Roronoa Zoro immediately turned toward the forest when he heard the voice.
The moment he saw the face—
His pupils shrank to a single point.
He knew that face.
Even though Karl had many titles, there was only one that Zoro remembered.
Marine Great Swordsman.
Several years ago, Karl had fought the world's greatest swordsman at the scrap island near Water 7.
During that battle—
He had actually injured Dracule Mihawk.
From that day onward, Zoro remembered the name Karl.
He became one of the men Zoro swore to surpass.
As time passed, Karl's fame only grew.
His swordsmanship spread across the seas.
Pirates were defeated one after another.
And his blades became legends.
Shusui — a Great Grade Black Blade recorded in the famous sword registry.
Raven — a Devil Fruit weapon modeled after the Supreme Grade blade Shodai Kitetsu.
Raiu — a cursed blade that rose to fame because Karl wielded it.
Zoro stared at him in shock.
"You… you're the Marine Great Swordsman—Karl!!!"
Karl stepped out of the forest wearing a black suit and Marine justice cloak.
"You know me?"
Zoro grinned.
"How could I not?"
"You're one of the men I'm destined to defeat!"
Then Zoro suddenly froze.
"…Wait."
His face changed.
Today he had only brought training swords.
His real blade Wado Ichimonji wasn't with him.
How could he challenge Karl like this?
"Uh… I forgot my real sword."
"Wait here! I'll go get it!"
Karl looked at him strangely.
Zoro wanted to go back… and then return here?
Did he really trust his sense of direction that much?
Karl Demonstrates True Sword Power
Karl drew Raven in one smooth motion.
Then he swung casually.
A massive golden flying slash shot backward.
WHOOSH
Trees were cut clean in half.
Dozens of them.
The forest behind Karl collapsed in seconds.
"Come back when you can do something like that."
"Right now…"
"You're not ready."
Zoro stared at the destroyed forest.
His throat moved as he swallowed.
This was the power he had always chased.
The power of a true great swordsman.
His eyes sharpened.
His body trembled with excitement.
Without saying another word—
He raised his training swords.
"Three Sword Style…"
"Zoro… entering the fight!"
He charged like a tiger.
Completely Outclassed
Karl sighed and calmly lit a cigar.
When Zoro got close—
Karl vanished.
"WHAT?!"
Zoro swung through empty air.
He turned around in shock.
"I told you."
"You're too slow."
"I don't enjoy bullying children."
"Stop looking down on me!"
"Draw your sword and fight me!"
Karl exhaled smoke.
Suddenly—
A terrifying pressure spread outward.
Zoro's breathing stopped.
His body trembled.
A powerful instinct told him to kneel.
To surrender.
Because that was the only way to survive.
His teeth clenched loudly.
But he refused.
After a moment—
Karl withdrew the pressure.
Zoro collapsed into heavy breathing.
Karl asked calmly:
"You still want to fight?"
"You understand what defeat means for a swordsman."
Zoro slowly stood up.
Then he smiled.
"If I feared defeat…"
"I would never have become a swordsman."
He tied his black bandana around his head.
His eyes burned with determination.
Three swords formed the familiar stance.
"Three Sword Style!"
"Tiger Hunt!"
Karl's Ridiculous Counter
Zoro rushed forward.
To Karl, the speed was slow.
Painfully slow.
Karl considered which sword to use.
Raven? Too unfair.
Shusui? Overkill.
Raiu? Definitely not.
Then he looked at the cigar in his hand.
He smiled.
Armament Haki — Hardening.
The cigar turned jet black like metal.
Zoro arrived.
Karl casually swung.
CRACK
All three training swords shattered instantly.
Broken pieces flew into the air.
Zoro lost balance and fell face-first into the ground.
"…"
Karl sighed.
"I told you."
"You're too weak."
"And if you want to fight me…"
"Use a real sword."
"Training blades are insulting."
Zoro lay on the ground gripping the dirt.
His fingers dug deep grooves into the soil.
Why?
He trained harder than anyone.
He chased the dream of becoming the world's greatest swordsman.
Yet against Karl—
He couldn't even touch him.
Tears quietly fell into the dust.
"Kuina…"
"Can I really become the world's greatest swordsman?"
In his mind—
He heard the answer.
Yes.
He was still young.
He couldn't give up.
He simply wasn't strong enough yet.
But…
He had already lost.
And a swordsman who loses—
There is only one outcome.
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