TO EACH HIS OWN WAY

A massive pirate galleon is shown completely destroyed, cut in half and sinking into the ocean. Debris and broken masts float in the water around the wreckage. The Baratie restaurant ship is visible in the background, unharmed. A loud rumbling sound effect "GOOOOOSH" fills the air. People on the Baratie are panicking. Voices shout, "AGHHHHH!" and "W-WHAT'S GOING ON!?". Someone guesses, "I DON'T KNOW BUT... MAYBE THEIR MUNITIONS SUPPLIES EXPLODED!?". In the foreground, Johnny and Yosaku are crying and screaming, "WAAAAAAH" and "WE'RE SORRY, BRO!".

On the deck of the Baratie, Nami is looking closely at a stack of wanted posters. Yosaku and Johnny approach her. Yosaku asks, "WHAT IS IT, SIS? YOU'VE BEEN DOING NOTHING BUT STARE AT THOSE WANTED POSTERS." Nami quickly hides them behind her back, smiling nervously, "OH UMM, NO, IT'S NOTHING." Johnny leans in, "OH? EYEING THE HIGH-BOUNTY OUTLAWS, EH?" He then warns her, "BUT IT'S BEST NOT TO GO FOR THAT GUY." Yosaku adds in a whisper, "FOR A WHILE, HE'S BEEN KEEPING PRETTY QUIET, BUT I HEARD HE'S RECENTLY STARTED RAMPAGING AGAIN."

Nami smiles and replies, "OK THEN. YEAH... BUT THAT 20 MILLION BELI BOUNTY SURE IS HARD TO PASS UP!" Johnny and Yosaku look concerned. Johnny says, "BUT CONSIDERING HIS STRENGTH," and Yosaku finishes, "THERE'S A SLIM CHANCE THAT EVEN WE WOULD BE KILLED BY A SLIM MARGIN." They both suddenly notice something and say, "HM?" Yosaku points and asks, "UMM... SIS? ISN'T THAT THE TREASURE ON OUR SHIP...?" Nami is seen dragging a large sack of treasure. She cheerfully confirms, "YUP, I BROUGHT IT ONBOARD JUST NOW!" She then adds, "YOU KNOW, WE AREN'T PLANNING ON STAYING WITH YOU GUYS ON THIS SHIP FOREVER.." Johnny and Yosaku are confused, "HUH?" Nami asks, "WOULD YOU TWO MIND TURNING AROUND FOR A SEC?" She holds up a shirt and says, "I WANT TO CHANGE MY CLOTHES! IT'S A LITTLE EMBARRASSING SO IF YOU MEN COULD JUST LOOK THAT WAY FOR A MOMENT..." Johnny and Yosaku blush heavily, their hearts pounding. They stammer, "C-CHANGE CLOTHES? N-N-NOW...?" and eagerly agree, "S... SURE, WHY NOT!? WE'LL LOOK THE OTHER WAY."

Johnny and Yosaku turn around, blushing and sweating with anticipation. Johnny whispers, "S-SISTER NAMI SURE IS BOLD AS SHE LOOKS." Yosaku asks, "YOU UH... YOU DON'T THINK WE'D GET IN TOO MUCH TROUBLE TO PEEK JUST A LITTLE, DO YA?" Johnny replies, "HEH, OF COURSE NOT. JUST A LITTLE." Yosaku agrees, "RIGHT, LIKE 2 SECONDS." They both turn their heads slightly, saying "HMM?". Suddenly, they are struck from behind. They yell "WHA!?" as they are sent flying off the ship. Nami is seen in the background, having hit them with her staff. They splash into the water below, flailing and shouting, "WHA...!" and "WHAT'S GOING ON, SIS!?".

Nami leans over the railing, smiling down at them. She says, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT? IT'S JUST BUSINESS! AFTER ALL, I AM A THIEF SPECIALIZING IN STEALING FROM PIRATES!" She continues, "THIS SHIP IS NO EXCEPTION." She adds, "I NEVER RECALL AGREEING TO BE ONE OF YOUR SHIPMATES, I ONLY SAID WE WERE JOINING HANDS!" Johnny and Yosaku, soaking wet in the water, yell back, "OH, BUT YOUR TREASURES ARE AN EXCEPTION!" Nami looks a bit wistful and says, "IT WAS A SHORT WHILE BEING WITH LUFFY AND THE OTHERS, BUT IT WAS A LOT OF FUN...!" She then waves and says, "WELL, SEE YA THEN!" Johnny and Yosaku are shocked, "HUH!?". Nami calls out, "TELL THE OTHERS THAT IF WE'RE TRULY LINKED BY FATE, WE'LL MEET AGAIN!"

Johnny and Yosaku yell up at her, "W-WAIT A MINUTE, SIS! WE WERE ASKED TO KEEP A WATCH ON THAT SHIP! YOU'RE PUTTING US IN A LOT OF TROUBLE HERE! AND GIVE BACK OUR TREASURE!" In the background, the Going Merry sails away. Suddenly, a massive explosion rocks the area, with a loud "DOGOOON!!" sound effect. Debris flies everywhere. Johnny and Yosaku are startled, "AGHH! WHAT IS IT THIS TIME!?". Johnny looks defeated and says, "AFTER SAYING THAT, SHE RAN AWAY!" Yosaku punches the wooden dock in frustration, "DAMN THAT WOMAN! JUST BECAUSE SHE WAS ACTING ALL NICE RECENTLY, I LET MY GUARD DOWN FOR ONE MOMENT AND THEN THIS HAPPENS! HOW DARE SHE PULL A FAST ONE OVER US, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS CRISIS!"

Luffy looks out at the ocean, holding his straw hat. He spots the ship and says, "WAIT! I CAN STILL SEE OUR SHIP! IT'S THE GOING MERRY!" Zoro and Usopp are behind him. Zoro asks, "WHAT!?". Luffy turns to Johnny and Yosaku, "YOSAKU! JOHNNY! WHERE'S YOUR SHIP!?". Yosaku replies, "WELL, WE STILL HAVE OURS." Luffy calls to Zoro and Usopp, "ZORO! USOPP!" Usopp panics, "B-BUT SHE TOOK OUR SHIP! THAT SHIP'S IMPORTANT!" Zoro calmly tells him, "JUST LET HER GO. NO GOOD WILL COME OF CHASING AFTER THAT THIEF." Luffy looks determined and shouts, "I WANT HER TO BE OUR NAVIGATOR, NO MATTER WHAT!"

Zoro sighs, holding his head, "FINE....WHY'D I HAVE TO FOLLOW SUCH A TROUBLESOME CAPTAIN...". Zoro calls out, "HEY, USOPP! WE'RE GOING!" Usopp replies, "R-RIGHT!". Yosaku says, "BROTHER ZORO! WE'RE READY TO SET SAIL!". Zoro turns to Luffy, "LUFFY, WHAT ABOUT YOU?". Luffy points to the Baratie and says, "SORRY BUT I CAN'T. I STILL HAVEN'T PAID THIS RESTAURANT BACK FOR WHAT I DID." Zoro warns him, "BE CAREFUL. THE SITUATION HERE IS GETTING A LITTLE CRAZY." Luffy smiles, "YEAH, DON'T WORRY." Suddenly, Luffy looks shocked and yells, "IT'S HIM!!!"

A dark, imposing figure in a small boat approaches the wreckage. A terrified Krieg pirate yells, "DON KRIEG, IT'S HIM! THE ONE WHO DESTROYED OUR FLEET!". His pirate crew panics. One shouts, "HE FOLLOWED US ALL THE WAY OUT HERE!". Another screams, "HE'S COME TO KILL ALL OF US!". Zoro looks on in shock, sweating. He stammers, "THAT BASTARD... I-IT CAN'T BE... IS THAT... THE HAWK-EYED MAN...!?"

The Baratie cooks and Krieg pirates watch the approaching man. A pirate asks, "HE'S... THE ONE WHO SANK, A FLEET OF 50 SHIPS...!?". Sanji realizes, "THEN... HE'S THE ONE WHO DESTROYED KRIEG'S SHIP JUST NOW!?". A cook observes, "HE LOOKS LIKE ANY NORMAL GUY... AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE HE'S CARRYING ANY SPECIAL WEAPON...". Zeff, standing with his arms crossed, says, "IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HIS WEAPON, THEN IT'S ON HIS BACK...!". A pirate stammers, "WHA...!? Y-YOU MEAN HE CUT THAT GIGANTIC GALLEON BY SWINGING THAT!?". Zeff confirms, "YES... THAT 'HAWK-EYED' MAN IS A RENOWNED SWORDSMAN. MORE RENOWNED THAN ANY OTHER SWORDSMAN IN THIS WORLD..."

A full-page spread reveals Dracule Mihawk sitting casually on a throne-like chair on his small, coffin-shaped boat. He wears a wide-brimmed hat with a plume, an open shirt revealing a cross necklace, and a long dark coat. A massive black sword is strapped to his back. Candles burn on the boat. A text box introduces him: "WORLD'S STRONGEST SWORDSMAN 'HAWK-EYES MIHAWK'".

A close-up shows Mihawk's intense, piercing eyes and distinctive facial hair. On the wreckage, the Krieg pirates are in despair. One falls to his knees, crying, "WE'RE DONE FOR...". Don Krieg, furious and desperate, yells at Mihawk, "DAMN IT! WHAT DID WE EVER DO TO YOU! WHY THE HELL DO YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW US ALL THE WAY OUT HERE!"

Mihawk looks back calmly and answers, "JUST TO KILL SOME TIME." Don Krieg is enraged by this casual response and screams, "THAT'S BULLSHIT!". He raises his guns and starts firing wildly at Mihawk. The sound of gunfire fills the panel. Mihawk remains seated, calmly drawing his massive black sword from his back with a "GRIP" sound.

Mihawk effortlessly deflects the bullets with the tip of his giant sword. The bullets splash harmlessly into the water around his boat. A pirate gasps, "WHA!? I-IT MISSED!?". Zoro, watching closely, explains, "HE DEFLECTED IT. IT'LL BE THE SAME NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU SHOOT. HE CHANGES THE BULLET'S TRAJECTORY WITH THE TIP OF HIS SWORD." Don Krieg demands, "AND WHO'RE YOU, YOU BASTARD!?". Zoro ignores him, amazed by Mihawk, "I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH GRACEFUL MOVEMENTS." Mihawk sheathes his sword and states, "A SWORD WITHOUT GRACE IS NO STRONG SWORD."

Zoro calls out to Mihawk, "DID YOU CUT THIS SHIP AS WELL WITH THAT SWORD?". Mihawk replies, "YES, INDEED." Zoro smiles, a mix of excitement and tension on his face, "NO WONDER... YOU REALLY ARE THE STRONGEST." The pirates notice Zoro. One says, "T-THREE SWORDS...!?". Another realizes, "HEY... COULD THIS GUY BE...!?". Zoro declares to Mihawk, "I SET SAIL TO MEET YOU!". Mihawk asks, "...WHAT DO YOU AIM FOR?"

Zoro answers firmly, "TO BE THE STRONGEST." He challenges Mihawk, "YOU SAID YOU'RE FREE, RIGHT? SO LET'S HAVE A DUEL." The pirates are shocked. One yells, "IT'S HIM! ZORO! RORONOA ZORO OF THE THREE SWORD STYLE...!". Another gasps, "WHAT!?". Don Krieg mutters, "THE PIRATE HUNTER...?". Sanji looks surprised, "HIM...!?". Meanwhile, Usopp yells from their small boat, "HEY! WE'RE GONNA LOSE SIGHT OF THE SHIP!". Yosaku says, "BRO...". Luffy watches Zoro intently. Mihawk looks down at Zoro and says coldly, "PITIFUL, WEAKLING."

Zoro ties his bandana around his head, preparing for battle. Mihawk stands on his boat, arms crossed. Mihawk says, "IF YOU'RE A COMPETENT SWORDSMAN BY ANY MEANS, THEN I CAN DEMONSTRATE THE CLEAR DIFFERENCE IN STRENGTH BETWEEN YOU AND I, WITHOUT NEEDING TO CROSS BLADES AT ALL." He continues, "BUT STILL, YOU DARE TO CHALLENGE ME. DOES YOUR BRAVERY COME FROM YOUR CONVICTION...? OR FROM IGNORANCE...?". Zoro draws his swords, placing one in his mouth, and replies, "IT COMES FROM MY AMBITION, AND A PROMISE TO A FRIEND." Luffy, Yosaku, and Johnny watch nervously, gulping in anticipation.

The scene shifts to the Going Merry sailing away on the open ocean. Nami is on the deck, looking back with tears streaming down her face. She thinks to herself, "THEY WERE GOOD PEOPLE... I WONDER IF THEY'LL COUNT ME AS THEIR FRIEND, THE NEXT TIME WE MEET... I WONDER IF WE CAN EVEN MEET AGAIN...?". She wipes her tears, her expression turning determined but sorrowful. "...I WANT TO HURRY UP AND BECOME FREE, BELLEMERE...!"

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