Vice Admiral Tsuru said, "It's impossible for Hawkeye to help us willingly. So we can only use him. Although Hawkeye is the world's greatest swordsman, everyone knows that he has been pursuing the ultimate in swordsmanship. In his eyes, this surpasses all interests. So Lao Shen is using this psychology of his."
"As the world's greatest swordsman, there aren't many people in the world who can compare with him in swordsmanship. The Shinigami is the person among the younger generation who is most likely to surpass him. Do you think Hawkeye would be tempted by an opponent like that?"
Aokiji nodded without hesitation, and said, "Of course he would. That kid's swordsmanship ability is indeed very strong. He's qualified to be Hawkeye's opponent."
At this time, Aokiji already knew Vice Admiral Tsuru's meaning. He said, "So, Vice Admiral Tsuru, you deliberately revealed the Shinigami's whereabouts to Hawkeye, and highlighted his strength, so that Hawkeye would take the initiative to find the Shinigami. That kid will choose to escape when facing us if he can't win. However, as a fellow swordsman, he will definitely not choose to retreat when facing Hawkeye. Even if he's defeated, he won't retreat."
Vice Admiral Tsuru said, "Yes, I've been studying the Shinigami for a long time. Although he's young and powerful, his biggest weakness is that he's arrogant. He will definitely not choose to retreat when facing Hawkeye. This weakness has given us an opportunity."
Aokiji looked at the clouds in the sky that had been pierced open by two sword intents. He said with a shocked expression, "Although it's a bit of taking advantage of someone's misfortune, this is indeed the best decision. Just looking at his sword intent, I know that his battle with Hawkeye will definitely continue until the very end."
Vice Admiral Tsuru said with a calm face, "The Shinigami's danger will definitely not be weaker than the Four Emperors in the future, or even stronger. An opponent like that is unacceptable to our Navy. So even if the method is a bit despicable, we have to do it."
Aokiji said, "Vice Admiral Tsuru, please don't misunderstand. I didn't mean that. I'm just a bit emotional. We spent so much effort back then, but we couldn't catch him. I didn't expect that we might be able to catch him very easily in the end."
Vice Admiral Tsuru said to Aokiji seriously, "So, Kuzan, you have to understand that when facing an enemy like this, you have to learn to seize his weaknesses. As long as you grasp his weaknesses, you will have the capital to win."
Aokiji nodded, and said, "I understand. You've given me a lesson."
Aokiji sighed. He looked towards the direction where Akira and the others were, and said quietly, "That kid is indeed amazingly talented. He's only this old, but he's actually able to compete with Hawkeye, who is the world's greatest swordsman. Just looking at their sword intent, it's really impossible to tell who's stronger. Their battle is probably already representing the world's strongest swordsmanship duel. It's a pity that such a battle is actually happening on such a nameless island."
Akira and Hawkeye's duel was definitely a world-class swordsman battle. It was even more intense than the battle between Red-Haired Shanks and Hawkeye back then, because both of their sword intents were full of killing intent. They were both fighting the other party with the determination to kill. This was something that Shanks and Hawkeye's battle back then couldn't compare to.
Vice Admiral Tsuru asked Aokiji, "Kuzan, who do you think will win in the end between the two of them?"
Aokiji was a Navy Admiral. His strength definitely stood at the top of the world. Although he wasn't a swordsman, he could still see a thing or two from the two people's sword intents. That was why Vice Admiral Tsuru had asked him.
This question made Aokiji frown. After a moment, he answered, Judging from the two people's sword intents alone, there's obviously not much difference between them. However, we're observing from a distance after all. We can't determine who will win or lose.
However, according to me, I think Hawkeye is a bit more experienced. After all, he has been the world's greatest swordsman for a long time. In terms of combat experience, he's still better.
However, it's hard to say for the Shinigami. His growth is really too fast. Even if he can't beat Hawkeye, I estimate that it's not very likely that Hawkeye can kill him either.
Vice Admiral Tsuru nodded, and said, "Your guess is not much different from my thoughts. Although I can't estimate the strength of the two of them, the final result is very likely to be both sides being injured. However, this also happens to fit our plan. It's very difficult for us to catch a Shinigami in his prime. However, it will be easy for us to catch him if he's seriously injured."
Aokiji said, "That's true. However, I still think that we shouldn't underestimate him. We suffered a lot of losses at his hands back then because we underestimated him."
Vice Admiral Tsuru said, "I'm naturally very clear about this point. That's why I called you over. Moreover, this time is different from the past. Besides the fact that he might be seriously injured himself, he also has other concerns. So he's doomed this time."
Aokiji's eyes lit up, and asked, "Are you talking about the Amazon Lily Pirates?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru said, "That's right. The Amazon Lily Pirates are the biggest opportunity for us to catch him. He can't run this time."
"Let's go over slowly. After we get over there, Kuzan, you immediately freeze the sea surface. We can't let the people of the Amazon Lily Pirates escape."
Aokiji nodded in response, and said, "No problem. I can guarantee that none of them will be able to leave."
Akira, who was fighting Hawkeye, naturally wouldn't know about the Navy's actions. At this time, his battle with Hawkeye had reached a fever pitch. He had used Tensa Zangetsu after not having gained any advantage before.
In an instant, he had occupied a great advantage, because his speed had become really too fast. Moreover, because Tensa Zangetsu had become smaller, its attack speed had also become faster.
Hawkeye would often only swing his sword once, but he would have already swung his sword two or three times. Although he hadn't completely broken through Hawkeye's defense, he had also torn open a crack in Hawkeye's defense.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
Akira had completely turned into a black shadow. His speed was so fast that it was impossible to capture it with the naked eye. He was constantly moving around Hawkeye. A cloud of blood would occasionally spurt out from Hawkeye's body. It was because he had been cut by him.
However, although many wounds had appeared on Hawkeye's body, his expression didn't change much. Instead, it became more and more calm, because he had slowly become familiar with Akira's attack method, and had slowly adapted to Akira's speed.
Having fought until now, Akira had finally seen Hawkeye's terrifying side. His ability to adapt was really too powerful. At the beginning, he could still rely on his moving speed and attack speed to gain an advantage.
However, as time went on, he discovered that his attacks were becoming more and more difficult. It wasn't because his speed had slowed down, or because Hawkeye's speed had become faster. It was because Hawkeye had already become familiar with his attack rhythm.
Ordinary people would become anxious when they were at a disadvantage. However, this couldn't be seen on Hawkeye at all. He was as calm as ever, and as sharp as ever. From beginning to end, Hawkeye seemed to have not changed at all. He was like a stone Buddha, standing tall and unyielding.
Hawkeye, who had been in a passive state all along, suddenly slashed out with his sword. This slash was a horizontal slash. This slash came very suddenly. However, it made Akira, who was moving at high speed, suddenly change his face, because Hawkeye's slash was exactly in the direction where he was preparing to attack. His advance route had been completely sealed off by Hawkeye's slash. He was even forced to receive it.
"Clang!"
The huge blade of light slash heavily slashed in front of Akira. Akira was holding Tensa Zangetsu, and blocked this slash. However, this slash had come suddenly, and its strength was extremely strong.
Although he had used the blade to block this slash, his body was knocked back constantly by the huge force. In the end, he was directly knocked into the mountain wall a hundred meters away, leaving behind a huge pit.
...
Hawkeye didn't hesitate at all. He directly rushed into the mountain wall that had been knocked out by Akira. Not long after Hawkeye had entered, the huge mountain wall actually trembled violently, as if some terrifying beast was about to rush out from it.
"What's going on? Why did the two of them go in?"
Hancock, who had been forced far away from the battlefield, couldn't see anyone after seeing Akira and Hawkeye enter the mountain wall. However, the cliff-like mountain wall was constantly shaking. She knew that Akira and Hawkeye must be fighting in the mountain wall.
After about dozens of seconds, the huge mountain wall collapsed with a bang. Countless blade of light slashes rushed out from the mountain wall, instantly cutting the huge mountain wall to pieces, and turning it into countless pieces of gravel.
Then, they saw two figures moving like lightning on those stones that were collapsing randomly in the air, constantly crossing paths, and then erupting powerful blade of light, wreaking havoc on the surrounding stones.
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
"Slash!"
The black crescent blade of light and the blue blade of light slash were constantly touching. Every attack of the two of them contained all of their power. Their power was amazing. If they were careless, they would be seriously injured.
The spirits of the two people in this state were tense. At this time, it depended on who could hold on until the end, and see who had more trump cards.
"Huff, huff."
Akira and Hawkeye were standing a dozen meters apart. The two of them were in almost the same posture. They were holding their swords with one hand, and the tips of their swords were pointing at the ground.
The two of them had been fighting until now for almost two hours. There hadn't been any stops during the process. Even with their physiques, they were somewhat unable to hold on at this time. It could be seen from their heavy breathing how difficult it was for them.
But even if they were tired, they didn't have any intention of stopping. Having fought to this point, they would definitely not stop if they didn't determine the victory or defeat.
"Let's determine the victory or defeat with one move."
Akira suddenly raised his head, and looked at Hawkeye with surprise. He hadn't expected Hawkeye to say these words.
Although the two of them were very tired, neither of them would reveal it. Hawkeye saying these words at this time only had one meaning. He was unwilling to drag it on any longer.
Surprise was surprise, but this was also what Akira had been hoping for. He nodded directly, and said, "Alright."
After getting Akira's consent, Hawkeye's face became extremely serious. He held his sword with both hands, and the blade was pointing directly at Akira.
The momentum on his body actually quickly converged, making him look as if he was a very ordinary swordsman. There was nothing outstanding about him except for his eyes and that Black Sword Yoru.
Facing the pressure of Hawkeye's last strike, Akira slowly frowned. He knew that Hawkeye's last strike would definitely be earth-shattering. So he was thinking about how he should face this kind of Hawkeye.
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