What kind of move was that?
Were swordsmen these days all playing so stylishly now?
Had even the world's greatest swordsman fallen behind the times?
Complaints aside, Mihawk still followed Karl's lead and solemnly introduced his own blade.
"This sword is called Yoru.
Blade length: five chi eight cun.
Weight: eighteen jin four liang.
It can sever a hair blown against it, and cleave iron like mud."
After finishing the introduction in Karl's format, Mihawk felt something strange stir within him—
as if his connection with Yoru had deepened ever so slightly.
Interesting.
A faint brilliance flashed in Mihawk's eyes.
In the next instant, he lunged forward, blade flashing as he slashed at Karl.
Clang—!
Karl gripped Raven with both hands and blocked the strike, his heart tightening at the sheer force behind it.
Mihawk's strength is terrifying…
No wonder he's the world's greatest swordsman—this isn't just sword skill. His physical body is monstrous too.
Mihawk's expression remained calm as he continued his relentless assault, exquisite swordsmanship pressing Karl so hard he could barely breathe.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Steel rang crisply as sparks burst into the air. Sword marks crisscrossed the ground around them, and the Marines watching from afar had already retreated several hundred meters to avoid being caught in the aftermath.
"Colonel Karl's swordsmanship is this strong?! He's actually holding his own against the world's greatest swordsman!"
"Yeah—he looks completely at ease!"
In reality, Karl was under immense pressure.
His mind was stretched taut—one moment of distraction, and Mihawk's blade would carve straight through his vitals.
"Not bad," Mihawk said calmly.
"Your swordsmanship is refined, but it feels a bit… rusty. Haven't used a sword in a long time?"
Karl ignored him.
Rusty?
I literally just started learning swordsmanship today!
He didn't have the luxury Mihawk had—talking casually mid-battle.
All Karl could do was answer blade with blade.
Karl twisted his wrist, knocking Mihawk's greatsword aside, then reversed his grip and swung upward with both hands.
"Interesting."
Mihawk leaned his upper body back ever so slightly, casually avoiding the deadly tip, then countered with a backhand slash aimed at Karl's shoulder.
CLANG!
With no time to dodge, Karl laid Raven's blade across his right shoulder—
the spine against his back, the edge facing outward—preventing the blade from cutting into him.
The block held, but the impact sent a crushing force through his body. Karl's knees nearly buckled.
Mihawk nodded faintly.
"A smart response."
Karl's face flushed.
Damn it—why is this guy so damn good at posturing?!
Just because you're the world's strongest doesn't mean—
Mihawk:Apologies. Being the world's strongest does mean that.
Boom—!
Karl's left fist turned pitch-black as it slammed into Yoru's blade, knocking it aside.
At the same time, his right hand surged forward, Raven's edge sweeping toward Mihawk's neck.
If Mihawk didn't dodge—
He would die.
But of course… that never happened.
Using the rebound from Karl's punch, Mihawk smoothly spun his blade in a perfect arc, intercepting the slash aimed at his throat with a sharp clang.
"Such pure Armament Haki," Mihawk said.
"A man like you—how are you only a Marine colonel?"
Karl smiled faintly.
"A few days ago, I was just a major."
That explained it.
With this level of strength, Karl easily qualified for an admiral-level post. He simply hadn't been promoted yet.
With that realization, Mihawk decided to turn up the pressure.
That single decision resulted in Karl being injured within seconds.
"It seems… you're still lacking a bit."
Mihawk stood upright, sword in hand. Blood dripped slowly down the blade—
Karl's blood.
"Oh?" Karl replied calmly.
"Then I suppose it's my turn to get serious."
He drove Raven into the ground and summoned a burst of Holy Light.
The deep slash across his chest healed at a visible speed, restoring itself in just a few breaths.
"A Devil Fruit user?"
Mihawk frowned slightly as he watched golden light ripple across Karl's body.
Karl's aura clearly surged—was this the source of his power?
Clang—
"Lord Mihawk," Karl said coolly,
"Please—enlighten me."
"One-Sword Style — Instant Radiance!"
Karl held Raven in his right hand and gently brushed the blade with his left.
Where his fingers passed, the black steel turned radiant gold, as if forged from light itself.
Mihawk's expression stayed composed. He gripped Yoru with both hands and swung upward in a clean arc.
The next moment—
Blinding light exploded outward.
Karl's silhouette vanished, his blade carving a golden crescent through the air.
Clang—!
They passed each other.
Karl stood behind.
Mihawk stood ahead.
Both remained frozen in their finishing stances.
The sound of steel echoed—and then, as the light faded, blood burst from Mihawk's side.
At the same time, a savage wound ripped open from Karl's abdomen up to his chest, blood pouring freely.
Despite being injured, Mihawk wasn't angry.
He looked… pleased.
"'Instant Radiance'… an excellent name," he said.
"In a single flash of brilliance, darkness itself is driven away."
The surrounding Marines were utterly stunned.
The world's greatest swordsman—injured?!
True, Colonel Karl was wounded as well—but the difference in reputation between the two was immense.
Karl was merely a rising Marine officer.
Did this mean…
that Karl already possessed the qualifications to challenge the world's strongest swordsman?
Karl turned around with a wry smile.
"If you hadn't held back just now," he said,
"I'd probably already be dead."
He could tell.
That final exchange—Mihawk had restrained his power.
Otherwise, the outcome would have been far worse.
"Young Marine," Mihawk said seriously.
"You cannot die yet."
"Though you are not worthy of my full strength now—no matter how many years it takes, I will remain at the summit."
"And I will wait for you there."
For the first time since Shanks lost his arm, Mihawk had found another swordsman with boundless potential.
Karl was young. His sword was unpolished.
And that was precisely why he was dangerous.
One day—
they would meet again upon the sea.
Blade against blade.
Hearing Mihawk's words, Karl felt a strange sense of déjà vu, but he smiled nonetheless.
"I don't think you'll have to wait too long."
Click.
Mihawk sheathed Black Blade · Yoru and walked past Karl. As he brushed by, he spoke softly:
"Don't keep me waiting…"
Then he leapt back onto the drifting coffin, which slowly carried him away—
fading into the distance until he vanished from sight.
"Shhh… haaa…"
Under the glow of Holy Light, Karl's ghastly wound healed at visible speed.
Nelson and the others cautiously approached.
"You… what are you all staring at?"
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