Chapter 21: Overwhelming Strength
Above the sea, a majestic ape clad in magnificent armor stood proudly, exuding a wild, unbridled aura of arrogance.
Across from him stood a man holding a black longsword. His eyes were sharp, his presence cold. He was none other than the renowned powerhouse of the seas, the World's Greatest Swordsman and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea: Dracule Mihawk.
As the sole spectator of their battle, Nami was stunned.
From the very beginning, this fight had defied her comprehension. An extending staff flying through the air, dazzling speeds her eyes couldn't track... in her opinion, legends were coming to life right before her eyes.
And it only got more exaggerated.
What kind of power could carve a hundred-meter-long gash into the sea? Was that really a power humans could possess? Nami seriously began to doubt if she and these two monsters were even the same species.
When she saw Apollo transform, her jaw dropped even lower.
"He... he turned into a monkey!"
"The warm-up is over? That incredibly intense battle just now was merely a warm-up?"
Nami was completely dumbfounded.
Looking at Apollo's new form, Hawkeye frowned slightly, though he wasn't overly surprised. "A Zoan-type? No, it isn't that simple. Could it be..."
This appearance was clearly not an Ancient Zoan, nor did it carry the aura of an ordinary Zoan. Considering his strange flying ability—though astonishing—the answer was obvious.
He spoke slowly, "Is it a Mythical Zoan?"
"Good eye."
Apollo rested his Ruyi Jingu Bang on his shoulder and grinned, his fighting spirit soaring even higher. "Zoan-type, Mythical Class: Saru Saru no Mi, Form: Great Sage. Please, enlighten me."
"Great Sage form? Interesting."
A barely perceptible smile appeared on Hawkeye's lips. He leaped up, treading on the seawater, and charged toward Apollo.
"Hahaha, well met!"
Apollo twirled the Ruyi Jingu Bang twice and smashed it down through the air toward Hawkeye's head.
After transforming into his ape-man form, his magic power became far more active and easier to control. The magic reacted almost instantly to his thoughts.
The Ruyi Jingu Bang expanded continuously as it descended, spanning dozens of meters in a split second to reach the top of Hawkeye's head.
Hawkeye's expression shifted slightly. He didn't meet the attack head-on; instead, he twisted his body, dodging out of the staff's attack range.
With a dull thud, the Ruyi Jingu Bang struck the sea like a falling meteor, stirring up waves dozens of meters high.
His strength has increased significantly!
Hawkeye made the judgment instantly. Simultaneously, he slashed his black blade, parting the giant waves to launch a counterattack. He turned serious, his speed ramping up as he closed in on Apollo and swung his longsword down.
Apollo had already retracted his staff and slammed it back to block without flinching.
Clang!
Two immense forces collided, and a terrifying shockwave rippled outward.
Both men were forced back repeatedly. Hawkeye skidded two steps back onto the water's surface. Apollo, however, utilized his flight advantage; maintaining a graceful poise, he recovered his balance faster than the swordsman.
The opportunity was fleeting, and he didn't miss it, immediately launching a counterattack.
However, Hawkeye's combat experience far surpassed Apollo's, and he read the situation with perfect clarity. As he retreated, he didn't rush to regain his balance. Instead, risking complete instability, he forcefully unleashed two sword slashes.
The slashes crossed in an 'X' pattern. The timing and angle were tricky, perfectly blocking Apollo's forward path. To approach Hawkeye, he either had to break through the slashes or find a way around them.
No matter which he chose, Hawkeye would gain enough time to adjust his stance, or even seize a slight advantage.
Ultimately, Apollo chose the first method.
By the time he shattered the crossed slashes, Hawkeye had already reappeared before him. The black blade was less than a foot from his face, the icy chill rushing toward him making the hair on his body stand on end.
In that critical moment, Apollo's mind remained clear and panic-free. He turned his body sideways, letting the longsword slide past his face.
"That was close."
A cold glint flashed in Apollo's eyes as he unceremoniously thrust the Ruyi Jingu Bang toward Hawkeye's chest.
Clang, clang, clang, clang...
The two exchanged blows, neither willing to give an inch, dodging and weaving in close quarters. Sword and staff clashed fiercely, the sounds of impact blending into a continuous, roaring thunder.
After an intense bout of close-quarters combat, the flying Apollo ultimately gained a slight edge, and Hawkeye voluntarily retreated to reset the engagement.
For the first time since it erupted, the battle paused. Both men took the opportunity to catch their breath.
Hawkeye is tough, Apollo thought silently, exhaling a heavy breath.
Although the battle hadn't lasted long, Hawkeye had certainly taught him a lesson. Apollo's raw power, speed, and energy intensity were formidable, but his combat experience was far inferior.
Hawkeye's grasp of timing and attack angles was leagues ahead.
The advantages of rich combat experience went beyond simple strikes; the tactical depth was much more complex. For example, knowing when to use moves that required charging up. Since their speed was so high, charging openly would inevitably lead to being interrupted.
Hawkeye, however, could create windows to charge precisely while attacking. Each of his moves was exquisitely coordinated. Like a grandmaster chess player, his moves were elusive and unpredictable, leaving no trace to follow.
A very difficult opponent!
Hawkeye was making his own assessment of Apollo.
The ape's strength and speed were impeccable—astonishingly powerful. He hadn't used Haki, but a different power was entwined around that iron staff, posing a threat no less dangerous than Haki. And the staff itself, which seemed able to change and extend at will, often caught him off guard.
What bothered him most, however, was the opponent's flight. It wasn't like Sky Walk (Geppo), but true flight—flexible, swift, and uncanny.
"It's almost time to end this," Apollo thought to himself.
By now, he had a general understanding of his current strength. Continuing the battle would be meaningless. On the open sea, without a solid foothold, Hawkeye's abilities were too restricted. Winning against him here wouldn't be very satisfying.
He leaped up, flying higher into the sky, and roared, "Hawkeye, take this! Mountain Crusher!"
The Ruyi Jingu Bang suddenly expanded, transforming into a colossal pillar that reached the heavens, overshadowing everything below. The void trembled violently, producing ripples in the air as if unable to bear the immense weight.
"Bad!"
Hawkeye's expression changed. His speed instantly peaked as he flew backward. Unfortunately, he was still a split second too late to dodge completely and was grazed by the edge of the pillar.
He was struck as if by lightning. His body trembled violently as he was flung out like a meteor, plunging into the sea.
Boom!
The Ruyi Jingu Bang crashed down, and a muffled, thunderous roar exploded. A vast amount of seawater instantly evaporated into nothingness. A hundred-meter-deep crater appeared in the ocean, causing the surrounding water to rush in and form a massive whirlpool.
After a while, Hawkeye emerged from the distant sea and returned to his small coffin boat.
He was completely drenched, his hair and clothes heavy with water, no longer able to maintain his earlier elegance.
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