"Ugh… Am I dreaming?"
"Krieg's main ship was… cut in half."
"Such a huge warship was… How is this possible?"
On the outer deck of the Baratie, people watched the incredibly shocking scene before them, all exclaiming in disbelief.
Zoro's gaze, however, was fixed on the man standing on the coffin lid.
The moment he saw Hawkeye, his pupils and body trembled uncontrollably, and his eyes saw only that one figure.
Luffy's attention was also on Hawkeye at this moment, after all, this was the world's greatest swordsman.
Just then, Luffy suddenly heard someone calling his name.
"Brother Luffy! Brother Luffy!"
Luffy looked in the direction of the sound and saw Joseph and Johnny running from the deck where the passenger ship was docked, saying anxiously.
"Brother Luffy, Nami left by herself on the ship."
"What?!"
Usopp was the first to cry out in surprise.
Uta was also very surprised.
"Nami… Why?"
Luffy appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly sighed.
"Nami, you still chose not to rely on me, your Captain!"
Johnny handed Luffy a folded note and said.
"Brother Luffy, Nami said to give you this note."
Luffy took the note and opened it.
"Luffy, I'll take your treasure, hehehehe!"
"You invited me onto your ship even after knowing I was a treasure thief…"
"Luffy, you really… are an idiot!"
Luffy looked at the note, his heart trembling slightly.
Where his hand touched, there were a few damp marks.
Touching the still-wet spots, Luffy could even imagine Nami crying.
"Luffy, we need to hurry and chase Nami. She just left, and we can still see the Merry's shadow," Usopp said anxiously. Nami had taken the ship Kaya gave them.
"Luffy, I'll be right back," Zoro, who had been silent, suddenly said.
Luffy nodded in approval.
For Zoro, this was one of the most crucial moments in his life; he couldn't stop him.
Then, Luffy said to the others,
"We'll chase Nami later. She's my navigator; no one can take her away!"
On the Merry!
Nami watched Baratie gradually recede, tears streaming down her face.
"Luffy, everyone, I'm sorry."
"I really can't involve you all!"
"Once I buy back Cocoyasi Village, perhaps we'll meet again."
"At that time, will you still invite me to be your nakama?"
Nami wiped away her tears and cried bitterly, lying on the stern of the ship.
...
Back at Baratie.
On Krieg's split giant ship.
The pirates stood on the slowly sinking ship, looking at Hawkeye and angrily asking,
"Bastard! Do you have a grudge against us? Why are you chasing us relentlessly?"
Hawkeye looked up at the sky, his eyes empty.
"Because I'm bored!"
Hearing this answer, the pirates were instantly filled with shock and anger.
"What?!"
"Oh my God! What kind of reason is that?!"
"You bastard, go to hell!"
One pirate, unable to suppress his anger, pulled out two guns and fired continuously at Hawkeye.
Hawkeye suddenly drew a huge black blade from behind him and swung it seemingly casually.
All the bullets fired by the pirate were deflected.
The pirate was instantly shocked, exclaiming in disbelief,
"It… it didn't hit?!"
Just then, a voice sounded beside him.
"He used his sword to change the trajectory of the bullets! As long as he doesn't want you to hit, it doesn't matter how many shots you fire."
The pirate immediately looked at the green-haired man beside him.
"Who are you?"
Zoro ignored the pirates and looked at Hawkeye, saying,
"I've never seen such a sharp blade!"
Hawkeye's expression remained unchanged, still looking bored.
"A dull blade isn't strong! I used this blade to cut this ship in half, what do you think?"
Zoro smiled, his eyes brimming with fighting spirit.
"Indeed, it's not simple!"
He untied the bandana wrapped around his arm, tying it back on while saying,
"I came to this sea just to meet you."
Hawkeye's tone was cold.
"Your goal is…"
Zoro finished tying his bandana, his lips curved upward, his face filled with fighting spirit.
"To become the strongest swordsman!"
At this moment, some pirates nearby suddenly noticed the three swords on Zoro's waist and exclaimed,
"Th-three swords?! This… this guy couldn't be…"
"No mistake, this guy is the Pirate Hunter Zoro, Roronoa Zoro of the Three-Sword Style!"
At these words, the entire place erupted.
"What?!"
"He's the Pirate Hunter?!"
"That guy actually…"
"The Pirate Hunter against the World's Strongest Swordsman?!"
Krieg, Sanji, and Zeff were all shocked by Zoro's identity.
Pirate Hunter Zoro's reputation in the East Blue was too great.
At this moment, Zoro looked at Hawkeye and continued,
"You're very bored, aren't you? Then I'll play with you, how about it?"
Hawkeye looked at Zoro as if he were an ant.
"You are truly pathetic!"
"Not all swordsmen need to draw their blades to prove their strength."
"The disparity in power between you and me is obvious even to an amateur."
"And yet you dare to challenge me with a sword. Should I say I admire you? Or should I say you are ignorant?"
Zoro drew the three swords from his waist and said,
"This is my dream, and also to fulfill a promise with my friend."
"To be honest, I didn't expect to meet you so soon."
Hawkeye looked impatient.
"Enough talk."
Zoro's gaze sharpened, and he said in a deep voice,
"Hey! Draw your sword quickly!"
Hawkeye took off the cross pendant from his neck, pulled it open, and inside was a small, palm-sized knife.
Then, he looked at Zoro and said disdainfully,
"To deal with a small fry like you, there's no need to draw a sword; a small knife is enough."
"Because I am the World's Strongest Swordsman."
"In the four seas divided by the Red Line and the Grand Line, the East Blue is the weakest sea."
"And you, just like the weakest East Blue, are the weakest!"
Zoro's brows furrowed, and his face showed anger.
"Damn it! How dare you look down on me! I'll make you die with your eyes wide open!"
With a roar, Zoro suddenly exerted force.
An extremely powerful aura burst forth from his entire body.
The next second, a black color appeared on his hands.
The black extended along his hands, like a black ghostly aura, wrapping around and enveloping his three swords.
And the blades of the three swords were also covered in black.
When Hawkeye saw this, his pupils trembled, and he looked surprised.