"Monster! Don't touch Zoro!"
Yosaku moved instinctively, rushing forward just like Johnny.
Hiroto glanced at the two reckless underlings rushing at him. His figure flickered, dashing between the two and landing a punch on each of their stomachs.
Johnny and Yosaku only felt a blur before their eyes before doubling over in pain, curling up on the ground.
The gap in strength was too vast.
Drip—
Drip—
Blood dripped onto the ground.
Zoro's pupils were nearly unfocused, but his stubborn will kept him standing as he tightly gripped the hilt of his broken blade. But that was all he could manage.
So strong, way too strong.
He only realized when that slash reached him that even a desperate block couldn't stop it.
Before his two swords could even make contact, they were shredded by the stray slashes. But it wasn't a problem with the swords. Even if they were famous blades, they would have just been knocked away. With his strength, he simply couldn't block that slash.
'Is this the strength of a swordsman? To think the gap is this huge... But I should have at least made him draw his sword seriously, right?'
A blurry thought flickered through his mind, but Zoro still refused to fall.
He shouldn't stop. His name hadn't reached the heavens yet.
How could he be willing...
How could he allow himself to fall here!
With this conviction, Zoro moved slowly. He took out Wado Ichimonji, his trembling hands tightening around the hilt.
The sharp blade pointed at Hiroto, and his face held nothing but determination.
"Refusing to admit defeat?"
Hiroto looked with appreciation at the defiant, sword-wielding Zoro. "You have no strength left to fight. Surrendering might be a good choice."
Even though he knew what would happen, he asked anyway.
In his past life, this swordsman was his favorite among all the male characters.
Hardworking, tenacious, responsible, and always considering the team.
Even at thriller bark, despite having his own dreams, he was willing to offer his own head for the sake of his Captain.
That line, 'If I can't even protect my own captain, then my ambition is nothing but talk,' was unforgettable.
Zoro's eyes were firm as he said, "If I did that, I think I would stop right here. I don't quite understand why, but I just have that feeling."
"Correct. That would be the collapse of your conviction and will."
As the words sounded, Hiroto's figure lunged forward like a gale.
Zoro still maintained his fighting spirit, raising his long sword to deliver a slash. However, though he saw his enemy's movements, his heavily injured body couldn't keep up.
In the next second, Hiroto grabbed Zoro's wrist that was gripping Wado Ichimonji with one hand and squeezed, breaking the slash.
A fist slammed into Zoro's abdomen, sending him flying seven or eight meters away.
Wado Ichimonji spun through the air, finally landing in Hiroto's hand.
As soon as the sword was in his hand, he felt his perception and reaction speed skyrocket.
[Sharp Sword] buff up↑MAX.
Hiroto said, "Wado Ichimonji, one of the twenty-one great grade swords. For such a sword to be in your hands... is there a story behind it?"
"That is my friend's sword. We had a promise, but she died before we could fulfill it."
"So, I decided to take her sword and fulfill that promise alone—to become the World's Greatest Swordsman."
"To make my name reach even the heavens..."
Zoro didn't continue.
He struggled to stand firmly, looking at Hiroto but seeing no hope of winning.
He had no idea how much of his opponent's true strength remained hidden.
"A touching story."
Hiroto flicked his hand and embedded Wado Ichimonji into the ground.
"But it seems you won't be able to fulfill it. I told you before: once you draw your sword, you must be prepared to gamble your life."
"..."
Zoro remained silent, simply spreading his arms toward Hiroto, exposing his blood-soaked chest.
Witnessing this familiar scene, Hiroto paused for a moment and smiled. "What is the meaning of this?"
Zoro managed a faint smile. "A scar on the back is a swordsman's shame."
"Wait!" x2
Johnny and Yosaku helped each other up and scrambled to kneel in front of Zoro. Then, the two of them slammed their heads against the ground.
"If you're going to take Zoro's life, take our heads instead! Two for one!"
Zoro said angrily, "What are you two talking about? This is my business! Idiots, get out of here!"
"If it weren't for you, we would have died long ago." Johnny and Yosaku wept, refusing to leave.
Yosaku looked at Hiroto and said, "We'll give you that famous blade and our heads. We only ask that you spare Zoro's life."
"Foolish. If I kill you all, everything is mine anyway."
Hiroto's words drove Yosaku to despair. He had no idea how to defeat the terrifying monster before him. Even the only way to save Zoro had been rejected.
What should he do?
"Don't listen to them. Take my head." Zoro staggered in front of the two.
"I am the one who challenged you, and I am the one who should die."
"Zoro!"
"No, Zoro!"
Johnny and Yosaku wept bitterly.
"You have two very good underlings."
Hiroto looked at Zoro, who was waiting for death with open eyes. "But it would be a shame for someone like you to die."
At his words, Johnny and Yosaku looked up in disbelief, their faces shifting from shock to pure joy.
"Aren't you going to kill me?" Zoro asked, bewildered.
"Let me introduce myself. I am Hiroto, a pirate in the eyes of the Marines."
Hiroto reached out, grabbed the hilt of Wado Ichimonji, pulled it out, and held it. "I'm currently short on crew members, and you are quite excellent."
"So, here is your chance. Using this great grade sword as collateral, I'll give you one month."
"During this month, if you satisfy me, you will become my crew member, and I will return this sword to you."
"Let's also make another promise. If you can defeat me later, this debt will be considered paid, and you'll be free to go or stay as you please."
"If you can't do it, I will take your life and this sword when the time comes."
Zoro fell silent for a moment, but instead of agreeing immediately, he asked, "What do you mean by 'a pirate in the eyes of the Marines'?"
Hiroto asked, "In your eyes, what is a pirate?"
"Evil outcasts."
"And the reason?"
"Plundering civilians, burning and killing in towns..."
Zoro listed the traits of most pirates and then said, "I won't do anything that I'll regret."
This was why he hadn't agreed right away.
Hiroto said, "I'm not like those other pirates. I like treasure, but I never like squeezing money out of civilians."
"Then whose money do you want to make?"
Zoro was a bit surprised.
If a pirate doesn't plunder, are they still a pirate?
"I take from whoever has money—like robbing other criminals, other pirates, or royalty and nobles I don't like."
Hiroto held Wado Ichimonji in one hand and extended the other. "What is your choice?"
"Compared to dying here..."
Zoro looked at the hand before him. "I have a reason I must live."
After saying that, he shook Hiroto's hand and then passed out.