Taking his hits head-on was usually a sign of either great competence or great foolishness, and it was impossible for Zoro to tell which it was until after the battle was over. He pressed in hard and fast even as the dust cleared, meeting that attack with his own strikes and slashes, parrying rather than blocking. He moved easily in sequence, one-two-three, gauging his enemy's strength level before ramping it up again. He broke his own rhythm with a step to the side, changing the momentum that quickly so he could change the direction of his block and set himself up for a bigger move.

Two swords were out to the side, giving Zoro room to twist himself again, but in a completely different stance, arcing them over his back and perpendicular to the one in his mouth. He charged, cutting through his own path and bringing the swords over and down all at once in a Tora Gari.