Pressure.
That was the very first feeling in everyone's heart.
If the earlier "Hawk Eyes" had only given them an unconscious sense of oppression, sothing shaped by reputation and imagination, then the Mihawk standing here now was like an unrivaled blade about to be unsheathed.
Even without releasing Conqueror's Haki, he still made everyone break into a cold sweat.
That was killing intent.
The killing intent of the world's strongest swordsman.
It was easy to imagine: if Zoro's answer displeased Mihawk, what awaited him next would be the greatest slash in the world.
Facing "Hawk Eyes," whose re presence felt as heavy as a mountain, sweat began to bead down Zoro's face.
But a swordsman's pride, and a will that would rather die than lose, forced him to speak solemnly.
"This blade, 'Underworld Crow,' was entrusted to by my master who taught swordsmanship, Ozz!"
In Zoro's ferocious gaze was a conviction that would not waver even a hair.
"I will carry this blade and beco the world's number one great swordsman!"
…
Mihawk stared at the "weakling" before him, soone trembling under his aura and sweating cold, yet daring to speak Ozz's na.
It sparked a trace of interest.
They had been friends since their youth. Mihawk understood Ozz very well.
When they first t, Ozz's personal blade had already beco "Ace," and yet Mihawk could still recognize this sword from Ozz's younger days. That alone spoke volus about their bond.
And precisely because he understood Ozz, Mihawk was even more shocked.
Ozz had actually handed his forr personal blade to an unknown nobody like this.
Others might not know what it ant, but Mihawk did.
This was true acknowledgnt from soone who stood at the peak.
From "the strongest in the world."
"Interesting… a promise with Ozz?"
Mihawk finally heard sothing worth caring about.
He looked at the sword clenched between Zoro's teeth, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"That black blade isn't sothing just anyone is worthy of."
"Let test what you're made of."
While the two swordsn spoke, the others around them exploded into chaos.
"Huh?! Zoro's cool sword was a gift from Uncle Ozz?! He never ntioned that at all!!!"
Luffy's mouth hung open, his not too bright face filled with shock.
"Uncle Ozz? You know him?!"
Usopp's long nose practically went limp. The na Ozz was carved deep into his mory.
"That's the world's strongest sniper, the mountain every sniper will never be able to cross…"
Usopp didn't say the rest.
Because that was the man who had defeated his own father, so terrifying that Usopp couldn't even imagine surpassing him.
And unlike the original tiline, Nami hadn't imdiately stolen the ship and fled. She was still waiting for the right mont.
Once the fight turned chaotic, she would slip away in the confusion.
But now, as she watched from the shadows, she heard a familiar na and instantly tensed.
Ozz?
She had heard that na plenty of tis.
Buggy, the pirate who had thrown her hotown into turmoil, who threatened her family's lives and saddled them with crushing debt, had an abbreviated na that was AOS.
She never expected Luffy's group to be connected to that man, to be "on the sa side."
The discovery made Nami's expression turn cold.
Then she heard Sanji speak.
"You guys… you all know Father?"
Another expert?
Sanji's cigarette hand froze. His face was full of disbelief as he blurted the question out.
The mont those words landed, not only Luffy, Usopp, and Nami, but even Mihawk shifted his gaze over, eyes widening slightly.
Ozz's… son?
This blond guy didn't look like him at all.
"What the hell? You perverted cook, you're Master's son?!"
Zoro looked annoyed.
Luffy, on the other hand, looked happy. He hadn't expected the cook he invited to be Uncle Ozz's son.
Usopp was still in shock.
Nami's eyes were burning with hatred.
But they all shared the sa feeling.
This was unreal.
Seeing their reactions, Sanji blinked, then realized they had misunderstood.
"No… I'm not his biological son. Ozz is my godfather."
Hearing that, Mihawk finally understood.
That made sense.
That guy Ozz loved collecting kids everywhere, he even took in a little Perona for himself.
Still…
This rookie pirate crew had nearly everyone connected to Ozz in one way or another. And Mihawk knew Ozz well enough to be certain.
Things were never that simple.
So…
He wanted to test it.
And perfect timing.
Zoro's promise with Ozz was to defeat "Hawk Eyes" and beco the world's strongest swordsman.
Zoro set his stance, all three swords ready, staring at the man before him with absolute seriousness.
And then, Mihawk's face remained calm as he reached up and took down the small cross-shaped knife hanging from his neck.
"Hey!!! What are you doing?!"
Zoro's face darkened. He'd seen this scene before, and the guess forming in his mind made his blood run cold.
"Even if Ozz once guided you, that doesn't an you're qualified to be ntioned in the sa breath."
"I'm not like so foolish beast that has to go all out just to chase a rabbit. Unfortunately…"
"Sorry. I don't have a smaller knife than this."
Zoro's eyes widened.
The figure holding that tiny blade slowly overlapped with a mory, a figure holding a small wooden stick.
In that instant, a fire ignited inside Zoro's chest.
"Don't ss with . I'm not that kid from back then anymore!!!"
He surged forward, muscles coiling with power.
"Demon Slash!"
Clang!
A tiny knife rose in front of Mihawk, steady as a mountain, and blocked the combined assault of three swords.
Zoro's eyes nearly popped out. Sweat slid down the bridge of his nose.
"H-how is that possible?!"
He had improved at a terrifying speed. He had been taught by Ozz. He thought, at the very least, he could catch a glimpse of the world's strongest.
But now…
How could sothing this ridiculous exist?
The world couldn't be this far away.
No matter what, it shouldn't be this impossible.
Thud thud thud!
Zoro swung wildly, relentlessly, but the man before him casually deflected everything with that small blade.
"I trained and swung my sword so I'd never be humiliated by sothing this tiny again, but now…"
"What kind of joke is this?!"
Mihawk remained calm, watching Zoro's fury like he was studying a storm.
"What a savage sword…"
"Simple swings, yet I can see the shadows of many swordsn in them. I should've expected it. A disciple taught by Ozz…"
"Ozz… the Dark King Rayleigh… Shanks… and…"
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