No one had ever told him what to do, so he had no idea how to proceed. He just found everything incredibly troublesome—but that was all it was: trouble. Nothing more. In his eyes, none of this was truly important.
As long as he kept asking, he was bound to figure things out. Surely it wasn't so bad that he couldn't understand what was going on here, right? That couldn't be possible. And since it wasn't, he saw no reason to stress. He believed the world would still give him a chance.
So, he kept asking, pushing forward until he ran into a swordsman. Zoro figured the people here probably hadn't left this place before, which meant they might know something. Asking someone like that might actually yield results.
"Do you know where this place is? Have you heard of the Sabaody Archipelago on the Grand Line? I got separated from my crew!"
Zoro ran up to ask, sizing the man up. He seemed pretty average in terms of strength, nothing to worry about. Zoro was confident he could deal with this guy easily if it came to that.
"Hey, what're you saying? I don't understand you. Quit bothering me."
The swordsman clearly didn't want to talk. And honestly, fair enough—talking to someone who didn't speak your language was stressful. A pressure like that wasn't good for anyone.
"I'm just asking for directions! That's all! You gonna act like this? You looking for a fight or something?"
Zoro's expression darkened. He saw the impatience in the man's eyes. He was just asking a simple question—was that so wrong? Even if he couldn't understand the words, there was no need to be so rude.
"I said I don't know, and I mean it! And what's with that look? Want to see my sword style up close?!"
The man had a short fuse, and he was clearly losing it. Zoro wasn't having it either. This guy wanted to go head-to-head, huh? That look in his eyes—he was asking for a fight.
Suddenly, Zoro's eyes shifted, sharp and feral like a wild beast. The swordsman saw the change and felt a chill run down his spine. That look—terrifying—and it was coming from someone who, moments ago, had seemed weak and harmless.
Zoro spotted an axe lying nearby. Looked like a fight was unavoidable. He didn't know what this body was capable of yet, but he wasn't someone who let others walk all over him. If the guy wanted a fight—so be it.
"What the hell is with this kid? Why do I get such a dangerous vibe from him?" the swordsman thought. "Wait... I heard he's from the Zoro clan. If I accidentally kill him, I might have their whole family coming after me..."
Weighing his options, the man hesitated. But by that time, Zoro had already picked up the axe. He immediately felt the weight—though it wasn't the axe that was heavy, but his body that was too weak.
"What do you think you're doing?" the swordsman asked, finally drawing his sword. He could feel the intent—this guy really meant to fight. And something about him... he wasn't normal.
"Looks like I really can't catch a break," Zoro muttered. This body—its stamina probably wouldn't even allow for more than a single strike. He'd have to be careful.
"I can't sense any aura from you, kid. But you're still picking a fight. I'm stronger than you, and I'll prove it by cutting you down!"
"Stop babbling in a language I don't get! If you want to fight, then bring it on!"
Zoro made the first move. He needed to gauge the man's strength—and conserve his own.
Clang!
His axe struck the sword, but the swordsman didn't budge an inch. Zoro, on the other hand, felt the brute force behind the counterstrike.
"That all you got? Looks like you really are just a regular guy. But even so, you still have to die! Between swordsmen, only one can walk away!"
The man's strength overwhelmed Zoro, sending him flying back several paces. His hands went numb from the impact. This guy was stronger than he expected.
"Damn it... Fine! Let me show you what a flying slash really is. No way you're blocking this!"
This would be his last shot. If it connected, the fight might be over. Planting his stance, he gripped the axe in one hand, raising it at a forty-five-degree angle. His focus locked in, and suddenly, a strange aura gathered around him—so intense that even the swordsman felt its weight.
"What... what is this aura? Who the hell is this guy?!"
The swordsman could sense it now—this guy was different. He might not have any aura, but he was the strongest among those without it. He could feel it.
"One Style... Thirty-Six Calamity Phoenix!"
At that moment, a stunning arc of sword energy burst forth—unthinkable from someone without an aura.
"Sword aura?! That's impossible! How can a normal guy release something like that?!"
The swordsman was stunned. He had never imagined a regular person could unleash such a powerful wave of sword energy.
"Tch... that was pitiful. The slash was small, and the axe snapped. Looks like this body really is useless. I'll need serious training just to survive. How could I face my crew like this?"
Zoro's frustration grew. This body wasn't fit for his skills. If he wanted to live, he'd have to push it to its limit.
The swordsman didn't hesitate—he launched a slash of his own, also unleashing sword aura. But this one carried something extra, some hidden force within.
Boom!
The two waves of energy collided and canceled each other out. Zoro stumbled, exhausted. No doubt about it—he was completely out of stamina. This body... it was even weaker than Usopp's.
"Terrifying... someone like him can't be allowed to live. If this was a duel, then I have no choice. He has to die."
The swordsman had made up his mind. If this guy survived, he'd surpass him one day. And that... he couldn't risk.