Sensing the immense, razor-sharp aura emanating from Hawk-Eyes Mihawk, Leo felt his blood ignite with excitement. This was the kind of opponent he craved.
Nami was taken aback. This was the first time she had seen Leo wear such a profoundly serious expression. No words were needed; his actions spoke volumes.
"Wait here. I'll be right back," Leo instructed the women, his voice calm but leaving no room for argument. He then strode out of the restaurant.
The coffin-like small boat had docked. Hawk-Eyes Mihawk now stood on the floating deck of the Baratie. His hawk-like eyes, sharp enough to seem capable of piercing through a person's soul, were locked onto the pathetic forms of Krieg and his subordinate, Gin.
His secret—the utterly ridiculous image of the world's greatest swordsman using his legendary black blade, Yoru, as an oar—could not be allowed to spread. Anyone who witnessed that loss of dignity had to die. His cool, imposing image was non-negotiable.
Krieg and Gin felt their sanity fraying. A thousand profane curses ran through their minds.
Damn it all!
Hawk-Eyes had actually chased them all the way from the Grand Line to the East Blue! Wasn't he tired?! Did he really have to be so thorough?!
Mihawk began walking toward Krieg, his footsteps echoing with a rhythmic, deliberate pace that sounded like a death knell, counting down the last seconds of their lives.
However, at that moment, Mihawk suddenly stopped. He raised an eyebrow, his attention pulled away.
He had sensed it—a powerful, focused fighting spirit, aimed directly at him.
"Who are you?!" Mihawk's gaze, usually so dismissive, fixed intently on Leo. It was rare for him to speak first.
Meeting Mihawk's sharp eyes without a hint of fear, Leo responded calmly, "Who I am isn't important. Since we've met, are you interested in a fight?"
"You know who I am?" Mihawk asked, a slight frown creasing his brow at the bold challenge.
"Of course," Leo shrugged casually. "The world's greatest swordsman, Hawk-Eyes Mihawk."
"Then let's fight."
The killing intent that had been crushing Krieg vanished instantly. Krieg gasped as if released from a vice, drawing in heavy, ragged breaths. The pressure had been unbearable. He mentally vowed to never leave the East Blue again. He'd leave the title of Pirate King to someone else.
Leo held the Wado Ichimonji at the ready. A wild, predatory red glint flashed in his eyes. His tall frame erupted with a powerful aura.
"It seems the East Blue has produced another capable fighter," Mihawk remarked, his expression shifting slightly as he noted the quality of Leo's blade and the rising energy.
"Flying Slash!"
Leo initiated the attack without hesitation. The Wado Ichimonji flashed through the air, and two golden arcs of sword energy shot through the night sky, racing toward Mihawk.
"This technique!" Mihawk's eyes narrowed. Why did it feel so familiar?
There was no time to ponder. Mihawk swung Yoru in a simple, almost casual motion—a basic attack, a mere flick of his wrist.
BOOM!
The next instant, their slashes collided mid-air. A violent explosion reverberated across the sea.
"A decent slash, but not enough," Mihawk stated, his face an impassive mask.
As the words left his mouth, Mihawk's figure vanished, reappearing instantly in front of Leo, Yoru cutting a swift, deadly path toward him.
"You want to compare speed?!" Leo's lips curled into a playful smirk. "You've picked the wrong opponent."
Mihawk's attack met empty air. Simultaneously, his Observation Haki screamed a warning of danger—from behind! At the last possible millisecond, Mihawk activated his Armament Haki, coating his back in an impervious layer of hardened aura.
CLANG!
A shower of sparks erupted as the Wado Ichimonji struck the hardened Haki shield, the sound of clashing metals ringing out.
Incredible reaction speed, Leo thought, inwardly impressed. He had used Instant Transmission. The moment Mihawk saw him disappear was the same moment the sword was descending upon his back. Yet, Mihawk had still managed to defend himself.
Mihawk's pupils constricted. For the first time, a flicker of genuine shock, and irritation, crossed his features. He rapidly retreated, putting distance between them.
What kind of ability was that?! Even his Observation Haki couldn't reliably track it. Or rather, the Haki could perceive the movement, but by the time his body could react, Leo had already appeared elsewhere.
SWOOSH—
Leo vanished again (giving) Mihawk no time to process his astonishment.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Utilizing Instant Transmission, Leo changed positions over a dozen times in a single second, launching dozens of golden flying slashes from every conceivable angle. He created an impenetrable net of sword energy, sealing off all of Mihawk's escape routes.
Mihawk's face darkened. By the time he fully registered the threat, he was surrounded by a storm of incoming arc-shaped (sword energies). There was no way to dodge.
Annoyance turned to anger. Mihawk began swinging Yoru in a blur, deflecting and destroying the incoming slashes with efficient, powerful strikes. For those he couldn't block, he simply tanked them with his Armament Haki.
Damn it! He had never fought in such a frustrating manner. Even against Admiral Kizaru and his Pika Pika no Mi, there was a traceable path, a pattern of light. But Leo's movement was completely random, devoid of any predictable logic. He could sense it, but he couldn't catch it. Kizaru's "teleportation" was an exaggeration for extreme speed. Leo's was the real thing.
Several arc-shaped slashes slammed into Mihawk's back. Though they failed to break his Haki defense, the powerful concussive force sent him stumbling forward, nearly making him trip face-first.
BOOM!
An immense sword intent erupted from Mihawk's body, violently dispersing the residual force. The released energy ran wild, leaving tangible sword scars on the wooden deck beneath his feet.
He was truly enraged now. He faced even an Emperor like Shanks without fear. To be made a fool of by some unknown brat? If this got out, his reputation would be in tatters. This was even more embarrassing than Krieg seeing him rowing with Yoru. He had to reclaim his dignity.
"Throwing a tantrum now?!" Leo's fighting spirit burned even brighter. This was exactly what he wanted. "Perfect!"
He had acquired many powerful abilities in a short time. Only through intense battle could he truly integrate them into his own style.
"HAHAHAHA! Hawk-Eyes! Taste what it's like to face infinite slashes!" Leo laughed loudly, unleashing his assault once more.
Using Instant Transmission continuously while simultaneously executing sword techniques consumed a great deal of stamina. But paired with the Heal-Heal Fruit's ability to remove fatigue...
...All negative side effects were instantly resolved.
What followed was a spectacle:
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The sound of clashing metals rose and fell, echoing throughout the night sky. Mihawk's expression grew darker and darker as he endured the relentless, storm-like barrage of Leo's attacks. They were incessant, without pause.
The moment his Observation Haki locked onto Leo's position, the next instant, a new warning would scream from a completely different direction.
How the hell am I supposed to fight this?!
Mihawk went all out. Sword energy ran rampant around him, and Yoru became a blur, destroying the vast majority of the incoming slashes. But a small portion still got through, hammering against his Armament Haki armor. Sparks flew continuously from his body, making it look less like a sword fight and more like a blacksmith violently forging steel on an anvil.
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T/N :
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