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Summary:
Roronoa Zoro was utterly defeated and nearly killed by Dracul Mihawk. Enraged, Luffy attacks Mihawk, but Mihawk reveals that Zoro is still alive. Johnny, Yosaku, and Usopp retrieve Zoro’s body from the ocean and provide what first aid they can. After regaining consciousness, Zoro tearfully promises his captain that he will never lose again until he defeats Mihawk and becomes the world’s greatest swordsman. After Mihawk leaves, Usopp, Zoro, Johnny, and Yosaku set out to retrieve Nami. Luffy on the other hand stays back and decides to help the chefs of Baratia against Don Krieg.
Luffy, Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku are horrified by the cut Zoro received, while the Krieg Pirates are in complete disbelief that someone as strong as Zoro doesn’t stand a chance against the power of the Great Line. Remembering Zoro’s earlier words that his ambition meant he no longer had any attachment to his own life, Sanji is still confused that Zoro would not abandon him if it meant certain death. He says it should be easy, yelling at Zoro as he falls into the ocean. After seeing his first friend utterly defeated, Luffy furiously lunges at Mihawk while Johnny and Yosaku dive in to save Zoro. He does this by extending his arm all the way to where Mihawk is, shocking everyone present as they didn’t know he was a Devil Fruit user. He is easy to avoid as Mihawk deduces that he is one of Zoro’s friends. Instead of fighting, the swordsman tells him that Zoro is not dead.
As Johnny and Yosaku retrieve Zoro’s body from the ocean, Dracule Mihawk reintroduces himself and tells Zoro that it is too soon to die. Mihawk asks Zoro to learn more about the world and himself and to become strong. He promises that no matter how long it takes, he will be waiting for him at the top in his strongest form. He encourages Zoro to continue with his strong will and overcome his sword, but more importantly, overcome his. As Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku attempt to resuscitate Zoro, Mihawk turns to Luffy and asks him about his goal. When Luffy replies “Pirate King”, Mihawk smiles and casually tells Luffy that it will be much more difficult than beating him. Undeterred, Luffy asks Usopp if Zoro is okay. Usopp says he’s still alive and just passed out. Johnny and Yosaku beg Zoro to say something, and to everyone’s shock, he raises his blade in the air. He apologizes to his captain for worrying him and reiterates his earlier feeling that he would be in a real dilemma as the Pirate King if Zoro wasn’t the best swordsman in the world. Fighting back his pain and coughing up blood with tears in his eyes, he swears to Luffy that he will never lose again until the day he defeats Mihawk and becomes the world’s greatest swordsman. He asks his captain as the future Pirate King if he has any problems with it, which Luffy happily denies. Satisfied with these ghosts, Mihawk turns to leave, not paying much attention to the Don Krieg pirates he was looking for. He tells Luffy that he and Zoro make a good team and wishes to see them again in the future. This new nonchalant attitude towards Krieg angers him and he tries to shoot Mihawk. The swordsman delivers another devastating blow to what’s left of the galleon, sending Krieg’s men flying. When the dust settles, Mihawk is no more.
After jumping back aboard the Baratia after Krieg and Mihawk clashed, Luffy told Usopp to go ahead and get Nami. Usopp promises to do so, then asks Luffy to stay here and convince Sanji to join them. He suggests that when they have five people in the crew, they should go to the Grand Line, and Luffy agrees. Sanji notices that Don Krieg’s men are starting to plan something. Luffy decides to make a deal with Zeff: if he gets rid of them, he will settle his debt with him.