Hearing that.
Mihawk just looked straight at Zoro.
Then he quickly moved.
He arrived on the deck where Zoro was standing.
After steadying his stance,
Mihawk lifted his eyes and studied Zoro.
Though there was a hint of joy in his eyes, his face stayed cold as usual.
"My big sword doesn't cut people like Mumei; against you, a small knife is enough!"
He said.
Mihawk reached into his chest,
and took out a tiny knife like one used to sharpen pencils.
Then,
he looked at Zoro.
Zoro's eyes showed a serious look.
Using a small knife against him was a huge insult.
Zoro thought for a moment.
Then he leapt.
He drew three swords.
and attacked toward Mihawk.
Mihawk kept blocking with the small knife.
Even with all his strength, Zoro could not hurt Mihawk at all.
"I thought you could impress me, but now it seems you're just ordinary!"
He said.
Mihawk then changed the knife's path.
In an instant,
he stabbed three holes in Zoro's chest, and blood spurted out instantly.
Zoro winced and stepped back.
He covered his chest, coughed out blood, and his eyes showed seriousness.
He drew his three‑sword style.
He didn't expect Mihawk to break his defense with a small knife.
Is this the world's recognized number one swordsman?
The gap is really huge.
Thinking this, Zoro held his sword and stood up.
Determination showed in his eyes.
He looked at Mihawk and said:
"Maybe I disappointed you, but facing you I will give my all!"
He said.
Zoro took the three‑sword stance.
Then his whole body tensed, he powered up, and rushed toward Mihawk.
Seeing this,
Raynor and Luffy, watching from the side, looked serious at Zoro.
They understood.
This was Zoro's strike with his belief on the line.
Even if he can't beat the enemy, he will fight to the death.
Because that is his lifelong goal.
Mihawk also felt Zoro's seriousness.
He adjusted the knife's position a bit.
This also showed his seriousness.
The next second Zoro's attack arrived.
"Three‑sword ultimate, three thousand worlds!"
As soon as he finished speaking,
a powerful slash flew out, the broken planks creaked.
It seemed the next moment,
everything would explode.
At this time,
Mihawk's face also became a bit serious.
This person seems
much stronger than he thought!
But Mihawk still did not plan to draw his black sword behind him.
Then,
he slashed forward with the small knife.
In an instant,
a white light wave spread, the sea water around began to boil, a splash of blood lit under the knife light.
When the light faded,
A deep cut appeared on Zoro's chest, blood seeped out, dripping onto the deck.
Meanwhile Mihawk was completely unharmed, not even a speck of dust.
It shows how big the gap is.
But thinking about it,
the opponent is the world's number one swordsman.
One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Mihawk.
Any swordsman sailing this sea wants to defeat him.
But in twenty years,
no one has succeeded in challenging him.
Only a few have forced him to draw his sword.
Seeing this,
Luffy's eyes showed shock, his hands gripping the rail, veins popping.
It was his first time seeing
a swordsman who could press Zoro down and make him lose breath.
This feeling of suffocation
reminded him of his grandfather.
Every time he trained with his grandfather, there was this feeling.
The feeling of wanting to fight back but unable, being controlled by someone else.
It really makes you feel suffocated.
Now,
even though his final sword strike was fully cut by Mihawk,
Zoro still didn't give up.
He took a single‑sword stance, breathing hard, and said to Mihawk:
"Mihawk, you are truly strong, you are a worthy lifelong opponent!"
After speaking,
Zoro's arm immediately bulged, and the surrounding water started swirling.
Then,
Zoro's body began to move.
"Single sword gather, lion song!"
When this move came out,
in a flash,
a strong wind blew around.
The sea water poured upward.
In an instant, Zoro's body passed through Mihawk.
The whole place fell silent.
Luffy stared at the scene.
Did Zoro succeed?
After a few breaths,
Mihawk stayed still.
But Zoro, after passing through,
suddenly coughed up blood.
Then,
He turned, his shocked look obvious.
Zoro's legs trembled slightly.
As if the next second
he would collapse.
Mihawk's body really hadn't moved.
Instead his own chest hit the small knife.
How could this happen?
Did Mihawk already plan his attack?!
So he pretended to take that pose?!
To make him run into it?
That's so hard to believe.
Is this the power of the world's top swordsman?
He really overestimated himself?!
Zoro breathed heavily, his chest muscles rising and falling, his body shaking.
In the end, Zoro could not hold on, he knelt half, gritted his teeth and said:
"I lose, do whatever you want!"
Hearing that,
Mihawk Mihawk sheathed his knife, a contemptuous look in his eyes.
"There are too many swordfighters who act like brutes in this world!"
"I respect your dream, you can set anyone as your target!"
"But if you make me your target, I can only tell you this path is closed!"
As he said, Mihawk slightly turned his body and glanced at Zoro:
"Why aren't you running? I never hold back against enemies!"
"But I don't kill those who have already given up. If you run now, I can let you go!"
Hearing that,
Zoro forced his body up, his voice trembling from pain:
"I never give my back to an enemy; a wound on my back is a swordsman's shame!"
Hearing that,
Mihawk's eyes flickered, then he straightened his body and looked up at Zoro.
A slight smile appeared on his mouth unintentionally.
He looks at every swordsman who dares to challenge,
with contempt.
Because they only want to show off, then later beg like dying dogs.
But today this swordsman seems different.
Thinking this,
Mihawk sighed, then pulled out the demon sword Night from behind him.
He solemnly looked at Zoro, his tone a bit bold:
"This is the path you chose, don't regret it!"
Hearing that,
Zoro's mouth showed a proud smile.
He looked at Mihawk.
Then he opened his arms, ready to die.
Seeing this, Mihawk frowned a little, but his smile grew wider.
This is the awareness a swordsman should have.
Then,
Mihawk raised the demon sword high.
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