Chapter 42 – Baratie 05.

Chapter 42 – Baratie 05.

[Chapter Size: 2106 Words.]

Third Person POV

Baratie, East Blue.

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"I'M HERE TO FACE YOU!" He said and continued. "Your title of the world's strongest swordsman will belong to me soon!" He spoke with determination and a confident smile.

"What a naive child..." Mihawk couldn't help but comment, seeing a fool in front of him.

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Mihawk paid meticulous attention to Zoro, his sharp eyes registering every movement of the swordsman who had just issued a challenge. A cold and unperturbed expression adorned the face of the legendary Dracule Mihawk as he analyzed the green-haired youth before him. The eyes of the world's greatest swordsman seemed to penetrate Zoro's skills and determination, evaluating him in a silence that echoed with the intensity of the imminent battle.

Faced with this penetrating gaze, Zoro couldn't contain his anger. "DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME!" he shouted in response to Mihawk's words, his emotions boiling in the face of the renowned swordsman's arrogance.

"Underestimate? I am merely observing a cub entering the forest wanting to be at the top of the mountain, without understanding the truths of the sea... To me, he is just a naive child," retorted Mihawk calmly, finding it peculiar how someone so inexperienced in this sea could be so audacious and, at the same time, so blind.

Determined to prove his worth, Zoro responded angrily, "I... I will show you that you're wrong!" The words came loaded with determination, echoing on the restaurant's deck alongside the murmurs of those witnessing the intensity of the impending clash.

"Zoro..." Kuina murmured, observing the scene alongside the other crew members.

As the realization dawned on everyone around, they finally noticed Don Krieg's death as they directed their attention to Mihawk. They emerged from the initial state of shock to realize that the fearsome pirate had silently fallen, a victim of a fatal blow to the head that had gone unnoticed.

"But... what happened?" a waiter murmured, his wide-eyed gaze reflecting shock.

"Is he really dead?" questioned another, unable to believe the scene before his eyes.

"Don Krieg!" Gin lamented as he ran to the lifeless body on the floor.

Usopp, standing next to Luffy, observed the reactions of the people around and couldn't help but comment, "Looks like the fight wasn't as balanced as we imagined." Luffy didn't respond; his attention was on Zoro at that moment.

While astonishment took hold of the environment, some began to exchange glances, trying to comprehend how such a feared man could be defeated so suddenly and discreetly. The ensuing silence was punctuated only by the subtle murmur of the crowd processing the scene before them.

Kuina left the table and went towards Luffy, concerned about Zoro. She broke the silence by questioning Luffy, whose gaze remained fixed on the restaurant's deck, where everyone began to gather to witness the unfolding sword duel after processing that Don Krieg was dead. "He's not ready for this fight, is he?" she asked.

Luffy, equally focused, replied calmly, "No, he will lose and be humiliated, maybe even killed..."

Luffy's words alarmed Nami, who went to them, and she hurriedly suggested, "Hey, hey, shouldn't we stop him then?" Concern in Nami's voice was evident in the face of the dark prospect looming in the imminent duel.

"We can't, even if I tried to put some reason into Zoro, he has his own determinations and dreams, even if it's foolish to die in his first attempt to pursue this dream... He is determined to die here, chasing his ambitions..." Luffy commented, and everyone could only remain silent, turning their attention to the duel, or if they could call it a duel, in the next few minutes.

Zoro stood on the wreckage of the ship, his slender figure denoting an aura of determination and fury. Meanwhile, Mihawk observed him with a serene expression, almost as if he were contemplating a mere ten-year-old boy, completely unaware of the challenge he had thrown.

"COME AND FIGHT!" Zoro shouted, anger reflected in his eyes.

"Well, then, let's see what you're capable of, pup..." Mihawk mocked, gracefully leaping from his raft to the area where Zoro was positioned.

"Don't underestimate me!" Zoro retorted, his fury amplified when Mihawk drew a small knife from his neck, indicating that he would face Zoro only with that modest instrument.

"You must be joking...?" Kuina responded, perplexed, next to Luffy on the deck.

Luffy couldn't help but mock her, "You've only stayed in the East Blue your whole life. It's time to see how we are ants compared to the great powers of this world..." His attention was fixed on the imminent fight, his eyes analyzing every movement.

"A bold statement, especially coming from a child of the weakest sea..." Mihawk commented calmly.

"Oh? My swordsman fought you. Let me see the strength of the one who stands among the top of this world..." Luffy stared at Mihawk without hesitation.

Watching this, Mihawk couldn't help but have a peculiar gleam in his eyes. "It seems that this journey to this sea is quite enjoyable. I didn't think I would encounter such peculiar children..." He said, but Luffy ignored the comment.

"Anyway, you don't mind fighting against two at the same time, do you?" Luffy calmly questioned, receiving silence as Mihawk's response, who didn't need to say a word.

*BOOM!*

An explosion on the wood, in the middle of the sea, echoed next to Luffy, and Yamato arrived ready to fight, her Kanabo resting on her shoulder.

"Hmm... Interesting. So, show me your determinations, children. Let's see if you are fit to dominate the seas in the upcoming era..." Mihawk declared, assuming a combat position with Yoru raised.

He acknowledged that he couldn't underestimate the two in front of him. What surprised him more was the presence of the white-haired, horned woman. She was too powerful to be in this sea or even in the first part of the Grand Line. The same thought applied to the boy Shanks constantly praised. Here, he proved to be much more formidable than Mihawk initially imagined, considering that the boy should be only 17 years old but now looked like an incredibly powerful man, far from being underestimated, even as a rookie.

Luffy took his saber from the holster on his waist, which looked like a scimitar for the first time since he bought it at the system store; he didn't know anything about fencing until now, but he could learn a little from this fight.

Aware of her opponent's immense strength, Yamato assumed a serious posture. Mihawk might not be as ruthless as Kaido, but she recognized that she couldn't underestimate the swordsman. Although she couldn't predict the outcome of a deathmatch between them, she knew that Mihawk was capable of cutting her club in two, making him a formidable opponent.

"Let's start..." Luffy announced, an amethyst glow enveloping his body, while Yamato radiated a white aura. The tension in the air indicated that the battle was about to begin.

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Author's note:

* I don't know the extent of Mihawk's power; what I saw was him cutting a frozen tsunami and a meteor, but I wouldn't doubt that he could cut a small island too.

* I didn't delve into Zoro's thoughts in this fight, mainly because everyone should know what happens with him in the fight, and it would be a waste of time since the fanfic intends to bring a new point to the story with other aspects. I repeated everything that happened in the original work; it doesn't make much sense.

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