Chapter 243: Mihawk's Shock
Hawkeye Mihawk stood like a mountain, his long black robe fluttering slightly in the wind. His golden eyes looked down coldly at the three before him.
Invisible sword pressure engulfed the entire dense forest like a giant wave, as if the air itself was being cut by sharp blades.
Zoro's blood boiled within him like fire, but his grip on his swords remained steady as a rock.
"Hawkeye..." he murmured, a grin slowly spreading across his face, battle intent erupting like a volcano.
"'Hawk Eyes' Dracule Mihawk—the World's Strongest Swordsman, the man who stands at the pinnacle of all swordsmen!!!"
Kuina's breathing quickened, her slender fingertips tightening slightly around her sword hilt.
Her eyes held shock and awe: "So this is... the man who has walked the path of the sword to its peak in this world..."
Chopper had long since shrunk behind the two, trembling all over, voice shaking: "Waaaah... wh-what is this terrifying aura..."
Mihawk's gaze swept indifferently over Zoro and Kuina, a flash of surprise appearing in his hawk-like eyes.
"Under the pressure of my sword intent..."
"To still maintain battle intent? As expected of the seedlings Roy has his eye on."
After a brief silence, Zoro suddenly took a step forward!
"CLANG—!!!"
Three swords unsheathed simultaneously, cold light flashing, pointing straight at Mihawk.
Zoro's eyes burned like fire, his low growl tearing through the silent air: "I am Roronoa Zoro!"
"My goal is to become the World's Strongest Swordsman!"
"Come and fight me!!!"
Mihawk raised his eyes slightly, his gaze calm and unwavering. "Little Marine swordsman... do you know who you are challenging?"
"Cut the crap!" Zoro gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his arms, battle intent surging wildly. "If I don't even have the courage to challenge you, what's the point of talking about dreams!"
Kuina glanced sideways at Zoro, her heart trembling slightly.
Mihawk was silent for a long time, then a hint of a smile appeared in his golden eyes. "Interesting."
The next moment, he reached out and took down the small cross-shaped knife hanging around his neck.
The blade was no longer than a finger, yet it reflected a cold glint in the sunlight.
Mihawk held the small knife casually. "To deal with you... this is enough."
Zoro's pupils contracted abruptly, veins popping on his forehead.
He could feel the undisguised disdain, yet he didn't retreat an inch. Instead, his battle intent grew even stronger!
"Looking down on me... Very well!!!"
He suddenly lowered his stance, three swords crossed horizontally and vertically, assuming an offensive posture.
Gale winds kicked up from beneath his feet, fallen leaves swirling.
"Then let me see..."
"Just how strong the World's Strongest Swordsman really is!!!"
"SWISH—!!!"
Zoro kicked off, and the earth shattered instantly!
"Santoryu: Oni Giri (Demon Slash)!" Under the thunderous explosion, he tore through the air. violent sword pressure swept through the entire forest like a dragon's roar, the sharp edge lunging straight at Mihawk!
Mihawk's expression remained unchanged. He simply raised his hand slightly, fingertips gently flicking the small cross knife.
"CLANG!!!"
The sound of metal colliding exploded like thunder, shaking dust into the air throughout the forest!
Kuina and Chopper watched in disbelief—
Zoro's full-power three-sword strike was steadily blocked by a cross knife so small it looked almost like a toy!
"Wh... ?!"
"How is this possible?! A knife of that size... how can it block my full-power slash?!"
Zoro's pupils trembled violently, veins bulging on his arms. He pressed down with his swords like a berserk beast, risking his life, yet the small knife remained immovable.
Mihawk's expression was indifferent, but inwardly, he was cursing: "This force?! This guy's strength doesn't resemble a young swordsman at all!!"
"Force is acceptable," he said calmly, keeping a straight face. "But technique is still too rough."
Before his voice faded, Mihawk flipped his wrist slightly. The small knife exploded with immense force instantly.
"BANG!!!"
Zoro was knocked flying back, smashing through several large trees before stopping!
Soil flew, shattered wood scattering all over the ground.
"Zoro!!!" Chopper screamed, rushing forward.
However, Zoro just spat out the bloody foam at the corner of his mouth, the battle intent in his eyes burning even fiercer. "AGAIN!!!"
He charged out once more, Haki coating his blades. "Santoryu: Ultra Tiger Trap!" bloomed suddenly!
Sharp blade winds turned into a vortex, sweeping in with the momentum to tear apart mountains and forests!
"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG—!!!"
Mihawk waved the small knife repeatedly, precisely blocking every one of Zoro's strikes in an instant.
However, unlike the beginning—
With every collision, Mihawk's arm trembled slightly, and surprise gradually rose in his heart:
"Speed has increased... force is also continuously strengthening..."
"This green-haired kid... his swordsmanship actually has this kind of pressure?!!"
Their sword shadows crossed, sparks flying, the sound of blades ringing like thunder echoing in the forest!
The collision between the small knife and three long swords didn't result in a one-sided crush. Instead, it stirred up increasingly violent battle intent!
"Hah!" Zoro roared, fully unleashing his Haki. The next slash almost split the air!
Mihawk's gaze focused. He finally got serious.
The small knife traced a strange arc, sword pressure turning into an invisible edge to meet the attack—
"CLANG—!!!"
Two forces collided, causing a gale to howl through the entire dense forest! Trees snapped in unison, and the ground cracked with several deep sword marks!
Mihawk's eyes finally became sharp, lips curling with a long-lost battle intent. "Not bad..."
"CLANG!!!"
After the final collision, Zoro and Mihawk stopped simultaneously.
Dust settled slowly around them, leaving only the sound of their rapid breathing in the forest.
Mihawk looked down at the slightly trembling cross knife in his hand. After a moment of silence, he suddenly chuckled.
"It seems... I underestimated you."
"Kid, you are qualified to make me draw my real sword."
The next instant,
"SHING—"
The Black Blade was unsheathed. The air was instantly sliced open by the blade!
That sharp sword pressure expanded abruptly like a storm. The entire forest seemed plunged into a silent tsunami; even the wind was suppressed, daring not to flow.
"BOOM!!!"
The earth began to crack, surrounding trees falling silently. Even the distant waves seemed suppressed by some invisible force.
Kuina's eyes were filled with shock. "Is this... the sword pressure of the World's Strongest Swordsman..."
"Just standing here, I feel like I'm being cut by invisible blades. My whole body can't move..."
Chopper was so scared he lay flat on the ground, body trembling. "Waaah... too-too scary! Even breathing... I can't catch my breath..."
Zoro, however, did not retreat half a step.
His feet were firmly nailed to the ground, three swords crossed in front of him. Instead, the smile on his face grew wilder!
"HAHAHA—!!!"
"NOW THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!!!"
His eyes burned like fire, staring fixedly at Mihawk. "The World's Strongest Swordsman is finally willing to draw his real sword!"
Mihawk held the Black Blade "Yoru" horizontally in front of him. The blade reflected a cold chill, seemingly capable of swallowing all light.
A sharp glint flashed in his golden eyes as he responded in a low voice:
"Indeed... The swordsmen who can make me draw my sword can be counted on one hand."
"Roronoa Zoro!"
Mihawk's voice was deep, like rolling thunder: "You are now qualified to truly exchange blows with me."
Their sword pressures collided in the air. Invisible edges wove into an unseen storm, kicking up swathes of fallen leaves and dust!
All the baboons and beasts in the forest prostrated on the ground in unison, daring not to move. Even the sounds of their breathing vanished.
In this moment, it seemed as if in the entire world, only two swordsmen remained in confrontation.
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