The distance between him and the greatest fighter felt wider than the entire Grand Line. A bottomless chasm had opened up, devouring all the self-respect he had built.
Mihawk, the Hawkeye, stepped back to the restaurant's doorway. His purplish-green gaze, which for some reason felt a little comical, was now fixed on the straw-hatted captain whose head was still tilted.
"This is not the place for a fight to the death, Monkey D. Luffy. I recognize you."
The great black sword was hung back on his back with a clang. The fight was over.
"Ah, you're running away?" Luffy responded with a disappointed tone, as if the battle had just begun.
His body, which moments ago was full of scratches, had now fully healed. His dirty clothes were the only witness that he had just gone through a terrifying duel. Without Haki or the unawakened power of Nika's Gear Five, that last punch wouldn't have just shown Mihawk's bones, it could have gone straight through him.
"I'm not running away. I'm just waiting for the right time," Mihawk replied. "A fighter like you will surely emerge in the Grand Line in the future. Until we meet again."
"Wait! What about our bet?"
Luffy yelled, still with the ambition of recruiting the world's strongest man as part of his "Zero Squad." How could he miss the chance to recruit a monster like this?
Mihawk stared at Luffy for a few seconds that felt like an eternity, then a faint sneer appeared on his face. "I never agreed to a bet with you."
He continued, "But, I can give you one chance. Regardless of your abilities, your current strength is not enough... When you enter the New World, we will fight again!"
"If you can win against me with your own abilities, then I will join your Zero Squad and hand my future over to you!"
Luffy fell silent. A thought flashed through his head. Crazy!
In the distance, Tina's Observation Haki caught their conversation. The woman's head suddenly throbbed. "A great fighter like Hawkeye... wants to join the Straw Hats?" This new power, capable of threatening the Marines, had appeared in the East Blue, and it was making everything complicated.
"Alright, I accept the bet!" Luffy shrugged. He then remembered something, his eyes sparkling. "After I beat you, you have to teach me the First Squad Captain's swordsmanship without holding back at all."
"Alright," Mihawk replied, glancing at the still-stunned Zoro over there. "I was thinking the same thing."
With one graceful step, he vanished, leaving the restaurant on the brink of chaos. He was in a hurry to find Shanks, feeling betrayed. 'He said Monkey D. Luffy was just a little kid!' Mihawk thought, his anger peaking. 'Alright, Shanks. If this is how you want to play, don't blame me if I don't hold back on your subordinates! The injuries I got, you owe me double!'
On the other side, Luffy sighed, destiny was truly strange. He recalled the scene of Shanks sacrificing his arm to save Uta, not Luffy. He just laughed to himself, "What do I care about that?"
Luffy stared at Mihawk's retreating back, the man's words echoing in his mind. "Is my strength not strong enough?" After reflecting on the short fight, he realized it was a bitter truth. Mihawk hadn't put much effort into it. The man was holding back, aware that his full power could shatter the island itself.
Luffy smiled. After all, Zoro's goal of revenge had been achieved.
With a sway of his body, he appeared in front of Zoro. He squatted down, grinning widely.
"Luffy!" "Captain!" "Boss!"
Each crew member had their own title for him.
"You didn't even pass out. Your physique really isn't comparable to ordinary people," Luffy said, placing the Straw Hat that was lying next to Zoro on his own head. He sat cross-legged next to him. "How bad are your injuries?"
Zoro's face was pale, but Mihawk had clearly held back. Although his wounds looked terrifying, they were not fatal.
"I'm sorry, Luffy..." Zoro clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging on his forehead. He had lost too miserably. That small knife, like a toy, had shattered all his self-respect! At the same time, he felt the bottomless chasm between himself and the masters of the world.
He took a deep breath.
"I, Roronoa Zoro, swear here and now," his voice was hoarse but strong, "From this day forward, I will never lose again, never!"