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Chapter 32: The World's Strongest Slash, The Silent Square
The sound echoed throughout the square, resonant as gurgling water flowing through everyone's hearts. People could clearly feel the slight vibration of the Black Blade Yoru held tightly in Hawkeye's hand. It didn't feel overtly overpowering, yet everyone seemed to feel the touch of the blade known as the world's strongest.
A blue light flickered as Hawkeye poured his Haki over the blade. The Haki was not explosively strong, nor was there an amazing storm, but it was extremely concise.
Seeing this scene, even the proud Akainu couldn't help but admire it. "As expected of the World's Number One Swordsman. The fusion of Haki and swordsmanship is perfect!"
As he spoke, he squinted at Yuichi on the other side. Yuichi stood there motionless, looking as if he didn't intend to make a move at all.
Akainu felt a distinct distaste for Yuichi. The reason wasn't any irreconcilable conflict, but rather that Akainu couldn't understand Yuichi's pursuit of power. In that man's mind, Justice didn't seem to matter at all. Although Yuichi completed his assigned tasks well, Akainu could always sense that Yuichi didn't truly carry the responsibility of the Marines in his heart.
Compared to upholding Justice, what this guy pursued was power. Being good to friends was a narrow form of justice. As a Marine genius, he should be like Akainu—carrying the banner of Absolute Justice and striving to kill all pirates on the sea. Yuichi obviously didn't fit the image Akainu had in mind. Consequently, Akainu held a strong prejudice against him. At one point, he had even suggested Sengoku kick Yuichi out of the Marines, calling him a waste of terrifying talent.
But now, Akainu was curious. Since Zephyr left the Marines, he hadn't fought Yuichi. How far had Yuichi's strength grown over the years?
Show me your strength, Yuichi! Akainu watched him closely.
At that moment, Hawkeye's slash erupted!
A strange cyan light burst out suddenly, sweeping across like a cyan dragon in an instant. It bared its fangs and clawed its way toward Yuichi. The blue light flashed across the air, and the Marine soldiers stared with wide eyes. The brilliance illuminated everyone's faces, turning them blue in an instant. The slash from the World's Number One Swordsman made all the sword-wielding officers suddenly lose their senses.
Aokiji frowned, his expression turning serious. Simply dodging this blow would be easy, but launching an attack with equal power was not. And in a formal swordsmanship duel, dodging was not allowed.
Aokiji began to worry for Yuichi. Although everyone around the world had seen Yuichi's terrifying kendo strength through the light curtains previously, the people at Naval Headquarters hadn't seen it in person. Even the camera phone bugs had failed to capture images at that time. Therefore, neither Kizaru, Aokiji, nor Sengoku truly understood the depth of Yuichi's swordsmanship.
Facing Hawkeye's slash, all three Admirals began to feel anxious for him. Although rumors said Yuichi's swordsmanship was strong, perhaps even surpassing Hawkeye, that was hearsay. No one could give a real answer without seeing it with their own eyes.
In a split second, the blue light swept across, closing in on Yuichi. A slash that tore through the void and cut the airflow surprised even Yuichi.
As expected of Hawkeye! No gorgeous moves, just a simple vertical chop, combined with his own Haki to burst out an almost perfect Haki flow! The slash formed is perfect.
This was likely why Hawkeye's slash looked like a basic attack but always burst with the power of a unique technique. For Hawkeye, the trick wasn't important; what mattered was whether the flow of Haki could be released perfectly through the blade.
A look of appreciation flashed in Yuichi's eyes.
At this moment, while everyone else worried about the terrifying sword light, Yuichi seemed stupefied, standing blankly in place. Hancock almost rushed out to block the blow for him.
But in the next second, Yuichi raised his hand.
Compared to the sword light raging at extreme speed, Yuichi's movements seemed very slow. At his speed, it appeared too late to make a move.
Zing—!
Hawkeye stared at Yuichi, and suddenly, the inexplicable sound of a sword unsheathing rang next to his ear. Immediately afterward, Hawkeye's pupils shrank slightly.
In his eyes, Senbonzakura in Yuichi's hand stabbed lightly at the slash he had unleashed with all his strength. There was no Haki flow on the long sword. It carried no special energy. It looked like someone just learning kendo practicing a thrust.
But it was precisely this ordinary action that achieved the impossible.
Whoosh—
The cyan light dissipated and vanished in an instant.
An illusion of cherry blossoms emerged in Hawkeye's vision. A faint wind blew past his neck, and suddenly, he felt a chill there.
Boom— The blade trembled slightly, emitting a screeching sound.
Hawkeye swallowed lightly. The Black Blade Yoru in his hand fell slowly, piercing directly into the hard floor of the square, submerged half its length.
All the surrounding Marine soldiers and officers were stunned. Akainu pulled his hands from his pockets, looking at Yuichi standing in front of Hawkeye with an expression of utter disbelief. Sengoku, Aokiji, and Kizaru also looked at Yuichi with incredulous eyes.
In an instant. A gentle stab.
There was no other action. No flow of Haki. It was as simple as a thrust could be. But just such a stab had broken through Hawkeye's slash as if it had hit the weakest point of the sword light, causing it to dissipate on its own.
Then, Yuichi's figure had moved like the wind, closing the distance instantly. The sword light dispersed, and Senbonzakura had already stopped at Hawkeye's neck. The tip of the blade was only a centimeter away from his throat. Senbonzakura was held in a rock-steady arm without the slightest wobble, like a still picture.
Was this the realm of Yuichi's swordsmanship?
Sengoku knew Yuichi was powerful, but he didn't expect that even Hawkeye, the World's Number One Swordsman, would be defeated so easily in terms of pure swordsmanship. This made it hard for him to believe it was true.
Absolute silence was maintained throughout the venue.
After a few seconds, Hawkeye exhaled slowly.
"I lost..."
.....
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