DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING, EXCEPT RAGNAR AND ALL VIKINGS IN THIS STORY! ONE PIECE BELONGS TO EICHIRO ODA, VIZ MANGA, TOEI ANIMATION AND FUNIMATION ENTERTAINMENT/CRUNCHYROLL LLC
Chapter 24: Hawkeye Mihawk! The Great Swordsman Zoro Falls on the Sea!
For all those who bore sight, it was as if Hell had manifested upon the sea itself! Men began raining down from the wreck of the Dreadnought Sabre, falling from the deck and into the waters of the East Blue. A few cannons fired off their last defiant salvos before they too sank beneath the waves. Nothing remained of Don Krieg's most prized and favored warship, except a debris field of wood and steel, and yet, despite the damage she sustained from Mihawk's attack, the ship stubbornly refused to go under, all while hundreds of floating men were struggling to swim towards any floating pieces of debris they could walk on. Some men clung onto the riggings as they fell, only to lose their grips once the ropes snapped and plummeting into the sea. Don Krieg himself held onto the railing on the aft-castle where the helm one proudly stood.
'That sunnova bitch!' Krieg thought, 'He actually followed us all the way back here!?' It was just totally inconceivable. All of Krieg's men instantly were aghast with horror. Some of them instantly emptied their bowels on instinct, such was the extent of the fear gripping them.
Ragnar himself looked on in shock and awe. He knew of this man's reputation, not only as the World's Greatest Swordsman, but more and perhaps much worse.
"Ragnar? What's up?!" Luffy asked, concerned about his quartermaster.
"That man…" Ragnar stuttered, "That…is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea! Hawkeye Mihawk!" Instantly he turned to Zoro and asked, "You set out to sea in search of this man?! You do know he was also known as the Marine Hunter, right?" Hearing this, Usopp and Nami couldn't help but feel twinges of fear eating at both of them. Yet Zoro just looked on, eager and anxious to see his goal before him.
"Yeah…that's the guy," he replied, watching as Mihawk sailed ever closer.
Even the staff of the Baratie were shocked by what Ragnar uttered out. They knew exactly what the Viking meant, even as they kept their tridents and glaives pointed in a defensive position.
"That's gotta be the guy who destroyed Krieg's fleet!" Patty surmised, "He sunk fifty pirate ships out on the Grand Line singlehandedly! And that Viking's saying he's one of them!?"
"Looks like he returned to finish the job, but is that all he wants?" Carne asked.
"Hang on, he looks like an ordinary guy," said Nami, who was also just as shocked, "Where's this sword of his?"
"He carries that sword on his back," Zeff explained, shocking everyone.
"That's impossible!" Patty declared.
"He couldn't have destroyed a galleon like the Dreadnought Sabre with only a sword!" Carne added.
"Don't let his appearance fool you," said Zeff, "Hawkeye Mihawk is a true master at his art. He is undoubtedly the greatest swordsman the world has ever seen."
Mihawk only continued to sit on his little boat, his eyes hidden by the brim of his hat, until he lifted his gaze, revealing those piercing yellow irises – like those of a hawk!
'I never thought we'd meet this soon!' Zoro thought, gulping as a grin of excitement formed on his face, his right hand grasping the Wado Ichimonji eagerly, 'It's finally time…Kuina, I'm about to fulfill my promise to you!'
"You…You bastard!" cried one of Krieg's men, "Why are you doing this to us!? What the fuck have we ever done to you!?"
"Just killing time," Mihawk replied, only glancing at the man. The poor oaf was so much of a fingerling, he wasn't even worth making eye contact. Still, that did not stop the man from drawing his two loaded flintlock pistols. Sensing this, Mihawk only reached for his back and drew the sword that Zeff spoke of: it was a massive kriegmesser with cruciform quillons embedded with precious stones. Yet by far, the most noticeable aspect of that sword was that the blade itself was actually blackened. As the two pistols went off, Mihawk only turned his arm in the slightest of movements, allowing his sword to deflect the two lead balls that were aimed straight at him, sending them off into the sea harmlessly.
Everyone looked on in shock at what they witnessed. How could two lead balls fired from a flintlock pistol miss their targets? Yet Zoro knew exactly what happened.
"WHA!? How could that guy miss!?" Usopp asked in pure disbelief.
"He deflected them," replied Zoro, who looked at both Luffy and Ragnar.
"You're itching to fight him, aren't you," Luffy asked. Zoro only nodded in affirmation. He was determined to fulfill his ambition today. The captain only moved out of the way, and looked at Ragnar for his input.
"I do not like this, but I will not stop you," said the Viking, who also stepped aside, allowing Zoro to finally move towards the remnants of the Dreadnought Sabre. He only stepped past Krieg's men, who were equally in shock at the sight they witnessed.
"Hold on! What are you doing!?" The man who fired the shots asked.
"Wait a minute…this guy's got three swords!" Another muttered, "No way…!" Yet their comments were falling on deaf ears.
"I've never seen a sword wielded so delicately, or with such finesse," said Zoro, his full attention directed towards Mihawk.
"There isn't any strength in swordplay based on force," replied Mihawk, glancing at the green-haired warrior.
"Did you also use that sword to carve up this ship?" Zoro asked.
"I did," Mihawk confirmed with a nod.
"Then the rumors are true! You really are the best!" Zoro only smiled, his goal was now within sight! "I set out to sea for a sole purpose: to meet you."
"Did you, now?" Mihawk asked, "And what was your goal once you met me?"
"To beat you!" Zoro replied, tying his bandana on his head.
"Brave of you to attempt to face me," said Mihawk with a grin, "But also very foolish of you." Still, he did not keep his eyes off Zoro as the latter drew the Wado Ichimonji.
"You've got spare time, don't you?" Zoro asked, "So, let's do this!"
"GAH! It's him! Roronoa Zoro!" cried one of Krieg's men, "It's Zoro of the Three Swords!" Seeing the greatest warrior of the East Blue made Krieg's men scurry back in total fear. They knew of Zoro's reputation long before he joined the Straw Hats.
"So, a Pirate Hunter," Krieg muttered, thinking that if Zoro beat Mihawk, he would be next.
"He's a WHAT!?" Sanji asked in pure disbelief. Yet Zeff knew who Zoro was the moment the Straw Hats set foot in Baratie.
"Luffy, Ragnar, shouldn't we help him?" Nami asked, "If that man's the greatest swordsman in the world, Zoro doesn't stand a chance!" However Ragnar only drew his own sword and blocked her path.
"No. Helping Zoro out won't help him," said Luffy, his voice becoming stern.
"Huh!? What do you mean!?" Nami asked, dumbfounded, "He's obviously outmatched! There's no way he can face that guy and live!"
"Luffy's right. This is Zoro's fight, and we cannot interfere," Ragnar added, "When Luffy and I first met him, Zoro told us that his goal in life was to become the world's greatest swordsman, and that means facing Mihawk in single combat. If we interfere, then the fight will be considered void. Like it or not, we can only watch from afar as spectators."
Nami only listened, wanting to argue further, but deep down, she knew Luffy and Ragnar were both right. She had no other option but to obey her captain's wishes, and watch on, helpless to come to Zoro's aid.
"You seek to challenge me? You're naught but a weak and pitiful excuse for a warrior" Mihawk declared, not even showing a hint of surprise on his face, but it was clear that Zoro refused to back down. Not wanting to disappoint him, Mihawk leapt from his boat to the deck of the Dreadnought Sabre, so fast that no one even saw him cross that vast distance of water. "If you are, in fact, as competent a swordsman as you claim to be, then you would recognize the disparity between our abilities even before we cross swords. I simply must ask: why do you challenge me? Could it be your courage? Or is it simply ignorance?"
"My ambition drives me!" Zoro declared, placing the Wado Ichimonji in his mouth and drawing his two other katanas, the scabbards falling to the floor, "Also, I made a promise I intend to keep."
"The greatest swordsman in the world, fighting Roronoa Zoro! Two masters of the blade!" Patty remarked, "What kind of a fight is this gonna turn out to be?"
"There isn't a person alive who can defeat Big Bro Zoro!" Yosaku shouted, "He's already the best there is!" Still, Luffy and the other Straw Hats only showed no such enthusiasm, only looking on tensely. At that moment, Mihawk pulled the rosary crucifix hanging around his neck, and pulled the longer part of the shaft away, revealing a small dagger hidden inside it.
"Funny. Whaddya think you're gonna do with that?" Zoro asked.
"It will suffice. Besides, you wouldn't kill a fly with a cannon, now, would you?" Mihawk asked, "You may have a formidable reputation here in the East Blue, but I could care less about that. This sea is, by far, the weakest of the four. Unfortunately, this dagger is the smallest blade I have."
"I had just about enough of your attitude!" Zoro growled, then charged straight for his opponent, "Now, prepare to DIE!"
"You fool. You cannot even comprehend the true size of the world," Mihawk muttered, readying himself for the oncoming attack.
"ONIGIRI!" Zoro yelled, his two swords positioned across his chest, but as he swung to slash Mihawk, he was suddenly unable to move. Mihawk managed to parry Zoro's attack with just that sole dagger! "What the…!?" Zoro asked, shocked that his signature move was stopped dead in its tracks.
All the Straw Hats looked on in disbelief at the sight. One of their greatest crewmates was forced to come to a halt, that attack was rendered useless against a tiny dagger!
"Incredible! He blocked the Onigiri…" Ragnar muttered, awestruck at the sight.
"WHAT!? Big Bro's Onigiri was stopped!?" Johnny asked in disbelief.
"But that's crazy!" Yosaku added, "That attack never fails to stop an enemy! What's happening!?"
'I can't move my swords! What's he done!?' Zoro thought, horrified at the very sight, 'No one's been able to block this technique! And he stopped it with a dagger!' As his thoughts ate away at his conscience, his shock gave way to rage, 'This isn't happening! He can't be this much better than me! There's no way our skills are this far apart!' Zoro then jumped back and charged at Mihawk again. "No! I am not that far behind the world's strongest!" In a fury, Zoro began slashing at Mihawk with a flurry of blows, but each time, Mihawk only parried each one with that tiny dagger. Somehow, Mihawk remained calm and collected, but Zoro was like a raging bull ready to charge at whatever it saw. With a single bind, Mihawk sent Zoro tumbling backwards, knocking him to the floor of the deck!
"Y-You're just toying with him, right!?" Yosaku asked.
"Yeah, c'mon, Big Bro! Fight for real!" Johnny implored, but even Ragnar could see what was going on. It was Mihawk who was actually toying with Zoro. The pirate hunter only got up again, determined to come out on top, refusing to accept defeat. Yet for all his efforts, Mihawk was able to parry each move, sidestepping out of the way of each oncoming attack. One attack forced him onto the railing of the deck, but he jumped out of the way of Zoro's attack, just as the katana cut through the wood as if it were butter, landing on the deck, and blocking a downward vertical slash to his head.
"Such ferocity in your moves," Mihawk noted, proceeding to parry a horizontal slash from Zoro's Wado Ichimonji, before resuming to deflect the rapid flurry of slashes. Everyone just looked on in horror. They just couldn't comprehend how the great Pirate Hunter, Roronoa Zoro himself, could be bested by a mere dagger. Yet Ragnar could definitely see that even Zoro was truly outclassed, and he was unable to do anything to help, and he hated it.
Zoro continued to attack with such aptly described ferocity towards Mihawk. His determination and rage seethed, but it was clear from the sweat trickling down his face, he wasn't able to continue this momentum much longer.
'I did not devote my entire life to swordsmanship, to be dispatched by a tiny little fruit knife!' Zoro thought, his anger eating away at him. He was lucky that Kuina couldn't see him now, but even now, after all this time, her words still ate away at him like an arrow to the knee. He suddenly stopped his attacks, allowing Mihawk to sidestep out of the way. As Zoro began to fall, the warlord held the dagger with only his thumb, and struck the pirate hunter in the back of the neck with a knifehand strike. The force of the strike came down so hard, it caused Zoro to open his mouth and nearly drop Wado Ichimonji. Instantly, his thoughts turned back to that fateful series of events in his childhood…his final duel with Kuina…the promise they made that night…her death…and the vow he swore to her father…in the end, she was right. He was still weak; nothing ever changed. 'I swore to her…to become the world's strongest!' With only his drive to fulfil his oath driving him, Zoro bit the hilt of Wado Ichimonji, turning around to face Mihawk once more. By now, he was tiring, panting and drenched in sweat, but he still refused to accept defeat, 'I am going to defeat this man…for Kuina!' He staggered forward, and tried to slash at Mihawk, but the latter only sidestepped out of the way again, and sent Zoro crashing onto his back. He couldn't help but glare at the warlord. He was not going to break his promise to Kuina, to Luffy even. He couldn't!
"What is it, then? What burden do you carry on your shoulders?" Mihawk asked, only looking down at Zoro, "Answer me, weakling!"
"How dare you call him weak! You'll pay for that!" Yosaku shouted as he and Johnny drew their swords.
"We'll teach you a lesson!" Johnny yelled, but all at once, they felt themselves being pulled back towards their boat.
"No! Yosaku, Johnny, get back here!" Luffy yelled, stretching his arms out and pulling them back to their boat. "Just stay put!" Luffy was using all the strength in his body to keep those two from interfering in Zoro's duel.
"Luffy…" Nami only muttered as she looked on at her captain. In her heart of hearts, she knew that he too was frustrated that they all could not assist their friend in his greatest hour. Ragnar only gripped his sword tightly, gritting his teeth to control his own inner anger. Oh, how he wanted to desperately rush in and come to Zoro's aid, but he knew that would be a slight on his comrade's honor. They all had no choice but to let the duel play out, watching as the pirate hunter rose to his feet.
"No! I can't lose! I refuse to accept defeat!" Zoro protested, staring at Mihawk intensely with a fire in his eyes. Silence befell the entire battlefield. Not even the sound of the wind or the waves could be heard anymore. The intensity of the sun's rays increased, fading all color, but they could still see Zoro raise his swords behind his back. All the while, Zoro recalled how he first met Luffy and Ragnar, and told them both of his promise, using the same technique he used to defeat the Meowban Brothers. "TIGER TRAP!" He yelled, charging at his opponent with two downward slashes…but then he stopped! Mihawk thrust his dagger right into Zoro's left chest – dangerously near his heart and left lung!
The Straw Hats all were horrified. Mihawk actually managed to wound one of their best fighters, and they were powerless to stop it! Blood trickled down from the wound on Zoro's chest, as well as from his nose and his mouth. The intensity of the sun's light faded, allowing even the Krieg Pirates and Baratie staff to witness the horror.
"You are beaten, but you refuse to concede," said Mihawk, in awe at how Zoro just stood there, as though his pain had turned him into a statue. "Why do you continue?"
"I don't know…" Zoro replied, "But, I won't back down. Even if I take so much as a single step back, I would be turning my back on the promise that I made! I can't retreat. I would only lose my honor. You see, if I did that, there wouldn't be anything left for me here."
"That's what defeat is," replied Mihawk, still unable to comprehend why Zoro was unable to retreat. Yet soon he did: that boy wasn't just another pirate hoping to kill him, this boy had a desire, a goal that kept him going.
"Then I refuse to accept defeat," Zoro replied defiantly.
"But you'll die."
"I'd rather die than concede defeat!" Those words couldn't help but impress the warlord.
'Quite a strong heart, indeed!' He thought, pulling the dagger out, 'This man…chooses death over defeat!' Mihawk only backed away and sheathed his dagger, declaring, "Tell me your name, sir." Then he watched as Zoro held his two other swords at different angles against each other, the one of his left hand in an icepick grip.
"My name…is Roronoa Zoro!" he declared.
"I'll remember that name! You have proven yourself to be a worthy adversary," said Mihawk with a grin, then drew his massive longsword, "So, out of respect as a fellow swordsman, I will use the world's strongest black blade to fight you."
"Thank you. I appreciate it!" Zoro replied, knowing that this next blow would change the outcome. 'So, this is it! Either I'll become the world's greatest swordsman, or die trying!' He thought, watching as Mihawk gripped both hands on his sword. He couldn't even hear Johnny's pleas to stop anymore while he spun the swords in his hands, increasing the speed each rotation, "THREE SWORD STYLE ULTIMATE ATTACK…" he began, letting Mihawk charge towards him. As they closed the distance between each other, the two swordsmen slashed, "…THREE-THOUSAND WORLDS!" Zoro shouted as he slashed at his opponent. For an instant, it looked as if it were a stalemate…but the outcome was clearly decided as two of Zoro's blades all at once shattered into pieces, as though they had been made of glass! Only Wado Ichimonji was left unscathed, as blood spewed from the slash across Zoro's torso. The outcome was decided. 'I lost…' he thought as he sheathed Kuina's sword, 'Never in my life did I imagine I'd be defeated…so, this is the power of the World's Greatest Swordsman…' He only got to his feet, and turned to face Mihawk, his arms held out and chest laid bare.
"Wait. What are you doing?" Mihawk asked, unsure of what to make of his opponent's stance.
"Scars on the back are a swordsman's shame," Zoro replied, grinning like a madman. Seeing this, Mihawk couldn't help but grin in admiration.
"Spoken like a true warrior!" Mihawk declared, then with a single blow, he slashed diagonally, right into Zoro's torso. Blood spewed forth from the wound as the defeated pirate hunter fell backwards, seemingly lifeless. "You shouldn't rush into these fights, young man."
"ZOOOOOORRROOOOOOOOO!" Luffy screamed, horrified by the sight of his first mate's demise.
"BIG BROOOO!" Johnny and Yosaku cried out.
"Oh Gods, no!" Nami muttered silently, her hands clasped over her mouth as tears welled up on her eyes. Zoro was such a noble hero. He didn't deserve to die now. Not when they had yet to cross the Grand Line. Usopp only stared on in silence, his mouth agape. He could not help but be horrified by the sight.
"Lo, there do I see my father," Ragnar began chanting, averting his gaze from the carnage, "…Lo, there do I see my mother, and my sisters and my brothers. Lo, there do I see the line of my ancestors…Back to the beginning. Lo, there do they call to me…They bid me take my place among them…In the Halls of Valhalla…Where the brave may live for eternity…"
'Why!? He's insane! His opponent was way out of his league! This fight's outcome was clear from the beginning! How could he be so stupid!?' Sanji thought, furious at Zoro for what he saw as plain idiocy. "Don't be an idiot! Abandon your goal and live!" He shouted as Zoro plunged into the sea.
Many of Krieg's men looked on in terror at the very sight. The Great Pirate Hunter, Roronoa Zoro, was defeated for the very first time! What should be a relief to their ears, though, instead was a terrifying spectacle to behold. They just saw firsthand the power of the Grand Line, and it scared them utterly.
"Damn You…!" Luffy growled, before stretching his arm out, and with a roar of pure rage, unleashed a Gum-Gum Rocket right towards Mihawk. At the same time, Ragnar dropped his weapons on the Baratie's deck, and transformed into his full lion form, charging full force, across the deck of the Dreadnought Sabre, pouncing at Mihawk. The kitchen staff and the Krieg pirates looked on in shock. They saw a boy stretching his arm out like rubber, and a man transform into a lion! What kind of monsters were these guys!? Sanji was just so aghast he dropped a cigarette he was reaching for.
"So, that loudmouthed little punk and his Viking friend have the powers of Devil Fruits," Krieg surmised.
"…YOU BASTARD!" Luffy roared, his arm snapping right for Mihawk, but the warlord only stepped aside for both the captain and his leonine quartermaster. Luffy crashed into the deck, his head stuck in the wood, like an ostrich. Seeing the transformation from Ragnar, however, impressed both him and Zeff.
'A Zoan type…here in the East Blue?' Mihawk thought. Then he turned to the two of them. "Are you that young warrior's comrades?" He asked them, "I'm impressed with you both for not interfering." Once Luffy pulled his head out, he and Ragnar then glared daggers at Mihawk, determined to avenge their fallen comrade, but unprepared for what they heard next, "There's nothing to be upset about. Your friend will live."
"He's alive?" Ragnar asked, transforming back into his human form. That was when he and Luffy saw it: Johnny and Yosaku had plunged into the water, and saved Zoro from drowning. Zoro only hacked up a gob of blood, a clear sign that he was alive.
"C'mon! Let's get him out of the water!" Usopp told the two bounty hunters as he and Nami pulled Zoro into the small boat.
"Lay him on his back! I got some medicine," Nami added, getting out a first aid kit she found.
"It's still far too early for you to die!" Mihawk called out to Zoro, "My name is Dracule Mihawk. You're strong, but you still have so much to learn. I will be waiting for you, for as long as it takes, as the world's greatest swordsman! Until the time comes when our swords cross again, you must see the world! Become stronger! Train yourself further, so that one day you will surpass this sword. Then, and only then…SEEK ME OUT, RORONOA ZORO!" He then only turned to Luffy and asked, "As for you. What is your goal?"
"I'm the man who's gonna be King of the Pirates!" Luffy declared, once more earning a smile from the warlord.
"Your ambitions are even loftier than your friend's," replied the swordsman, "That's quite a task!"
"Yeah, well you just let me worry about that!" Luffy then stuck out his tongue at the pirate, but Ragnar only stepped forward.
"You fought well, Dracule Mihawk, with honor and bravery," said the Viking, "In my language, we have a word for warriors who possess great courage such as you: drengr."
"He's alive!" Usopp exclaimed, catching their attention, "Guys, he was just unconscious!"
"You dummy! You had us scared to death back there!" Nami yelled, all while smiling at him, and crying tears of joy. She was relieved that her crewmate was still alive.
"Not just anyone can earn the respect of Dracule Mihawk," said Zeff, who was equally impressed by Zoro's performance in the duel.
Zoro only lay on his back, while Nami and Usopp tried to stop the bleeding with gauze. He only lifted Wado Ichimonji to the sky.
"Luffy! Can you hear me?" He asked weakly.
"Yeah, I sure can!" Luffy called out.
"I'm sorry for disappointing you! I know you need nothing less than the greatest swordsman in the world…" Zoro declared, "I've let you all down. Please, forgive me!" His voice trembled, as tears ran down his face, "But…I solemnly swear…from this day forth…THAT I WILL NEVER LOSE AGAIN! UNTIL THE DAY COMES…WHEN I DEFEAT HIM AND CLAIM HIS TITLE! I WILL NEVER…NEVER BE DEFEATED! IS THAT OKAY…KING OF THE PIRATES!?"
Luffy only chuckled and replied, "Yep!"
"You three are a good team," Mihawk told Luffy and Ragnar as he turned to take his leave, smiling at them, "I hope to see you again someday."
"Then until we meet again, Dracule Mihawk," said Ragnar, "On a battlefield, if the Nornir allow." He then made his way back towards the Baratie, once more turning into a lion for extra speed. As soon as he got back, he saw Don Krieg jump down from the aft-castle's remnants.
"Hey! Mihawk!" He called out, "I was under the impression that you came here to kill me. Aren't you here to finally slay Don Krieg: Ruler of the East Blue?"
"To be honest, the thought did cross my mind," admitted Mihawk, "But I had enough fun for one day, so I'm going home to get some rest."
"I don't care if you had enough," replied Krieg, cracking his neck, "I haven't even gotten started!" With a sinister grin, he drew his two flintlock pistols as his armor opened up, revealing the miniature cannons. "NOW DIE!" He bellowed as he began firing at the warlord.
"Ragnar! Protect Nami and Usopp!" Luffy yelled at his quartermaster, who rushed towards Johnny and Yosaku's boat, grabbing his shield.
'Ragnar?' Mihawk thought, hearing Luffy shout the Viking's name, but focusing all his attention on Don Krieg's volley fire. "He just won't learn when to give up, will he?" He asked, then slashed the wreck further with a great splash. Krieg's men were scattered in the water as their ship was further destroyed, many of the men now were floating in the sea, except for Don Krieg, who now stood to the sight of no one facing him.
"Ah, dammit! He escaped!" Krieg grumbled.
Meanwhile, Luffy snapped his arms and pulled a Gum-Gum Rocket to the deck of the Baratie, near Johnny and Yosaku's boat. Dracule Mihawk was nowhere to be seen, though.
"Usopp! Nami!" Luffy called out, and his three crew members looked to their captain, "You guys take Zoro back to the Merry. He needs to rest while his wounds heal." Then he looked to his quartermaster, "Ragnar! You're with me!"
"Be careful!" Nami called out, smiling at Luffy.
"Roger that! Don't you worry about a thing! And make sure you get that cook to join our crew!" Usopp exclaimed, throwing Luffy his straw hat, "And then, on the Going Merry, the six of us will set sail…to the Grand Line!"
"YEAH! LET'S DO IT!" Luffy exclaimed, catching his hat and placing it on his head, turning to his childhood friend with a grin, "Ready to take down the King of the East Blue?"
"Oh, with absolute pleasure!" Ragnar replied with a grin, as he drew his sword and shield, once more reciting the same poem he did at Syrup Village: "Deyr fé, deyja frændr, deyr sjalfr it sama, ek veit einn, at aldrei deyr: dómr um dauðan hvern!" Then he bellowed his battle-cry, "ODIN OWNS YOU ALL!"
'Just hang on a little longer, Nami!' Luffy thought, 'I promise, after we're done here, we'll head straight to your home village, and beat the ever-living crap outta Arlong!'
Luffy, Sanji and the rest of the chefs all readied themselves for war. The Battle for the Baratie was now about to begin in earnest!
A/N: How about THAT! The epic clash between Zoro and Mihawk! It also appears that Ragnar has heard about the Seven Warlords. Now, you'll notice Ragnar's prayer. This is also taken straight from Ibn-Fadlan's accounts of the Vikings he encountered. During his time with them, a prominent thegn among the Rus' died, and Ibn Fadlan bore witness to the man's funeral. For anyone who's seen the History Channel show Vikings, they will know exactly what a Viking funeral for so noble an aristocrat entails.
As for the sword that Mihawk is wielding, you'll notice that I described it as a kriegmesser. What's a kriegmesser? Well, during the late Middle Ages, the kriegmesser was basically a two-handed falchion that common infantrymen could wield, as back then, only the knights could own a sword. So, the messer, which means "Knife" in German, was an alternative for commoners to wield, as it was a sword, though not technically considered one. The kriegmesser was just basically a two-handed variant of the messer. If you've seen Skallagrim's videos on YouTube, you will have seen this type of sword as well.
Anyway, see you in the next chapter guys! I hope you enjoy!