Chapter 59: 100x

A swordsman's instinct made Zoro realize, the very instant he laid eyes on Gao Wen, that the gulf between himself and the man before him was like an impassable chasm.

But when he faced that gulf head-on, he was still utterly shocked.

A dagger dismissed as a toy had so easily blocked the killing move he had developed?

"Are you really even human?!"

"Can pure swordsmanship truly reach such a realm?!"

Accompanying Zoro's questions were Joseph and Johnny in the distance, staring wide-eyed and slack-jawed.

That the gap between Zoro and Gao Wen was large, they could accept—after all, their opponent was the pirate with the highest bounty in the East Sea, even higher than that Fire Fist Ace.

But for it to be this vast was already beyond comprehension.

"No matter how strong a human is, there has to be a limit, right?"

Joseph ground out through clenched teeth.

Johnny beside him, meanwhile, had already been rendered unable to speak.

……

Whooosh~!

A sea breeze swept past.

Zoro, his vest soaked through with sweat, felt only a chill rising from the soles of his feet.

And the man standing before him merely spoke lightly:

"Still going to force me to draw my sword?!"

"Zoro!"

"Of course."

The shock and bewilderment in Zoro's eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by a heat blazing like the sun:

"I understand now."

"Without a monster-like strength like this, how could one ever make his name resound through the heavens!"

"Let that guy hear it!"

"Not bad, those eyes!"

Gao Wen gave a small nod.

The next instant.

The three long blades in Zoro's hands came crashing down on Gao Wen like a raging storm.

At this moment, having clearly grasped the vast gulf between them, Zoro threw all restraint to the wind.

Simply because the man before him was the strongest swordsman he had ever encountered in his life—even adding together every foe he had ever faced, they could not compare to a single hair of the man in front of him!

Moreover, regarding the sword in that man's hand—that sword of simple make yet extreme length—Zoro kept feeling he had seen it somewhere before.

But now he had no mind to think; there was only the opponent before him!

Sword strikes far denser than any ordinary swordsman's, a gale seeming to flay a man alive, sealing off every opening for Gao Wen to strike.

Yet these sword techniques, flawless in Zoro's eyes, appeared far too feeble in Gao Wen's—even without resorting to a cheat like Observation Haki, his LV-5 swordsmanship alone could easily break them apart.

The dagger in Gao Wen's hand stabbed out like raindrops, yet each time it sealed off Zoro's swordsmanship……

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

……

A rapid succession of clashing metal rang in everyone's ears.

Zoro's swordsmanship, already fierce in momentum and swift as thunder in the onlookers' eyes, was dispelled by Gao Wen with such effortless ease that he did not expend even the tiniest fraction of strength.

"This is Captain Gao Wen's strength?"

"Truly a monster-like power."

Nami gaped as she watched from afar, unable to hold back a sigh of admiration.

At this moment she finally gained a tangible sense of Gao Wen's might, and finally understood why Gao Wen had been able to so casually butcher Arlong—the one who had crushed Cocoyama Village and the surrounding Marines for five whole years until they could barely breathe.

Simply because Gao Wen's swordsmanship had already reached a superhuman level!

Xiang Keluo stood with arms folded, expression unchanged, and said lightly:

"If he couldn't even manage this much, the captain should have replaced him long ago."

"And this level, for that man, is at most a pastime after a meal."

Ah Jin nodded impassively, indicating his agreement with Xiang Keluo's view, then glanced toward Joseph and Johnny in the distance and said lightly:

"Two more rats—I'll go handle them."

"Mm."

……

On the battlefield.

Zoro was drenched in sweat from head to toe.

The nearly ceaseless sword-swinging had drained his stamina enormously.

The moment the motion of his hands slowed by even a fraction—

The dagger in Gao Wen's hand slipped in through the gap like a venomous snake, its tip piercing Zoro's clothes and stopping precisely against his skin:

"The victor is decided!"

Gao Wen's indifferent voice fell into Zoro's ears, and the latter's lips curved slightly:

"No!"

"The outcome is not yet decided!"

Hiss!

Zoro suddenly lunged forward, enduring the searing pain of the blade piercing his chest, his three swords still completing their assault.

Fight to the death and never retreat!

"You truly bring me joy!"

Gao Wen laughed loudly, discarded the dagger in his hand, pushed off with his feet, and using the godlike speed of the Shovel Death, surged into Zoro's attack range a split second before him.

A Heavy Punch struck Zoro squarely in the abdomen.

The latter's sword technique suddenly deformed; his back arched, and his body went limp like a boiled shrimp.

"Gak!"

Zoro knelt half on the ground, coughing up a huge mouthful of blood, yet in the next second forced himself to stand, his eyes still holding that unchanging arrogance:

"How can a man kneel before power!"

"Well said!"

Gao Wen nodded calmly:

"Have you considered joining my ship?"

"Soon, we will set sail for the Grand Line, and even the latter half, the Phase of the New World, where countless peaks await us to climb!"

Zoro shook his head:

"Before I fulfill my promise with that man, I cannot bow to anyone!"

"That is truly a pity~"

Gao Wen turned, picked up Guanshi Zhengzong which he had planted in the sand, and slowly drew it out.

Clang!

The silver-white blade was exceptionally conspicuous even under the moonlight!

The blade was long and narrow, yet devoid of intricate patterns, radiating an aura of extreme sharpness amidst its simplicity.

Zoro instantly recalled when he had seen this sword before:

"This is Master Koushirou's sword!"

"How did it come into your hands?"

Gao Wen smiled faintly:

"This fellow chose me!"

Accompanying Gao Wen's words, Guanshi Zhengzong emitted a trembling hum, a wave of excited joy surging from the blade.

Zoro felt it too and exclaimed in surprise:

"Is there a soul within this sword...?"

"Every sword has its own will and its own personality; it seems you have not yet found the one that perfectly matches you!"

"Wouldn't it be a great pity to die with such regret?"

"In the Phase of the New World, that man still exists!"

Upon mentioning Hawk Eyes, Zoro shook his head, which was growing dizzy from blood loss, and looked up at Gao Wen, asking:

"How great is the gap between you and that man?"

"A hundred times greater than the gap between you and me!"

"Heh..."

After a light chuckle, Zoro lost consciousness and slowly collapsed. After a few seconds of silence, Gao Wen sheathed Guanshi Zhengzong.

He raised his hand to summon the ship's doctor, who performed emergency treatment on Zoro's wounds.

A seed with potential jumping to the Gold tier; under no circumstances did Gao Wen wish to easily give up. As long as he lived, there was still hope of recruitment!

Seeing this, Joseph and Johnny, who had been subdued by Jinbe in the distance, also gave up struggling, allowing the pirates to bind their hands and feet.

"Fortunately, that man valued Big Brother Zoro's potential and wants to take him under his wing; this way, Big Brother won't be in mortal danger for now."

"With our strength, we cannot resist this monster at all!"

Joseph gritted his teeth, blaming his own weakness for the first time, while Johnny beside him remained completely silent.

The battle on the beach, like a farce, had now come to an end.

But the howling wind from the horizon suddenly descended at this moment, carrying raindrops the size of beans that fell upon everyone's faces.

The storm has arrived.

After ordering his men to hide the ship, Gao Wen led everyone toward the interior of the island.

Suddenly.

A gloomy voice came from the distant jungle:

"Leave this place!"

"Otherwise, if you take even one more step, misfortune will befall you!"

(End of Chapter)