[14] The Gap

"By the way, who's that green-haired guy? Picked up a new disciple already?"

At Mihawk's question, Rengoku stepped away from Zoro and replied,

"No! I still have only one disciple—Lieutenant Tashigi! That green-haired swordsman seems to have set his sights on you!"

Hearing that, Mihawk turned his gaze toward the green-haired swordsman—Zoro.

"He's aiming for me…? Isn't he a bit too weak for that?"

"What was that?!"

Zoro instantly clenched a sword between his teeth and drew two more with his hands.

"Three Sword Style, huh? Not something you see every day."

But just as Zoro got fired up, Rengoku stepped in and asked Mihawk,

"So, what brings a man like you from the New World all the way to East Blue?"

Mihawk raised an eyebrow and countered,

"I could ask you the same. What's a Vice Admiral of your caliber doing in East Blue? Surely you weren't demoted."

"Vice Admiral?"

Zoro was visibly shocked after realizing Rengoku's rank.

"Hahaha! You're still as direct as ever! I asked first, you know! But no need to keep it a secret. I'm simply on a patrol tour under Marineford's orders. So, Mihawk, what about you? What brings you here?"

Mihawk adjusted his hat slightly and replied,

"I was bored."

"What?"

"I said I came because I was bored."

"Hahaha! You really haven't changed!"

"Hmph."

As Rengoku and Mihawk exchanged what almost felt like friendly banter, Zoro stepped forward.

"W-Wait a second!"

"Hm?"

Mihawk glanced sideways at Zoro.

"Hawk-Eye Dracule Mihawk! I, Roronoa Zoro, challenge you!"

A slight smirk tugged at Mihawk's lips.

"And what is your goal?"

"To become the world's strongest swordsman!"

Zoro untied the bandana on his arm and tied it firmly around his head.

"Hmph. Interesting… little weakling."

Mihawk moved to Zoro's side in the blink of an eye.

Though the wooden deck beneath them swayed slightly, the fact that Mihawk had approached himself meant one thing—he was ready to respond in kind.

"If you're truly a capable swordsman, then you'll soon understand the gap between us. Tell me, what gave you such courage, young swordsman?"

Zoro readjusted his grip on his swords and stared Mihawk down.

"My ambition… and a promise I made to my friends!"

"Heh. How amusing."

Mihawk reached for the cross hanging from his neck.

When he opened it, inside was a small, thin blade.

"Oh? Isn't that your backup fork?"

Rengoku remarked, eyeing the tiny knife in Mihawk's hand.

"What?! Hey, Mihawk—are you mocking me right now?"

Zoro's anger flared. The thought of Mihawk using a mere utensil to face him seriously stung his pride.

"Mocking you? Don't be ridiculous. If I had to, I could fight you with a pair of chopsticks. But unfortunately, this is all I have on me right now. This, young swordsman, is what we call a 'gap.'"

"You're saying… I'm only worth a damn utensil?!"

Zoro was furious at being underestimated, but he didn't act rashly.

He simply clenched the hilts of his swords tighter, and bit down harder on the one in his mouth.

"Don't regret this! Three Sword Style… Oni Giri!"

With a roar, Zoro launched into a powerful dash, unleashing his original technique.

But the move he took pride in—his Three Sword Style: Oni Giri—was blocked with insulting ease.

"Three Sword Style? If more swords meant more strength, wouldn't the Fishmen with their Ten-Sword Style be stronger than everyone else?"

"Shut it! This is my sword style! Three Sword Style… Tiger Hunt!"

A second strike.

And again, it was blocked—effortlessly.

Mihawk intercepted every swing as if he knew the trajectory before Zoro had even moved.

For Zoro, it was devastating.

Both Oni Giri and Tiger Hunt—his strongest techniques since inheriting the sword Wado Ichimonji—were shut down without landing a blow.

He felt it.

A wall.

But he didn't back down. He steadied himself and pressed on.

'I've known the difference in strength all along… but I'll make you regret underestimating me!'

Zoro didn't aim to defeat Mihawk.

He only wanted one thing—to land a single blow against that dinner-knife-wielding monster.

At the very least… he had to force him to draw the black sword.

As Zoro's slashes turned increasingly wild and violent, Mihawk couldn't hide his disappointment.

"Your sword path is fully exposed… this is nothing but reckless flailing."

"Aaaaahh!"

"You're not ready."

Thunk.

Before Zoro's attacks could grow any more reckless, Mihawk took a single step forward and drove his blade into Zoro's chest.

"Guh—!"

"Have you come to your senses now… weak one?"

"Huff… huff…"

Zoro gasped for breath as Mihawk tried to pull his blade free.

Clang, clang.

The swords in Zoro's hands dropped to the ground.

"Tch. A swordsman letting go of his blades... what a disgrace."

"Huff… I didn't drop them…"

"Hm?"

Clack!

"One Sword Style…"

Zoro let Wado Ichimonji fall from his mouth and caught it with his right hand.

Then, with everything he had left, he brought it upward in a fierce slash.

"Flying Dragon… Blaze!"

It was a powerful strike.

But even that was stopped by Mihawk.

Sensing that Wado Ichimonji had dropped into Zoro's hand, Mihawk had drawn his black blade just in time, blocking the upward arc.

"Kh…!"

"Your combat instincts are sharp. But you lack fundamental strength. Why are you so obsessed? Earlier, you could've easily backed away—you had the distance."

"Hmph… If I backed away… it'd feel like I was breaking the promises and vows I've made…"

"That's what we call defeat, young swordsman."

Mihawk stepped back and looked at him squarely.

"Still… I can't back down. Even if I lose… I'll lose with death!"

Once again, Zoro clenched a sword in his mouth and picked up the two fallen blades, resuming his stance.

"You have a fierce will. Tell me your name, young swordsman."

"Roronoa Zoro!"

Mihawk smiled as he looked at him.

Shhhk.

"He drew the Black Sword…!"

"It's been a while since I met someone strong. Consider this a swordsman's courtesy."

"Tch… I appreciate it."

Zoro tightened his grip and began to spin both blades in his hands.

Like twin propellers, they whirled in the air—

And before him, stood the world's strongest sword: Black Blade Yoru.

"Three Sword Style—"

"Ultimate Technique!!!"

"Three Thousand Worlds!!!"

...

It was all meaningless.

His proud Three Sword Style,

The secret technique he had devised over years of training—

All of it was shattered in an instant by Mihawk's single, downward strike.

The only thing that remained intact—was the one blade still clenched between his teeth: Wado Ichimonji.

"So this… is the strength of the world's greatest swordsman."

Zoro's thoughts echoed in his mind as he stood battered and broken.

"Now I understand… the difference between me and the world. Let's call this a lesson for the road ahead."

Clang!

Zoro sheathed Wado Ichimonji, then stepped forward—arms spread wide—as he stood tall before Mihawk.

"What are you doing?"

"A wound on the back… is a swordsman's shame."

"…Impressive."

Shing—

"Guh…!"

Mihawk delivered a final, serious blow. Zoro lost consciousness on his feet.

Thud.

As the defeated swordsman collapsed, Rengoku looked toward Mihawk and said,

"Oh ho! That's rare. I didn't expect you to take such a liking to someone."

"I saw potential. That's all."

"For that, the wound seems awfully shallow, doesn't it?"

Rengoku, who knew Mihawk's power well, could tell the wound he'd left on Zoro was far too light—by Mihawk's standards.

"It's enough for now."

With that, Mihawk returned his blade to its sheath and walked back to his ship.

"You're leaving already?"

"Yes. I've no more business here."

"Then why did you come all the way to East Blue?"

"I told you. I was bored."

Mihawk turned the helm of his ship toward the New World.

"What a strange man…"

...

By the time Rengoku had finished treating Zoro and returned to the Baratie, the battle was already over.

The restaurant was a wreck from the intense fighting, and both Luffy and Sanji were bruised and bloodied.

"Red-Leg Zeff!"

Rengoku called out.

"What is it, Navy officer?"

"Please look after these men."

"Hmph! I was planning to anyway. You're not going to arrest all the pirates, are you?"

"Those with bounties will be taken into custody. The rest? I'll request another Navy unit for them. The ship I brought can't hold this many."

"So Mihawk didn't attack us… was that because of you?"

"No. It was thanks to that swordsman over there."

"Judging by the wounds, it must've been a hell of a fight."

"He was the only one fighting, really."

Afterward, Rengoku used the Den Den Mushi to summon a warship. Once the mess was handled, he had Krieg and Gin arrested and thrown into the brig.

"We'll be taking our leave for now. The Navy hanging around here would just cause trouble."

By then, the Going Merry was nowhere to be seen.

In a way, that was a relief. According to protocol, Luffy—having defeated another pirate with a bounty—should be arrested as well.

But since no pirate ship was found, there was nothing to hold him for.

And the rude cook from Baratie?

Now that the place was in shambles, further questioning would be pointless.

"Inform the entire fleet—we set sail immediately!"

"Yes, sir!"

...

Baratie Postscript

Customer: "Is it true the sous chef here smokes while cooking, sexually harasses female customers, and even beats people up for no reason?"

Baratie Staff: "Ahaha, yes, we had someone like that! But don't worry—Owner-Chef gave him the boot! We no longer tolerate such trash in our kitchen! Hahaha!"

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