The small black boat, like a throne upon the sea, carried Dracule Mihawk standing tall with his sword in hand. Slowly, he sheathed the black blade and sat down on his ornate high-backed chair.
Beneath his feet, the little craft glided effortlessly into the sea route—an unstoppable force cutting through the waves.
He had drawn his sword for one simple reason: a pirate had dared to block his path.
Everyone nearby stared in stunned silence as the small boat continued forward, flanked by countless shipwrecks strewn across the sea route.
Over a dozen pirate ships—including the Dreadnaught Saber—had been buried beneath that one swing, a strike that made even heaven and earth change color.
If Ren and Zoro's earlier slashes could be said to have pierced through the Krieg Pirates' brain, then Mihawk's single cut had cleaved their entire formation apart!
"Mihawk!?"
Ren's breath nearly stopped. At a glance, he understood why the Hawk-Eyed swordsman had drawn his blade.
The Krieg Pirates had blocked his way—so he split the sea in two. Such domineering arrogance!
But why… why was Mihawk here!?
It was only Year 19!
The Krieg Pirates hadn't even entered the Grand Line yet—so how had they provoked Mihawk into coming to the East Blue!?
Completely unaware that his own actions had set off a chain of unpredictable events, Ren stood frozen in disbelief. Yet even more astonished than him was Zoro.
"The world's greatest swordsman—Hawk-Eyes Mihawk!"
Zoro's eyes blazed with excitement, but when he saw that open sea route, hesitation flickered within him—only to be replaced by resolute determination.
Suddenly—
Ren grabbed him by the shoulder, his strength so great that the deck beneath their feet groaned.
"Calm down! Didn't you see that slash just now!?"
Sensing Zoro's strange expression, Ren immediately restrained him.
Good god, this guy's too reckless!
It had made sense in the original story, when he hadn't yet seen Mihawk fight seriously—but now, the man had just split more than ten ships apart with a single stroke, right before his eyes!
And you still want to fight him!?
Do you not know what level you're dealing with? Are you that eager to be "trained" by Uncle Hawk-Eyes?
"I saw it clearly," Zoro replied, his tone calm but firm. "But this is a promise I made to a dear friend."
With unwavering resolve, he pried Ren's hand away. "I will become the greatest swordsman in the world—so that my name echoes through heaven itself!"
Ren frowned. "You'll need a chance to live first! Can't you see the difference in power?"
"It's because the gap is so vast that I must challenge it—so I can see how far I still have to go!"
"You serious?"
Zoro nodded.
Their gazes locked. Ren saw in those eyes a will that could not be shaken.
With a sigh, Ren reached into the Four-Dimensional Chrysanthemum and pulled out a single coin, handing it over. "If you don't want me to pull rank with our March Pact, then take this. Use it to buy a Health Potion from me."
"Huh?"
Zoro blinked, puzzled, and took the skull-engraved coin.
"What are you waiting for? He's about to leave."
Ren held out a bottle of green liquid. "One coin per potion. Thank you for your purchase."
"...Oh."
Zoro handed him the coin and tucked the potion into his pocket.
The moment the Aztec Gold Coin touched Ren's palm, it exuded a faint black aura that coiled around Zoro like smoke.
Yes—Zoro.
The coin was cursed, sealed until it changed hands in trade. Only through an exchange would its curse awaken—and Zoro had just met the condition by buying a potion.
Yet he felt nothing amiss.
He leapt from the ship onto a drifting plank, standing before the tiny black boat.
That undead skull should be able to keep you alive… right?
Ren's eyes darkened with worry.
In the original story, Zoro's duel with Mihawk had been a defining moment—a pure display of the swordsman's spirit.
It was that scene that had made Ren admire Zoro so much.
But now…
Things were different.
The timeline had shifted nearly a year early!
Mihawk hadn't come to the East Blue out of boredom chasing Krieg—he had appeared here with a purpose.
He had cut open the sea simply because Krieg's fleet blocked his way.
Clearly, the man had business to attend to.
In this situation… who could guarantee Mihawk wouldn't kill him?
That "Marine Hunter" title hadn't been given in jest.
As Ren watched anxiously, Zoro stood upon the plank, blocking Mihawk's path.
"Was it that sword that split the sea?" Zoro asked, tightening his green bandana and gripping his blades.
"It was," Mihawk replied coolly, realizing something. "Since you've seen it, step aside."
"As expected of the strongest swordsman. But if you think I'll walk away after finally meeting you—you're wrong! You're the reason I went to sea!"
As stubborn as ever, Zoro's battle spirit burned. His eyes shone with that fiery determination of one ready to die—but unwilling to retreat.
"Unfortunately, I'm busy. Move."
Mihawk rose, hand gripping Yoru's hilt. "This is your last warning. You only get one."
"If I retreat here, I'll never reach my goal."
Zoro smoothly placed one blade between his teeth and drew Wado Ichimonji and Ryuen.
He didn't know how such swordsmanship was even possible.
The gap between them might be immeasurable—but if he turned away now…
Even if he told himself it was due to weakness, that excuse would repeat, again and again, forever!
A swordsman must move ever forward!
Mihawk narrowed his eyes. He had no intention of warning him again.
If the fool insisted on fighting, then death would end his path as a swordsman.
After all, he was in a hurry.
Though it seemed he had plenty of time—after all, Red-Hair Shanks was still some distance from the East Blue—Mihawk didn't want to waste any on weaklings.
He'd set sail after Ben Beckman mentioned Red-Hair's recent chaos.
His curiosity had been piqued.
By now, he'd deduced that Shanks was about to face a formidable Marine lineup—an Admiral and a Vice Admiral together.
He didn't think Shanks would lose—but it wouldn't hurt to follow Beckman's lead and pass through Windmill Village, where he'd likely encounter Garp.
A duel with the "Hero of the Marines" would at least stave off boredom.
Compared to that, the young swordsman before him was merely an annoyance.
"Then die in ignorance!"
Mihawk swung his sword.
A vicious, blinding green slash shot forth, carving an abyss through the sea itself.
The surviving pirate ships from his earlier attack were annihilated once again—two more split cleanly in half and sank into the depths.
When the shockwave faded, Zoro was nowhere to be seen.
Mihawk turned away, sheathing his blade. But just as he took a step, his eyes—sharp as a hawk's—locked onto something in the water.
A pale hand gripped the edge of a shattered plank.
Zoro pulled himself out of the sea, drenched but still holding two swords. The third had shattered in the previous blow.
"Impossible…"
Mihawk's eyes widened. He had controlled his power to avoid destroying his sea route—but even then, no swordsman in the East Blue could have survived that strike!
Did I block it?
Zoro's head swam, his body staggering to stand.
Gasps rose from all around. Even Mihawk furrowed his brow, sensing something unnatural.
A Deathly Skeleton, huh…?
Ren had come closer, clutching a cracked coin in his palm.
Through his eyes, Zoro's body was split clean in half from skull to pelvis—but thanks to the curse, he neither died nor felt pain.
The wound vanished, restored to normal form under the curse's illusion—only his torn clothes hinted at the mortal danger he'd just faced.
"How peculiar… Is this your trump card? What are you?"
Mihawk's gaze sharpened with curiosity.
He flashed forward onto the plank, studying this seemingly ordinary swordsman.
No record in memory matched such a being—and since the man had climbed from seawater, he clearly wasn't a Devil Fruit user.
Then how?
"What are you saying?"
Zoro hadn't even realized he'd died once. As he gripped his blades, he noticed his third sword was gone.
Even the one clenched between his teeth had shattered—and yet he still stood.
"How intriguing. You've piqued my interest."
Mihawk smiled faintly, sheathing Yoru and studying him. "You said you went to sea for me? What do you seek?"
"The strongest!" Zoro answered instinctively.
A long blade came flying, embedding itself in the deck before him.
Ren silently withdrew his hand, stepping back.
He didn't know why, but Mihawk's tone had softened slightly—a good sign.
Because the Aztec Gold Coin was reaching its limit.
Ren looked at it in his palm—it trembled, hairline cracks spreading fast. Useless trinket… can't even last after leaving its world? You blocked one swing and already dying? Get it together!
If the coin could speak, it would've cursed him out.
Mihawk's previous slash had nearly bisected Zoro completely; without the "Undead Skeleton" curse, he would've perished instantly.
"The strongest? Pathetic. If you think talent alone can let you fight me, you're just another third-rate swordsman."
Mihawk reached for his crucifix pendant, pulling free the tiny dagger sheathed within. "Still, you've caught my interest. Let's see if you can entertain me."
"As the world's greatest swordsman, you have the right to talk like that—but…"
Zoro drew Wado Ichimonji and Raichi, placing the first between his teeth. "...using such a tiny blade against me—what's that supposed to mean?"
"Unlike wild beasts who fight to the death against rabbits, I choose my strength according to my opponent."
Mihawk arched an eyebrow helplessly, raising the small dagger. "Unfortunately, I don't have anything smaller."
In other words—if he did, he'd use that instead?
Ren twitched at the corner of his eye but said nothing, silently praying the coin would hold out.
"Don't regret it after you die!"
Zoro lunged forward, his twin blades igniting with crimson flame.
Three-Sword Style: Burning—Oni Giri!
Like a fiery demon, he leapt, flames blazing as the jaws of the inferno bit toward Mihawk.
Clang!
Steel rang clear. Mihawk's tiny dagger perfectly intercepted the three intersecting arcs of flame and steel, wedging into their convergence point like a grain of sand jamming a clockwork gear—disrupting the entire technique.
"See now, frog in a well? That's the gap between you and the world!"
Mihawk, wielding his dagger one-handed, mocked him easily while parrying every strike.
No matter Zoro's power or speed, he was far too weak.
How is he doing this!?
Zoro's pupils shrank as he shifted through stances—Bull Needle, Demon Bear, Dual Slash, Rhino Return—but every technique was effortlessly deflected by that ridiculous little knife.
Each counterstroke targeted vital points—throat, heart, spleen.
And still, he did not die.
Mihawk's intrigue deepened. He'd never encountered anything like this.
No Devil Fruit. No immortality. And yet he could not kill him.
Strange. Let's see how far this goes.
Mihawk's speed increased; his slashes came like a storm, slicing through Zoro's guard again and again.
Zoro gritted his teeth, realizing what was happening.
No pain. No fatigue. His body—already dead—simply couldn't die again.
Ren, huh… You really went overboard this time.
As the thought flashed, a sharp cracking sound rang out.
Far away, Ren released the coin. The Aztec Gold shattered into golden dust and scattered into the wind.
Poor Aztec Coin—its curse burned out too fast, gone in less than a day.
And at that instant—
Mihawk's dagger pierced Zoro's right chest. When he pulled it free, blood finally spattered the deck—and for a moment, he froze.
So that was his only weak point?
What kind of creature was this?
The thought flickered before Mihawk's next slash drew a clean, horizontal red line across Zoro's chest.
Zoro's pained grunt broke the silence.
This time, Mihawk understood. He turned sharply toward Ren.
"What did you do?"
"Kept him from dying," Ren replied. "But my power's limited."
He snapped his fingers. An Ender Pearl flew backward, shattering midair—teleporting him hundreds of meters away.
The watching pirates gasped in terror as Ren suddenly appeared on their ship, praying he wouldn't anger the man below and get them all sliced in half.
"A Devil Fruit user, then," Mihawk muttered, his interest fading. "No wonder."
He looked down on Zoro now, curiosity replaced with disdain. "Step aside. I've lost interest."
"The duel's not over—how can you walk away?"
Zoro's eyes still burned with resolve.
His stance remained firm despite his wounds. White steam hissed from his blade hilts.
"I didn't fight this long just to be toyed with by a little knife!"
(End of Chapter)