Zoro, oblivious, held a map in one hand, scratching his chin with the other. "Looks right."
"I followed the map."
Johnny glanced at it, clutching his eyes in pain. "You're holding it upside down!"
"Uh…" Zoro flushed, flipping the map. Glancing at the sea, he changed the subject. "Still, we're lucky. This island's perfect for dodging that storm."
"With this dinghy, crossing the sea to the next port in that storm? Impossible."
Joseph and Johnny, resigned, agreed. He had a point.
The sea churned, clouds flashed with lightning—a storm was coming.
Plus, they had another worry.
Gawain's crew had appeared at Dia Port. It took effort—and Joseph's meager wallet—to distract Zoro.
The memory stung.
Going to another port risked running into Gawain's crew.
With Gawain hailed as East Blue's top swordsman, Zoro would challenge him on sight.
The outcome was obvious.
Hiding here was a stroke of luck.
Joseph, consoling himself, touched his wallet, silently weeping.
"Hide the boat, grab the supplies, and find a safe spot to ride out the storm. Then we hunt nearby pirates as planned," Johnny ordered.
Joseph nodded.
Zoro frowned, pointing to the sea. "What's that?"
Joseph looked. A familiar pirate flag—skull on a round shield—Gawain's crew.
I fled to a deserted island, and I still can't escape? Rude.
"Big Bro Zoro, we…" Joseph saw Zoro's eyes ignite, his heart sinking.
He touched his wallet, pain choking him. Johnny's lips twitched, speechless.
Zoro's hand rested on his sword hilts. "No mistake! That's Knight Gawain's flag!"
"East Blue's top swordsman, huh?"
"Before I hit the Grand Line and challenge the world's greatest, taking East Blue's top spot sounds good!"
"And if luck's on my side, maybe that title reaches Paradise, reaches Kuina's ears?"
Recalling his promise to his friend, Zoro's gaze hardened.
He strode toward the shore, his three swords unsheathed, glinting coldly.
Years at sea hadn't brought him to his canon strength, but he'd made a name in East Blue.
He'd felled countless swordsmen, most in mere moves.
Yet, facing the figure on the ship's bow, sweat beaded on his brow. "This guy's on another level, but can a man retreat from strength?!"
…
Joseph and Johnny watched, wanting to stop him but unable to speak.
Long companionship taught them: once Zoro decided, he wouldn't budge.
"With Big Bro Zoro's skill, even against that monster, he won't lose, right?" Joseph swallowed, gripping his cutlass.
Johnny nodded grimly. "If he's outmatched, we'll save him, even if it kills us!"
"He saved our lives. Time to repay."
Joseph agreed. "Obviously!"
…
The pirate ship docked on the beach.
Gawain, with Nami, Gin, Kuro, and crew, disembarked, heading toward Zoro.
At sea, Gawain hadn't recognized him.
But now, face-to-face, though younger and barely over 5'7", the man's defiant eyes and three swords confirmed it: Roronoa Zoro, future King of Hell, a golden-tier potential.
Kuro and Gin, silver-tier, had boosted Gawain's physique and Observation Haki two levels in a month.
What could golden-tier Zoro do?
The thought sparked uncontainable excitement. Zoro was already his in Gawain's mind.
They faced off on the beach.
Swordsmen often spoke through glances.
Seeing Zoro's burning eyes, Gawain gripped Wado Ichimonji's hilt. "State your name, challenger!"
Zoro grinned savagely. "Roronoa Zoro!"
Click!
He bit one sword, gripping the others, his aura razor-sharp.
"Draw your blade, East Blue's top swordsman!"
Gawain's brow rose, a mischievous urge surfacing. He planted Wado Ichimonji, scabbard and all, into the sand, pulling a dagger from his coat. "Sorry, this is the smallest toy I've got."
"Toy?" Zoro froze, rage flaring at the near-humiliation.
"Then I'll make you draw it!"
He shifted stance, swords crossed like bull horns, his presence sharper.
His thin clothes flapped in the sea breeze, his killing intent locked on Gawain.
"Three-Sword Style: Oni Giri!"
With a roar, Zoro lunged, reaching Gawain in a blink.
His three blades slashed at Gawain's throat from different angles.
This move had felled countless swordsmen, and though Zoro knew the gap was vast, he aimed to force Gawain's hand.
Force you to draw!
His blades flashed, only to be stopped.
Clang!
Gawain's toy dagger blocked the exact point where Zoro's swords met. It felt like striking a wall, his arms trembling from the recoil.
"Even with a gap, there's gotta be a limit!" Zoro spat. "Bastard!"
"How's the world so far apart?!"
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