Chapter 74: Something More Important Than Life

The scene before him was one Zoro knew better than anyone.

Just two months ago, a sadistic captain had done exactly the same thing to the man before him.

Such an almost humiliating attitude was a grave insult to any swordsman.

Even after enduring a similar scene, Zoro’s temple veins still bulged uncontrollably:

“There’s a limit to sadistic antics!”

“Asshole!”

With his roar, Zoro stepped back slightly, then his three swords flashed again as three streaks of light, slashing toward Hawk Eyes.

Clearly, after his battle with Gao Wen, he now understood the principle: unleash seven-tenths of your strength, hold back three, to balance offense and defense.

Hss!

Hss!

Hss!

Amid the tearing sounds of air, Zoro’s lightning-fast strikes were precisely intercepted by Hawk Eyes’ unremarkable little knife.

The blade, less than five centimeters long, was barely fit for chopping vegetables, yet in Hawk Eyes’ hand, it blocked every one of Zoro’s attacks.

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

…

On the flat deck, only the relentless clashing of blades rang out, numbing everyone’s eardrums.

The chefs of the Baratie had long been stunned silent.

“Zoro’s strikes are already too fast to follow—even in the East Blue, he’s among the top swordsmen.”

“But this man, using a weapon like a toy… how can he do this?”

“What the hell!”

Paddy’s teeth chattered; he could barely speak.

Especially since yesterday he’d even considered attacking Hawk Eyes himself.

Now he thought about it:

If it weren't for Zhe Pu and Shi Ji holding him back, he would have been just like a fish on a chopping block.

“That little knife—forget fighting, it’s barely good enough for chopping veggies.”

Karne, wearing sunglasses, smaller than Paddy but equally menacing, swallowed hard.

He was a pirate by origin and thought he’d seen everything, yet this scene still made him tremble involuntarily.

The man didn’t just make you tremble with his eyes—he radiated a power so overwhelming it crushed hope.

No.

These two were cause and effect: only with sufficient strength could one possess such a gaze!

“Is this the power of the world’s greatest swordsman?”

“Of course not!”

Zhe Pu shook his head, his gaze grave:

“That man hasn’t even drawn his blade yet. To him, this is just an appetizer—no, not even that. It’s a snack.”

“His real target is the strongest swordsman in the East Blue.”

Saying this,

Zhe Pu turned to look at Gao Wen beside him, who wore an expression of calm, his eyes utterly still—as if he’d expected this all along.

In the arena,

Zoro’s three-sword style whirled like a gale, blades tearing through air with a shrill, trembling hum.

Yet even this terrifying assault failed to budge Hawk Eyes an inch; his posture grew ever more elegant, relaxed, as if strolling through a garden.

…

Gao Wen, watching this, had already placed his hand on his sword hilt.

Like Hawk Eyes, using a short blade to counter Zoro’s assault—Gao Wen knew he could do the same, for he’d done something similar on Beasts Island.

But there was a fundamental difference.

Gao Wen had intercepted Zoro’s moves by overwhelming technique, stopping them before the strikes fully formed or gained momentum.

Hawk Eyes, however, met force with force—each short blade strike landed precisely when Zoro’s blade reached its maximum power, striking right at your strongest moment!

“As expected—arrogant to the core.”

Gao Wen murmured softly. The battle in the arena was drawing to a close.

Even with three swords and unprecedented determination, Zoro was still far too raw against Hawk Eyes.

Hawk Eyes’ short blade forcefully deflected Zoro’s three swords, then stabbed straight into his chest.

Hss!

Blood sprayed!

The searing pain made Zoro grit his teeth, yet he didn’t retreat a step; his lips curled into a faint, weary smile:

“Even the spot you hit… it’s exactly the same. Are you monsters all prearranged?”

Hawk Eyes didn’t understand, but that didn’t stop him from admiring the young man; his hawk-like sharp gaze fixed on Zoro and said:

“Why didn’t you retreat?”

Zoro met that gaze, capable of freezing ordinary men with fear, and grinned:

“Who knows~”

“I never retreated when facing that man—how could I possibly retreat now? Otherwise, how could I ever stand before him again and swing my sword?!”

“Impressive!”

!

Hawk Eyes’ lips curled into a faint smile; he casually tossed aside the short blade and gripped the exaggerated black sword on his back, his tone turning serious:

“You’ve earned this respect.”

“Don’t die.”

Zoro, now powerless, simply opened his arms, his bleeding lips curling into the same defiant grin as before:

“Of course!”

“A scar on your back is a swordsman’s shame!”

Hss!

A jet-black blade streaked through the air, slicing from Zoro’s right shoulder down to his lower right abdomen, spraying a thin mist of blood.

The momentum nearly severed the entire upper deck of the Baratie in two.

Zoro’s body slowly collapsed, blood gushing from the wound, quickly spreading across the deck.

Everyone stood frozen for a moment.

Though they’d known Zoro was no match for Hawk Eyes, none expected him to lose so swiftly.

And Hawk Eyes’ strike filled them with genuine awe.

Then, at that moment,

A golden-haired figure stepped forward, glaring at Gao Wen:

“Why did you just stand there and watch him get hurt? Why didn’t you help?”

Watching Zoro collapse into a pool of blood, Gao Wen stood motionless beside him—Sanji’s anger surged without reason.

Wasn’t this just like what had happened to the former queen?

“Isn’t he your comrade?”

“Help?”

Gao Wen turned at the voice and saw a face he vaguely recognized.

Curled eyebrows, golden hair, a suit.

Such distinct features—he couldn’t miss it. This man was Sanji, the one he’d been searching for.

Yet seeing the face now, he felt an odd familiarity—as if in his predecessor’s memories, he’d seen this face before, though much younger.

After a moment of thought yielded nothing,

Gao Wen didn’t dwell on it, and said calmly:

“If I interfered now, that would be the true insult to him. Look at his face—can’t you see? That’s… pure satisfaction!”

Sanji looked down and saw Zoro’s unconscious face—smiling.

Not a twisted grimace from pain, but a genuine, heartfelt smile. How could someone this badly wounded look so happy?

Sanji was utterly stunned.

At that moment, Zhe Pu’s voice reached his ears:

“In this world, some things tower far above life and profit.”

“Like how you secretly fed starving pirates, even though I didn’t know. Like how you’ve always dreamed of finding the All Blue—the place holding every ingredient on Earth.”

“For a swordsman devoted to the Dao of the sword, nothing matters more than defeating that man!”

(End of Chapter)