One Piece: The Strongest Trait System novel Chapter 45

Chapter 45 - [45] : [BONUS] - Facing the World's Strongest!

~ Thank you, This is the Bonus Chapter For Hitting 1,400~

~ 18 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!

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PS : I was working on this Chapter while listening to "THE WEEKND - SAO PAULO (BEST PART LOOPED)," and it was absolutely flawless!

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"Rowen!" Seeing Rowen step forward to face Mihawk directly, especially after witnessing Zoro's utter helplessness against him moments before, Nami cried out, her eyes filled with fear and worry.

Zoro was renowned throughout the East Blue, a pirate hunter feared even by pirates with multi-million Beri bounties. Yet, before the Hawk-Eyed man, he was as fragile as an infant.

Rowen was strong, yes... but against a monster like this...

Nami watched Rowen's back as he faced Mihawk, her hands clasped tightly over her heart, fraught with anxiety.

"One after another... are they all crazy?! That moss-head... he was facing the World's Strongest! He should have known the outcome before even starting! Couldn't he just give up on his ambition? It's simple, right? Just give up..." Sanji muttered, watching Johnny and Yosaku haul Zoro's broken body onto a small boat.

He then looked at Rowen, who stood firm before Mihawk despite the vivid example of Zoro's defeat.

Sanji wasn't dismissing Rowen or Zoro.

Instead... he was trying to convince himself!

Although he found the moss-headed swordsman annoying and deeply envied Rowen for winning the beautiful lady's favor, Sanji looked at them and saw... kindred spirits.

People willing to risk everything, even their lives, for their ambitions and dreams.

His own act of feeding Don Krieg earlier... fundamentally, how different was it from that idiot moss-head challenging Mihawk?

Sanji felt a flicker of longing... a pull towards joining this crew.

But he still owed Zeff a debt of gratitude he hadn't fully repaid...

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"You are companions of that young swordsman, correct? Thank you for staying to witness the end," Mihawk stated calmly, looking at Rowen. A faint crimson-black light flickered within his hawk-like eyes.

"To possess Haki of this caliber... in the weakest sea... It is quite surprising," Mihawk acknowledged, his tone becoming slightly more serious.

This was respect offered to another man who had awakened Conqueror's Haki, who possessed the disposition of a King.

"It seems you have business with me. However... allow me to conclude this matter first," Mihawk said slowly.

The simmering Conqueror's Haki around Rowen subsided slightly, indicating his assent.

"Young swordsman! It is too early for you to die!" Mihawk called out, looking towards Zoro who had just been pulled aboard the boat.

"My name is Dracule Mihawk! Discover yourself! See the true world! Become strong! No matter how many years it takes, I shall wait for you at the top! Surpass this sword! Surpass me! Roronoa Zoro!"

Mihawk's words were an acknowledgment from the World's Greatest Swordsman of Zoro's performance.

This young swordsman possessed the powerful spirit required to become a truly great swordsman. He also possessed... the pride of a swordsman.

It had been a long time since Mihawk encountered a newcomer with such potential, one worth anticipating.

Ever since Shanks lost his left arm, sealing away his left-handed swordsmanship forever, Mihawk had felt a profound loneliness.

In terms of pure swordsmanship, no one left on the seas could truly force him to be serious.

"Big Bro! Wake up!" Johnny and Yosaku sobbed, while Usopp frantically applied medicine and tended to Zoro's wounds.

Mihawk, however, knew Zoro was merely unconscious. He had held back.

"Boy. What is your goal?" Mihawk turned his gaze towards Luffy.

This boy... chosen by Shanks.

"To be King of the Pirates!" Luffy declared loudly, facing the World's Strongest Swordsman without flinching.

"Hmph. That is a path even more arduous than surpassing me," Mihawk replied, a slight curve appearing on his lips.

Just as expected. A boy chosen by Shanks should be like this.

"I don't care! I'm gonna be it anyway!" Luffy finished, then stuck his tongue out and made a face at Mihawk.

"He's alive! Just passed out!" Usopp's shout drew Luffy's attention back to Zoro.

Rowen, the crimson-black light in his eyes softening slightly, also looked towards Zoro.

"Big Bro, say something!" Johnny and Yosaku pleaded tearfully.

Clank! With his last ounce of strength, Zoro raised his only remaining sword, Wado Ichimonji, high into the air.

"Luffy! Rowen! Can you hear me?!" Zoro gasped, exhausted and severely injured, but his voice remained firm.

"Yeah!" Luffy yelled back.

"We hear you," Rowen replied, his expression solemn.

Even an awakened King would show full respect to a man like Zoro.

"Sorry... for making you worry!" Zoro held the sword aloft.

"If I... don't become the world's strongest swordsman... it would cause you guys trouble, right?! Cough cough!" He couldn't finish before a wracking cough shook his body due to his severe injuries.

"Big Bro! Don't talk anymore! Your wounds are reopening!" Johnny and Yosaku cried out anxiously.

But Zoro pushed through the pain, continuing.

"I... will never... lose again!" Zoro covered his eyes with his free hand, tears streaming down his face. This incredibly tough man, who could endure twenty days of starvation without showing weakness, shed tears of humiliation after suffering such a crushing defeat.

It also signified... Zoro's ambition would continue!

"Until I defeat him... and become the world's greatest swordsman! I absolutely... will never lose again!" Zoro roared. Mihawk's lips curved slightly further.

"Do you have a problem with that?! King of the Pirates! Sky Sovereign!" Zoro yelled defiantly.

"Shishishi! Nope!" Luffy grinned widely, overjoyed.

Rowen didn't answer verbally. He simply smiled, then the crimson-black light in his eyes flared intensely as he turned back to face Mihawk.

Encountering a man like Mihawk, standing at the absolute pinnacle of the seas... how could Rowen not want to gauge his own current 'Disposition', to understand the gap between himself and such a peak powerhouse?

This young man... knows about my relationship with Shanks?

Then this favor... indeed, must be granted.

Without the power of Infused Conqueror's Haki, defeating Mihawk completely was impossible.

Aside from Rowen with his System, even Mihawk couldn't know for certain if Zoro possessed the disposition of a King.

Therefore, Mihawk's earlier words to Zoro—telling him to get stronger and surpass him—referred purely to swordsmanship. Without Infused Conqueror's Haki, even if Zoro's skill eventually equaled Mihawk's, he would have no chance of truly winning.

Standing upon the sea, empowered by his Born of the Sea Trait, and unleashing his Conqueror's Haki... even Mihawk could not ignore Rowen now.

This is... already capable of causing tangible physical effects on the surroundings.