Chapter 242: The Pressure of the World's Strongest Swordsman!
Faced with Zoro and Kuina, who had already mastered Armament and Observation Haki, the "Human Imitator" baboon legion had almost no ability to fight back.
"SWISH!"
"CLANG!"
Blade light flashed, sending sparks flying in the dense forest.
Kuina's Wado Ichimonji traced cold arcs, each strike defeating an enemy with precision;
Zoro unleashed his Santoryu (Three Sword Style), combining power and speed perfectly to send baboon after baboon flying!
"BOOM!!!"
The last baboon was sent flying by Kuina's fierce slash, smashing through a giant tree before passing out.
The entire forest finally returned to silence, with only rapid breathing echoing among the trees.
Chopper slumped on the ground, patting his chest while panting. "Phew... finally, it's over..."
"Chopper, you didn't seem to do anything~" Kuina chuckled.
"NANI?!!"
However, just as they relaxed—
"ROAR!!!"
A deafening roar came from deeper in the forest, shaking the ground violently!
"THUD! THUD! THUD—!!!"
Accompanied by heavy footsteps, a tall and fierce figure slowly walked out of the shadows.
It was a Baboon King, nearly three meters tall! Its muscles were knotted like rocks, covered in scars from old wounds. Its eyes were blood-red, and in its hand, it gripped a massive longsword, the edge glinting coldly.
With every step it took, the earth trembled slightly, and a palpable pressure enveloped the three.
The corner of Zoro's mouth slowly curled up, revealing a hunter-like smile. "This one is mine!"
"ROAR!" The Baboon King raised its longsword high and slashed down violently!
"SWISH!"
The blade wind was like a violent hurricane, bending trees and grass instantly, the edge heading straight for Zoro!
"CLANG—!!!"
Zoro advanced instead of retreating, raising all three swords to clash head-on!
A collision of pure strength. The sound of metal exploding was deafening, sparks dancing wildly.
The ground beneath Zoro's feet cracked, but the excitement in his eyes only grew.
"This swordsmanship... isn't beast instinct. It really is imitating some true master swordsman!"
Zoro made up his mind instantly, lifting the sword in his mouth slightly. "In that case—"
"I won't use Haki either!"
"I'll defeat you with swordsmanship alone!!!"
Kuina paused slightly upon hearing this, then understood his intent.
She slowly sheathed her sword, standing aside to watch quietly, anticipation in her eyes.
Chopper slapped the ground excitedly with his little hooves, eyes shining. "Zoro!! Go for it!!!"
The battle escalated abruptly!
The Baboon King's longsword whistled in its hand. The blade momentum was like a violent storm, each strike carrying the oppressive force to split mountains and crack rocks.
The blade stirred the airflow, kicking up swathes of fallen leaves, sweeping through the entire forest like a raging hurricane!
Zoro's figure flashed like a phantom. The trajectories of his three swords interwove. Every block produced a crisp clang of metal, and intense shockwaves shattered the surrounding leaves.
"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG—!!!"
After dozens of rounds, the two exchanged blows back and forth. Intense blade light crisscrossed in the forest, sparks splattering, even carving deep sword marks around them.
"ROAR!!!"
The Baboon King roared, eyes burning with battle intent. Its longsword suddenly exploded with power, swinging in a strange arc.
That blade momentum carried some profound sword intent, seemingly imitating the techniques of human swordsmen!
Zoro's pupils shrank, shocked inwardly. "This move... is the 'Santoryu: Tiger Trap' I used earlier?!"
"SWISH—!"
The next instant, the Baboon King actually accurately imitated Zoro's sword path. The three-stage continuous slash was menacing, blade edge whistling towards him!
Zoro's battle intent soared. "I see... able to imitate others' moves? Interesting!!"
He spread his feet, sinking his body suddenly. The rotating blade wind instantly condensed into a violent momentum:
"Santoryu: TATSUMAKI (DRAGON TWISTER)!!!"
"BOOM—!!!"
A sudden gale rose. Blade light spun like a tornado, sweeping the Baboon King's longsword high into the air.
But the Baboon King didn't give up. Shifting its center of gravity, it slapped the ground violently with both palms, caught the longsword in mid-air,
And actually assumed the exact same starting stance as Zoro in an instant, attempting to copy the trajectory of "Tatsumaki" again!
Zoro froze for a moment, then laughed loudly. "Even this move?!!"
He didn't retreat. Instead, he took a step forward, three swords harmonizing, and unleashed a slash with a boom!
"CLANG—!!!"
Two dragons clashed. The blade wind was violent enough to sheer surrounding trees at the roots! Airwaves kicked up dust, forcing Chopper back repeatedly.
After the intense collision, the Baboon King's figure was swallowed by the blade wind. The violent imitation momentum was finally completely shattered!
"BANG!!!"
A dull impact sounded. The Baboon King was struck heavily by the back of Zoro's blade, its massive body smashing into the ground, kicking up dirt and flying stones.
"Roar..."
It tried to get up again, but its strength was exhausted. The longsword had long slipped from its hand. Propping itself up with both arms, it could only emit a low, unwilling growl.
Zoro slowly sheathed his swords, shoulders heaving slightly, but his eyes still burned with excitement. "Not bad..."
"Able to imitate the opponent's moves in battle."
He smirked. "But to become a true master swordsman... you're still far off."
The dust of battle finally settled. The Baboon King lay on the ground, chest heaving violently, battle intent gone.
Zoro exhaled a long breath of turbid air, his bangs sticking to his cheek with sweat.
Kuina walked up slowly, gaze still wary. "Finished?"
Chopper sat on the ground with a plop, hooves on his chest, panting heavily. "Phew... finally over..."
Before his voice faded, the surrounding air suddenly solidified.
"BOOM—"
An invisible force pressed down like a tsunami!
The wind in the entire forest ceased instantly. Birds and beasts fled in panic, and even the distant leaves seemed nailed into the air.
Chopper trembled all over, a trembling sound instinctively escaping his throat. "Wh-What is this... terrifying aura?!"
Kuina's expression changed drastically, heart beating like a drum.
She could already use Observation Haki, yet she found her perception completely crushed by this sword pressure, as if only a peerlessly sharp blade remained in heaven and earth!
Zoro slowly raised his head, breath hitching.
He felt the entire world forcing him to draw his sword—
That wasn't Haki, but a sword pressure purer and sharper than Haki!
"Thud... thud... thud..."
Steady, slow footsteps came from deep within the forest. Each step seemed to strike directly on the hearts of the three.
The Baboon King jerked upright, but instead of raising its sword again, it lowered its head and retreated trembling to the side.
Even the berserk baboon legion dared not make a sound now, prostrating on the ground in unison.
Kuina's gaze locked dead on the direction of the sound, hand quietly resting on her sword hilt.
Zoro clenched his teeth tight. The three sword hilts in his palms emitted faint tremors, but he didn't draw immediately.
That aura told him—
If he attacked carelessly, he would be shattered in one blow!
Tree shadows were slowly pushed aside, and a wine-red figure appeared from the forest.
The man wore a patterned shirt. His golden hawk eyes were indifferent and sharp, as if able to see through all falsehoods.
On his back, the long black blade "Yoru" (Night) rested quietly, yet it was sharper than any unsheathed weapon.
World's Strongest Swordsman · Royal Shichibukai · Dracule Mihawk.
Was slowly walking into this battlefield.
His steps were unhurried, but each step made the forest's atmosphere heavier, the air itself seemingly cut by sharpness.
Mihawk's gaze swept over the fallen Baboon King, then rested on Zoro and Kuina:
"The 'two seedlings' Roy mentioned..."
"Are you them?"
His voice was calm, yet every word was like a sharp blade piercing deep into the soul.
Zoro's Adam's apple bobbed, fists clenching silently. Battle intent burned within him, yet at the same time, he felt an irresistible oppression.
Kuina faced this aura of the pinnacle of swordsmanship directly for the first time, a long-lost shock and longing surging in her heart.
The figure of the World's Strongest Swordsman stopped slowly before them.
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