One piece: The Fairy Of justice (English version)

6- The Promise of a Swordsman

The next morning, Zoro felt much better, even seeming to have completely recovered, although he still wore bandages as a precaution.

—Where are we headed? —he asked as he stepped out of the ship's cabin and saw Coby exercising under Kara's watchful eye.

—We're going to wait for Hawkeye on the way and then we'll go hunt an annoying fish and a rat. After that, we'll exchange their merits in Loguetown. We might take a slight detour on the way —Kara responded calmly while hitting Coby with a stick since he had gotten distracted in the middle of a plank hold.

—Ouch! —Coby complained, feeling the hit on his shoulder, but quickly used his willpower to hold his position.

—Hawkeye? —Zoro asked, his interest immediately piqued.

—Yes. It's better for a frog to see that it's at the bottom of a well so it can understand its true level —Kara said nonchalantly.

Zoro frowned, annoyed by the comparison, but ignored it. The opportunity to face Hawkeye was something he couldn't pass up.

During the following days at sea, Kara trained Coby while Zoro, despite his injuries, insisted on practicing with his sword. Kara accepted the challenge, using a sword taken from one of the pirates. She wasn't a swordswoman, but in the training camp, she had learned to handle all kinds of weapons. Even without being an expert, her sheer brute strength allowed her to defeat Zoro easily.

—Mm? —Zoro, lying on the ground recovering from yet another match, spotted a large, wrecked boat floating in the distance.

—Looks like Hawkeye is behind that boat. Let's move —Kara said, taking the helm to intercept him.

As the ship approached, Zoro made out a small, coffin-shaped boat gliding over the water.

Standing atop it was Dracule Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman.

—Hello, Drac. How's your day going? —Kara asked confidently.

At the sight of her, Mihawk immediately reached for his sword and took a defensive stance.

—Vice Admiral Kara… what are you doing here? —he asked without lowering his guard.

—I have a weakling who doesn't know life and wants to challenge you to a duel —Kara said, pointing at Zoro, who was already preparing for the fight.

—Enough of that. You're a Shichibukai, we marines can't attack you without reason —Kara said upon seeing that Mihawk was still on guard against her.

—Seems like that didn't matter to you with the last Shichibukai you ran into —Mihawk replied, though he lowered his guard slightly. He knew Kara was annoying, but he also knew she usually kept her word.

—Who? Doffy? That's why I said "without reason." Planting an infiltrator in the Marines who kidnapped children for experiments with an idiot, I think, were enough reasons for him to be unnecessary in this world —Kara said, her expression turning serious for the first time in a long while. Then, she returned to her usual calm demeanor.

—So, do you have time to teach the rookie a lesson? —she asked.

—Fine —Mihawk replied, easily jumping onto the ship.

Mihawk observed Zoro intently before speaking.

—I don't know if it's ignorance or too much pride that makes you raise your sword against me, but if you were strong, you'd recognize the difference between our strengths with just one look.

Saying this, he ripped off his cross-shaped necklace and pulled a small knife from it.

—I am not a foolish beast that uses all its strength to fight a little rabbit from the East Blue. This will be enough —he said, arrogantly showing the knife.

—Are you mocking me? —Zoro asked, irritated.

—Unfortunately, I don't have a smaller knife than this. But it will be enough. Let's make this quick, kid… I don't want to be around this woman for too long —Mihawk said, throwing an annoyed glance at Kara, who, at that moment, was placing video snails in several spots on the ship to record the fight.

—Eh? Me? —Kara asked, turning around upon hearing her name.

—Tsk… Let's begin —Zoro growled, gripping his three swords firmly.

Meanwhile, Kara pulled out a container of popcorn from somewhere and settled in to watch the fight.

Coby, excited, stood behind her, expectant.

Zoro lunged at Hawkeye, attacking with his three swords with all the speed and strength he could muster.

Mihawk, however, easily defended himself using only his small knife, deflecting Zoro's attacks with minimal movements.

—You are like a frog at the bottom of a well, unaware of the truth of the world —Mihawk said, a slight taunt in his tone.

—Yes, I've already been told that —Zoro replied without stopping, increasing the speed of his attacks. Even so, Mihawk dodged them effortlessly.

Then, before Zoro could launch another strike, Mihawk moved his arm with precision and plunged his knife into the swordsman's chest, stopping just before piercing his heart.

Zoro remained motionless, refusing to step back.

—Why don't you retreat? You're going to die —Mihawk asked, intrigued.

—I don't know… But if I take a step back, all my promises, both old and new, will be destroyed —Zoro replied, barely standing.

—That's called defeat.

—Then, all the more reason I can't take a step back.

—At the cost of your life?

—Even if I die.

Mihawk remained silent for a moment before withdrawing his knife.

—Tell me your name, future great swordsman.

—Roronoa Zoro.

A smile appeared on Mihawk's face.

—Very well, Zoro. I will use my strongest sword to defeat you… Yoru —he said, unsheathing the great black sword from his back.

Zoro's eyes shone with determination.

—That's what I wanted —he said with a smile as his fighting spirit ignited.

He took his two swords in front of him, spun them quickly, and then launched himself at full speed toward Mihawk.

—Sanzen Sekai! —he exclaimed.

In the blink of an eye, Zoro stopped behind Mihawk. A moment later, the two swords in his hands began to shatter. Only the one in his mouth remained intact.

Without hesitation, he took it, sheathed it, and then turned to face Mihawk with his arms open.

—What are you doing? —Mihawk asked, confused.

—A wound on the back is a swordsman's shame —Zoro replied, barely staying on his feet.

—Brilliant —Mihawk whispered in admiration before delivering a clean slash across Zoro's chest.

Kara, who had been enjoying the spectacle until then, didn't notice that a drop of blood had fallen onto her cape.

Mihawk leaped back to his boat.

—It's still too soon for you to challenge me. First, reach where I am. I'll be waiting for you in the most dangerous sea, Roronoa Zoro —he said before giving Kara one last glance and quickly sailing away.

Kara got up from her chair and approached Zoro, who lay on the deck of the ship, breathing heavily. She gave him a couple of light kicks.

—Hey, still alive? —she asked, even though she already knew the answer.

—Sorry for worrying you… If I don't become the world's greatest swordsman… you'd have a dilemma now, right? I won't… I won't lose again… Until I defeat him and become the best swordsman… I will never be defeated again… I won't fail my commanding officer. Isn't that right, ma'am? —Zoro said, raising his hand in a military salute as tears streamed down his face.

Kara smiled.

—Haha, that's the spirit —she said, pulling out bandages and medicine and tossing them to Coby—. Looks like we'll need a doctor to patch you up all the time, then.

After a while, Coby finished bandaging Zoro and let him rest in a bed.

Kara, meanwhile, returned to her chair and started fishing. However, when she looked down, she noticed a small stain on her cape.

—Damn. No wonder that guy left so fast —she muttered, removing the cape with a disgusted expression—. Is he still upset because I kidnapped that monkey from his island who uses a sword like him and told all the Marines that Mihawk ate a Monkey-type Devil Fruit? —she wondered aloud—. How childish —she added, destroying the cape without hesitation.

—I don't know why they don't issue multiple capes. That way, I wouldn't have to keep requesting one all the time —she complained as she pulled out her transponder snail.

The snail took on Sengoku's appearance and immediately started yelling:

—Kara, you bastard! Get back to Marineford right now!

—I found a decent sapling. I'll train him on the way to Marineford via the Grand Line route. It'll take about two months. I'll take the opportunity to visit naval bases along the way and conduct inspections. Give me the permits —Kara said quickly.

—You're insane! Bring the new guy if he's good and put him in the training camp. You have work to do! I'm not letting you cause chaos in our forces again —Sengoku retorted, outright refusing.

—It's a waste to send him to train for two or three years. Mihawk approved of him. He fought against him. I'll send you the video. He just needs more experience, and then I can teach him how to use Haki —Kara said, giving in a little.

There was a silence before Sengoku spoke again.

—Hawk-Eye went to East Blue?... Fine. You have one month. And stay away from the nobles of the islands you pass through —he agreed with a sigh. Deep down, it was good for Kara to be away from Marineford for a while. There were still Marines who trembled at the sight of her—not because she was dangerous, but because the destruction she left in her wake made even Marineford's finances suffer.

—Did you run into Garp? —he suddenly asked suspiciously.

Kara blinked, obviously feigning confusion.

—Who's Garp? —she asked with total disinterest, but before Sengoku could answer, she hung up.

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