"So this is the so-called indestructible fortress?" Hawkeye stared at the massive wall split open by a single swing of his blade, slightly disappointed.
Valos Fortress was indeed solid, but lifeless things could never be as interesting as living opponents.
He had wandered across wildlands filled with beasts, roaming from one fortress to another, yet found none worth his attention. Even the so-called powerful monsters were no match for the baboons that inhabited his home. They failed to stir his curiosity in the slightest.
He had faced many challengers on his travels, but none could impress him. Though his swordsmanship stood at the peak of perfection, he still felt far from the ultimate path he sought.
Upon hearing of the rebellion at Valos Fortress, he decided to see for himself. Strength often breeds ambition, and the fortress's abnormal victories intrigued him. It hinted at the presence of a formidable power behind the scenes.
So he came, cleaving open the wall to announce his arrival.
"Mihawk, are you here for someone else—or for me?" As Hawkeye stepped through the breach, countless soldiers surrounded him.
His expression remained calm.
Vick and the others were shaken. One man, one sword—he had shattered the wall of Valos Fortress. Every attack launched at him was cut down instantly.
To him, an army of thousands was as nothing.
Just as the soldiers prepared to strike, Rosen arrived.
"Probably for you, Crocodile," Hawkeye said. The moment he saw Rosen, he recognized him.
Rosen was unbothered. The ones surrounding Hawkeye were all Lantis warriors, and Vick had long known Rosen's true identity.
"I've always wanted to test the world's greatest swordsman. No time like the present," Rosen grinned, his fighting spirit surging. Since Hawkeye had come for him, there was no reason to hesitate.
Hawkeye gave a faint nod and drew his sword. The blade sang, its resonance carrying the weight of his aura. The pressure alone made the Lantis warriors tense, their instincts screaming danger.
Some trembled under Mihawk's sharp gaze, but under Alice's orders, none took a step back—even in the face of death.
"Impressive resolve," Hawkeye murmured, then swung downward. A brilliant emerald slash screamed through the air toward Rosen.
"Sand Burst Lance!" Rosen pressed his hand to the ground, summoning a roaring sand dragon that collided with the sword wave. Before the attacks met, he grasped his Sand Blade, his form blurring as he darted forward, leaping high to strike down at Hawkeye.
Hawkeye didn't retreat. Instead, he stepped forward, swinging the Black Blade Yoru in a sweeping arc. Power surged through his body from leg to waist to arm—a single, seamless motion that split the very air.
The sound reverberated with a deep hum—then a sharp clash rang out as Rosen's blade met his. The impact was immense, the air exploding into a violent storm around them.
Rosen frowned and struck again. Hawkeye parried with calm precision.
Another explosion shook the ground, the earth cracking beneath their feet, yet neither man bore a single wound.
Rosen's third strike, imbued with Haki, forced Hawkeye back.
"Not using your ability?" Hawkeye asked, mildly surprised. A well-used Logia power was troublesome to deal with.
"I want to witness the world's strongest swordsmanship," Rosen replied. He wasn't avoiding his powers—he wanted to push his body to its limit under the pressure of Hawkeye's might, to break through into admiral-level mastery.
"Interesting. But if I recall, your strength lies in your abilities," Hawkeye said, his tone casual but knowing.
"Times change. So do people," Rosen answered lightly, though he didn't fully understand their past encounters.
"Indeed. That's why I came. I didn't expect to find you here—you've grown stronger." Hawkeye turned slightly, his waist twisting as he swung. Power surged like an ocean through his blade.
The slash swept across the field. Rosen's hands, coated in Haki, gripped his sword tight as sand coiled around him, vibrating at high frequency to amplify its destructive force—not as a pure Logia attack, but as physical augmentation.
The collision erupted with a deafening roar, a blast so fierce it sent nearby soldiers flying.
"He's too strong!" Vick gasped. He had known Rosen was powerful, and that Hawkeye was the famed greatest swordsman, but seeing them clash was beyond comprehension. The force of their battle tore the surroundings apart like a raging storm.
Rosen closed the distance again, unleashing a flurry of strikes—sand, Haki, and the Rokushiki techniques combined into a relentless storm of swordplay.
Hawkeye parried them all, his expression growing solemn as his fighting spirit rose. Crocodile had indeed become far stronger. Once, Hawkeye had only respected him as a rare Logia user—but now his sheer physical power demanded attention.
Yet Hawkeye felt no joy.
This man, he thought, had forgotten himself. Several attacks that could have exploited his Devil Fruit were instead forced into pure sword combat.
"How amusing. It's been a long time since anyone used me as a whetstone. Are you prepared to die?" Hawkeye's voice was calm, his eyes cold.
Then he unleashed his strength—one blow sent Rosen flying. Hawkeye leapt after him, blade raised high, slashing again and again. The strikes came like a storm, each swing capable of cutting through anything.
Rosen barely managed to block. Every time their blades met, the shock tore through him. Hawkeye's attacks, though seemingly simple, fused perfect control of body, power, and will—a pure embodiment of swordsmanship itself.
After a few moments of resistance, Rosen found himself overwhelmed, his body marked with fine cuts.
"I'll help you!" Alice shouted, seeing Rosen pressed back. Though neither fighter had gone all out, she knew the enemy must be faced together.
"No. Stay back. No one is to enter this area," Rosen said steadily. Hawkeye was indeed terrifying—so strong that even now he held back. To him, this was not a life-or-death battle, but a test—a clash with a worthy opponent.
(End of Chapter)