The flimsy line of rafts was about to smash into the stern of the Terror Ghost, destined to shatter against the hull—but the man aboard the raft remained unflustered.

He reached behind his back and slowly drew a massive cross-shaped black sword. A beat later, he swung it forward with grim solemnity.

CLANG!

A brilliant azure sword wave erupted instantly, slicing through the sea like a shark's dorsal fin. Unbelievably, it cleaved the Terror Ghost in two!

Boom!

The ship was severed at the waist, the two halves parting like Moses parting the sea, creating a broad corridor through which the raft passed.

Those fighting onboard were caught off guard, faces draining of color as the ship tilted wildly—everyone scrambled to cling to anything nearby.

Only Davy Jones remained unconcerned over the Terror Ghost's damage. Under his will, the ship would regenerate—just like his own body did.

What truly caught his attention was the armored figure on the raft: the man wielding that cross-like sword, and the sheer power behind the strike. The fleeting aura of authority he exuded—what was it?

Davy Jones sensed he had brushed against a different law of power in this world—a brand-new ability emerging.

---

Zoro almost took the sword wave head-on.

Before he could react, the deck beneath him cracked open like a chasm, and he tumbled straight down—plummeting toward the sea.

Fortunately, the raft bobbed nearby with the waves.

Zoro plunged into the icy water and calmly swam to the surface, catching hold of the raft's edge. He hauled himself aboard.

The man sitting there regarded him coldly, legs crossed, sword sheathed behind him, hands clasped over his knees. His golden-ringed eyes showed no emotion.

Zoro wiped rain and seawater from his face. Seeing the man clearly for the first time, he stared in disbelief—then excitement overcame him. He trembled as he climbed onto the raft.

"Dracule 'Hawk-Eyes' Mihawk." Zoro was soaking wet and embarrassed, but a wide grin appeared across his face. "I never thought I'd find you here. I guess I don't need to go to the Grand Line anymore."

Mihawk quietly lifted his gaze, raindrops pattering on his hat's brim. "Do I know you?"

"You knowing me isn't important." Zoro assumed his signature three-sword stance—fiercer than ever before—as though a beast crouching to attack. "I've come to challenge you, to become the World's Greatest Swordsman—Roronoa Zoro!"

Zoro never mocked Luffy's dream of Pirate King, and just as Luffy never mocked Zoro's ambition. And now the swordsman he revered most stood before him—it felt like his dream was one step from reality.

No, he was aware of the gap in strength—but that only convinced him further. He had to strike, or he'd never surpass Mihawk.

"A swordsman?" Mihawk examined him slowly. He reached to remove the cross pendant at his chest, then drew a short blade. "You're interesting… Let's pass the time."

---

Meanwhile, Davy Jones's gaze remained fixed on the aftermath.

As the raft glided through the gap in the cleaved ship, he saw Zoro climb aboard and recognize the man who had struck the blow.

"They know each other?" Davy Jones murmured. "So you're here too."

Nearby, on the split deck's railing, Luffy crouched like a primate on all fours. He also saw Zoro and Mihawk begin their duel. He looked puzzled, but trusted his partner.

With the Terror Ghost split, Kuro, Alvida, and Buggy held the bow half, while Davy Jones and Luffy held the stern.

"Octopus." Luffy's straw hat was nearly blown off by the wind—he steadied it and called out: "Zoro and I made a promise: when we get your bounty, he'll join my crew. I will beat you."

"Is that so?" Davy Jones listened to the youthful speech, his three tentacles shifting in response. "Coincidentally, I had some business with the Zoro you mentioned—and with the man on that raft. I hope they return to talk."

He seemed to believe something connected Luffy, Zoro, and Mihawk.

Luffy leapt from the railing, exclaiming "Gumo Gumo no!" as he ran across the slick, tilted deck.

With only half the stern left and deep slope, his momentum was nearly uncontrollable!

Three of Davy Jones's tentacles shot out to grab him—but Luffy nimbly dodged through the openings.

However, he also shot far past Davy Jones—and plummeted toward the sea.

If a Devil Fruit user like Luffy falls into water, he becomes helpless.

But Luffy quickly adapted. He rotated midair and extended one arm to catch the ship's railing—attempting to pull himself back.

Whoosh—

As his arm shrank, he drew nearer to the deck.

But then Davy Jones raised a pistol—aimed directly at him.

Luffy instinctively shielded his eyes.

He wasn't afraid of being shot—his rubber body could absorb and even rebound bullets.

But Davy Jones wasn't firing ordinary bullets.

"Rebound ban."

He deliberately stood where Luffy would return and fired at the exact moment.

A bullet, forged from fear energy, struck Luffy in the chest. Though the blow ricocheted, the effect still triggered.

Luffy's body stiffened—he lost his flexibility, as if he no longer inhabited it.

With a thud, he crashed onto the deck.

Before he could recover, tentacles coiled around him—waist, wrists, ankles—lifting him and pulling him before Davy Jones.

"I can't kill you yet," Davy Jones said, gaping down at Luffy's struggling form. "Perhaps we can come to an interesting arrangement."

Luffy thrashed weakly, but couldn't break free. His strength wasn't enough.

He craned his neck—trying to headbutt Davy Jones—but a tentacle stretched him away.

Another began submerging his body in seawater.

Gulp.

Even a normal person trapped in seawater would suffer. For a Devil Fruit user—worse.

Luffy thrashed, bubble after bubble rising—but soon his limbs slowed, then stilled.

Davy Jones finally pulled him out, laying him motionless on the deck. His eyes rolled back—he was unconscious.

At that moment, the two halves of the Terror Phantom began to rejoin.

The decks groaned and shifted, forcing themselves back together—even if they didn't fully align.

Alvida, Buggy, and Kuro crossed over from the bow and gathered near Davy Jones. Seeing how quickly their captain subdued the straw-hat boy drew no surprise.

But the real surprise stood on that raft.

Mihawk accepted Zoro's challenge. First with the short blade—then, impressed by his persistence, he drew his famed black sword Yoru.

With a single diagonal slash, he knocked Zoro onto the raft.

Blood spurted, splashing the waves below crimson.

That one strike would leave an impression. It showed the vast gap between Zoro and the World's Greatest Swordsman—but if Zoro still dared to challenge him someday… Mihawk might respect that.

Mihawk turned to deal with Zoro—only to notice something unbelievable.

The black ship he had cleaved moments ago… had reassembled itself. Whole. As if never broken.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Mihawk might have thought he was dreaming.

"A ship that even a sword wave cannot sever?" His interest piqued.

He sliced Yoru through the water once more—and the raft's course shifted, heading straight toward that mended dark ship.

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