Chapter 12
The Promise
Zoro shot toward Mihawk at tremendous speed, like an arrow released from its bow. His three swords moved at once, striking with all the strength and determination he possessed.
But Mihawk… did not step back even once.
He stood where he was, firm as a mountain, receiving Zoro's blows and deflecting them with astonishing ease, using that finger-length blade as though it were a full sword. There was no tension on his face, no real interest.
Zoro fought with everything he had.
He attacked, pressed forward, shifted the angles of his strikes, unleashed his will… yet made no progress at all.
The gap between them was cruel, obvious, and humiliating.
In his final strike, Zoro hurled himself forward with all the strength he had left.
But for the first time since the battle began, Mihawk moved.
He evaded the attack with perfect fluidity, and in the next instant, drove the small dagger straight into Zoro's chest.
Zoro's body froze for a moment.
Pain pierced deep into him. Blood burst from his mouth and chest, yet his feet did not retreat, and his posture did not bend.
Mihawk looked at him thoughtfully, a trace of surprise in his eyes.
"Do you want me to pierce your heart?
Tell me, boy… why don't you step back?"
He asked calmly, as though trying to understand whether this was true courage, paralyzing fear, or mere foolishness.
Zoro smiled faintly, looking straight into his eyes.
"I don't know… I'm not sure.
But there's a feeling inside me…"
His body trembled as he spoke, blood flowing heavily from his mouth and chest.
"I feel that if I take even a single step back… I'll lose something extremely important to me.
A promise… an oath… something I cannot break.
If I retreat now, I feel like I'll never be able to return to this place where I stand."
A heavy silence fell.
"Yes…"
Mihawk said slowly.
"That is what is called defeat."
Zoro looked at the dagger embedded in his chest.
"Ah… so that's why I can never step back."
Mihawk's gaze shifted slightly.
"Even if it means your death?"
Zoro lifted his head, his eyes shining with unbreakable will.
"I would rather die… than lose."
A faint smile appeared on Mihawk's lips. He pulled the dagger from Zoro's chest, then placed his hand on the hilt of the long sword behind his back.
"Boy… tell me, what is your name?"
Zoro stood with astonishing steadiness, not taking a single step back. He raised his three swords before his chest, forming them like the wings of a fan shielding his resolve.
"Roronoa Zoro."
Mihawk drew his long black sword—so long it was truly taller than him.
"I will remember your name.
Such resolve is rarely seen in this world.
And to show my respect for you as a swordsman… I will end this duel with my black blade, the strongest sword in the world."
Zoro adjusted his stance and prepared himself.
In a single instant, Mihawk surged toward him like a predator descending upon its prey, holding his sword with only one hand.
Zoro swung all three swords together.
The wind howled around him, dust scattered, and his strikes turned into an unrelenting storm.
Mihawk's expression shifted, and for the first time since the battle began… he perspired.
He was genuinely surprised by this technique.
The two clashed in the same instant.
A thunderous sound exploded through the air.
Zoro remained standing after the impact…
but his swords shattered.
Two of his blades broke with ease, while Mihawk stood calmly, as though nothing had happened.
Yet one unbelievable thing had occurred.
A very small cut… had appeared on Mihawk's face.
Mihawk smiled, then turned and swung his sword with both hands.
But what he saw made him pause for a fraction of a second.
Zoro had turned his back and spread his arms wide.
"Do it.
A wound on a swordsman's back… is a disgrace that follows him."
He said it with a calm smile.
Mihawk's smile widened in admiration.
"Well said."
His eyes darkened, and in a motion too swift to see, he swung the black blade.
One horizontal strike… cleaved across Zoro's chest.
The sword fell from Zoro's hand, and then his body fell into the sea.
At that moment, Luffy exploded with rage.
He screamed, tears in his eyes, and stretched his arm toward Mihawk, launching himself forward in madness.
At the same time, Arthur leapt into the sea, pulled Zoro out swiftly, and placed him onto a small boat where Yosaku and Johnny were waiting.
Arthur paid attention to nothing else. His focus was solely on Zoro.
He wanted to take out a dose of the elixir, but—
| You cannot take out any dose today |
Damn it…
Zoro coughed blood and looked at Arthur.
"Don't you dare… take out that elixir.
I will survive on my own.
Don't waste something so precious… do you understand?"
His voice was broken, but his gaze… was confronting death itself.
Arthur smiled.
Zoro raised his sword high.
"Luffy… can you hear me?"
Luffy had been unleashing dozens of blows upon Mihawk, while the latter avoided every strike with terrifying ease, not even bothering to fight back.
At Zoro's voice, Luffy stopped and looked at him.
"Yes, I hear you."
Zoro smiled, then shouted:
"I'm sorry for worrying you…
But I swear here… that I will never lose again to anyone.
I won't lose until I fight him and defeat him.
Do you agree… King of the Pirates?"
Tears streamed down his face. They were not tears of humiliation, shame, or fear.
They were tears of absolute determination that would never break.
Hearing those words and seeing the sword Zoro raised, Luffy smiled with indescribable joy and laughed—
a strong, ringing laugh.
"Of course."
With that word, it was as though Zoro had finally received what he needed.
He closed his eyes… and lost consciousness.
Usopp climbed onto the boat and began treating him, while Yosaku and Johnny spoke hesitantly.
"Brother Arthur… there's something we need to tell you."
Anger now burned within Arthur like fire. Despite the chivalry, nobility, and manliness of what had just happened, Arthur was boiling with rage over it all.
"What?"
The two trembled under his killing aura.
"It's Sister Nami…
She deceived everyone, took the ship… and ran away."
At those words, Arthur's body trembled even more, and his fury surged unbelievably.
Personal Status Window
| Name: Arthur Narin
Age: 18
Level: 25 |
Arthur began distributing his points rapidly, and within mere seconds, he felt immense power surge through his body.
| Congratulations, you have reached Level 70 |
Arthur smiled calmly—for only a few brief seconds.
Then the smile vanished.
His face turned into something that inspired fear.
He tapped the boat lightly… and vanished, moving at such terrifying speed that he truly disappeared from nearly everyone's sight, as killing intent exploded from his body like a second skin wrapping around him.
At that very moment, Mihawk felt the killing aura erupt from behind him—
an aura he had only sensed before in confrontations with a very few of the greats.
Mihawk turned swiftly.
In the next instant, a terrifying fist crashed into his body, accompanied by a thunderous sound that echoed through the area.
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