Chapter 58: The World Should Not Be This Far

Zoro was completely unaware, holding a map in one hand and stroking his chin in confusion:

“That’s right.”

“I followed the map.”

Johnny turned his head, then winced and covered his eyes:

“You’re holding it upside down!”

“Oh…”

Zoro’s face flushed, then he corrected the map, glanced at the distant sea, and forcibly changed the subject:

“But we’ve turned misfortune into fortune—we can use this island to avoid the coming storm.”

“With this tiny boat, crossing the sea through such a storm to reach the next port is impossible.”

Joseph and the other man could only grit their teeth and accept it.

After all, Zoro was right.

Far out at sea, waves churned, clouds gathered and crackled with lightning—clearly, a storm was about to strike.

Moreover, the two had another concern.

Earlier, members of Gao Wen’s pirate crew had appeared at Diyagang; they’d gone to great lengths to trick Zoro away, and Joseph had even contributed from his already empty wallet.

Just thinking about it made his chest ache.

So going to another port now carried a high risk of encountering Gao Wen’s crew.

The man now held the unofficial title of the greatest swordsman of the East Blue, and if Zoro met him, his nature would drive him to draw his sword and challenge him immediately.

The outcome was obvious.

Avoiding him here was, in its own way, a stroke of luck amid misfortune.

Joseph comforted himself with this thought, then couldn’t help but reach for his wallet again.

Silence fell, only tears flowing silently in his heart.

“First, hide the boat. We’ll take the supplies and find a safe spot nearby to ride out the storm, then follow our plan to capture nearby pirates.”

Johnny made the arrangement, and Joseph had no objection.

But Zoro’s brow furrowed slightly; he pointed toward the distant sea and said:

“What’s that?!”

Joseph looked up toward the horizon.

A familiar pirate flag appeared in his view: a round shield base with a skull emblem—no one else but Gao Wen’s crew.

Wait, I’ve even fled to a deserted island—still can’t escape?

You’re being awfully rude.

“Big Brother Zoro, we…”

Joseph turned and saw Zoro’s eyes burning with fire—his heart sank halfway.

He reached for his wallet again, feeling pain so sharp he could barely breathe; beside him, Johnny’s lips twitched, speechless.

But Zoro’s hand was already on his sword hilt:

“No mistake!”

“That’s definitely Knight Gao Wen’s pirate flag!”

“The strongest swordsman of the East Blue?”

“Before entering the Grand Line to challenge the man at the summit, claiming the title of East Blue’s strongest seems like a good choice!”

“And if I’m lucky, maybe even the title of East Blue’s strongest will reach Heaven—reach Guina’s ears?”

Remembering his promise to his closest friend, Zoro’s gaze hardened.

He stepped forward, one deliberate pace at a time, toward the shoreline.

With each step, his three long swords unsheathed, gleaming with chilling radiance.

Years at sea.

Though his strength still fell far short of his original timeline’s debut, he’d already earned a name for himself in the East Blue.

He’d challenged countless swordsmen in the East Blue before—and nearly all of them fell within a few strikes.

But now, merely gazing at the figure standing on the distant ship’s bow, sweat trickled down Zoro’s forehead:

“This guy is on a completely different level—but how could a man ever retreat because of strength?!”

…

Joseph and Johnny watched Zoro’s figure, wanting to stop him—but couldn’t bring themselves to speak.

Years of companionship had taught them: once this man made up his mind, nothing would change it.

“With Big Brother Zoro’s strength, even against a monster like that, he shouldn’t lose, right?”

Joseph swallowed hard, his hand nervously gripping the curved blade at his waist; Johnny said gravely:

“If Big Brother Zoro truly can’t win, we’ll die trying to save him!”

“Don’t forget—he saved our lives. Now it’s time to repay him!”

Joseph nodded:

“Of course.”

…

Far away.

The pirate ship slowly anchored on the beach.

Gao Wen led Nami and the other two, along with his crew, down the gangway and marched toward Zoro’s position.

On the sea, he hadn’t recognized Zoro at first.

But now—

This man, standing right before him, was younger and shorter than Gao Wen remembered, barely over 1.7 meters tall.

Yet his defiant gaze and the three swords in his hands left no doubt—he was one of Gao Wen’s top targets in the East Blue.

Roronoa Zoro, the future King of Hell, the man with golden-tier potential.

Remember: adding Keluo, elevated to Bai Yin, plus Jin, had already allowed Gao Wen to ascend two levels in physique and Observation Haki within a month.

What could a gold-tier Zoro achieve?

Just thinking of it filled Gao Wen with uncontrollable excitement—he now saw Zoro as his to claim.

Soon—

The two sides faced off on the sand.

Between swordsmen, a single glance often conveyed intent.

Gao Wen, seeing Zoro’s blazing eyes, pressed his hand against the scabbard of Kanshizheng and barked:

“State your name!”

“Challenger!”

Zoro’s lips curled into a cruel grin:

“Roronoa Zoro!”

Click!

Zoro bit one long sword in midair, gripped the other two tightly, and a razor-sharp aura erupted around him.

“Draw your sword!”

“East Blue’s strongest swordsman!”

Gao Wen raised an eyebrow, a perverse amusement rising in him; he plunged Kanshizheng, scabbard and all, into the sand, then slowly pulled a dagger from his robe and said regretfully:

“Sorry—I don’t have any smaller toys on me.”

“Toys?”

Zoro froze, fury surging—Gao Wen’s posture was nothing short of humiliation.

“Then I’ll force you to draw!”

Zoro shifted stance, crossing his two swords like ox horns; his aura grew even sharper.

His thin clothes flapped violently in the sea wind; invisible killing intent locked onto Gao Wen.

“Three-Sword Style—Oni Slash!”

With a roar, Zoro lunged forward, vanishing in a blink—already before Gao Wen.

Three blades struck from three different angles, aimed at Gao Wen’s throat!

He’d used this move to slay countless arrogant swordsmen—he had absolute confidence in it, yet he knew the gulf between himself and this man was as vast as heaven and earth.

Force him to draw!

Zoro’s gaze sharpened—the three silver streaks were suddenly blocked…

Ding!

Gao Wen’s tiny dagger met the exact point where Zoro’s three blades converged; Zoro felt as if he’d struck a wall—his arms trembled violently from the recoil!

“Even if the gap is huge, there must be a limit!”

“Damn it!”

“How can the world be this far away?!”

(End of Chapter)