"How much are you willing to give up to be the worlds strongest swordsman?" Mihawk asked before accepting the challenge.
"Everything." Zoro responded without hesitation.
"Then this fight will be worth it to you, if you are positive." The man responded back as he drew his sword from his back.
Zoro licked his lips in anticipation.
The battle itself had been strangely disappointing…it had been over too quick in Zoros opinion, like Mihawks heart wasn't in it. Why didn't matter though.
He was the strongest swordsman in the world. He said some words to Kuina as he presented the sword to the sky. As if in answer, it began to downpour.
Zoro wandered back to where he had left the others.
He found a pile of headless familiar bodies with a long spear sticking out of the center, the ripped strawhat flag tied to the top and whipping sharply in the storm.
"Captains order! No matter what happens…Leave Zoro to his fight! We can handle these guys!" Luffy had yelled just before Zoro had gone out of earshot chasing after Mihawk. He hadn't even looked back to see who his crew was fighting.
There was a note pinned to a crushed and bloody strawhat on official Marine stationary.
By rights of Marine headquarters, whoever wins the fight shall claim or retain the title "Greatest Swordsman in the World", the additional position of Shichibukai, and partial claim to the combined Strawhat pirate bounty when this note is presented at the closest Marine base. Congratulations.
He felt the rain on his face and stared up into the stromclouds as everything suddenly seemed so meaningless.
He blinked tears away and shouted out as Peronas face filled his field of vision. The girl scrambled back in fright.
His dream and yet a nightmare.