[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.
Zoro stood on the wreckage of the ship, his slender figure denoting an aura of determination and fury. Meanwhile, Mihawk observed him with a serene expression, almost as if he were contemplating a mere ten-year-old boy, completely unaware of the challenge he had thrown.
"COME AND FIGHT!" Zoro shouted, anger reflected in his eyes.
"Well, then, let's see what you're capable of, pup..." Mihawk mocked, gracefully leaping from his raft to the area where Zoro was positioned.
"Don't underestimate me!" Zoro retorted, his fury amplified when Mihawk drew a small knife from his neck, indicating that he would face Zoro only with that modest instrument.
"You must be joking...?" Kuina responded, perplexed, next to Luffy on the deck.
Luffy couldn't help but mock her, "You've only stayed in the East Blue your whole life. It's time to see how we are ants compared to the great powers of this world..." His attention was fixed on the imminent fight, his eyes analyzing every movement.
Returning to the scene of the fight, Zoro placed his main sword between his teeth while raising the other two in each hand.
"Don't blame me if you get hurt!" Zoro said, mocking as he advanced toward Mihawk, who awaited the attack with unshakable calm.
What unfolded next shocked most of the spectators present at Baratie, including Krieg's defeated pirates. Zoro, having a clear view of the scene, was even more astonished than anyone else.
His three-sword strike was halted by the knife in Mihawk's hand as soon as it touched the modest weapon. Zoro could hardly believe what he was seeing, but his disbelief did not prevent him from persisting in the battle. A dizzying exchange of high-speed blows unfolded, with Zoro attempting to hit his target unsuccessfully. Mihawk, on the other hand, toyed with the former bounty hunter, sporting a mocking smile on his face.
Surprisingly, Mihawk didn't need to take a single step to dodge Zoro's attacks. With only one arm holding that small knife, he skillfully parried each blow, leaving the audience bewildered and humiliated as they witnessed Zoro being so clearly outmatched. Baratie fell silent in the face of the display of disparity between the two swordsmen.
"He doesn't even stand a chance..." Yamato said calmly, surprised by Mihawk's skill. She continued, expressing her thoughts in the face of the gradual revelation.
"And to think there are others so powerful in the sea..." Her voice reflected disbelief.
This revelation wasn't a surprise to Luffy, considering Yamato's isolated life context in a closed country where her own father blocked information about the outside world. She wasn't aware of many sea monsters that could rival Kaido.
"Is he really that strong?" Nami asked, seeking to understand the extent of Mihawk's power.
"I'm not sure of the extent of his power, but I wouldn't doubt that he could cut Syrup Village Island in half with a single strike." Luffy said, shocking everyone with this impressive revelation.
"WHAT??!!!" Usopp was the first to shout, expressing his amazement.
"Is our difference really that vast?" Kuina couldn't help but tremble at the possibility of such a wide power gap. The realization of the discrepancy between Zoro and Mihawk was disturbing for everyone present at Baratie.
"Are there people at that level of power?!" Nami exclaimed in fear as well.
"He's just one of the tips; there are many people in that category who are classified as the true monsters, and it's this group of beings that dominates the sea. Kuina, your dream is to surpass him, even knowing what kind of monster he is now, will you give up on your dream?" Luffy asked, crossing his arms, his gaze fixed on Kuina, wanting to see her determination after imagining Mihawk's power.
"I... I will surpass him, no matter how many years I have to train or how many scars will be drawn on my body!" She said, showing a determined look after a moment of hesitation.
"Great, I would like to see your progress to the top of this world then. I'm sure Mihawk expects that too because it must be lonely always being at the top. Besides, usually, you stagnate when there are no rivals to compare your skills to..." Luffy said, thinking that after Shanks lost his arm, he must have regressed quite a bit in his fencing, and that must have frustrated Mihawk since the world's greatest swordsman seemed to consider him a rival.
Turning his attention back to the fight, Zoro was finally acknowledged by Mihawk at this moment. After a few blows and exchanged words, which showed a smile as he took Yoru from his back to face the young swordsman for the first time with recognition.
A blow followed as the two crossed swords, breaking all of Zoro's ordinary swords a second later. Recognizing his defeat, Zoro opened his arms to Mihawk and said the same words as in the anime.
"It's a shame for a swordsman to have a cut on his back!" He said without removing the smile from his face. Admiring this, Mihawk struck Zoro head-on a moment later.
"ZORO!"
"THIS!"
"ZORO-SAMA!"
Luffy's companions exclaimed with this, but Luffy looked at Yamato and said.
"What does your Haki say? Was it a life-threatening injury?" He asked.
"No, it was superficial, although it will leave a beautiful scar..." Yamato said.
"Well, Jhonny, let's get Zoro and take him out of there. Yamato, you come with me. Let's see what the difference is between us and the true monsters of this world..." Luffy announced, jumping from the deck toward the space where Mihawk was with Zoro fallen. He grabbed a dazed Jhonny as he advanced.
*Crack*
Mihawk didn't need to look to identify who had approached, keeping his gaze fixed on Zoro lying down.
"Jhonny, take Zoro and take care of that wound," he instructed, and Jhonny promptly lifted Zoro's body, quickly retreating from the scene like a rocket. He didn't want to stand in front of the world's greatest swordsman, especially after everything he had heard and seen.
"You are...?" Mihawk finally diverted his gaze to the newcomer, assessing Luffy. 'He must be eyeing the hat on my back, but it doesn't matter...' Luffy thought, responding confidently and without hesitation in the face of this imposing monster.
"I am Monkey D. Luffy, the man who will dominate the seas..." Luffy declared calmly.
"A bold statement, especially coming from a child of the weakest sea..." Mihawk commented calmly.
"Oh? My swordsman fought you. Let me see the strength of the one who stands among the top of this world..." Luffy stared at Mihawk without hesitation.
Watching this, Mihawk couldn't help but have a peculiar gleam in his eyes. "It seems that this journey to this sea is quite enjoyable. I didn't think I would encounter such peculiar children..." He said, but Luffy ignored the comment.
"Anyway, you don't mind fighting against two at the same time, do you?" Luffy calmly questioned, receiving silence as Mihawk's response, who didn't need to say a word.
*BOOM!*
An explosion on the wood, in the middle of the sea, echoed next to Luffy, and Yamato arrived ready to fight, her Kanabo resting on her shoulder.
"Hmm... Interesting. So, show me your determinations, children. Let's see if you are fit to dominate the seas in the upcoming era..." Mihawk declared, assuming a combat position with Yoru raised.
He acknowledged that he couldn't underestimate the two in front of him. What surprised him more was the presence of the white-haired, horned woman. She was too powerful to be in this sea or even in the first part of the Grand Line. The same thought applied to the boy Shanks constantly praised. Here, he proved to be much more formidable than Mihawk initially imagined, considering that the boy should be only 17 years old but now looked like an incredibly powerful man, far from being underestimated, even as a rookie.
Luffy took his saber from the holster on his waist, which looked like a scimitar for the first time since he bought it at the system store; he didn't know anything about fencing until now, but he could learn a little from this fight.
Aware of her opponent's immense strength, Yamato assumed a serious posture. Mihawk might not be as ruthless as Kaido, but she recognized that she couldn't underestimate the swordsman. Although she couldn't predict the outcome of a deathmatch between them, she knew that Mihawk was capable of cutting her club in two, making him a formidable opponent.
"Let's start..." Luffy announced, an amethyst glow enveloping his body, while Yamato radiated a white aura. The tension in the air indicated that the battle was about to begin.
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Author's note:
* I don't know the extent of Mihawk's power; what I saw was him cutting a frozen tsunami and a meteor, but I wouldn't doubt that he could cut a small island too.
* I didn't delve into Zoro's thoughts in this fight, mainly because everyone should know what happens with him in the fight, and it would be a waste of time since the fanfic intends to bring a new point to the story with other aspects. I repeated everything that happened in the original work; it doesn't make much sense.
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[Chapter Size: 2119 Words.]
Third Person POV
Baratie, East Blue.
...
...
"Somewhere in the sea, East Blue."
Luffy drew his saber from the holster on his waist, which looked like a scimitar for the first time since he bought it at the system store. He didn't know anything about fencing until now, but he could learn a little from this fight. Yamato, knowing that her opponent was very powerful, took it seriously as well. Mihawk might not be as tough as Kaido, but she couldn't see who would win in a deathmatch. Still, she knew that this man could really cut through that club, so he wasn't an easy opponent.
"Let's start..." Luffy announced, enveloping his body in an amethyst aura, while Yamato had a white aura.
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Regarding the silence that enveloped the area, only a strong wind echoed as a man and a woman radiated vibrant colors, facing the iconic swordsman before them. He kept his sword raised, patiently awaiting the unique display that would unfold before his eyes, aware that it was a rare spectacle, even for him.
Luffy, wearing only dark pants and a boot, proudly displayed his pirate cloak with the Jolly Roger as his body was enveloped in intense purple flames. The flames, amidst an amethyst aura, gave him a wild elegance, highlighting his scarlet eyes that glowed with determination for the battle.
[Since Yamato wasn't entirely clear in the description, I made an interpretation. If adjustments are needed, please let me know.]
Beside him, Yamato also radiated intensely. A frigid aura, tinged with white, completely enveloped her. These two auras turned the atmosphere into chaos, creating winds that swept through the entire environment. The scene left all spectators stunned, while Krieg's pirates closest to them fled in terror, even though they were hungry and weakened.
"What is this?!" Usopp exclaimed in the group watching from the restaurant, his eyes widened at the spectacle of amethyst flames and icy aura.
"Hey, where does this come from?! How can they shine like this?" Reiju also asked, stunned, trying to understand the origin of that impressive power.
"They are Devil Fruit users..." Zeff answered for her, but his surprise was no less as his eyes remained fixed on the imminent battle about to unfold.
"Fruits that give people powers just by eating them, like in legends?!" Patty exclaimed beside him, perplexed by the revelation.
"Yes, although I don't know what kind of Devil Fruits they have, this explains a lot about the man's strength, who even killed Krieg while no one was looking." Zeff said, his eyes still glued to the imminent fight.
"Do you know which fruits they ate, Kuina-Sama?" Shirahoshi asked, curious about the origin of Luffy and Yamato's extraordinary powers.
"I don't know... it has always been a mystery to all of us. We only know that Luffy can create powerful flames, and Yamato can freeze even the sea..." Kuina replied. Despite being one of Luffy's closest associates, he never fully revealed his potential, limiting himself to fighting with Yamato and using some powers, nothing compared to the spectacle unfolding before them.
"Yamato told me once they each ate a kind of Mythical Zoan, although I don't know what that means. It must be worth a lot of money!" Nami commented, causing a surprised expression on Zeff at the unusual revelation.
"Mythical Zoan? Are you really serious?!" He exclaimed, looking quite frightened, drawing the attention of the other spectators.
"What's the big deal, old man? Does that mean something?" Reiju asked, finding his reaction strange.
"Listen, stinky brat, there are three types of Devil Fruits: Paramecia, Logia, and Zoan." He began to explain, gaining even more attention from everyone, even though they continued to focus on the auras covering Luffy, Yamato, and the sound of the wind blowing around. And he continued to speak.
"Pay attention. Paramecia grants strange powers, ranging from creating an invisible barrier to slowing down a target with lightning. Each fruit imposes a power limit, but that doesn't mean you can't become powerful, even if the ability initially seems weak. It all depends on the user and their imagination as they develop the fruit's ability."
"The Logias are considered invincible, as they transform the user into an element. Not only does the user acquire the power of that element, but their body also becomes elemental, making them immune to physical damage," he said, gaining astonishment from his audience.
"But, as much as the body is elemental, there are many countermeasures to fight them. Now, about the Zoans, there is the Zoan fruit category, which transforms the user into an animal... but it can vary into three more categories in this classification. Let me explain: there are the common ones, which transform into any existing animal; right after these, the Ancient Zoans, which have the ability to transform into even more powerful animals, usually ancient and extinct or nearly extinct species in this world. They grant much more power to the user than the common ones. However, there is a third category of Zoans that makes you transform into a legend: the Mythical Zoans!"
"Does that mean they are that powerful?" Reiju couldn't help but let her cigarette fall from her mouth at this moment.
"If we take the power level classifications of Devil Fruits, I would put it in this order: Common Zoans, Paramecias, Ancient Zoans, Logias, and the most powerful and rare of all, naturally, the Mythical Zoans. They are so rare that I heard you can count on your fingers how many users of them exist and that we know of, as far as the world has shown..." Zeff said, looking closely at Luffy and Yamato.
"Now, here, in this sea, in front of my restaurant, after retiring as a pirate, two Mythical Zoans appeared in a single crew... I'm sure that would shock the world if it appeared in a newspaper the next day..." He said, gaining the astonished look of all listeners. He wasn't the only one with this thought.
Meanwhile, Mihawk was attentively observing his opponents. His sharp eyes analyzed every detail of Luffy and Yamato's extraordinary transformations, while his words echoed in the atmospheric chaos.
"Two Mythical Zoans, I never expected that, even in the New World. What are the chances of witnessing something like this? It's like asking to put Sengoku to fight Kaido... or a war between Whitebeard's crew and the Beast Pirates. Something that would only happen in an event that would shake the world..." Mihawk said, narrowing his eyes, his impassive expression contrasting with the turmoil around him.
"Now I'm seeing newly arrived pirates with such power under the same flag... first that fascinating swordsman, Roronoa Zoro, who, despite being weak, has spirit and could become a challenge in the future if he doesn't die. Now I'm seeing these two users with powers that only those at the top of the world possess." Mihawk muttered fascinated, letting his emotion show. In a moment of pure admiration, he couldn't contain the shout that escaped his lips.
"MY NAME IS DRACULA MIHAWK, TELL ME YOUR NAMES!" He shouted to his opponents, as a recognition as he did with Zoro until a moment ago.
"My name is Monkey D. Luffy." Luffy said calmly, but his voice was heard thanks to his powers altering the sound.
"YAMATO!" Shouted the woman shrouded in the white aura.
The auras persisted for a few more precious seconds, announcing the start of the metamorphoses that would unfold in the bodies of Luffy and Yamato.
Luffy's transformation was something magnificent to witness. His skin gained a purple hue, muscles slightly expanded, and peculiar scales emerged, forming a unique armor. These scales adorned his hands and waist, giving him an imposing appearance. On his head, two horns appeared, curving backward, while amethyst flames danced around his figure. Surprisingly, this time, no wings or an extension of his hair emerged, but the metamorphosis was so impressive that it left his adversary before him with eyes wide open, absorbing every detail of this extraordinary transformation.
The woman, surrounded by an icy aura, underwent an equally surprising metamorphosis. Her skin turned into white fur, simulating a layer of freshly fallen snow. Pointed ears emerged while horns grew, taking on longer tips on her forehead. She acquired the form of a humanoid wolf, replacing her feet with animalistic paws. Her hair grew even more, and a white, icy line drew a half-circle on her back.
Both auras, with their contrasting elements of amethyst fire and ice, created a magnificent vortex, highlighting the grandeur of the transformations occurring in their beings. The spectacle was hypnotic, capturing the attention of all spectators as they witnessed this demonstration of extraordinary power.
"Incredible, two Mythical Zoans! This is truly surprising, especially for newcomers in such a weak sea..." Mihawk pronounced these words even more excitedly; he really never expected this. He still wondered when he could see something like this in the New World, but ended up witnessing it in a simple amusement of hunting a weak pirate to this sea.
The auras suddenly disappeared, revealing the two transformed individuals, who in everyone's opinion were no longer human, which also left them quite frightened.
[Image of Luffy here]
[Image of Yamato here]
A resplendent layer, emanating elemental power, covered various parts of their bodies, plunging the area into a silence charged with tension.
"Is that... is that Luffy-Sama?!" exclaimed Shirahoshi, her eyes widening in pure disbelief.
"My God, can they transform into this? Are these the most powerful Devil Fruits?" Usopp asked, surprise stamped on his face, unable to contain the question bubbling in his mind.
The silence was abruptly interrupted by the distinctive sound of an "Ouch!" uttered by some spectator, expressing their own perplexity at the unexpected transformation. The murmur of surprise and astonished whispers swept through the environment, creating an atmosphere of amazement and anticipation as everyone processed what they had just witnessed, while spectators tried to understand Luffy and Yamato's stunning transformations.
"Is this... is it real?" Nami asked, her eyes showing perplexity.
"I knew they were powerful, but this is something else!" Kuina exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with a mix of respect and fascination.
"I didn't expect this even in my wildest dreams..." Usopp commented, still processing what his eyes witnessed.
Reiju, who was closer to the front line, couldn't hide her surprise. "These powers... are almost unbelievable."
As the reactions unfolded, Mihawk, the silent observer, finally spoke: "Impressive... these youngsters have more than just strength. They have the potential to change the tides of this era."
Yamato, in her humanoid wolf form, let out a soft growl, demonstrating her readiness for the approaching battle. The wind, now laden with the energy of the two Mythical Zoans, echoed through the surroundings, intensifying the already charged atmosphere.
"Old man, you don't seem to be joking. I feel my instincts screaming not to get closer to them more than to that swordsman!" Reiju exclaimed beside him.
"Don't be fooled, brat. They are powerful, no doubt, but unlike the wild aura they emit, Mihawk is much more controlled, so you have the impression that the two are stronger. But don't forget they are in front of the world's strongest swordsman... Even that kid who stole you knows he can't win this fight. He said it himself before starting his transformation..." Zeff said calmly.
"Who said he stole me?!" Reiju shouted angrily as Zeff still insisted on something she didn't agree with.
"They are going to start!" Kuina shouted, and all eyes turned back to the fight, which was about to begin.
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Author's note:
* I had Patty treat Devil Fruit users as legends, something that I personally find hard to swallow since Devil Fruits should be common knowledge in this world. Who doesn't think about gaining powers by eating a horrible fruit? Besides, newspapers are always notifying about powerful users with their fruits! But since in the anime it is treated like this in the first episodes, I'll put some people who believe that Devil Fruits are just legends in East Blue.
* Zeff's explanation may not be so accurate about Devil Fruits, but I wanted the character to gain personality with his own thoughts, not a copy and paste from some wiki.
* The chapter didn't move forward, I know, but I had to report how people would react to the transformations of phase 2, something that would yield many expressions and questions. But I'll try to publish another one today.
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