Mihawk cast a sidelong glance at Ron.
"You vanished for two years, and now you've reappeared on the seas. What are you planning next?"
"Planning?" Ron chuckled, reclining at the stern of the boat. The cool night breeze tousled his hair as he lazily sipped from his Endless Wine Jug. "I don't plan on doing anything. Just wandering the world as a traveler, enjoying life."
"Yeah. Though, I suppose Raftel is also along my travel route."
Mihawk turned his head slightly, his sharp gaze lingering on Ron for a moment before he looked away, staring ahead into the dark, endless ocean.
"You attacked Mary Geoise and Marineford. You stormed into Wano alone. You gravely injured one of the Four Emperors, Kaido. Even if you do nothing, just your return to the seas is enough to stir up chaos."
"Maybe." Ron grinned. "I imagine the Marines will be sending someone to question you, seeing as you're one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"I'll answer according to the... situation." Mihawk's tone was indifferent.
Ron chuckled, and with a flick of his wrist, his Endless Wine Jug vanished into thin air.
In the distance, the faint glow of the floating restaurant was beginning to take shape on the horizon.
"Today's fight was satisfying. Let's do this again sometime, Mihawk."
As Ron spoke, a paper slip drifted through the night breeze.
It floated directly above Mihawk before descending toward him.
He reached out and caught it.
It was a Vivre Card—a fragment of Ron's life force, a way to find him no matter where he was in the world.
"You can use this to find me next time."
Ron's voice faded into the night as his figure disappeared into the darkness.
Mihawk lowered his gaze, staring at the small piece of paper in his hand.
For the first time in a long while, the corners of his lips curved slightly upward.
"To hand over a Vivre Card… to a swordsman you've only fought once..."
"What an interesting man."
He murmured to himself.
Mihawk lifted his head, watching the direction where Ron had vanished.
For the first time in nearly a decade, something stirred in his heart—an excitement that had long been buried.
His blood, the blood of a swordsman, was boiling.
"It's clear you weren't even fighting at full strength..."
"Your Haki, your true swordsmanship… you barely revealed them."
"The next time we cross blades, it will be a battle at full power—no reservations, no holding back."
"Then, we'll truly determine who the strongest swordsman in the world is..."
"This sea... won't let us be bored anymore, will it, Yoru?"
Behind him, the world's strongest black blade, Yoru, trembled slightly—its eerie hum echoing through the night.
A lone man. A lone boat. A lone sword.
Drifting into the boundless sea under the cover of darkness.
When Ron returned to the Baratie, the battle had already ended.
The Krieg Pirates, who had previously sought to seize the floating restaurant, had been utterly defeated by Luffy.
Luffy and Nami's eyes lit up with surprise as they watched Ron descend from the sky.
He landed lightly on the wreckage of the massive ship that had been split apart by Mihawk's sword.
Zoro, sitting cross-legged on the deck with his upper body wrapped in bandages, fixed his sharp gaze on him.
"So it really is you, Ron..."
Ron smiled in his direction.
"It's been a while, Zoro. You've grown stronger."
His long black coat, bearing a few slashes from battle, and his shoulder-length dark hair swayed gently in the ocean breeze.
Inside the restaurant, the chefs and guests peered through the glass windows, whispering in hushed voices filled with awe.
"Did his battle with Mihawk end in a decisive outcome?"
"What exactly happened?!"
"Who won? Was it Mihawk… or him?"
"Could it be that the title of the World's Strongest Swordsman has changed hands?"
The young man with dark hair seemed calm and easygoing, without the menacing aura of a warrior.
But remembering the earth-shattering slashes he unleashed earlier sent shivers down their spines.
Zoro let out a self-deprecating chuckle.
"I've grown stronger, huh? And yet… I'm still far from reaching your level."
He clenched his fists, but instead of frustration, there was a newfound clarity in his expression.
Rather than dwelling on the gap between them, he had chosen to face his own shortcomings head-on.
Looking up at Ron, he spoke with sincerity,
"You healed me, didn't you? Thanks."
"Don't mention it. It was nothing special," Ron replied casually. "I only sped up your recovery. You'll still need time to heal completely."
"Even so, it helped a lot," Zoro acknowledged with a serious nod.
Then, after a moment of hesitation, he shifted the topic.
"Your eyes… are they alright?"
Ron raised a hand, lightly brushing his fingers across his eyelids before smiling.
"They'll be fine. A little more time, and I'll be able to see again."
Zoro nodded before asking another question.
"How's Kuina? Is she with you?"
"Kuina is doing well," Ron replied. "She's currently in Sabaody Archipelago."
Standing outside the restaurant doors, a cigarette hanging from his lips, Sanji overheard the conversation and grew irritated.
"That moss-headed idiot… He asks about everything except the most important thing first. Useless."
The others felt the same.
They all shot glares at Zoro as if silently screaming:
Ask the real question already, you idiot!
Zoro got to the question they were all dying to know.
"Your duel with Mihawk… who won?"
Everyone at the Baratie—Zeff, Sanji, Gin, Luffy, Nami, the chefs, and the guests—held their breath, eyes locked on Ron, waiting for his answer.
"If we're talking about pure swordsmanship… it was a draw."
A tremor ran through the crowd.
"He fought Mihawk, the World's Strongest Swordsman, to a standstill…?"
Someone swallowed hard, unable to believe what they had just heard.
Does that mean his swordsmanship is already on par with the greatest swordsman in the world?!
The weight of the title "World's Strongest" was not something to be taken lightly.
It was the highest peak, a throne that countless swordsmen had strived to reach—only to fail.
And yet, this man… had already stood on equal footing with Mihawk.
Zoro had expected this outcome, but hearing it confirmed still sent a ripple through his heart.
His gaze toward Ron grew complicated.
Years ago, Kuina and I made a vow. No matter what, one of us would surpass Ron and reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
But now… that goal has become one and the same.
To defeat Ron and to become the World's Strongest Swordsman… are now the same thing.
Luffy, standing with his arms crossed, grinned.
"World's Strongest, huh…? That's so cool!"
Nami, standing beside him, murmured to herself.
"He just keeps getting stronger… keeps surpassing everyone else. Of course, he's incredible."
She remembered how, years ago, Ron had told her:
"The Grand Line is filled with people stronger than Arlong. Stronger than me."
All those people he had once acknowledged as stronger than him…
He had surpassed them.
And he was still moving forward, leaving them all behind.
Nami stared at his back, feeling a strange emotion rise within her.
One day, he'll surpass everyone in this world.
He'll stand at a height no one else can reach…
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Advance Chapters: .com / ElvenKing20