"Wow!!"
In the darkness, Zoro flipped over and got up.
"It hurts so much!!"
He held his forehead, crying out in pain.
A bandage was already wrapped around his forehead, but the large swelling was still clearly visible.
A big bump had formed from the impact.
The pain was so intense that tears were almost welling up in Zoro's eyes.
What happened?
After a brief moment of confusion, Zoro began to recall what had happened before he lost consciousness.
That was—
A finger?
The young swordsman's expression suddenly changed.
"How could it be just a finger??"
He was defeated by a single finger!
"Zoro, are you awake?"
The door to the room opened, and Koushirou-sensei slowly walked in.
"Koushirou-sensei—"
Zoro's face slightly changed.
Koushirou had strictly forbidden them from getting near pirates.
He and Kuina had secretly snuck out to do so.
"Next time, don't act so recklessly."
Koushirou sat down at the edge of the bed and gently rubbed Zoro's head.
When Ian had brought the two kids back earlier, he had been shocked.
He had been busy these past few days helping his old man repair Mihawk's swords, with no time to keep an eye on these two troublemakers.
Despite his repeated warnings, these two kids still went to challenge Mihawk.
They didn't even face Mihawk, but instead, they clashed with Ian.
But...
"Koushirou-sensei, who exactly was that guy?"
Zoro was very curious. "He doesn't look much older than us."
"Ian?"
Koushirou paused for a moment, his tone carrying a hint of admiration. "He's a pirate from the Grand Line, the second-in-command of the world's strongest pirate crew."
"Probably, in just a few years, he'll become the strongest person in the world."
"Strongest?"
Zoro's eyes widened in shock. "He'll be stronger than Mihawk?"
Koushirou gave Zoro a deep look. "No need to change, he's already stronger than Mihawk."
To be able to destroy a sword from someone like Mihawk, the battle between him and Mihawk could only be a victory for Ian.
"What?"
Zoro was so shocked he stood up immediately.
However, if Ian were here, he would probably be speechless.
Didn't they already say he was stronger than Mihawk?
"Stronger than Mihawk!"
Zoro was in complete disbelief.
"His world is still too far from yours," Koushirou said seriously. "Don't get too close to them, Zoro, it's dangerous."
Zoro didn't speak, his mind still reeling from the shock.
"By the way," Koushirou stood up. "Go check on Kuina, Zoro, she's been through a lot."
"Huh?"
Zoro blinked, then quickly jumped out of bed. "I'll go right now!"
He found Kuina curled up on the ground, hugging her knees, under a tree in the backyard.
"Hey! Kuina!"
The boy with green algae-like hair had an excited expression. "Koushirou-sensei said that guy is stronger than Mihawk! He's even stronger than the world's greatest swordsman! There are actually such powerful people in this world—"
In the next moment, he froze.
The girl lifted her head.
Zoro stared at her, suddenly feeling a bit at a loss. "Kuina, you... you're crying?"
Tears were flowing down her face, glistening in the moonlight, her entire being immersed in a shattered atmosphere.
"Zoro, the gap is too big."
She said.
"What?"
Zoro tilted his head, confused.
"The gap between me and him is too big."
Kuina pressed her hand to her chest. "He's only fifteen, just five years older than me, but his strength is worlds apart."
Could she ever reach that level in her lifetime?
Kuina didn't know.
She only knew that with her current rate of growth, by the time she was fifteen, she might still not be able to match even a finger of that man's strength.
Even Zoro's rate of improvement was accelerating.
At this rate, in just a year or two, he would surpass her.
"Is the difference between men and women really this big?"
The girl asked, unwilling to accept it.
"What are you talking about, Kuina!"
Zoro didn't understand. "What men and women? Strength is strength. If you're dissatisfied, then work harder to get stronger!"
Kuina shook her head and muttered to herself, "Indeed, you'll never understand Zoro. There are some insurmountable gaps in this world."
The difference in talent.
The physical difference between men and women.
As for me, the one who was defeated by that man with just one finger, I will probably never become the strongest!
"Ahhhhhh! I don't get it!!"
Zoro suddenly yelled.
Even Kuina was stunned, watching as Zoro rushed into the dojo.
He quickly returned, holding three swords in his hands.
Kuina, confused, caught the sword Zoro tossed to her, the Wado Ichimonji, before Zoro grabbed her hand, forcefully pulling her up from the ground and dragging her towards the yard's exit.
"Zoro, what are you doing?"
Kuina was bewildered.
"I don't know what's going on with you!"
Zoro, full of determination, pulled Kuina towards the seaside, "But it's definitely because of that guy, right? Let's go! Let's challenge him again!"
Kuina stopped in her tracks. She was stronger than Zoro and pulled him back forcefully.
"Challenge him again?"
Kuina smiled bitterly and shook her head, "Don't you understand yet, Zoro? The difference is too great! We're far too weak compared to him! How could we possibly win against him?"
Zoro, however, turned back in surprise, "If we can't win, does that mean we can't fight?"
Kuina froze for a moment.
"Who cares about that!"
Zoro gritted his teeth and pulled the girl forward, "I haven't given up yet! As long as I haven't given up, it's not over!"
"If one sword doesn't work, then two swords! If two swords don't work, then three swords!"
"Zoro..."
Kuina no longer had the strength to resist, allowing the boy to drag her forward. She just stared in amazement at Zoro's back.
But Zoro, is it about the number of swords?
Not far behind them, under the moonlight, Koushirou quietly watched their receding figures.
He let out a soft sigh.
He really had no way with these two kids.
The two children ran all the way to the dock, to the side of the Golden Dragon ship. Zoro hesitated for no moment and headed straight for the lowered stairs.
"Hey! Brats!"
The pirates guarding the Golden Dragon stopped them. "Can't you see us? Go back! This is not a place for kids like you!"
"Let them come up."
At that moment, a voice came from above the stairs. It was Law, calmly looking down at the two kids. He said faintly, "This is Ian's wish."
"Yes, Lord Law!"
The pirates immediately cleared the way.
But they didn't forget to warn them, "Behave yourselves once you're on the Golden Dragon, brats! You're in front of Lord Ian!"
Zoro paid no attention to them. He simply dragged Kuina up onto the ship's deck.
It seemed like a party was happening on the deck. A group of people were gathered around a large table, eating and drinking.
"Yo!"
Zoro saw the guy who had beaten them with just one finger, now waving at them. "Want to join the party?"
"Come duel with us!"
Zoro let go of Kuina and took big strides toward Ian, drawing the two swords from his waist. "I'm stronger now than I was this afternoon!"
Stronger now?
Ian wiped his mouth.
Did he upgrade from a one-sword style to a two-sword style?
"Hahahahaha!"
Laughter erupted on the deck.
The pirates were all laughing.
"This little brat, he wants to challenge Lord Ian?"
How unbelievably ignorant of the world.
Even Jack and Drake, who is usually a serious guy, couldn't help but smile.
Black Maria, with a grin on her face, said, "Kid, you never seem to understand the vastness of the world."
This little brat is just a typical kid, only a bit skilled with a sword, but nowhere near the level of a true prodigy.
Don't even mention Ian; even Sanji and the twins from Wano are far stronger than him.
By far.
**********
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