After a slight consideration, Jotaro frowned and could only be forced to resolve those sword auras that posed a threat to him.
"I originally wanted to decide the outcome within time stop, but now it seems, the timing to determine the outcome can only be the instant after the time stop ends."
"ORA ORA ORA ORA!"
Star Platinum's fists, mixed with thunderous force, quickly resolved the large net woven of sword aura around him.
Jotaro slowly retreated, pulling open the distance between him and Hawkeye.
Puch!
A sound.
The black blade left the body.
Blood spurted, soaking the black coat.
No one knows what material this sword was made from, and with Hawkeye's Haki entwined on the blade, even Star Platinum found it difficult to destroy.
Once, in his conversation with the system, he learned the unfamiliar term "plane."
Through this battle with Hawkeye, he now increasingly understands the meaning of the word "plane."
Compared to the pirate world, the world he resides in is equivalent to a low-level plane world.
This can be seen just from the physical fitness of ordinary people.
Without exaggeration, if he hadn't trained Haki, he might even lose a fight to some children here.
He originally thought this could be explained by the theory of evolution.
After all, to survive in a harsh environment requires a more superior human foundation.
But now it seems, that's not the main reason.
The most crucial factor is still the difference between worlds.
Jotaro understood that to defeat Hawkeye, relying solely on Star Platinum's strength was not enough.
Attacks mixed with Haki can only be resolved by attacks that are also mixed with Haki.
If relying only on brute strength, he would have to pay a greater price than Hawkeye.
Star Platinum's strength far surpasses Hawkeye.
But even if the strength gap is offset, the Haki entwined on it would still cause him damage.
Withdrawing his gaze from Hawkeye's black blade, Jotaro exhaled a murky breath.
Then time started to flow naturally.
Hawkeye was slightly stunned.
Unaware of when, Jotaro's body had already separated from his black blade, moving ten meters away.
'That move again!'
Eyes sharp like a hawk's stared at Jotaro, while waves of shock surged in his heart.
Jotaro's ability that resembled teleportation, he had never been prepared for. That was precisely why he had constructed a web of sword aura before launching an attack, to block this move.
Yet the massive net of sword aura dissipated instantly without a trace, and even more frightening, he had no awareness of it.
His Observation Haki had already been operated to the extreme, and still, he couldn't detect any movement from Jotaro.
"This...!"
Staring at Jotaro ten meters away, cold sweat rarely broke out on Hawkeye's forehead, and a bone-piercing chill seemed to climb up his spine.
He wanted to deny it, but the facts were right before his eyes.
Admiral Kizaru is a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, the Glint-Glint Fruit ability user, able to turn any part of his body into light and move or attack at the speed of light.
Hawkeye had always been confident in his Observation Haki.
To earn the title of the world's strongest swordsman, his Observation Haki was certainly among the greatest.
Even when facing Kizaru, his Observation Haki could still sense the other's presence.
Yet facing Jotaro, his Observation Haki seemed to malfunction.
Only at that moment did it malfunction.
In his previous fight with Jotaro, he could still sense that ghost-like entity beside him.
Which means, at that instant, his speed surpassed the speed of light, or, time was stopped.
Whichever it was, this was a spine-chilling ability.
Hawkeye's expression changed uncertainly, the terrifying gaze sweeping past Jotaro's shoulder before easing.
He raised his head and laughed, "Hahaha, you are a terrifying opponent. Whoever has such an ability is a terrifying opponent."
"Given time, your achievements will surely surpass mine. But today, you are going to lose."
He gently stepped forward, and his entire aura changed, from the previous restraint back to a sharp edge.
"Whether it's time stop or faster than light, the gap between your Haki and mine is vast. Just now, your attack has already left you strained."
"And it seems you cannot use your ability continuously. Then… how will you deal with sword aura ten times fiercer than just now!"
Hawkeye suddenly swung his blade, giving Jotaro no time to react.
Waves surged, heaven and earth trembled.
Sword aura ten times denser than before contracted toward Jotaro.
Hawkeye was no fool.
If Jotaro possessed the ability to stop time, even if his Haki was inferior, he still had the chance to defeat him.
Why didn't he launch an attack on him during the stopped time?
Was it because he didn't want to?
Of course not!
It must be because he couldn't.
Just dealing with the scattered sword aura had already left Jotaro exhausted.
During the stopped time, he hadn't even resolved all of the sword aura.
The scattered sword marks on his back were the best proof.
Hawkeye understood clearly in his heart, which is why he spared no effort to unleash a sword move even more terrifying than before.
Jotaro absolutely could not dodge. Even stopping time would not help.
Moreover, he had discovered a weakness in the ghost-like presence, Star Platinum, beside Jotaro.
Before the terrifying momentum reached him, Jotaro's skin already sensed the pain in advance.
His expression was grim.
Time stop couldn't be used consecutively and needed a few breaths of adjustment time.
At such a pace, an enemy who knows his ability will never give him a chance to use time stop a third time.
Hawkeye did not hesitate after time resumed and unleashed a stronger sword technique, completely within his expectations.
"Star Platinum!"
Jotaro's eyes emitted a faint glow, and he shouted deeply.
"So that's the name of your ability?"
Hawkeye closely followed the sword aura and charged before Jotaro.
His hands moved without pause.
Black light flickered, yet no sword shadow could be seen.
"ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!"
However, Star Platinum's movements were even faster, its fists always able to block Hawkeye's sword moves in advance.
The massive black blade was like hacking at an invisible barrier.
Jotaro stood only a foot in front of him. Yet he couldn't shake him in the slightest.
Hawkeye's muscles tensed, his pupils contracted.
This power was even greater than before.
Even with Haki protection, the area around his tiger's mouth throbbed in pain from the shock.
This kind of speed, paired with such destructive power, if Jotaro possessed Haki on par with his own, Hawkeye had no doubt he would be defeated instantly.
At this moment, a bit of gratitude rose in his heart.
Such a person will definitely become a ruler-level figure in the future, and yet, he could add a blemish to his record.
Just the thought made Hawkeye tremble with excitement.
"Underestimating you earlier was my mistake. Your future achievements will definitely surpass mine!"
"But today, you will lose here! I won't kill you. Come challenge me again once you've become stronger."
Hawkeye roared, and his aura surged again.
At this moment, he and his blade had completely fused into one.
His sword technique was incredibly elusive.
It completely restrained Star Platinum's movements.
"ORA ORA ORA!"
Star Platinum also fought back desperately.
Jotaro clenched his teeth, the pressure suddenly increased.
"Words of apology are already too late now!"
Hawkeye let out a long laugh.
He didn't dislike such spirited youths.
His brows furrowed, and his golden pupils flashed for a moment, heaven and earth lost color.
The battle ended at this moment.
Hawkeye stared at Jotaro, whose mouth overflowed with blood, his eyes not showing a hint of contempt.
This man was destined to leave an indelible mark in his memory.
Just with barely-learned Haki, he could fight him evenly.
No one in the world had ever achieved such a feat.
He slowly spoke, the wound on his chest slowly dripping blood, "That thing active beside you, its strength and speed far surpass my sword techniques, but it has a fatal weakness."
"Its field of vision is the same as yours. The truly clear visual field is only sixty degrees in the center, and with focused attention, this field becomes narrower."
"Which means, you are difficult to defend against a killing move from behind. My sword aura, however, can attack with 360-degree coverage and no blind spots."
"Even if I stand in front of you, I can still attack your back."
Jotaro's back was covered with sword wounds, bleeding heavily.
"Earlier when you resolved my sword technique, the injury on your shoulder made me realize this."
"That is where you lost to me..."
Hawkeye's voice abruptly stopped. His eyes went unfocused, his lips trembled, and he murmured in disbelief, "Impossible! How is this possible!"
"Yare yare daze, you finally noticed your own injury." Jotaro coughed up a mouthful of blood, a sly smirk of successful scheming tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Star Platinum's fingers had already pierced through Hawkeye's chest, yet he had only now realized it.
Hawkeye suddenly lowered his head to look at his chest, blood continuously seeping out. The muscles on his face tensed and twitched uncontrollably.
The blood hole was only one inch away from his heart.
A little lower, and his heart would have burst instantly.
Star Finger.
Star Platinum withdrew its fingers, and Hawkeye, like a balloon losing air, suddenly half-kneeled before Jotaro.
Jotaro's light green pupils stared at Hawkeye, "Relax. I deliberately avoided your vital spot, didn't even sever many nerves."
Hawkeye clutched his heart, his body trembling involuntarily.
"When did you...?"
"You should know better than I do." Jotaro replied calmly.
Hawkeye's expression froze.
Jotaro's attack was even faster than his sword aura. At the instant he raised his hand to release the sword aura, his body had already been pierced.
He had long been defeated, yet he hadn't realized, and even had time to deliver a victory speech.
Thinking back now, he felt truly ashamed.
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