Capítulo 81: "The Duel of Destiny: Zoro vs. Mihawk"
The atmosphere at the Baratie was tense as the remnants of Krieg's battered galleon bobbed on the waves, a stark reminder of the fierce battle that had just transpired. Luffy and his crew stood at the ready, eyes locked on the heavily damaged pirate ship, when an ominous sound cut through the stillness of the sea. A low, slicing noise, barely more than a whisper, grew louder and louder until, in one swift and terrible motion, Krieg's massive galleon was cleaved clean in half, each section drifting apart like paper.
"What the…?" Usopp stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief.
From the parted wreckage sailed a lone figure on a coffin-shaped boat, draped in black and radiating an aura of chilling calm. The man's hawk-like eyes gleamed with a cold intensity, and a massive sword, nearly as tall as he was, hung across his back. His hat cast a shadow over his face, but the piercing stare was unmistakable — this was Dracule Mihawk, the strongest swordsman in the world and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Zoro's eyes narrowed as he recognized the man before him. His blood surged with a mix of excitement and fear, knowing that this encounter was the opportunity he had been waiting for. This was the swordsman he had vowed to surpass.
"Mihawk…" Zoro whispered, his voice filled with both reverence and challenge.
Raja, who had been standing beside Luffy, felt the tension crackling in the air. He turned to Zoro, seeing the unmistakable fire in his friend's gaze. "You're going for it, aren't you?" Raja asked, a knowing smirk on his face.
Zoro nodded, eyes fixed on Mihawk. "I've waited too long for this. If I don't face him now, I'll never get another chance."
Luffy, already grinning with pride for his swordsman, cheered, "Go, Zoro! Show him what you're made of!"
Zoro stepped forward, pulling his swords from their sheaths with a fierce determination. He approached Mihawk, who watched him with a calm, almost bored expression. The silence between them was heavy, each swordsman sizing up the other as the sea seemed to hold its breath.
"I am Roronoa Zoro," Zoro declared, his voice steady. "I came here to be the greatest swordsman in the world, and to do that, I have to defeat you!"
Mihawk tilted his head slightly, his gaze cool and unreadable. "To become the greatest swordsman? You're not ready. But if you insist…" With a faint sigh, Mihawk reached down to his collar, pulling out a tiny dagger hanging from a chain.
Zoro's brows shot up. "What? A dagger?"
Mihawk smirked, holding up the small blade between his thumb and forefinger. "This should be enough to face someone like you."
The statement was a harsh one, and Raja felt a flare of anger at the implied insult. Zoro, however, merely gritted his teeth, accepting the challenge. He positioned his three swords, each gleaming in the sunlight, and launched forward with a powerful strike.
"Onigiri!" he shouted, his swords slicing through the air in a ferocious, three-way attack.
In one fluid motion, Mihawk parried each of Zoro's strikes with the tiny dagger, his movements so controlled and graceful that it looked effortless. Zoro's powerful blows, which had felled countless opponents, were blocked as though they were nothing more than gentle taps.
Zoro staggered back, the disbelief clear on his face. Mihawk took a step closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied Zoro's resolve. "You're too eager to die, boy," Mihawk said, barely raising his voice. "Strength alone will not make you the greatest."
Gritting his teeth, Zoro attacked again, his swords flashing as he executed move after move. But Mihawk evaded every strike with ease, the small dagger deftly parrying each of Zoro's blows. Zoro lunged, swinging his swords with relentless speed and power, but Mihawk met every move with an impenetrable defense.
Raja clenched his fists as he watched the fight, feeling the weight of each clash and the frustration Zoro must have felt. Luffy, too, had fallen silent, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by a focused intensity.
Zoro panted, the toll of the fight beginning to show as sweat trickled down his face. Yet he refused to back down, his determination blazing in his eyes. Each hit, each block, seemed to harden his resolve, and he launched forward with one of his signature moves.
"Tatsumaki!" Zoro shouted, his swords spinning in a circular whirlwind as he charged forward, creating a spiraling attack aimed directly at Mihawk.
But Mihawk only sidestepped, the small dagger deflecting Zoro's whirling swords with almost insulting ease. With a final parry, Mihawk thrust the dagger toward Zoro's chest, barely missing his heart but piercing him enough to make blood bloom across his chest. Zoro staggered, his breathing labored.
Mihawk sighed, finally releasing the small dagger and reaching back for his massive sword. "Very well. I'll honor your resolve with the full strength of my blade."
Raja's eyes widened as Mihawk unsheathed his enormous black sword, Yoru. The sheer size and power of the blade radiated an intimidating presence. This was it — the true fight had begun.
Zoro tightened his grip on his swords, his gaze fierce. He raised his three blades, each one ready to meet Mihawk's terrifying weapon. This time, his strikes were slower, each swing more deliberate, each move showing the grit and resilience he had cultivated as a swordsman.
Mihawk struck with a powerful blow, his sword coming down with the force of a landslide. Zoro met it with his three swords, the impact sending shockwaves through the air as his knees buckled under the strength of Mihawk's attack.
"Zoro!" Usopp shouted, fear clear in his voice.
Zoro clenched his teeth, pushing back with every ounce of strength he had. "I'm not…done yet!" he yelled, straining against Mihawk's sword.
The clash continued, each strike pushing Zoro closer to his limit. Mihawk finally swung his sword with overwhelming force, shattering two of Zoro's swords and sending him flying backward. Zoro fell to the ground, his chest heaving, his last remaining sword held tightly in his hand.
Zoro stood up slowly, turning around to face Mihawk, his arms spread wide. "If I'm going to be cut down," he said with fierce determination, "I won't turn my back to you. A swordsman faces his enemy."
For the first time, Mihawk looked surprised. He raised his sword, prepared to deliver a finishing blow, but stopped short, a small smile crossing his lips. "Your courage… is commendable," he said, lowering his sword.
Zoro collapsed to his knees, his strength finally giving out. Mihawk looked down at him, a hint of respect in his gaze. "You have promise. Live, grow stronger, and someday… challenge me again." With that, he sheathed his sword, his interest in the duel satisfied.
As Mihawk turned to leave, Raja hurried over to Zoro's side, quickly assessing his injuries. "Zoro, you idiot," he muttered, pulling out bandages and potions. "You really went all out."
Luffy knelt beside them, his face serious. "Zoro, don't lose again," he said, his voice carrying the weight of a promise. "I need you by my side if I'm going to be Pirate King."
Zoro managed a weak smile, nodding. "I won't lose again, Captain."
Raja and Usopp worked together to bandage Zoro up, taking care of his wounds as best they could. Once they were done, Zoro looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with a renewed sense of purpose. "One day, Mihawk… I'll defeat you."
As Mihawk's boat drifted away from the Baratie, Luffy's crew gathered around, feeling the weight of the encounter settle on them. Mihawk had come and gone like a storm, leaving their dreams sharpened and their determination ignited.
With Zoro patched up and resting, the crew regrouped, reflecting on the battles they had faced and the challenges that lay ahead. The Going Merry was nowhere to be seen, and Nami had betrayed them, taking the ship and leaving her crewmates behind. Johnny and Yosaku, who had been thrown overboard, were still fuming but loyal as ever.
"We have to go after her," Usopp insisted, still grappling with the betrayal. "We can't just let her take our ship!"
"Yeah," Zoro said, wincing slightly as he adjusted his bandages. "We're not letting her get away with that."
Luffy nodded, a fierce look in his eyes. "We'll get her back. But first, we have to finish up here and help out the Baratie." He looked at Zeff, who had watched the whole fight with interest, his peg leg tapping against the deck thoughtfully.
Zeff grunted. "You've got guts, kid. Just… try not to break any more of my stuff while you're here."
Luffy laughed, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "No promises."
Raja, who had quietly been watching the scene, finally spoke up, his expression serious. "If we're going after Nami, we're going to need everyone's help. This is just the beginning of what we'll face. Are you all ready?"
The crew exchanged glances, each of them feeling the weight of the battles yet to come. But there was no hesitation, no second thoughts. They were in this together.
With their spirits united and their determination reignited, the Straw Hat Pirates prepared for the next leg of their journey. The road ahead would be challenging, but as they looked out over the horizon, each of them felt a sense of purpose they had never known before.
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