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Sensing Gin's reluctance, cold calculation flashed through Krieg's eyes. He despised disobedient subordinates above all else.
"Gin, are you betraying ?" Krieg's voice carried lethal promise.
He gripped his massive war spear, dangerous energy radiating from his form.
"No, Captain. Never." Gin said quickly.
He would never betray Krieg. Gin's loyalty ran deep—though loyalty to such a heartless man was ultimately worthless.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Krieg's one-ton war spear shattered the Baratie's doors with devastating force.
"Won... So many beautiful won!!" Krieg's eyes lit up greedily as he spotted the Kuja Pirates inside.
"That disgusting gaze. Who gave you permission to look at like that? Die."
Hancock's eyes flashed with arctic fury. A sword light erupted from her blade—pink energy that carved through space itself. Krieg, barely through the doorway, was bisected in an instant.
Gin stood frozen in shock.
Their captain, the ruler of the East Blue, was dead. Cut down in one strike by a woman. The surviving pirates scattered like roaches, fleeing in panic. Gin wanted to run too, but his loyalty to Krieg wouldn't let him.
That devotion ran deeper than fear or common sense. Even staring down impossible odds, he couldn't walk away from his duty.
Shin observed Gin with mild interest. Though he recognized Gin wasn't entirely evil, attacking now ant certain death.
Besides, what pirate was truly kind? Gin was rely decent compared to the worst of his breed.
"I'll avenge our captain!" Gin roared, tonfas in hand as he charged Hancock.
Another flash of pink sword light. The energy tore through Gin's body effortlessly. He followed his captain into oblivion.
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"Hmph. Ignorant fool." Hancock sheathed her blade with practiced elegance.
Zeff's forehead beaded with cold sweat. Was this the true power of the Kuja Pirates? Even East Blue's strongest pirate, eliminated with a casual strike.
This level of swordsmanship transcended re skill—this was the realm of true swordmasters, perhaps even a legendary Great swordsman.
Zoro stood abruptly.
Witnessing Hancock's swordsmanship had shaken him to his core. Her skill surpassed his by dinsions he couldn't even comprehend.
The urge to challenge her burned in his chest. He took a step forward—
Luffy's hand caught his arm, pulling him back with a bright smile.
"Zoro, sit down and eat! Where do you think you're going?"
Luffy wasn't stupid. He'd read Zoro's intentions instantly, but Zoro stood no chance whatsoever.
"Exactly, Zoro—don't do anything stupid. She could take all three of us down without breaking a sweat." Usopp said frantically.
Challenge that woman? She'd cut him down before he could draw his blade. Zoro was completely outclassed.
Luffy had intervened to save him. He didn't want his newly recruited crewmate to vanish in the blink of an eye.
Just as Zoro was about to protest, a green sword aura suddenly carved through the air toward them.
"That's Mihawk's signature." Olvia's gaze pierced the distance. On the distant sea, Mihawk stood on his small craft, blade drawn.
"So this is the show Shin ntioned." Robin murmured in understanding.
Now she grasped what entertainnt Shin had anticipated. It was Mihawk himself.
But how had Shin known he would co? And why would the world's greatest swordsman suddenly appear in a backwater like the East Blue?
Indeed, soone of Mihawk's caliber visiting the East Blue was almost unthinkable—yet here were both Shin's crew and Mihawk.
"What terrifying sword pressure."
Zoro forgot about challenging Hancock entirely, his gaze locked on the sea.
Though he couldn't yet see Mihawk, he could feel the overwhelming sword intent radiating from that direction.
Zoro didn't recognize it as Mihawk, but he knew with certainty—this was an extraordinarily powerful swordsman, soone who existed in realms beyond his current understanding.
Zeff's forehead dripped with perspiration. What in hell's na is happening?
Another monster in the East Blue?
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"Is this a challenge?" Hancock's voice turned sharp as steel. She drew her blade in one fluid motion, pink sword energy shattering Mihawk's incoming attack.
The sea itself split beneath her counter-strike, unable to heal for long monts. Her sword aura continued onward, racing toward the distant Mihawk.
"The Kuja Pirates, as expected." Mihawk murmured to himself, raising his blade to deflect the incoming energy.
Originally, Mihawk had been rely bored, pursuing a pirate crew—the Krieg Pirates. The self-proclaid ruler of the East Blue had encountered terrible luck upon reaching the Grand Line.
He t Mihawk, and a bored Mihawk at that. So naturally, he'd carved Krieg's fleet to pieces.
He'd pursued Krieg all the way back to the East Blue on a whim, never expecting to encounter the Kuja Pirates here.
The Kuja Pirates moved like ghosts—finding them was never easy.
Mihawk had assud they'd be in the New World. Finding them in the East Blue was unexpected—but fortuitous. Mihawk had been seeking a chance to challenge Shin.
Rumors claid Shin Uzumaki's swordsmanship reached transcendent levels, and that he'd personally trained Hancock in the blade.
In his battle with Hancock, Mihawk had tasted defeat. Though she'd employed her Devil Fruit abilities rather than pure swordsmanship, a loss was a loss. No excuses.
So he'd surrendered the title of World's Strongest Swordsman. After defeat, what right did he have to claim such a title?
Mihawk's pride wouldn't allow such dishonesty.
Soon, Mihawk's small craft reached the Baratie.
"It's Mihawk!"
Zoro's excitent erupted upon seeing him. The World's Strongest Swordsman, Dracule Mihawk himself.
Though Mihawk had been defeated once and relinquished his title, Zoro remained ignorant of this fact—as did most of the world.
"Captain, I need to challenge Mihawk." Zoro's voice carried absolute determination.
Hearing his resolve and the word "Captain," Luffy understood his crewmate's conviction. He released Zoro's arm, stepping back.
He could feel Mihawk's overwhelming presence. The aura alone made him feel as if he might be cleaved in two.
If Mihawk attacked seriously, he could probably kill him with a single strike. Zoro definitely stood no chance—their strength levels were comparable.
But Luffy also understood Zoro's dream. He could only offer his support. To fall while pursuing one's dream wasn't shaful.
Just like his own ambition to beco Pirate King—no matter how impossible it seed, he would walk that path to its end. Luffy's declaration wasn't re words.
"Mihawk, I challenge you!!" Zoro stepped forward, his voice ringing across the water.
Mihawk's eyes flicked to Zoro for a mont.
The kid's stubborn determination was worth noting. In different circumstances, he might've entertained the idea of putting him in his place.
But Mihawk was here for a reason. He'd been hunting the Kuja Pirates for months, and they'd finally surfaced in the East Blue.
His real target was Shin.
He needed to see for himself what the so-called World's Strongest was actually capable of.
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