Chapter 378: A Swordsman’s Challenge Under the Moonlit Feast

By the time Zoro and the others reached the town, Luffy was already at the banquet table, devouring everything in sight.

“So good! So good! Zoro, Sanji, come join me!”

As Luffy stuffed his face, he spotted Zoro and the gang entering. Waving a giant roasted meat with his right hand, he beckoned them over.

“Forget it. That’s just how Luffy is.”

“Grilled meat, here I come!”

Once Usopp was sure there was no danger nearby, the smell of grilled meat led him straight to Luffy’s side at lightning speed.

“That’s right. Can’t plan the next step on an empty stomach.”

Zoro rested his right hand lightly on his slightly trembling Wado Ichimonji, his gaze flicking unseen toward the distant woods. With a jug of wine in hand, he picked a random chair and sat down.

Seeing Zoro join in,

Johnny and Yosaku wouldn’t let themselves be left behind, trailing Zoro closely.

Gin, meanwhile, stuck right by Ye Fan, taking a seat to Luffy’s right. Nami sat to Luffy’s left.

Once everyone had gathered at the feast, the old man Whitebeard flashed a strange smile and clapped his hands, soon bringing out a fresh wave of food and drink.

As darkness settled in, some were already dozing off after the big dinner, while the ones who’d eaten spiked dishes slipped into a deeper sleep.

Crash—!

At the sharp sound from the woods, Zoro’s eyes snapped open. Without a word, he got up and walked toward the trees.

No sooner had Zoro gone than Sanji’s eyes opened as well.

This trial was set up especially for the three of them, so most of the others got the spiked food. Only Luffy, always stealing others’ food, accidentally ate some too.

Not a problem, though—even if Luffy did eat the spiked food, they’d find a way to wake him.

“Mosshead, isn’t he bold just taking off like that.”

…

In just a few steps, Zoro found himself at the edge of the forest. Never one to hesitate, he strode straight in.

After walking awhile, the world around him fell eerily silent.

Shing—!

Zoro suddenly stopped, drawing the Wado Ichimonji from his waist.

“If you wanted to lure me out here, why are you still hiding?”

Lately, Zoro had been training hard to quickly adapt to the surge of power inside him.

By now, he’d reached the level of his post-training self—or maybe even surpassed it, stepping up to the threshold of a true swordsman.

A shadow flickered within the dense woods straight ahead.

“Roronoa Zoro. I heard you used to be a pirate hunter. Let’s see if your sword style measures up to your reputation.”

Batonaal appeared before Zoro, carrying his longsword.

Seeing his opponent reveal himself, but unsure of his intent, Zoro didn’t switch to his three-sword style just yet.

“You went through all this trouble—what exactly do you want?”

“I’m Batonaal. Word is, there’s an unknown swordsman in East Blue who survived a clash with the world’s greatest swordsman, Hawk Eyes. So I’ve come to see for myself.”

He put it that way because by the time Batonaal rose up, Hawk Eyes had already left Karl’s Pirate Crew.

Except for a few top people, hardly anyone knew Hawk Eyes was once part of Karl’s crew.

Batonaal himself had once challenged Hawk Eyes—and lost badly. Now, after hearing rumors of someone surviving Hawk Eyes’ blade, his curiosity was piqued. For a swordsman aiming for the summit, a worthy rival was too rare to pass up.

“So, you’re here to challenge me.”

Zoro picked up on his intent and slowly drew his other two swords: the famed Grade 51 sword, Shusui, and the Sandai Kitetsu.

“You could say that.”

Batonaal bent his knees and gripped his family’s signature longsword tightly. It was nearly as sharp as the supreme-grade swords, and his years of care had turned it half-black in appearance.

“One-Sword Style—Wave Slash!”

For all swordsmen who step into the swordsman’s realm, this is usually their first realized move—a transparent sword aura that cuts all before it.

But Batonaal’s power was true vice-admiral level. Even this basic move radiated a frightening force. The blast battered Zoro’s face before the attack even landed.

“Three-Sword Style—Oni Giri!”

Zoro refused to back down. Leaping through the air, he launched his own attack at Batonaal.

As for the sword aura—no matter how strong, Zoro didn’t care. Sword aura never bends.

The attack he dodged swept through the woods behind, slicing trees in half with thunderous crashes.

“Interesting. Not bad at all.”

Batonaal didn’t underestimate any opponent. He twisted aside, slicing out with both hands on his blade.

In a flash, Zoro’s blade clashed against Batonaal’s longsword.

“Clang!” “Ssshh!”

Sparks flew as a sword mark opened in Batonaal’s side, a thread of blood seeping out—just a shallow wound, but enough to sting.

“I take back what I said. You’re not just good—you’re worthy of respect.”

Batonaal hadn’t expected to be wounded after dodging Zoro’s attack. He honed his focus even more.

“You’re plenty strong yourself!”

Zoro could feel Batonaal’s strength far outstripped his own—even Shusui now bore tiny nicks.

Buzz—!

Those swords weren’t bought long ago—he couldn’t bear to see them break. Black energy swirled around his right hand. In an instant, all three swords turned pitch black.

“My apologies. I didn’t realize your swords were that fragile.”

Batonaal’s words sounded polite, but the meaning was pointed—he was calling out Zoro for not caring for his swords.

To every swordsman, their sword is their truest companion—not something you let get damaged easily.

“So, are you just going to keep showing off with words?”

“Three-Sword Style—Tiger Hunt!”

After one attack fell short, Zoro launched straight into the next. Sword light burst forth, fierce and dazzling, making the air feel less like air and more like a deep, midnight pool.

“Now that’s an attack worthy of a true swordsman.”

It had been a long time since Batonaal had faced someone like this.

With light gleaming in his eyes, he thrust his blade toward the meeting point of Zoro’s three swords like a flash of lightning.

Clang!

His sword blocked Zoro’s charge right at the crucial moment, stopping the Tiger Hunt in its tracks.

For a moment the fight froze, then in an instant the situation shifted.

After his duel with Hawk Eyes, Zoro understood he’d only face even stronger swordsmen in the future.

He spent every day meditating, searching for weaknesses in his own technique—pondering what to do if his attack was blocked or if others found flaws he hadn’t yet seen.

So when this stalemate came, Zoro wasn’t the least bit surprised.