As the saying goes, "a willow planted unintentionally still gives shade."
Originally, Don just wanted to keep Mihawk around—maybe even coax him into joining the Hunter's Guild.
But after learning more about Mihawk's temperament, Don realized that was… a little unrealistic.
So instead, he thought: Fine, I'll just spar with him once and then send him off.
After all, the guild had only just been established. Mihawk's participation wasn't exactly mandatory.
Yet somehow, after that fight, Mihawk had stayed—under the pretense of "teaching swordsmanship."
Was it really because my swordsmanship was that bad?
…I thought it was fine.
Flying Slash, cutting through iron—those techniques came easily enough.
"You're distracted," Mihawk suddenly said on the ship, his tone sharp as his eyes.
"In swordsmanship, your focus is worse than Robin's."
"Yeah, yeah—I spaced out," Don admitted without argument. He really had been lost in thought.
"You need to learn to control your power. A true swordsman must use their strengths to the fullest—your physical power and Haki are extraordinary. You should shape your swordsmanship around that strength.
But first, you must learn control."
Mihawk could tell Don had studied swordsmanship. Against most swordsmen, Don's raw power and Armament Haki were simply overwhelming.
But his technique was rough—crude, even. So much potential wasted.
"Can't help it," Don sighed, sliding his blade back into its sheath and shaking his head.
"Not my fault. My power's growing too fast. A year ago, I could still control it fine—but the stronger I get, the harder it becomes. It's frustrating, really."
He tossed his sword toward Enel and shrugged helplessly.
The whole ship went silent.
…Was this man even listening to himself?
Power growing too fast—and he's complaining about it?
Even Mihawk twitched at the corners of his mouth, unable to form a response.
"Well, that does make sense," Issho chuckled softly after a pause. "At your age, power grows the quickest."
It was easy to forget—Don was still only sixteen.
And at that age, the body changes rapidly. "Growing stronger every day" wasn't even an exaggeration for him.
"If that's the case," Mihawk finally said after a long silence, "then your current style suits you."
"But your swordsmanship still lacks a distinct form—or rather, you lack experience. You rely purely on brute force to overwhelm your opponents."
Don tilted his head. "And what if my power grows so much I can crush anyone?"
Mihawk froze for a second—then looked at him seriously, recalling Don's terrifying display of strength not long ago.
After a deep breath, Mihawk nodded.
"Then you wouldn't need any technique at all."
Expressionless, he added, "So maybe… you don't need me to teach you anymore."
"Hey now, don't say that," Don quickly countered. "I was just joking! The New World's full of monsters—your buddy Red-Haired Shanks, Big Mom, Whitebeard, Kaido… Compared to them, I've got a long way to go."
"So you're already comparing yourself to those monsters?" Mihawk muttered, shaking his head slightly.
People truly were different—and Don… wasn't normal. Another sea monster, plain and simple.
"I'm free for now," Mihawk said, lying back on a deck chair beside Issho. "I'll instruct you for a while. How much you grasp will depend on you."
"Find some time to spar with me," he added to Issho without opening his eyes.
Issho chuckled. "Old man though I am, I'd love to see the world's strongest swordsman in action. But my swordsmanship's tied to my Devil Fruit power."
"Still better than some people's swordsmanship," Mihawk replied coolly, eyes still closed.
Don: …
Why not just say my name outright?!
Scowling, Don turned toward Enel.
The self-proclaimed "god," now serving as Don's sword stand in Robin's place, pretended not to exist.
After witnessing Don's power in "Unyielding Mode," Enel had been thoroughly cowed—quiet before, now utterly subdued.
When Don's gaze landed on him, Enel managed a nervous smile and looked away.
Don sighed, turning to Robin instead.
"Do you like swordsmanship?"
Robin paused, setting down the decorative blade she'd bought in Alabasta.
"Why do you ask? I wouldn't say I like or dislike it. But if you tell me to learn, I'll learn."
"That's fine then," Don nodded thoughtfully. "Our route to the Sabaody Archipelago should pass through the Florian Triangle."
"That's Moria's territory!" Mihawk interjected sharply, clearly aware of the danger.
"Yeah," Don said lightly. "You guys wait here—I'll go pay Moria a visit. He's got a sword that's wasted in his hands."
"Oh?"
Both Mihawk and Issho sat up instantly.
"What sword?"
If Don was interested, it had to be something special.
"Shusui," Don replied. "Issho, you know of it, right?"
"The treasured blade of Wano Country," Issho said, startled. "Once wielded by the dragon-slaying samurai Ryuma himself!"
"One of the twenty-one Great Grade Blades," Mihawk added, eyes gleaming.
To a swordsman, any famous blade was a thing of wonder—especially those among the Great or Supreme Grades. Sadly, most weren't in the hands of true sword masters.
"Come to think of it," Don mused, rubbing his chin, "you two have Supreme Grade blades. My sword's not even a Fine Grade."
He considered using Shusui himself—but one look at Flame in Enel's arms made him shake his head.
Under the infusion of his Haki and Devil Fruit power, Flame was already evolving—becoming a Black Blade in its own right, perfectly attuned to him.
Shusui, while a Black Blade, had been forged through another's will.
He could lend it to Robin for now—though she didn't seem all that passionate about swordsmanship, only practicing because he'd asked her to.
If she didn't use it later… perhaps Zoro or Kuina would, when they set sail someday.
After all, those two likely shared blood ties with the legendary Ryuma.
"In that case, I'll go with you," Mihawk said suddenly.
He'd remembered Moria's strange powers—and the fact that Shusui was in his possession. If Moria had indeed revived a swordsman's corpse with it, Mihawk wanted to see for himself.
"I'll come too," Issho added with a grin.
"Sure, why not?" Don said with a smirk. "I was going to have you wait outside while I snatched the sword and left—but this'll be fun too."
END OF CHAPTER
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