Hey Guys, Slacker here. Slackin as usual. Thought I'd post this chapter, idk when the next one will be up. I'm hopeful that I'll finish another one soon while I don't have classes to burn me out. Fingers crossed.
"I am not one of those fools who hunts a rabbit with a cannon. This is the weakest sea. Unfortunately, I don't have a blade smaller than this on me," Mihawk explained, literally looking down at Zoro.
"I just thought since you're planning to fight someone who is undoubtedly above your level then you may want to spar with someone else who is far above your level." Zoro narrowed his eyes even more as a scowl made his way across his face. "So I propose a spar," Luffy said simply as he pulled out his small kitchen knife, "Unfortunately, I do not have a blade smaller than this at the moment."
Zoro's eyes drifted over to Luffy, who was watching from the deck of the Bartie, before scowling and unsheathing his swords and putting Wado Ichimonji in his mouth. There would be plenty of time to question his captain later, for now though, he had a long awaited fight.
~~~~~~~~~Zoro vs Mihawk~~~~~~~~~
Zoro took the initiative and rushed towards the motionless Mihawk.
The greatest swordsman sighed as he watched Zoro approach. "You are just a person who has never seen the real world," He said as he raised his knife.
"Oni-"
Mihawk, almost lazily thrust his knife forward.
"-Giri!"
Zoro's swords locked together in the middle of his move, stopping his forward momentum and leaving him stuck, or at least it would have if Luffy hadn't shown him this particular weakness two days prior.
"Toro-"
With what little momentum he had left Zoro swung along the outside of Mihawks arm, pushing the small blade away from him as he went. Mihawk adjusted his grip and pushed back down forcing Zoro's sword's down and throwing off his center of balance. Zoro grit his teeth and leaned forward, Wado Ichimonji arcing towards Mihawks stomach. Mihawk smirked and redirected Zoro's momentum so that he missed hitting Mihawk by a hairs breath, nicking his shoulder as he passed him for good measure.
"-Nagashi"
All of this happened faster that most people there could see. To the likes of Luffy and Mihawk though, it was almost painfully slow.
Zoro growled in frustration, he had thought Luffy was good when he had defeated him, but compared to Mihawk he could tell his captain was sloppy. 'A sword without grace is no strong sword.' Mihawk was the epitome of grace, Zoro had seen it when he had redirected a bullet with the tip of his sword. He took a deep breath as he prepared to engage Mihawk again. It wouldn't help if he lost his cool. Strength wouldn't help him here, only skill.
He readjusted his grip before rushing forward again, no named attacks this time, only strikes he had practiced to perfection when developing the Three Sword Style. One after another smoothly transitioning between his swing, never giving his opponent any time. It wasn't enough though, Mihawk's knife drifted in and out of his defence. Blocking with minimal effort and darting into weak spots of his form, drawing a small amount of blood before darting back out.
"What crazy skill you've got." Mihawk idly commented as Zoro continued to throw all he had at the man.
"What is your mission?" Mihawk asked, "Why do you seek the ultimate power, you weakling?"
"You called our senpai a weakling? Stupid!" Zoro heard Johnny yell from the Baratie deck.
"We have to teach you a lesson!" Yosaku joined in the yelling.
"Stop!" Luffy growled, grabbing ahold of the two and pinning them down. "Don't get involved, we have to be patient!"
Zoro's eyes flicked over towards his captain, and in that instant Mihawk redirected his strikes downward and sent Zoro tumbling away.
"I can't afford to lose!" Zoro yelled as he got to his feet. He repositioned his two swords over Wado Ichimonji as he prepared his next attack.
"Tora Gari!"
Zoro didn't ever see Mihawk move before for the second time that week a blade found its way into his chest. His arms lowered a bit as the shock hit him, but he stayed standing strong.
"Do you want this knife to go through your heart?" Mihawk asked, "Why aren't you stepping back?"
"Beats me," Zoro said, echoing his answer from two days ago, "I'm not really sure myself, but I get the feeling that if I were to take even one step back right now, I'd lose something very important to me. A promise or oath or whatever. It would be irreversibly broken, and that I'd never be able to return back to where I'm standing right now."
"Right," Mihawk stated, "and that is called 'losing'."
"Haha," Zoro laughed bitterly, "That's why I can't step back."
"Even if it means you will lose your life?"
"I'd much rather die." Zoro snarled.
Mihawk studied Zoro, searching for something. Seeming to find it he pulled his knife from Zoro's chest.
"Tell me your name kid." Mihawk ordered.
"Roronoa Zoro."
"I'll remember that." Mihawk said, sheathing his knife. "I haven't met someone with such a strong will like you for a long time."
Mihawk hand drifted to the hilt of his sword and swiftly drew it. "To repay that I will use the 'Black Blade' Yoru, the strongest sword in this world, to end your life."
Zoro nodded as he prepared his current strongest technique. He held his two swords in front of him at an angle against each other and started to slowly rotate them, building up speed as the rotation continued.
'This is it," Zoro thought ,"This is my final move. If I miss, it will cost me my life. I have to choose between becoming an invincible swordsman or death. A final shot with all of my soul behind it." Zoro's sword's darkened slightly as he began to imbue them with Haki
"Die." Mihawk said as he dashed towards him.
"Three Sword Style Secret Skill: Three Thousand Worlds!"
Mihawks eyes widened as three black swords came into contact with his own Black Blade. 'Strong will indeed,' Mihawk smirked. It was no use though, Zoro didn't know how to use Haki effectively yet, the two swords in his hand shattered as the two swordman clashed. Blood erupted from Zoro's chest as Mihawk cut into him, and just like that it was over.
Slowly and silently, Zoro sheathed Wado Ichimonji and turned around presenting an open target for Mihawk.
"What are you doing?" Mihawk asked.
"It's shameful for a swordsman to be hit from behind." Zoro answered.
"Splendid!" Mihawk said, before his Black Blade cut a deep diagonal wound into Zoro's chest.
"ZORO!"
Zoro had barely begun to fall when his captain was there to catch him, gently laying him down on the deck.
Mihawk gazed impassively at the youth with a familiar straw hat and what seemed to be steam rising off his skin. The boy was far faster than anyone in this weak sea had any right to be.
"Interesting," Mihawk commented.
"Damn you!" Luffy yelled at Mihawk. He could tell that Zoro was still alive, but seeing him this badly wounded brought back bad memories.
"Are you that swordsman's friend?" Mihawk asked, "Do you want to fight too?" Luffy raised his arms in response, his left open palmed in front of him and his right balled into a fist behind.
"That's good, you can learn this lesson wi-"
"Gomu Gomu no-"
Mihawks eyes widened, this kid had a devil fruit it seemed.
"-Jet Pistol!"
Luffy's fist slammed into the spine of Yoru, which Mihawk had used to block the blow. The weight behind the punch send him sliding back a few feet. Mihawk focused all his attention on Luffy. 'This kid!' He silently marveled. Luffy disappeared in a burst of speed again and Mihawk extended his Observation Haki around him to locate the teen. He swung around and caught Luffy's fist on the edge of the Black Blade. He didn't cut into him though, because Luffy fist was coated in a dark sheen of Armament Haki.
'Haki too?' Mihawk observed in surprise. "Very Interesting." Mihawk commented once again before locking eyes with Luffy. "Don't worry," He said, "your friend is still alive."
Luffy's gaze shifted over to Zoro, who was being treated by a frantic Kaya.
"I am Dracule Mihawk," he addressed the wounded Zoro, "It is too soon for you to die. You have to learn more about the world, and discover your true self. You have to become stronger Roronoa Zoro. No matter how long it will take, I will always be the greatest swordsman in the world and will be waiting for you! You have to practice both your skill and your heart to become stronger. DARE TO CHALLENGE ME AGAIN, RORONOA ZORO!" Mihawk turned to address Luffy. "What is your goal?"
"To become the Pirate King." Luffy answered simply and without hesitation.
Mihawk scoffed. "What a stupid dream," he said, "It means that you have to become stronger than me, you know?"
"I don't care." Luffy growled, "I will become Pirate King, just you wait and see!"
Their attention was suddenly drawn towards the wounded Zoro, who was holding Wado Ichimonji above him.
"L-Luffy," Zoro coughed out, "C-can you hear...me?
"Yes."
"From now on I won't lose to anyone ever again!" Zoro declared, "Until I can defeat that man and become an invincible swordsman I won't lose again! Do you have any problem with that, Pirate King?"
"~Shishishishi, Nope." Luffy grinned.
"You two are a very good team," Mihawk commented, "I hope that I will see you again." As Mihawk turned to leave an arrogant voice rang out.
"Hey, Hawkeye!" Don Krieg shouted, "Don't you want my head now? The head of Don Krieg, the greatest pirate of East Blue."
"I've thought of that," Mihawk replied, "But I've had enough fun for today. I will go back to sleep now."
"Why are you saying something so mean?" Krieg asked, cockily sauntering forward, "Even though you've had enough fun, I have not!"
"Captain Krieg?" His crew cried, "Why are you stopping that man from going back?"
Krieg ignored his crew and revealed his gun array built into his armor, two guns below each shoulder pad and three on either side of his waist, as well as one gun is each hand. "Before you go back, DIE!" Krieg yelled, firing all of his weapons at once.
"Fool," Mihawk scoffed, grabbing his sword again, "Haven't you learned your lesson?" In a blur he drew his sword and an explosion of air and water concealed his form. "Goodbye," His words floated from the mist, which cleared to show that he was gone.
"He escaped," Krieg said, gritting his teeth. His eyes swung towards the restaurant, maybe they would prove to be entertaining.
"Here they come now," Sanji sighed, "The parasites."
"Hey mister," Luffy called out to Zeff, "If I can chase those people away, I don't have to work here anymore, okay?"
Head Chef Zeff sighed, "Do whatever you want to do."
"Even if some stupid people get involved, it's no big deal for me." Krieg said, "I've already thought of leaving this stinky ship, so look at that cute little ship closely." His men gazed at the Baratie as he continued. "If we can get that ship, the Grand Line will be no problem for us. When we want to attack the enemies, we put up a white flag, and that will get us closer to the enemies. Then, we can attack the enemies before they know, and that will make our job easier."
"I see, no one will think that cute little ship is a pirate ship." One of his men said, his eyes lighting up.
"There are many pirates in this ocean, so it's not hard at all for me to build up new troops." Krieg said.
"What if we go to the Grand Line and meet someone dangerous, like that Hawkeye man, again?" A scared pirate yelled out.
Without warning Krieg shot the dissenter, "YOU ARE THAT AFRAID OF HIM?" Krieg yelled, "You think that a normal human being can cut that giant ship into pieces?"
"Eh? What do you mean?" A confused pirate spoke up.
"IT MEANS THAT IT'S THE POWER OF A DEVIL FRUIT!" Seeing his crew's confusion Krieg explained. "According to legend, there are some people who have eaten a devil fruits and gained strange powers, and those people are in the Grand Line! When that man cut our ship, he must have used some kind of strange power. So, in the Grand Line his is just a simple pirate, but Zeff, the Red Leg. He has stayed in the Grand Line for one year. That means he must have known some way to fight these people. Those strategies must be recorded in his journal, maybe there will also be information of the One Piece."
"I see." A crew member said "You are really smart, Captain."
"If we get that ship and the journal, we can conquer the ultimate treasure." Krieg said. "Let's go and take that ship!" Krieg ordered.
"YES, SIR!" His crew shouted.
"Here they come," Luffy grinned and turned towards Zeff. "Hey Mister," he called out, "It is a deal?"
"It's a very good deal," Zeff replied, "because if you stay here for one year, you would destroy my restaurant."
"Good." Luffy grinned before walking towards the charging pirates.
"Hey!" Sanji yelled rushing forward, "What do you think-!?" Sanji jerked back as Zeff grabbed ahold of him.
"Wait," Zeff instructed.
"For what?" Sanji asked, glancing worriedly at Luffy.
"Something I've only seen on the Grand Line." Zeff answered.
Sanji focused on Luffy as he drew ever closer to the charging pirates. Waiting. Waiting. Nothing was happening and they were almost there! "Watch o-!"
Sanji's breath involuntarily left his body.
It was unnaturally quiet.
His vision blurred for a second.
And then...time restarted.
Sanji gasped for breath as every single enemy pirate dropped to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut. And in the middle was Luffy, never breaking stride as he continued onto the only remaining pirate, Don Krieg.
"Who are you?" Krieg demanded, wide eyed.
"Monkey D. Luffy," Luffy responded, "I'm the man who will become King of the Pirates."
Don Krieg grit his teeth. "Over my dead body!" He yelled as his armor sprouted an array of guns from his sides and under his shoulder pads. A pistol in each hand. "NOW DIE!" All of his weapons fired at once, 14 rounds per second, obliterating the place Luffy was standing.
"NO!" Sanji yelled, wide-eyed. He glanced desperately towards the Straw Hat Crew, but was taken aback at how unaffected they were from their Captain's death. Unless…
Sanji glanced back as Krieg stopped firing.
"You missed."
Krieg froze as the whispered comment came from behind him. He began to spin around-
"Gomu Gomu no-"
- But it was too late.
"-Pistol!"
Krieg's shiny golden armor shattered as the Don shot of into the distance, bouncing a couple times before he crossed the horizon and left everyone's view.
Silence once again fell as everyone stared at the young Captain with the Straw Hat. Luffy stood there for a moment staring at his fist before turning and walking into the restaurant. "I'm hungry!" He called out behind him as he disappeared inside.
It took another 20 seconds for the silence to break.
"What the hell was that!?"
~~~~~~~~~Inside Baratie~~~~~~~~~
Luffy sighed as he look back down at his still clenched fist, before releasing it and flexing his hand.
He hadn't realized how weak he was.
He'd been abnormally strong for the East Blue the first time he came through, and this time he had foreknowledge and years of fighting experience at the peak of the world. Obviously it'd be easy for him to get through the East Blue again.
The problem was that he wasn't strong enough for what came after.
He definitely wouldn't be ready to take on Blackbeard at Mock Town.
His body wasn't ready.
He was weak.
He had noticed it immediately when fighting Mihawk.
He was slower.
He was less powerful.
His spirit was out of synch with his body, throwing off his higher level Haki Techniques.
He wasn't even sure he could enter his higher level Devil Fruit forms.
He needed to start training, and hard.
He was running out of time.
Luffy stood up abruptly and returned his attention to his surroundings.
Zoro was standing in front of him.
"We need to talk," They both said in stereo.
Without another word they left towards the Going Merry.
A plate of food laid unnoticed on the table.
I hope you enjoyed. This is the point where I'll start to diverge more from the Canon Universe, so I hope it goes well. Give me all your criticism, constructive or otherwise.
Also am thinking about writing a Naruto fanfic too, where I'll have more freedom because the Naruto manga is finished and I know where all the plot threads lead, so I'll be able to play around with it easier. Tell me what you think
