One Piece - I Am A Different Luffy! BOOK1!

Chapter 42 - Baratie 05.

[Chapter Size: 2106 Words.]

Third Person POV
Baratie, East Blue.

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"I'M HERE TO FACE YOU!" He said and continued. "Your title of the world's strongest swordsman will belong to me soon!" He spoke with determination and a confident smile.

"What a naive child..." Mihawk couldn't help but comment, seeing a fool in front of him.

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Mihawk paid meticulous attention to Zoro, his sharp eyes registering every movement of the swordsman who had just issued a challenge. A cold and unperturbed expression adorned the face of the legendary Dracule Mihawk as he analyzed the green-haired youth before him. The eyes of the world's greatest swordsman seemed to penetrate Zoro's skills and determination, evaluating him in a silence that echoed with the intensity of the imminent battle.

Faced with this penetrating gaze, Zoro couldn't contain his anger. "DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME!" he shouted in response to Mihawk's words, his emotions boiling in the face of the renowned swordsman's arrogance.

"Underestimate? I am merely observing a cub entering the forest wanting to be at the top of the mountain, without understanding the truths of the sea... To me, he is just a naive child," retorted Mihawk calmly, finding it peculiar how someone so inexperienced in this sea could be so audacious and, at the same time, so blind.

Determined to prove his worth, Zoro responded angrily, "I... I will show you that you're wrong!" The words came loaded with determination, echoing on the restaurant's deck alongside the murmurs of those witnessing the intensity of the impending clash.

"Zoro..." Kuina murmured, observing the scene alongside the other crew members.

As the realization dawned on everyone around, they finally noticed Don Krieg's death as they directed their attention to Mihawk. They emerged from the initial state of shock to realize that the fearsome pirate had silently fallen, a victim of a fatal blow to the head that had gone unnoticed.

"But... what happened?" a waiter murmured, his wide-eyed gaze reflecting shock.

"Is he really dead?" questioned another, unable to believe the scene before his eyes.

"Don Krieg!" Gin lamented as he ran to the lifeless body on the floor.

Usopp, standing next to Luffy, observed the reactions of the people around and couldn't help but comment, "Looks like the fight wasn't as balanced as we imagined." Luffy didn't respond; his attention was on Zoro at that moment.

While astonishment took hold of the environment, some began to exchange glances, trying to comprehend how such a feared man could be defeated so suddenly and discreetly. The ensuing silence was punctuated only by the subtle murmur of the crowd processing the scene before them.

Kuina left the table and went towards Luffy, concerned about Zoro. She broke the silence by questioning Luffy, whose gaze remained fixed on the restaurant's deck, where everyone began to gather to witness the unfolding sword duel after processing that Don Krieg was dead. "He's not ready for this fight, is he?" she asked.

Luffy, equally focused, replied calmly, "No, he will lose and be humiliated, maybe even killed..."

Luffy's words alarmed Nami, who went to them, and she hurriedly suggested, "Hey, hey, shouldn't we stop him then?" Concern in Nami's voice was evident in the face of the dark prospect looming in the imminent duel.

"We can't, even if I tried to put some reason into Zoro, he has his own determinations and dreams, even if it's foolish to die in his first attempt to pursue this dream... He is determined to die here, chasing his ambitions..." Luffy commented, and everyone could only remain silent, turning their attention to the duel, or if they could call it a duel, in the next few minutes.