"Saint Ross?"
Gion ignored Mihawk, who was radiating fighting spirit, and instead turned her gaze to Ross.
That flying slash just now wasn't very aggressive; it was more like a challenge.
If one is a pure swordsman, one would gladly accept the invitation and offer a high-level swordsmanship sparring match.
However, Gion was not a pure swordsman. If she disturbed Ross's interest, Gion would not hesitate to kill Mihawk.
She could tell that Mihawk was stronger than she had been a year ago, but far inferior to herself now.
If she were still in the Marines, her current strength would most likely be inferior to Mihawk's.
But there are no "what ifs" in this world.
"Go ahead, he's not an enemy. Show the newcomer your swordsmanship."
Ross smiled slightly, giving Gion an affirmative answer.
Mihawk was indeed not an enemy; he was a pure swordsman.
If you could make a lasting impression on them this time, you would likely be able to win them over in the future.
"Understood!"
Gion nodded gently and walked step by step from the sky toward Mihawk using the Geppo technique.
From the moment he unleashed that flying slash, Mihawk had been waiting quietly, without making any unnecessary movements.
Swordsmen are often the purest of people.
Without much thought, they only wanted to challenge stronger enemies and defeat them.
In Mihawk's eyes, Gion was the enemy he now needed to deal with with all his might.
"Dracule Mihawk! Black Blade Yoru!"
As Mihawk watched Gion approach step by step, he seemed to feel an invisible pressure emanating from her. He subconsciously raised the black sword in his hand and solemnly announced his name and the name of his sword.
"Jaygarcia Gion! Konpira!"
Gion gently raised the Konpira, gracefully twirled it in the air, and sheathed it.
She didn't care who Mihawk was, but when Mihawk mentioned the name 'Yoru', Gion's eyes flickered slightly.
Black Blade Yoru, one of the twelve Supreme Grade Swords, was once a symbol of the world's strongest swordsmen and was wielded by many great swordsmen, forging the reputation of the twelve Supreme Grade Swords.
Upon hearing the name of the sword, Gion changed her mind.
The sword was impressive, but Mihawk was still too inexperienced.
What did that mean?
When Mihawk saw Gion sheath her sword, his sharp eagle eyes fixed intently on her.
Sheathing your sword when challenged to a duel was hardly a sign of respect.
"Your strength is not worthy of 'Yoru'."
Gion spoke softly, extending her right hand behind her back.
This was a tacit understanding between her and Ross; she knew Ross would definitely cooperate with her.
Ross, who was on the ship, couldn't help but smile slightly when he saw this.
"Do all swordsmen have this kind of perverse hobby?"
He knew what Gion wanted from him, and of course he would indulge the woman he loved most.
What's more, what was about to happen was a memorable scene.
Ross snapped his fingers lightly.
In the distance, near Gion, a ripple surged from the sea, and a small knife, about the size of a dagger, flew out of the sea and headed toward the right side of Gion.
These were the daggers that had fallen into the sea from the group of dead pirates. Ross found them easily and delivered them directly to Gion.
Smack!
Gion caught the small knife, no more than 20cm long, and swung it around to get used to it before turning her gaze to Mihawk.
"I will force Konpira to come out!"
Feeling so humiliated, Mihawk's expression darkened.
For a swordsman, the most suitable sword could increase his strength by at least 30%.
Not to mention the sword he nurtured with Armament Haki, which accounted for more than half of a swordsman's strength.
But now, Gion was preparing to deal with him with an ordinary knife, clearly not taking him seriously.
Buzz!!!
Mihawk soared into the sky, instantly unleashing the Armament Haki contained within 'Yoru,' and slashed fiercely at Gion.
Clang!!!
Gion simply raised her knife in an unremarkable manner, and Armament Haki clashed with Armament Haki.
Even though Yoru was countless times sharper than the knife, the difference in their Armament Haki meant that Yoru could not create any nicks in the knife.
Gion wore a relaxed smile as Mihawk continued to slash at her, effortlessly raising her dagger to deflect each attack.
Gion couldn't learn anything else from other paths.
But Gion never stopped learning the path of a swordsman.
Since following Ross, the World Government had made all the information about swordsmen available to her, which had broadened her
horizons and gradually solidified her determination to follow her own path.
"Don't you have Armament Haki yourself?"
By sheathing her sword, Gion knew that Ross most likely wanted to recruit Mihawk, so she gave him a timely hint:
"Yoru has been used as a weapon by many great swordsmen, and it contains a huge amount of Armament Haki and even Conqueror's Haki. If you only use the Haki in your sword, you will never be able to surpass them in this lifetime."
Mihawk's sharp eagle eyes narrowed slightly, and he did not respond to Gion, but the Armament Haki on his sword was reduced considerably.
The Armament Haki contained in Yoru's sword was too powerful; he could only barely mobilize a portion of it now.
But by activating just this part, he was able to feel the sensation of a great swordsman wielding a sword, which prompted him to strive to improve in the direction of those great swordsmen.
After hearing Gion's words, Mihawk realized in advance that he still had a long way to go.
"Give it your all!"
Mihawk said in a deep voice, knowing that there was a significant gap between him and the other party.
But a true swordsman was never afraid of failure or death.
To die by the sword of a strongman was, in any case, an honor.
"I respect your choice, Mihawk."
A hint of respect flashed in Gion's eyes. In terms of swordsmanship alone, she might not be stronger than Mihawk, but swordsmen never compete on a one-sided sword technique.
It includes everything, including physical fitness, speed, Armament Haki, and Conqueror's Haki.
Mihawk still lagged behind her in these aspects.
But if Mihawk kept going, he would eventually catch up.
No wonder Ross had high hopes for him.
Whoosh!
Gion instantly transformed into her Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire form, her alluring bat wings fluttering gently in mid-air.
"So fast!"
Mihawk's eagle eyes narrowed sharply.
He could clearly see the trajectory of Gion moving behind him; this was a power granted to him by his eagle eyes.
But Gion moved too fast.
Let alone fighting back with a sword, even applying Armament Haki to defend against Gion's attacks was a pipe dream.
Sizzle!
The knife easily sliced through Mihawk's trench coat, splattering bright red blood and leaving a deep, bone-deep wound on his back.
"Urgh!!!"
Mihawk gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with deep resentment, but his severely injured body could only collapse helplessly onto his wooden boat.
"A swordsman stabs in the back; it is a disgrace..."
"If you feel ashamed, then remember this feeling well. I look forward to the day you challenge me."
Gion glanced at Mihawk, flicked her right hand, and the knife slammed into the deck beside Mihawk's head with a soft thud.
With just an inch of deviation, the knife would have been stuck in Mihawk's neck.
"Remember, the weak have no right to talk about shame."
Gion left behind the words she had learned from Ross, flapped her bat wings, and swiftly left the wooden boat.
"Don't the weak have the right to talk about shame...?"
Mihawk lay on the cold deck, his eyes reflecting Gion's departing figure and the distant yet imposing figure standing at the bow of the ship.
"Jaygarcia Gion... This surname doesn't include the honorific 'Saint'. Is she the wife of that Celestial Dragon...?"
"I will remember this name. When I become the strongest swordsman, I will challenge you again!"
…
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