As the only known high-level method of awakening Observation Haki in the entire manga, Sherwin naturally had to come over and try fighting Katakuri, to see if he could directly power up like Luffy did…
Although he knew this was probably just like being beaten into Advanced Conqueror Haki by three strikes from Teacher Kaido—something reserved exclusively for the protagonist.
But…
It cost nothing anyway, so there was no harm in giving it a try.
Besides, Sherwin had recently gained some insights into developing "Observation-killing," and Katakuri, a master of Observation Haki, was the perfect opponent to test the waters.
"Hunter Sherwin!"
When enemies meet, hatred burns hot.
Seeing Sherwin appear, Cracker—no longer hiding inside his biscuit armor—immediately charged at him, still wielding a "pepper-salt pretzel" in his hand…
Only this time, it was made of biscuits.
However, Sherwin, who only wanted to measure himself against Katakuri, couldn't even be bothered to spare a glance at this defeated foe, continuing to carry the Longsword and walk toward Katakuri.
As for Cracker…
"I won't let you disturb Lord Sherwin, meow."
Seijuro Meow drew his sword and blocked the biscuit man path.
"Leave this place to us! You lot, hurry and go capture Nico Robin!"
Katakuri gave the order decisively.
His two triplet brothers—Charlotte Daifuku, the lamp man who had eaten the Lamp-Lamp Fruit, and Charlotte Oven, the high-heat man who had eaten the Heat-Heat Fruit—immediately led the remaining pirates and ran toward Robin.
Sherwin still paid them no attention, because he had long since signed a whole pile of unequal treaties with that little rascal Klee Meow, making this small ragdoll obediently stay by Robin side and guarantee her safety.
"Boom!"
With a dull thud, a gigantic flaming Dodo Bear landed in front of Daifuku and Oven.
Although she couldn't take action personally, controlling summoned creatures to fight worked just as well. The clever Klee Meow squatted on Robin shoulder, proudly shaking her fluffy little head.
Moreover, since Daifuku could summon a lamp genie and Oven could generate extreme heat, the Dodo Bear—which was likewise a summon and could also produce high temperatures—was simply the most suitable opponent.
As for the remaining pirates, Klee Meow very generously handed them over to her Jinx big sister to deal with.
"I hear your Observation Haki can see the future," Sherwin raised White Nagi and pointed it at the grim-faced Katakuri. "Then can you see who our victory will belong to next?"
"Do you even need to ask?" Katakuri drew his weapon, Mogura, and pointed it back at Sherwin. "Of course it will be me!"
Seeing the trident in Katakuri hand, Sherwin eyes immediately lit up.
How could he have forgotten—Katakuri weapon was a 'long spear,' and the kind that carried narrative weight!
So Sherwin grinned and said, "Is that so? But I think you might end up like Cracker and lose your weapon to me."
"Hmph! If you want my Mogura, then come and try!"
Katakuri glared, unleashing his Conqueror Haki—something that had absolutely no effect on Sherwin.
Sherwin tilted his head in confusion. "Didn't your Observation Haki foresee that I wouldn't be affected by Conqueror Haki at all?"
"…"
Katakuri had of course foreseen it it was just that by the time he saw it, his Conqueror Haki had already been released.
Unable to explain it himself, Katakuri could only darken his expression and lower his head, launching an attack straight at Sherwin.
"Huh? Why did you suddenly fly into a rage out of embarrassment? Did I just poke a sore spot or something?"
Sherwin blocked the attack with the Longsword and continued to ask in confusion.
Somewhat similar to Who-Who, when Sherwin encountered plot characters he was interested in, he tended to talk a lot.
However, Katakuri still did not respond, continuing to attack in silence.
"Mochi Thrust!"
Katakuri arm transformed into a mass of mochi, wrapping around the "Mogura" in his hand as it spun. The trident tip turned into a massive drill, stabbing straight toward Sherwin.
Monster Hunter Style · Assault Style · Mirror Blossom!
Sherwin decisively activated Assault Style and used the Longsword defensive hunting art, Mirror Blossom.
The nature of this move was actually somewhat similar to a parry—both deflected the enemy attack—but its effect was inferior to the perfect parry developed by Link Meow, and was even a bit worse than an ordinary parry.
This was determined by the nature of the weapon in this regard, the Longsword could never compare to a shield.
Yet in Katakuri Observation Haki, what he saw was Sherwin merely lifting that salted-fish longsword and making a simple blocking motion, and then his own attack was knocked aside, to the point that even the "Mogura" nearly slipped from his grasp.
Because that scene was far too unbelievable, Katakuri even began to suspect that there was something wrong with his Observation Haki.
"Hmph!"
After a brief moment of surprise, Katakuri did not stop his attack. Instead, he increased both the force and the rotation, continuing to thrust toward Sherwin.
At this point, it was already too late to change moves doing so would only expose an even greater opening, and moreover…
He still could not quite believe that his attack would be blocked by Sherwin so easily.
"Clang—"
At the instant when the spinning Mogura finally made contact with the Longsword, Katakuri understood that there was nothing wrong with his Observation Haki.
A tremendous recoil force surged back through the Mogura in his hand, yanking Katakuri body involuntarily off to the side.
His arm, which had turned into a mass of mochi, was even blasted apart like a snapped spring, bursting outward in all directions.
If it were not for the fact that he had already been prepared thanks to what he saw in his Observation Haki—quickly restoring his arm to normal and gripping the Mogura again—this trident really would have been knocked flying away.
Monster Hunter Style · Hunting Art · Sakura Spirit Blade Slash!
Seizing the moment when Katakuri posture was unstable, Sherwin immediately launched a counterattack.
However, the other party Observation Haki was indeed something special he promptly used a pseudo-elemental transformation to avoid Sherwin slash.
Since he failed to hit the enemy, there was naturally no way to send the blade energy into Katakuri body. The debut battle of Sakura Slash thus ended without any results.
As expected, those hunting arts that boosted one own status were still more useful.
Having swung into empty air, Sherwin pivoted on his feet and turned back, assuming a sheathing stance…
Monster Hunter Style · Iai · All Blades Sever!
With the bonus from Assault Style, Sherwin draw slash at this moment was so fast that it was almost able to catch up to Link Meow swings under time-slowing conditions.
Yet even with such ferocious draw speed, Katakuri was still able to rely on his bug-level Observation Haki to evade in advance.
But Sherwin did not give up so easily. Since the speed from Assault Style still was not fast enough, then…
Link Time, activate!
Monster Hunter Style · Starry Heavens and Moonlit Earth!
In an instant, countless thrust-type and slash-type blade energies were unleashed by Sherwin, enveloping Katakuri, who was still maintaining his pseudo-elemental state.
The overlapping layers of blade energy left no space to evade at all even Katakuri, who could pseudo-elementalize his body, was no exception.
Since even the speed of Assault Style couldn't land a hit, then I'll stack Link Time speed with AOE attacks—there no way you can still dodge this!
And indeed, Katakuri did not dodge it. He didn't even make an evasive move, instead rapidly restoring his human form and choosing to take it head-on with Armament Haki.
"Tch…"
Sherwin clicked his tongue in annoyance.
In order to seal off Katakuri evasive space as much as possible, the power of this move had been somewhat dispersed, so the individual blade energies weren't particularly strong.
With sufficiently high-quality Armament Haki, tanking it head-on really was a viable response.
But was Katakuri tanking it because he couldn't dodge, or because his Observation Haki showed him that tanking it would be effective?
Much as he didn't want to admit it, Sherwin felt the latter was more likely. And if that was the case, then his attempt just now hadn't held much meaning at all.
"Tch!"
Sherwin clicked his tongue again, then slowly lowered his eyelids, his eyes half-closed as if squinting. His whole person seemed to suddenly detach from the battle before him.
At the same time, the aura around him became erratic—now strong, now weak, drifting and unstable.