Standing still, Hawkeye's gaze fell upon the top hat that had dropped onto the deck. A strange light flickered in his eyes as if he were pondering something.
After a moment, the corners of his mouth slowly lifted into a faint smile.
Looking at the wound on Zoro's chest—now worsened by his struggle—Hawkeye calmly drew the cross-shaped greatsword from his back…
Brilliant jewels were embedded along the ornate hilt, proclaiming its supreme rank.
Under the sunlight, the pitch-black, chaotic cross-shaped blade failed to reflect even the faintest glimmer, as though it devoured all light, leaving only an eternal darkness.
This—was one of the world's only twelve Supreme Grade Meito.
The Black Blade, Yoru!!!
"It seems I underestimated this so-called weakest sea."
Hawkeye suddenly spoke with emotion, then sharply lifted his head, his eyes as keen as a hawk's as they locked onto Zoro.
"Boy, state your name!"
Zoro curled his lips upward, ignoring the pain wracking his body as he raised the twin blades in his hands and crossed them before him.
Dazzling lightning burst forth once more from his body, transforming all three swords into blades of thunder.
"Straw Hat Pirates—Roronoa Zoro!"
"A long-awaited strong foe! I will remember your name!"
A refined yet overwhelming pressure surged from Hawkeye's body, whipping his coat violently in the wind.
At this moment, he had acknowledged Zoro as a true swordsman!
And so, he would respond with equal seriousness to this young challenger!
A fierce sea wind howled across the deck, like the starting gun of a deadly duel.
In an instant, Zoro and Hawkeye moved simultaneously.
Lightning blazed!
Zoro struck first—
"Three Sword Style Secret Technique—Three Thousand Worlds: Thunder Descends!!!"
BOOM—!!!
As Zoro's blades tore through the air, terrifying lightning exploded outward, flooding the entire deck and forming a thunder domain that engulfed both Zoro and Hawkeye.
Crackle—!
Boundless lightning surged onto Hawkeye's black blade and instantly spread toward his body.
"Hmm?!"
Feeling a faint numbness in his hands, Hawkeye's expression shifted once again, a flicker of surprise flashing through his mind.
"This lightning… it can actually bypass Haki and affect my body?!"
It was common knowledge that powerful Haki could overcome the effects of all Devil Fruit abilities.
That was why true powerhouses never feared bizarre Devil Fruit powers.
Yet just now, Hawkeye had clearly felt his body stiffen under that lightning.
Though it vanished in an instant, it shattered a belief he had held for many years.
"It seems you're hiding secrets even I don't know about~!"
Curiosity and excitement gleamed in Hawkeye's eyes.
But all of this happened in the blink of an eye and did not disrupt the clash between the two swordsmen.
The faint paralysis quickly faded, and Hawkeye stepped forward, black blade in hand, meeting Zoro head-on.
Under the stimulation of lightning, Zoro's explosive speed now rivaled that of the Six Powers: Shave.
Yet Hawkeye merely stepped forward casually, bursting forth at a speed even faster than Zoro's.
The two figures crossed in midair, maintaining their slashing stances as they passed one another.
Clang—!
The crisp sound of steel colliding echoed across the sea.
In that instant, the world fell silent.
"H-How did it turn out?!"
Everyone aboard the Going Merry and the cooks of the Baratie craned their necks, staring anxiously at this earth-shaking battle.
When Zoro had nearly had his heart pierced by Hawkeye's small blade earlier, the newly boarded Sanji and the Johnny brothers had already been gripping the railing tightly in terror.
Even Usopp and Nami—who had been mentally prepared—couldn't help but squeeze their eyes shut at the scene.
By comparison, among everyone present, only Red and Luffy were still able to closely observe the situation.
As Zoro and Hawkeye crossed past each other, Luffy clenched his fists hard, desperately wanting to rush forward and help his crewmate.
But he endured it in the end.
Because this was Zoro's own challenge!
Until Zoro accepted the result, no one else had the right to interfere.
Thud—!
At that moment, the battlefield—frozen as though time itself had stopped—changed once more.
Both of Zoro's finely crafted blades shattered in an instant, clattering onto the deck.
At the same time, a massive gash tore open across Zoro's chest, blood erupting outward!
Thump—
Zoro dropped to one knee, his gaze dark.
"I lost."
He removed Wado Ichimonji from his mouth, carefully sheathed it, then let out a self-mocking snort.
"So this… is the power of the world's strongest."
"I knew it would end like this, yet it's still hard to accept."
Zoro turned around and spread his arms open calmly toward Hawkeye.
"What are you doing?"
Hawkeye looked up in surprise, only to see Zoro grin as he uttered those iconic words—
"A scar on the back is a swordsman's shame!"
"Hmph!"
Hawkeye smiled in approval, murmuring softly, "Magnificent."
The next moment, the heavy black blade slashed downward, carving across Zoro's chest once more and leaving a massive X-shaped wound.
With excessive blood loss and complete exhaustion, Zoro could no longer withstand the impact. His body toppled backward, crashing onto the weathered deck.
At that sight, everyone present couldn't help but show expressions of worry.
The Johnny brothers screamed in horror, "Big Bro Zoro!!!"
In their understanding, no one could survive injuries like that.
Yet suddenly, beside them—
A terrifying, blazing aura erupted!
"Is the fight… over?"
Looking at Zoro's grievous wounds, Nami asked anxiously.
Though she hadn't yet experienced the tragedy of the Arlong Pirates, she had already fully integrated into the Straw Hat Pirates, now seeing Luffy, Red, and the others as her most important companions.
"No!"
At her side, Luffy slammed his fist into his palm, battle intent surging around him like roaring flames as he broke into a wide grin.
"The battle has only just begun!"
Red, already seated in his wheelchair, was pushed forward by Usopp as he added encouragingly,
"This opportunity is extremely rare. Watch closely…"
"The true power of this world!!!"
As he spoke, the corner of his mouth lifted, a rare look of anticipation appearing in his eyes.
Usopp's legs trembled as he forced himself to speak through his fear,
"Y-You guys… give it… your all!"
Remembering the overwhelming might Hawkeye had displayed, he could barely suppress the terror in his heart.
The fact that he could still stand—let alone push Red—was already an enormous breakthrough for him!
Among the Straw Hat crew, only Sanji remained completely confused.
He looked curiously at Red and the others, unable to understand why Zoro was in such dire condition, yet—aside from the kind-hearted Miss Nami—no one else looked particularly concerned.
Just as he hesitated, wondering whether to step forward and ask what was really going on…
Red suddenly turned his attention to him and smiled.
"Sanji, haven't you always been curious about what abilities I have as a Trainer?"
"Get ready…"
"Today, I'll open your eyes!"
Before Sanji could ask anything further, Red tilted his head—and promptly fell asleep in his wheelchair.
"Huh?!"
Sanji, cigarette sparking between his lips, froze at the bizarre sight.
Yet Red's sudden slumber seemed like a signal.
Luffy, who had been waiting all along, sprang into action at once.
Grabbing the railing with one hand, he launched himself like rubber toward Hawkeye and Zoro's position.
BOOM!!!
Luffy slammed straight into the deck, then quickly scrambled back to his feet.
Shaking off the splintered wood, he flashed a brilliant grin and looked at Hawkeye while reading from the cheat sheet in his hand.
"Seven Warlords—Dracule Mihawk!"
"I'm challenging you too!!!"
(End of Chapter)