliced across the sea, carving out a deep trench in the ocean's surface.
Yet Mihawk's side seemed calm, eerily silent.
Just as everyone began to think Zoro had the upper hand—crack—two of Zoro's swords shattered in his grip.
"I've lost." Zoro sighed, sheathing the remaining Wado Ichimonji back into its scabbard.
Then, without hesitation, he turned around and spread his arms, exposing his entire back to Mihawk.
"What are you doing?" Mihawk asked, frowning.
"For a swordsman, wounds on the back are a disgrace," Zoro said with a toothy grin, not a hint of defeat in his tone.
"You... are impressive."
Mihawk smiled with approval and slashed, landing a blow that tore clean across Zoro's chest.
"Zoro!!"
Luffy shouted in fury, instantly activating his Afang Heroic Spirit Mimicry Form and unleashed a Flying Foot Blade nearly ten meters long toward Mihawk.
Then, leaping into the air, he soared directly at him.
Seeing this bizarre energy-based flying slash, Mihawk raised an eyebrow.
But as the world's greatest swordsman, a simple wave of Yoru was enough to nullify the attack.
At the same time, Genrou suddenly appeared beside Luffy, halting his advance.
"Genrou, what are you doing?!"
Luffy turned to him in confusion.
"Relax. Zoro's fine. Don't forget…"
Genrou patted Luffy's shoulder, then gestured for him to look at Zoro.
And sure enough—Zoro, though kneeling in pain, hadn't collapsed.
Mihawk raised a brow in surprise.
He knew his own strength. Though he had avoided Zoro's vital organs, the strike should have been enough to knock out even a well-trained fighter.
Yet Zoro, despite taking the hit head-on, was still conscious.
"A tenacious man. But... do you still intend to fight?"
Mihawk looked down at the blood pooling beneath Zoro's feet and asked calmly.
"I've already lost. I understand now that I'm not yet your match. But someday, I will stand before you again, challenge you—and defeat you."
Zoro clutched his chest, breathing heavily.
Mihawk didn't get angry. Instead, his admiration for Zoro grew stronger.
He was about to offer words of encouragement—when Genrou, standing beside Luffy, suddenly spoke.
"Zoro... is that all you've got?"
"Huh?" Zoro turned toward him in confusion.
Genrou smiled faintly and continued:
"You chose the path of Tsuki no Kokyū (Moon Breathing). You chose Kokushibou, didn't you?"
"But now, you're struggling to truly control that power."
"That man—you know, the one whose power you inherited—he gave up his humanity to pursue strength."
"I thought that you, in choosing the path of a pirate for the sake of becoming the world's strongest swordsman, shared that same kind of resolve."
"But right now... compared to him, you're still lacking."
"Or maybe you've got enough backbone—but not enough talent. Not compared to Luffy. Not even to Nami."
"Both of them… have already reached that state."
As Genrou spoke, he stared directly into Zoro's eyes.
If possible, he didn't want Zoro to remain stagnant when it came to mastering Kokushibou's power.
After all, if even a life-or-death battle against Mihawk couldn't trigger his Heroic Spirit Mimicry…
Then Genrou truly didn't know what kind of crisis would.
"Genrou, isn't that a bit harsh?! Zoro's already fought with everything he had!" Nami protested with a pout.
"Yeah, Vice-Captain! The fight's already over—why are you still pushing him? Luffy, say something to him!"
Usopp called out in protest.
But Luffy didn't respond. He simply held onto his hat, staring intently at Zoro.
Zoro's eyes were wide, chest heaving as his breathing grew rough. Genrou's words had clearly shaken something inside him.
Mihawk, sensing something, watched silently. Though he couldn't fully understand what Genrou was trying to awaken, he could feel it—Zoro had the potential to unleash something greater.
Time ticked by.
Genrou could clearly feel it—the demonic aura surging more intensely around Zoro's body.
When the moment felt right, Genrou leapt in front of Zoro and reached out his hand.
"Become a demon, Zoro."
…
(End of Chapter)
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