It is merely because of their fear of me!

"Yet, in the end, you have been defeated, Roronoa Zoro!"

"Since that is the case, I cannot retreat even more."

"Will you not step back, even if it means death?"

"Death would be better!"

Hawkeye was moved by the immense strength of Zoro's spirit.

He took a step back, so slight it was almost imperceptible.

"Is this the unofficial disciple of the Overlord? What a powerful willpower! Would you rather die than accept defeat?"

*Squelch.*

Hawkeye Mihawk sheathed his sword, casting aside all the contempt he had previously held for Zoro. He tucked the small fruit knife back into the cross hanging around his neck.

"Boy, permit me to ask your name once more!"

"Roronoa Zoro! The... the Overlord's unofficial disciple!"

Hawkeye Mihawk drew the supreme grade blade, one of the twelve Saijo O Wazamono, from his back with one hand. His expression was cold and stern as he spoke:

"I shall remember that name. It has been a long time since I encountered such a warrior!"

"Nami, to show the etiquette of a swordsman, I shall use this, the world's strongest black blade, to send you to your grave in the sea!"

Zoro clenched the hilts of his swords between his arms and teeth, blood streaming from the corners of his mouth.

He desperately wanted to call upon 'Sword Come,' but he knew that would only bring shame upon his master, Chu the Overlord!

Such exquisite and profound swordsmanship must not be desecrated!

He had only learned the mere surface of it.

No.

It did not even qualify as the surface!

"Master Overlord, it was you who allowed me to witness a landscape far beyond that of the world's greatest swordsmen! It was you who made me understand what a true 'Sword Immortal descending to the mortal realm' is!"

"To be able to be your unofficial disciple, I am truly thrilled!"

Chu the Overlord gazed at the defiant Zoro, who faced death without fear, and said calmly:

"Zoro! Do not die here. Your future lies in the sea of stars!"

Zoro grinned and replied, "Understood, Master."

The numerous pirates of the Krieg Pirates were completely submerged in the seawater. Yet, even so, they kept their eyes fixed unblinkingly on the battle between Zoro and Hawkeye.

When they saw Hawkeye draw the black blade, Yoru, every pirate felt their pupils contract.

Someone trembled and said, "He drew it! Hawkeye has drawn that world-famous sword that sliced a flagship in two with a single strike!"

*Hum!*

The sound of the black blade, Yoru, slicing through the air was as brilliant as a meteor streaking across the firmament.

Zoro's subordinate, Johnny, pressed his hands together in prayer.

Yosaku clutched his head and cried out to Zoro urgently, "Big Brother, that's enough, stop now! If you keep going like this, you'll die!"

Hawkeye moved.

A second ago he was dozens of meters away; the next second he flashed right in front of Zoro!

Fast.

It was simply too fast!

"Fall, Zoro!"

Zoro spun his hands almost subconsciously, the blades in his grip rotating like a windmill, creating a powerful gale.

"Four-Sword Style Secret Technique: Three Thousand Worlds!"

Setting aside the half-baked 'Sword Come,' this was the strongest slash Zoro could currently command.

To an ordinary swordsman, they wouldn't even know what had happened. The name originated from a Buddhist term, "Three Thousand Worlds."

*Boom!*

Hawkeye's figure swept past Zoro, his left hand raising the black blade Yoru high, and an arc of air pressure rolled and swirled beneath their feet!

*Clang!*

The blades in Zoro's hands and the one in his mouth shattered upon impact.

The only ones to escape destruction were the psychic sword and the Wado Ichimonji!

*Swish!*

A massive spray of blood erupted from Zoro's chest. He dropped his broken blades, his expression twisted and fierce.

"Lost... I never thought I would lose... Is this the power of the world's strongest swordsman?"

The sunlight poured down behind Zoro.

It could be seen that Zoro's body was covered in wounds, the injuries on his chest and abdomen the most terrifying and gruesome!

Zoro spread his arms, facing Hawkeye Mihawk, the corners of his mouth curling upward slightly.

This, conversely, left Hawkeye puzzled.

He had expected Zoro to flee, or perhaps kneel and beg for mercy!

But.

Zoro wore the look of one resigned to death!

"What are you doing?" Hawkeye Mihawk's pupils suddenly shrank.

Zoro laughed magnanimously: "Scars on the back are a swordsman's shame!"

"Zoro, you are remarkable."

The gaze Hawkeye directed at Zoro gradually filled with a touch of respect!

This boy's willpower was simply admirable.

If only... he were my disciple!

What a pity that such a fine talent was merely an unofficial disciple of that fellow...

*Swish!*

Hawkeye's black blade, Yoru, slashed down across Zoro's chest!

It was the same grace that had split a super-flagship in two!

It caused a massive bloom of blood to erupt from Zoro's chest.

Blood splattered everywhere, like a fountain, piercing the heart!

Luffy's face twisted, his eyes bloodshot as he roared: "Zoro---!!!"

Usopp likewise cried out in agony: "Zoro---!"

The two boys were in tears: "Big Brother---!!!"

Anyone could perceive the terrifying power of Hawkeye's swordsmanship; the feat of cleaving a flagship with a single blow was truly inconceivable.

Black Leg Sanji was moved by the scene before him.

He did not understand why Zoro would seek his own death, and his mind involuntarily recalled the conversation he had with Zoro.

Zoro had once said to him: "When I swore to become the world's greatest swordsman, I had already cast life and death aside."

Sanji felt a surge of emotion and muttered to himself:

"That guy is truly insane! The opponent is the genuine strongest in the world! The outcome was predetermined long ago! Better to abandon one's ambition than to die."

Sanji shouted at the unconscious Zoro, who was falling into the sea:

"It's simple, just abandon your ambition!"

The pirates of the Krieg Pirates all had cold sweat on their foreheads.

Zoro had lost!

He hadn't been able to harm a single hair on Hawkeye!

The gap in strength between the two was simply too vast.

Perhaps, if Zoro had been willing to use 'Sword Come,' he wouldn't have been defeated so thoroughly!

But he did not want to bring shame upon his master, Chu the Overlord, because of his own failure!

Zoro's two subordinates leaped into the water, desperate to retrieve Zoro's 'corpse.'

Luffy transformed into a rubber man and roared as he charged toward Hawkeye, but he pushed himself so hard that his head became embedded in the deck.

Hawkeye forcibly suppressed the urge to laugh, his expression cold:

"You are his comrade, right? Thank you for watching the battle. Rest assured, that man is still alive."

Pulled from the seabed by Yosaku and Johnny, Zoro gasped for air. Although he had suffered a critical, life-threatening injury, it was clear his life was not in danger.

Nami could not help but heave a sigh of relief. Her heart, which had been pounding in her chest, finally settled back into place. She took Chu the Overlord's arm, shaking it, her small chest rubbing against his arm.

"Daddy, how did you know Hawkeye wouldn't kill Zoro?"

Chu the Overlord pretended not to notice Nami's small actions and chuckled lightly:

"It is simple. Zoro's will moved Hawkeye's swordsman heart. On one hand, Hawkeye felt the interest of a hero cherishing another hero. In Zoro, he saw a reflection of himself!"

"As for the other hand, just as Hawkeye said, if one is a truly top-tier swordsman, even without crossing blades, one can see the gap in strength between two people."

"The reason he did not deal a killing blow to Zoro was simply out of fear of me!"