One Piece : Winged Dragons of the Beast Pirates

However.

There was someone who wasn't laughing.

Hancock glared at Zoro.

So, Ian's enemy is her enemy.

And then, there's Yamato.

"Oh! This kid," She nudged Ian with her elbow, clearly interested, and said, "He's quite interesting."

Ian smirked slightly, and said leisurely, "I thought I already made the gap between us very clear this afternoon."

"So what?!"

Zoro shouted loudly, "Just because you're strong! Unbelievably strong, should I just give up? Don't I have the right to aim to surpass you?"

Silence.

For a moment, the deck fell quiet.

"Zoro—"

Kuina stared blankly at Zoro's back.

Her hand unconsciously tightened around the scabbard of the Wadō Ichimonji.

"Rather, I'm so glad to have met you!"

Zoro smiled brightly, "Now I finally understand how vast the world really is!!"

"This kid—"

Jack couldn't help but exclaim, "He can actually say something like that!"

And that's after getting a small taste of Ian's strength!

"Is that so?"

Ian gently nodded, sitting up straight, and said seriously, "Even if it means dying because of it?"

Buzz!

An invisible aura was stirring.

The terrifying pressure instantly bore down on Zoro, causing his small body to collapse onto the ground, feeling as if his body would be crushed.

"Zoro!!"

Kuina cried out, rushing forward.

"Don't come over, Kuina!"

Zoro yelled, "The duel has already begun! This is my duel with him!"

Never admit defeat!

This was the only thing Zoro had learned after thousands of battles with Kuina.

It wasn't about not accepting defeat, it was about not accepting his own weakness.

If he backed down, then all the effort he had put in so far would be in vain!

How could he admit defeat?

He had to keep getting stronger, becoming stronger, until he surpassed his opponents!

His previous goal was Kuina, but now—

He struggled to lift his head, staring at Ian fiercely. "I don't care if I die! I will get stronger! Stronger than anyone!!"

The overwhelming aura suddenly dissipated.

Zoro began to gasp heavily.

Just now, he had thought he was going to suffocate.

"Kid, state your name."

A cold voice sounded.

Zoro was stunned. He suddenly flipped over and looked at the man who spoke.

The man, with hawk-like sharp eyes, was now gazing at him.

A smile appeared on Zoro's face involuntarily, "Zoro! Roronoa Zoro!"

The world's greatest swordsman was asking for his name!

No matter how firm his will was, he was still just a child of nine years old.

"Roronoa Zoro..."

Mihawk nodded lightly, signaling that he had memorized the name.

In the countryside, interesting individuals can emerge as well.

Although still young, with the determination this boy was showing, his future would not be ordinary.

"And you?"

He looked toward the still somewhat confused Kuina.

Kuina was stunned.

Ian chuckled lightly.

The biggest difference between Kuina and Zoro, aside from innate talent, was the purity of their resolve.

In this world, the physical gap between men and women is indeed vast.

Even Yamato inherited the monstrous bloodline from her father, Kaido, and combined it with the powers of the Mythical Zoan to gain her current strength.

Hancock was also a mutant of the Kuja tribe.

However, this isn't a reason to waver.

Isn't the difference between someone like Red-Haired Shanks, a regular human, and Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, a natural monster, just as big?

Believing without a doubt is strength; hesitation only invites defeat.

In this world, people who are pure of heart often become stronger, whether their purity is in good or bad intentions.

Zoro was firm in his belief that he would get stronger, but Kuina wasn't the same.

But she couldn't really be blamed for that.

After all, she had a father who was a stubborn traditionalist.

He was always nagging about how women are inferior to men. What could Kuina do? Naturally, she could only accept the influence passively.

A feminist like Ian was furious!

"Kuina!!"

Zoro suddenly shouted, "I will become stronger than anyone! Stronger than Mihawk, stronger than this guy! Are you just going to watch me like this?"

Kid, you really dare to say that.

Ian smirked. Stronger than Mihawk? Fine, based on the original story, you're definitely going to surpass him.

But thinking you could become stronger than me? Isn't that a bit unrealistic?

Kuina's body trembled.

Right, does that mean she's just going to watch Zoro surpass her?

Everything else was fine, but this? She would never accept it!

"Don't even think about it!"

Kuina declared loudly, "The one who will become the strongest swordsman is me! I'll be the one to become stronger than anyone!"

Zoro immediately grinned, "Now that's the Kuina I know."

"Hmph."

The girl blushed slightly, snorting in a proud, tsundere way.

Ian chuckled.

However, he knew very well that unless Kuina ate a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit, it was almost impossible for her to avoid being surpassed by Zoro.

She was indeed a genius swordsmanship girl.

But Zoro… he truly had the potential to challenge the title of the strongest swordsman.

"So," Ian said with a smile, "how about joining my crew?"

Finally, time to get down to business.

"Huh?"

Both of them froze for a moment.

"If you stay here, it'll be like before," Ian said. "But if you leave with me, you'll get to see a much broader world, receive better education, and fight stronger opponents."

"And then, become stronger."

"Hahaha, Mihawk," Ian laughed as he spoke to Mihawk, "What do you think of my suggestion? Maybe, we can train a swordsman stronger than you."

"Stronger than me?"

Mihawk chuckled lightly, "Interesting."

He glanced at Zoro, "You can give it a try. Ian's not bad."

This kid... it's a shame for him to stay here.

What a great assist!

"Stronger!"

Zoro's eyes lit up.

He was an orphan, with no family to return to.

If he could get stronger, it wouldn't matter where he went!

Plus, even Mihawk said this guy's not bad!

However, he looked toward his friend beside him, "Kuina!!"

He still had his concerns.

The girl hesitated.

Unlike Zoro, she had a family.

Ian added, "Kuina, I think you should come with us. Otherwise, normal training won't help a girl surpass the many talented men out on the seas."

Kuina instantly looked as if struck by lightning. "Can women be stronger than men?"

"What did you say?!"

Yamato retorted unhappily, "On this ship, besides Ian, I'm the strongest!"

"It's me!" Hancock countered.

Ignoring their argument, Kuina's eyes lit up.

Her father always said that women couldn't surpass men.

But Ian said he could make women surpass men.

So, what's there to hesitate about?

"Okay!"

The girl nodded resolutely. "I'll join!"

"Then I have no objections!"

Zoro said loudly.

"Great."

Ian's eyes curved into crescent moons.

Mission accomplished.

At the same time, in the dojo on the island.

Koushirou stood in the courtyard, gazing at the moon.

A sudden wind rose in the air.

The wind fell from the sky, carrying a man's voice. "I received your message and came right away. How's the situation now? Has Ian the Skyfire done anything?"

Koushirou gently shook his head. "They just came to ask Father to help fix their swords."

"Fix swords?"

Guilty, but just a little.

**********

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