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Episode 24, “Hawk-Eyes Mihawk! Swordsman Zoro Falls into the Sea!”, is one of the most important early episodes in One Piece, turning the Baratie arc into a legendary moment for Zoro’s character and the Straw Hats’ future. This is the episode where Zoro finally meets the man he’s been chasing in his dreams: Dracule “Hawk-Eyes” Mihawk, the world’s greatest swordsman.
Mihawk Arrives And Zoro Sees His Goal
After slicing Don Krieg’s flagship in half like it’s nothing, Mihawk calmly approaches the area near Baratie on his small coffin-shaped boat. Everyone is terrified—this is the monster who destroyed Krieg’s entire Grand Line armada—but for Roronoa Zoro, it’s something else entirely: a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Zoro remembers his promise to Kuina, the childhood friend he swore to surpass and the reason he vowed to become the greatest swordsman in the world. Seeing Mihawk in front of him is like seeing his dream in human form. Without hesitation, Zoro steps forward and challenges Mihawk to a duel, even though the gap in power is obvious to everyone watching.
Luffy, Johnny, and Yosaku are stunned, but Luffy does not interfere. He knows this is Zoro’s fight, tied to his pride and dream as a swordsman.
Pocket Knife vs Three Sword Style
Mihawk accepts Zoro’s challenge—but in the most disrespectful way possible. Instead of drawing his massive black blade Yoru, he pulls out a tiny dagger from his cross pendant, saying he won’t use his full power “to hunt a rabbit with a cannon.”
Zoro launches into combat with his Three Sword Style, attacking with powerful techniques like Oni Giri while using all three blades. Yet every strike is blocked easily by Mihawk’s small knife. The difference in skill is overwhelming: Mihawk barely moves, easily predicting Zoro’s attacks and countering them with casual precision.
At one point, Mihawk pierces Zoro’s chest with the tiny blade and asks why Zoro didn’t back away to save his life. Zoro answers that if he stepped back now, every oath, promise, and dream he made would be destroyed—he would rather die here than retreat. This answer impresses Mihawk more than Zoro’s techniques.
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Mihawk Draws Yoru – Zoro’s Final Gamble
Moved by Zoro’s resolve, Mihawk decides to honor him properly. He puts away the tiny knife and finally draws Yoru, his massive black sword and one of the strongest blades in the world.
Zoro realizes this is it—his one all-or-nothing strike. He switches to two swords and uses his ultimate technique: Three Sword Style: 3000 Worlds (Sanzen Sekai), pouring everything he has into a single attack meant to cut through his opponent and the limits holding him back. Mihawk responds with one clean swing of Yoru.
The clash is devastating. Mihawk’s strike shatters two of Zoro’s swords and leaves a massive cross-shaped wound across his chest, nearly killing him. As he falls, Zoro turns his back to the sea and spreads his arms so Mihawk will not cut his back, declaring that “a wound on the back is a swordsman’s shame.”
This level of pride and resolve makes Mihawk respect him even more.
“I’ll Never Lose Again” – Zoro’s Vow
Mihawk chooses not to kill Zoro. Instead, he tells him that his defeat is not the end—he should survive, grow stronger, and one day come back to challenge him again. He acknowledges Zoro as a promising swordsman and announces that he will be waiting at the top as the world’s greatest swordsman.
Zoro falls into the sea, but Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku jump in and drag him onto their small boat. When he regains consciousness, Zoro lifts Kuina’s sword to the sky and calls out to Luffy. He apologizes for losing and then makes a new vow: he will never lose again until the day he surpasses Mihawk.
Luffy accepts this with a serious look, proud to have such a determined fighter as his right-hand man. This moment locks in Zoro’s role as the future world’s greatest swordsman and Luffy’s first and strongest crewmate.
Mihawk Leaves, Krieg Moves, Luffy Stays
After the duel, Mihawk leaves Baratie, having accomplished what he came to do and satisfied with the promise Zoro made. Don Krieg tries to attack him before he goes, but Mihawk easily evades and has no interest in wasting time on someone he considers insignificant.
Meanwhile:
Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku sail off with the injured Zoro to chase after Nami, who stole the Going Merry.
Luffy decides to stay at Baratie to settle things with Don Krieg once and for all.
Luffy makes a deal with Zeff: if he defeats Krieg and protects Baratie, Zeff will consider Luffy’s debt paid and let him leave freely. With Zoro’s vow made and Mihawk gone, the stage is now set for Luffy vs Don Krieg and the final showdown of the Baratie arc.
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