The sound of clashing steel echoed endlessly through the Corrida Colosseum. Every time their blades met, the air vibrated with a faint roar like thunder, causing the entire arena to tremble. While the ordinary spectators couldn't see the details, the powerful warriors in the waiting room watched with serious expressions. They could see that both Zoro's and Shiryu's blades were coated in jet-black Armament Haki.
Though Zoro's Armament Haki was not yet as refined as Shiryu's, his sheer willpower and patience allowed him to block the Rain's ferocious assault. The cost of his defense was high; his body was covered in small wounds and soaked in blood. Despite the gruesome appearance, he had managed to dodge or parry the most lethal strikes.
"As expected of a man Dracule Mihawk favors," Shiryu praised, his voice turning dark and serious. "The more talent you show, the more pleasure I'll feel when I kill you. You've successfully stoked my killing intent to a new level, Roronoa Zoro!".
Zoro remained silent. He remembered his mentor Carl's warning that talkative villains often find their end, and he refused to waste his breath. Deep inside, something was shifting. The pressure of the fight was forcing him to evolve.
"Three-Sword Style: Crossing of the Six Paths!".
Zoro unleashed a barrage of slashes with such blinding speed that Shiryu barely had time to react. Although Shiryu used his Armament Haki to shield himself and blocked the majority of the strikes, the attack still carved deep wounds into his shoulder, waist, and abdomen.
Shiryu's eyes darkened with malice. He noticed that Zoro had entered a strange, focused state—a trance where he was growing stronger by the second. Realizing he had to break this momentum before Zoro surpassed him, Shiryu accelerated his movements, his slashes becoming even more savage.
Zoro didn't back down. He met Shiryu's blades head-on, suffering more blood-chilling wounds in exchange for the chance to strike. From the stands, the Straw Hat crew shouted until their voices were hoarse.
"Zoro! Don't you dare give up!"
"Keep going, moss-head!"
"Roronoa! Stand tall and defeat him!"
Zoro heard none of it. He was entirely immersed in the battle, his mind burning with a single thought: "I will be the world's greatest swordsman. I cannot lose here!".
As that conviction reached its peak, an invisible wave of raw power erupted from Zoro. It rippled outward, kicking up clouds of dust and silencing the crowd. Suddenly, hundreds of spectators in the stands collapsed, falling unconscious in an instant.
"He awakened Conqueror's Haki?!" Shiryu stammered, shocked by Zoro's hidden potential.
On the sidelines, Katakuri's face grew grim. "Conqueror's? The Straw Hats are becoming a major threat.". Nearby, Ace, Marco, and Vista watched with wide eyes. With three members possessing Conqueror's Haki, the crew was beginning to mirror the legendary Roger Pirates.
Luffy just grinned under his straw hat. "Of course he has it! How can Zoro be the world's best without the Haki of a King?".
In the arena, Zoro was just as surprised. Carl had always told him that Conqueror's Haki was a requirement for the pinnacle of swordsmanship, but he hadn't expected it to manifest today. He knew this was only the beginning; he still had to learn to infuse this power into his blades like Luffy and Carl did. For now, he just needed to win.
"Hahaha! Conqueror's Haki?" Shiryu laughed excitedly, his killing intent overflowing. "You truly have the qualities of a king! Killing you will be even more satisfying now!".
Shiryu vanished into a blur of blood-red motion, charging forward.
"Three-Sword Style Secret Technique: Billion-fold World Trichiliocosm!".
Zoro poured every ounce of his Armament Haki into his three blades, turning them into solid black steel. He lunged forward, meeting Shiryu's shadow in a massive collision.
A violent explosion rocked the Colosseum, cracking the floor of the arena so deeply it looked ready to sink into the sea. When the smoke cleared, a figure was sent flying backward, blood spraying from a hideous gash across his chest. It was Zoro.
Shiryu stood in the center of the ring, his expression twisted with frustration. He too had a deep, bleeding wound on his chest. Although he had severely injured the young pirate, he couldn't believe a mere rookie had managed to scar him so badly after decades of training.
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse