After a brief struggle, the two simultaneously broke apart and charged at each other again. Mihawk swung his massive black blade, unleashing dozens of lightning-fast slashes that created countless blade illusions. Aeridar dodged each one, moving left and right to evade the black blade's attack.
When Mihawk's assault ended, Aeridar met him with countless phantom punches.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
Mihawk swung his black blade like a straw, using its broad side to perfectly block all of Aeridar's punches.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!
On the floating wreckage of the deck, Aeridar and Mihawk engaged in a ferocious exchange. Dozens of clashes created powerful airwaves that whipped up a raging gale. The emerald-green slashes and the visible shockwaves churned the sea, causing the waves to grow taller and taller.
Rumble!
"Hurry, get the ship moving! Get as far away as possible!" Watching the intense battle between the two great pirates, Zeff could no longer remain calm. He shouted orders to his chefs.
"Ah! My god! Is this the power of the Grand Line?!"
"Get out of here, or we'll die!"
"Damn it! Are there really people like this in the world?!"
Caught in the violent winds and waves, the surrounding ships were tossed back and forth, almost getting swallowed by the giant waves multiple times.
This was truly a clash of gods, where mortals suffered. The weak were nothing more than ants who could be crushed by the strong without a second thought.
"Hah!" Mihawk roared, swinging his great black blade horizontally, leaving a phantom trail.
Clang!
The black blade struck Aeridar's crossed, pitch-black arms. The terrifying force pushed his body back, causing the deck beneath him to splinter.
Rumble!
The seawater around them exploded, creating towering sea crests.
Whoosh!
Aeridar pushed off with his back foot, stopping his retreat and disappearing.
"Instantaneous movement... or something else?" Mihawk said, surprised to see Aeridar suddenly appear in front of him. But he was just as fast, bringing his black blade down on Aeridar's head.
Clang!
The black fist and the black blade's edge clashed, creating a violent sound and a powerful wave of air that swept in all directions, causing a tsunami on the sea. The thick clouds in the sky above them were torn apart by an invisible blade.
"The... the... the sky is splitting!"
On the churning sea, the survivors who were trying to escape the battle were stunned to see the clouds parting. Their eyes bulged, and they were left speechless.
"I... I don't want to go to the Grand Line anymore!" Usopp cried, his snot and tears streaming down his face as he lay on the small wooden boat, drifting with the waves. "It's too dangerous! They're all monsters!"
"Nothing can't be cut... You truly are the world's greatest swordsman!" Aeridar said, looking at the bloody mark on his fist, full of admiration.
"That instantaneous movement ability of yours is a real pain... and... you can fly, too. You're invincible in the air." Mihawk said, his brow slightly furrowed as he stood seven or eight meters away. The deck beneath his feet was already covered in cracks.
"Hehehe... This is enough... Mihawk. I'll buy you a drink next time. Varloran XV," Aeridar said, waving his hand, signaling a truce.
Mihawk's eyes lit up slightly, and he put his black blade Yoru back on his back. "Varloran XV... If I don't get my drink, I'll tear down your palace!"
With that, Mihawk turned around, jumped onto his coffin-shaped raft dozens of meters away, and rowed off without looking back.
"Hehe. What a cold guy," Aeridar smirked, and his body floated into the air before he flew off.
Crack!
Rumble!
Moments later, countless cracks appeared on the large piece of floating deck. It shattered into a pile of wood chips, sinking into the ocean and leaving the area still in a chaotic state.
Several hundred meters in the air, Aeridar flew in a random direction.
"A-Aeridar-sama! Help!"
Suddenly, just as Aeridar took flight, a cry for help came from the churning waters below.
"He's still alive. What a lucky man," Aeridar looked down, a mischievous smile appearing on his face. On a broken little sailing boat, Krieg and a few of his men were clinging to the ship, soaked to the bone. Krieg was trying to sit up and call to him.
Aeridar slowly descended and stood in the air about three meters above the sea, looking down at Krieg.
"Do you know me, Krieg?" Aeridar asked.
"Aeridar-sama, I was in Loguetown back then," Krieg quickly replied. Back then, as a rookie, Krieg and his pirate crew had participated in the fierce battle against the Marines at Loguetown and had seen Aeridar's incredible strength with his own eyes, although they hadn't seen his face.
"I see," Aeridar nodded, thoughtfully looking at the men on the small sailing boat. They were all key members of the Krieg Pirates.
"But... why should I save you? You're not my subordinate, and we don't have a partnership." Aeridar then teased, "Besides, saving people isn't something a pirate should do."
"I have money! I have a lot of money! Any amount you want!" Krieg pleaded in a low voice. "Aeridar-sama, please, save me!"
"Hehehehe... Money? Didn't all your treasures sink to the bottom of the ocean?" Aeridar chuckled, an amused look on his face.
Pirates who went to the Grand Line usually kept their treasures on their pirate ships to fund their journeys. But once a pirate crew failed, their ship was taken, or it sank, all their wealth would be lost at the bottom of the sea.
Krieg's entire pirate armada, including the flagship Dreadnought Sabre, had completely sunk. So Krieg should have nothing left except for his golden armor and his diamond gauntlets. Besides, could Krieg possibly be richer than Aeridar? What a joke!
Krieg's face changed, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. But he quickly said, "No, I still have some treasure hidden on a deserted island. As long as you save me, Aeridar-sama, I will give you all of it!"
"That's just pathetic... Krieg," Aeridar said, losing interest as he watched Krieg grovel. The two were not on the same level; they were too far apart.
In response to Krieg's plea, Aeridar pushed his coat aside and slowly pulled out an ivory flintlock pistol from his waist.