CLANG,
With the final crisp sound of a blade sliding into its sheath, the battle, one that would surely go down in history, had at last come to an end.
BOOM!!!
Suddenly, a thunderous explosion erupted behind Luffy.
Dark red blood streamed along the cracks of the shattered ice, seeping toward Luffy's feet. The air was thick with the scent of iron, an oppressive fog of blood, formed from countless drifting droplets, cloaking the world in crimson mist.
Luffy spun around quickly, pulling a recovery item from his pack.
If Mihawk's wounds could be described as a sword through the belly, then Zoro's condition could only be called flayed alive.
He lay in a pool of his own blood, skin and flesh torn open, his internal organs heavily damaged. His eyes bulged with red veins but had gone clouded and unfocused, just like his fading consciousness.
Blood gushed from his body like a spring, seeping from the few patches of unbroken skin that remained. The pulsing veins beneath his flesh gave off faint, wet crackling sounds, sounds that made anyone nearby feel a chill deep in their bones.
His skin had split open completely, the shredded muscles beneath visible to the naked eye, as though he had been skinned alive.
But those were merely surface wounds.
The real damage came from within, the spiritual backlash of using his Asura technique to block Mihawk's terrifying strikes. The immense mental shock flooded his mind all at once.
Even Zoro, prepared as he was, felt as though the world itself had shattered inside his skull.
A deafening roar filled his head, twisting his thoughts and searing his nerves.
Pain. Unbearable pain!!!
Even his unyielding willpower, one of the strongest in the world, was nearly torn apart by the sheer agony.
After all, Mihawk's slashes were not something an ordinary swordsman could withstand.
And what Zoro had endured… was far more than just a few slashes.
Luffy hurried forward, kneeling beside Zoro and pressing the recovery item to his lips.
As the potion's restorative energy flowed through his body, Zoro's shredded flesh began knitting together. The burst skin sealed, muscles and tendons reattached as if guided by a skilled surgeon's hands. Even his lost blood was replenished by the surging life energy.
His body soon returned to its peak condition but to Zoro, it was meaningless.
The real pain, the mental one, still raged within, tearing through his consciousness.
His world had gone white and silent.
Only that soul-rending agony remained, battering his mind again and again.
Sensing the warmth returning to his body, Zoro gritted his teeth and forced out a broken whisper:
"...It's... up to you now... Luffy..."
The words left his lips just before his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed unconscious into the blood-soaked ice.
Luffy caught him with practiced ease, slinging him over his shoulder. Then his gaze shifted toward Mihawk.
The world's greatest swordsman wasn't in much better shape. His wounds weren't as grotesque as Zoro's, but for any normal human, hell, even for most pirates with multi-million bounties, they would have been fatal.
Only someone like Mihawk, whose body had long transcended mortal limits, could remain standing.
Luffy dipped his armored hand into the seawater. A gleaming ice bridge instantly formed, stretching toward Mihawk's icy platform and locking it in place.
He hoisted Zoro higher on his shoulder, he was a grown man now, after all. Luffy had to at least spare him the embarrassment of being dragged by the leg like before.
Time really flies... kind of nostalgic, actually.
Carrying Zoro, Luffy stepped up beside Mihawk, whose blood was still trickling down his torso like a steady stream.
From his bag, Luffy took out a glowing vial and held it out.
"Hmm…?"
Mihawk's blurred vision lifted weakly. All he could make out was Luffy's silhouette, not the object in his hand.
After taking a few labored breaths, Mihawk forced out a chuckle.
"So… I won, then?"
"Seems the title of World's Greatest Swordsman won't be leaving me just yet."
He tried to straighten up, leaning on his black blade for support, but his leg, drained of blood, gave way beneath him. He staggered, nearly collapsing into the ice.
Luffy caught him just in time, sparing the proud swordsman from an undignified fall.
Of course, Mihawk's blood immediately stained Luffy's clothes.
Guess Robin's gonna complain again…
With a quiet sigh, Luffy shifted Mihawk's arm over his shoulder and smiled.
"You're joking, right, old man?"
"Zoro's still got a long way to go before he can surpass you."
Hearing Luffy call him old man again made Mihawk want to laugh, and cry.
He had never taken Luffy's crew seriously before. Among the Seven Warlords, there were few he even considered equals.
When Luffy first invited him to spar, Mihawk had humored him, thinking he'd graciously play mentor to some overambitious upstarts.
He hadn't expected to be the one needing guidance... nor to end up this battered.
The red glow from Luffy's vial flickered softly. Mihawk frowned.
"What is that?"
"This?" Luffy replied cheerfully. "It's a special potion, our crew's own formula. Heals wounds fast!"
He smiled apologetically. "Sorry, old man Mihawk! This was Zoro's first real fight. Didn't think he'd go so hard on you!"
"But don't worry, drink this and you'll be good as new! Think of it as... an apology."
Please, for the love of God, stop talking!
Mihawk lowered his head, screaming internally.
Each "old man" and "didn't mean to hurt you" stabbed at his pride like a thousand blades. His dignity as the greatest swordsman in the world was in tatters.
He moved his hand from his wound to his chest.
My heart hurts... but I can't say that out loud.
MMP…
Suppressing both the pain and his mortification, Mihawk turned away, his tone low but resolute.
"No need… for that thing."
"The scars on a swordsman's body… are his pride!"
"I'll remember you all… Starry Sky Pirates!"
"I look forward to the day… you shake the world itself!"
He spoke every word with the last of his strength, voice sharp and unwavering.
Luffy smiled, tucking the vial back into his bag.
"We do like the sound of making headlines."
A gleaming ice path stretched out before him, reaching all the way to the Baratie's deck, where the crew was waiting.
Luffy began walking, Zoro slung across his shoulder.
"Hey, kid!"
Mihawk's voice suddenly rang out.
Luffy turned, curious.
The swordsman's face was faintly flushed as he leaned on his black blade.
"Come… give me a hand."
"I can't walk anymore."
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