Chapter 22: Krieg AttacksThe early morning sea mist pressed heavily against the gunwales of the Baratie.Luffy was huffing and puffing as he dragged a waist-high kitchen waste bin toward the stern.His rubber arms were draped loosely over the rim of the bin, and he muttered to himself,"Why is there so much trash... If only Mark were here."He was just about to push the bin down the disposal chute when he suddenly snapped upright.His dark pupils contracted slightly in the mist—His Observation Haki wasn't particularly refined, yet he possessed an almost instinctive sensitivity to "danger."At this moment, a malice lurking deep within the thick fog was approaching bit by bit, accompanied by the heavy sound of crushing seawater."Hey!... That's... what is that?"A guest by the window on the restaurant's second floor was scooping seafood soup when he subconsciously looked toward the source of the sound.The thick fog seemed to be stirred by an invisible hand, vaguely revealing a section of a rust-stained hull and a flag flickering in and out of sight.At first, he thought it was just an ordinary merchant ship, but as the vessel drew closer and the outline of the flag became clear,The guest's eyes widened, and his soup spoon fell into the bowl with a "clatter," completely oblivious to the scalding soup splashing onto his hand.It was a black pirate flag. In the center was a tilted skull, with an inverted hourglass drawn on either side—The hourglass represented the passage of time, and even more so, the end of life."It's... it's him—how could he come here!"The guest's voice suddenly spiked, sounding on the verge of a breakdown,"It's Krieg! The strongest monster in the East Blue, Krieg, who has a fleet of fifty ships and five thousand subordinates!!""What?!""It's the Krieg Pirates?!""Run! If they target us, we're dead!"The Baratie instantly exploded into chaos. The once boisterous restaurant turned into a mess in an instant.Guests scrambled for the exit, the sound of overturned tables, chairs, and shattering tableware mixing with terrified screams into a chaotic torrent.On the deck of the going merry, Zoro was wiping his weapons. Hearing the commotion, he frowned and looked toward the Baratie."What's going on over there? So much noise."Usopp held up his binoculars, his hands shaking:"It's... it's pirates! It looks like some incredible pirate has arrived! Everyone's been scared away!But the pirate ship is so strange? Why is it tattered everywhere?"Nami leaned against the gunwale, staring at the distant silhouette of the ship like a cat watching a fish, her eyes gleaming with shrewdness."Judging by this display... it should be a pirate crew that has just gone through a brutal battle.A crippled bunch like that might still have hidden treasure they haven't had time to move. They're the best targets to strike."She tapped her fingers on the gunwale and clicked her tongue."But since the guests reacted so strongly, I'm afraid they might be tough. Acting rashly could get us hurt..."At that moment, Mark, who had been leaning against the mast with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.His Observation Haki had already spread out like an invisible net, taking in everything happening around the Baratie—That massive flagship was covered in battle scars, so tattered it could sink at any moment;Under the hourglass pirate flag, Krieg, supported by his subordinates, had a weak aura, yet his eyes couldn't hide his greed."Something interesting is about to begin."Mark stretched and then raised his hand to give himself and the going merry a "Great Cleanse."A faint light flickered from his fingertips, and the ship's hull and his clothes instantly became as clean as new.He naturally knew what would happen next. The Krieg Pirates were being hunted by Hawkeye in the Grand Line.Hawkeye had pursued them into the East Bluesimply because he was bored.Krieg had managed to escape with great difficulty, but was starving to death due to a lack of food. It was Gin who found the Baratie and brought him here."Nami,"Mark stood up. "I think that'strike' you mentioned has potential.I can sense that the life force of the people on their ship is very weak. Most are either injured or starving, and their guard is at its lowest.But before that, this spot isn't very safe. Let's sail the going merry to that distant group of reefs and hide it first!It would be a shame if it got split in half by a certain someone's blade—though only he could hear this last sentence!We'll split into two groups—you take Johnny and the others' small boat to handle the 'real business.'Don't be too greedy once you've succeeded; retreating immediately is very important. Zoro, Usopp, and I will take the windmill to the restaurant to check things out.""The windmill."It was the original vessel for him and Luffy. Later, after they got the going merry, Mark moved his daily necessities over, and the empty space was just enough to store the windmill into his system space."Johnny and Joseph, guard the ship.""Leave it to us! Boss Mark! We won't let anyone get within a step of the going merry!" the two promised, thumping their chests."Mark, I think I've suddenly come down with 'Can't-Go-On-The-Island Disease'!" Usopp hugged the mast, his face turning pale."I'm going," Zoro pushed his scabbard an inch, revealing a blade gleaming with cold light. "I sense a strong person who can make me draw all three swords.""Stop dawdling, come help out," Mark called out.The going merry silently sailed away from the waters near the Baratie and hid within the complex cluster of reefs in the distance.After confirming it was safe, Mark took the windmillout of his space—The windmill at the stern spun gently under the control of his ability."Let's go."He jumped onto the boat, with Usopp and Zorofollowing close behind, leaving only Johnny and Joseph to guard the going merry.The windmill braved the wind and waves, quickly heading back toward the Baratie.Nami had already taken a cloth bag sewn with multiple inner pockets and nimbly jumped onto Johnny's palm-sized fishing boat.Her rowing was fast and steady. Using the thick fog as cover, she approached Krieg's broken flagship like a slippery fish.Before the boat had even stabilized, she used the swaying of a mooring rope to leap onto the deck, crouching low behind a pile of broken wooden crates as soon as her toes touched the ground.A dozen or so unconscious pirates lay scattered across the deck. Some were so starved they barely had any breath left, while others had large gashes from cannonball fragments that emitted a foul stench.Nami wrinkled her nose and covered it, but her eyes scanned the surroundings like a hawk—In a corner sat several wooden crates that hadn't been opened yet. Their latches were brass and looked very sturdy;A money bag lay by the gunwale, heavy and looking as though it were filled with many coins.She first crouched and moved to the money bag, quickly picking it up and weighing it. A smile curled on her lips—at least five hundred Berries.Next, she moved to the wooden crates, pulled a thin wire from her boot, and picked the lock in a few strokes.The first crate contained some rusted weapons; she pursed her lips and skipped it.When the second crate opened, a golden light nearly blinded her—it was half-full of gold coins,Along with several necklaces inlaid with red and blue gems that looked extremely valuable!"Good luck."Nami efficiently propped open her cloth bag and was scooping the gold coins inside when she suddenly heard a low groan from behind a cabin door.She instantly held her breath, gripped the short knife at her waist, and slowly peeked out—It was a pirate on the verge of death from starvation, struggling to crawl up to find water. His eyes were half-open, clearly in a semi-conscious state.Nami breathed a sigh of relief and struck the back of his neck with the edge of her hand. The man went limp without even a groan.She sped up her movements, stuffing the gold coins and jewelry into the bag. She then found a locked iron box in the Captain's quarters and pried it open with her knife.Inside were stacks of brand-new Berry banknotes and several nautical maps."I've hit the jackpot!" Nami stuffed the entire iron box into her bag."I have a bad feeling about this, I need to leave quickly!" Nami shouldered the bulging bag and scurried back to the fishing boat like a nimble cat, rowing hard toward the Baratie.At this time, the chaos in the Baratie restaurant had subsided—not because the danger was gone, but because all the guests had fled.In the vast hall, only the chefs remained, armed with oversized kitchen utensils and standing ready, along with two uninvited guests.Gin was supporting Krieg; both were in a wretched state. Krieg's face was pale, his steps unsteady as he staggered into the hall.Scanning the chefs who glared at them, he spoke in a raspy voice:"Don't worry... I won't do anything... I have money... please give me food and water...""Stop lying!"A chef shouted angrily,"Who doesn't know your reputation, Krieg? You're a man famous throughout the East Blue for your treachery!Impersonating a Marine to kill your superior and seize a warship, using a Marine identity to gain the trust of locals only to turn on them and massacre their village...Have you done any less of these things? Not a single word you say can be trusted!""Exactly! Who knows if you just want to regain your strength before attacking!""Get out! You're not welcome here!"The chefs shouted their rebukes all at once, their kitchen knives and iron ladles gripped tightly, ready to strike at any moment.Luffy stood behind the crowd, his brows knitted into a knot: "So this guy is that despicable."Krieg looked at the impassioned chefs and suddenly fell to his knees with a "thud."This once-mighty overlord of the East Blue now looked like a stray dog, pleading with the chefs:"Please believe me... I just need to fill my stomach... I'll leave as soon as I'm full... I beg you..."Gin also knelt, his voice filled with entreaty: "Didn't you say anyone with money is a guest?This time I brought money... we are guests... I beg everyone to give my Captain a bite to eat, even leftovers will do!"Seeing the two in such a humble state, the chefs' anger wavered slightly, yet no one dared to lower their guard.At that moment, Sanji moved. He looked at the kneeling Krieg, then at his angry companions, and finally turned toward the kitchen."Hey, Sanji!" Luffy immediately pulled him back. "His killing intent is very strong! Giving him food is too dangerous!"Sanji looked back, his face expressionless, but his tone was exceptionally firm:"But I cannot ignore someone who is starving and asking me for help—I am a chef."With that, he pulled his hand away from Luffy and walked into the kitchen.Upstairs, Zeff leaned on his crutch by the railing, silently watching Sanji's back.A flicker of complexity passed through his cloudy eyes, but in the end, he didn't speak to stop him.Before long, Sanji came out carrying a steaming bowl of seafood fried rice.The golden rice was garnished with shrimp, scallops, and green vegetables, its aroma instantly filling the room.He gently placed the fried rice on the floor in front of Krieg, his tone unusually gentle: "Eat.""Sanji! Are you crazy?!""How could this guy possibly keep his word!""What if he turns on us?"The chefs criticized him one after another, their tones anxious.But Krieg could no longer care about any of that.He pounced on the fried rice like a hungry wolf, using both hands to shovel it into his mouth, not even letting a single grain that fell on the floor go to waste.A glass of water was handed to him; he took it and downed it in one gulp, letting out a long sigh of relief, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face:"As expected... it's delicious..."Just as everyone thought things might settle down, Krieg suddenly looked up.His eyes no longer held a hint of weakness, only cold greed and cruelty.He abruptly raised his arm, and from beneath his seemingly ordinary sleeve, golden armor with a metallic sheen was revealed.The massive diamond brass knuckles on his hand reflected a piercing light under the lamps—He actually swung a punch at Sanji, who was standing closest to him!It was too fast! Sanji didn't react at all; the fist was only a centimeter from his head, and he could no longer dodge it!"Bang—!"After the dull thud, the expected bloody scene did not occur.Outside the Baratie's doors, a blue figure flashed out like a phantom, steadily blocking Krieg's fist with a kick.That slender foot seemed to contain the force of a thousand tons; no matter how much power Kriegexerted, it remained motionless.Immediately after, the blue figure turned swiftly and landed a vicious hook right on Krieg's jaw!"What do you think you're doing to my friend?"As the crisp voice fell, Krieg's body flew backward like a broken kite,"Clatter"He slammed into a distant pillar and slid to the ground."Thanks, Mark." Sanji lit a cigarette, his expression a bit sour; he hadn't expected Krieg to launch a sneak attack directly."Mark! You guys are here!" Luffy immediately shouted happily.Zoro and Usopp pushed open the doors and walked straight to Luffy's side."I was wondering why you ran so fast; turns out there's some prime prey." Zoro grinned as he looked at Krieg on the ground.Mark nodded to Luffy, his gaze falling on Krieg as he climbed up from the floor.Krieg wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes full of venom as he looked at Mark:"What am I doing?! Hahaha... my ship can no longer sail!"He looked around. "This restaurant is perfect for my new base!You stinking cooks, prepare a hundred portions of food immediately; I still have a hundred men starving on my ship!Remember, I'm not asking you now, I'm notifying you. If you don't want to die, do as I say.""Captain Krieg!"AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteGin looked up in shock, "This is not what we agreed on! Didn't you say you wouldn't attack the Baratie?""Gin, do you have a problem with that?"Krieg whipped his head around, his eyes fierce, and grabbed Gin by the shoulder, lifting him up before squeezing hard!With a crisp "crack," Gin's shoulder instantly dislocated. He let out a stifled groan, cold sweat beading on his forehead, but he gritted his teeth and held back a scream as Krieg threw him aside.Mark watched this scene, then turned to Sanji and gestured with his chin: "Are you still going to cook for scum like this?"Sanji was silent for a moment, then answered solemnly: "I will."Mark raised an eyebrow and smiled helplessly: "Sometimes I really can't understand your way of thinking... But, that's just who you are, Sanji."He paused, his tone gentle, "On our ship, who doesn't have their own obsessions?""Who wants to join your ship!" Sanji immediately bristled, turning his head away with slightly reddened cheeks.Just then, Zeff walked down from upstairs, his prosthetic leg making a "clack-clack" sound on the floor.He looked at Sanji and said slowly: "Sanji, go out to sea with them. I know you have a dream that you can't achieve here. Whoever wears that hat must be a reliable pirate."Sanji looked up sharply, his eyes full of shock: "Old man?!"Krieg interrupted them at that moment. He recognized Zeff, his eyes widening in shock, but after looking him up and down, it turned into mockery:"You are... Red-Leg Zeff? I heard you were shipwrecked, so you didn't die! Hiding here to work as a cook? Heh, perhaps that's all you're good for now."His gaze swept over Zeff's missing leg, his tone full of malice, "You've been to the Grand Line, right? Hand over your Logbook! Otherwise, I'll kill every one of you!""The Logbook is indeed with me, but I cannot give it to you." Zeff refused firmly, "The Logbook is proof of adventures with my companions, it is our glory. It is too heavy a burden for someone like you to understand.""Old man, let me handle this arrogant guy." Markstepped forward, blocking Zeff, and looked at Kriegwith cold eyes, "It seems you don't understand the situation. A loser from the Grand Line, what are you acting so high and mighty about here?""Loser?... You called me a loser! Don't think that because you snuck a punch in, you can lecture me!" Krieg bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, "Do you know what kind of monsters my enemies are? What would a rookie from Paradise know?!""But you lost, didn't you?" Mark shrugged."I mostly just lacked basic knowledge, if I had the Logbook! I could reorganize my crew to go to the Grand Line, and then find the legendary treasure, One Piece!""The one who will become the Pirate King is me!" Luffy shouted excitedly.Krieg laughed loudly: "Pirate King? You ignorant little brat! Do you know how terrifying the Grand Line is? Do you know what kind of monsters the strong people there are? Just die, all of you!"As he finished speaking, the golden armor on Krieg's body suddenly rattled with a "click-clack" sound. His shoulder armor popped open to reveal two rows of black machine gun barrels, the chest armor folded back to reveal a small cannon, and even his wrists extended sharp alloy blades. A dense array of weapon ports aimed directly at Mark and the others!"Whoosh—Boom!!" Bullets rained down like a storm, carrying a sharp whistling sound through the air; cannonballs shrieked out, trailing black smoke, and exploded upon hitting the ground, blinding flashes of light filling the room. The entire Baratiewas instantly shrouded in gunpowder smoke, and the wooden floor was blasted into charred holes!The cooks were so scared they scrambled under the dining tables. Luffy reached out to shield the cooks, while Zoro stepped on overturned chairs to dodge flexibly, swinging his blades to precisely deflect the incoming bullets.However, Mark just watched the incoming attacks calmly, a cold sneer tugging at the corner of his mouth: "Monsters? Is that so?"Trash-Trash Fruit · Logia Form — Slime, activate!Mark's body instantly transformed into a massive, translucent Slime, its surface glistening with a damp sheen and slightly undulating.The whistling bullets crashed into the Slime's body, instantly swallowed like being thrown into a mire, not even causing a ripple. Cannonballs slammed into the Slime, but the resulting explosions and shockwaves were firmly contained by the viscous body, only causing a faint ripple in the center before dissipating completely."What... is this ability? A monster?!" Krieg's eyes widened in disbelief. He had never seen an ability that could so easily neutralize gun and cannon attacks!"Is... is this Mark's Devil Fruit ability? The legendary Slime? This is too amazing!" Usopp's mouth hung open in shock, nearly biting his tongue.Luffy was also full of excitement: "Wow! Mark, this form is so cool!"Sanji was so shocked his cigarette dropped to the floor, his eyes full of astonishment."Luffy, this is a new move I developed based on your Gum-Gum Gatling." Mark's voice came from the "mouth" of the Slime Form, sounding slightly muffled, "Krieg, let me show you — Acacia Storm!"No sooner had he finished speaking, countless viscous tentacles suddenly erupted from the surface of the giant Slime with a "pop-pop" sound. These tentacles were as fast as lightning; some lashed out like whips, whistling through the air as they struck the machine gun barrels, bending and deforming them with a few "clang" sounds. Others coiled around the cannon barrels like vipers and twisted hard, forcing them into literal knots!Even more terrifying were the tentacles lashing toward Krieg's body, moving so fast they almost left afterimages. Krieg swung his wrist blades to block, but the tentacles easily coiled around the blades and yanked them away, sending them flying!He tried to tank the hits with his armor, but the tentacles, though seemingly soft, had astonishing strength—the first strike hit his chest, and the golden armor let out a "crack," developing a fissure; the second strike hit his shoulder, and the armor was ripped away, exposing the bleeding wound beneath; the third, the fourth... The tentacles fell like a rainstorm, Krieg screaming repeatedly as he was whipped, his body sent flying like a ragdoll, hitting the wall, falling, and being sent flying again...In just a few seconds, his golden armor was smashed into scrap metal, exposing his battered and bloody body. The final tentacle struck him hard in the face, and he slammed with a "bang" against the central pillar of the restaurant, slowly sliding to the floor, completely motionless, life or death unknown.The restaurant was dead silent. The cooks stared at the scene in a daze—Krieg, who had been so fierce just a moment ago, had been taken down by Markso easily?Mark exhaled, reverting to his human form from his Slime state, not even a speck of dust on his clothes."Mark! You're amazing!" "Krieg has been defeated!" "Mark has gotten even stronger!" The cooks realized what had happened and immediately erupted into thunderous cheers, their eyes filled with admiration and gratitude as they looked at Mark."No matter how many times I see it, Mark's fighting is so interesting!" Luffy waved his fists excitedly. Zoro pouted, somewhat annoyed: "It's your fault for running so fast, you took the prey before I could." "Hmph, everything is going according to my plan!" Usopp crossed his arms, looking smug.Sanji looked at Krieg's miserable state on the floor, then looked at the thick fog still lingering outside, and after a moment of silence, turned toward the kitchen: "There's still a group of hungry people outside, I'm going to make them something to eat.""Sanji..." Gin struggled to stand up, bowing deeply to Sanji's retreating figure, his voice hoarse, "I'm sorry, I really didn't know it would end up like this... and... thank you."Sanji didn't look at him, nor did he accept his thanks; he was simply following his heart.Mark watched Sanji's retreating back as he was about to enter the kitchen and suddenly spoke up: "Sanji, it's too late. It seems those guys outside won't be able to eat the 'last meal' you prepared."Sanji paused, turning back to look at him in confusion: "Last meal? Why?"Mark raised his hand and pointed toward the sea outside the window, his expression grave: "Because... that man has come."Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing, and saw a strangely shaped ship slowly sailing on the sea. The ship looked like a giant throne, with white candles burning on both sides, their flickering flames emitting an eerie blue light that seemed particularly sinister in the thick fog. Sitting on the throne was a man wearing a cowboy hat. He carried a huge cross-shaped greatsword on his back, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's, and just sitting there casually, he radiated a chilling sense of oppression.Gin said in terror: "Ah! It's him... It's him! The man with eyes like a hawk! He chased us from the Grand Line all the way to the East Blue!"Sanji asked: "How did you offend him?"Gin shook his head: "I don't know! That man used some kind of move, and with a single strike, he sank ten ships of our fleet!"Zeff said in a low voice: "Perhaps you disturbed his nap. It was that black blade 'Yoru' on his back that cut you. He is the pinnacle of all swordsmen in the world, Dracule Mihawk."Zoro was trembling all over.Luffy asked: "What's wrong, Zoro?""It's him, the world's greatest swordsman, HawkeyeMihawk!" Zoro's voice was filled with excitement and trembling, "I set out to sea just to find him!"Just then, the door of the Baratie was pushed open with a "creak," and Nami walked in carrying a bulging cloth bag, a little sweat on her forehead.Mark glanced at her bag, which was about to burst, and raised an eyebrow: "How's business?"Nami dropped the bag on the floor with a "clank" of heavy objects hitting the ground. She clapped her hands and looked at Krieg on the floor with sparkling eyes: "Not bad, I searched the ship and found quite a bit, but the most valuable things are still the rags on this guy."As she spoke, she strode over to Krieg, completely ignoring his blood-soaked, miserable state. She squatted down and immediately snatched the massive diamond ring from his hand, held it up to the light to inspect it, and stuffed it into her pocket with satisfaction.Then she went to tug at the gold chain hanging around his neck. It was quite thick, and after pulling twice without success, she simply pulled a small knife from her boot, cut the clasp with a "click," and tossed it into the bag."Hey, Nami, what are you doing?" Luffy leaned over, watching her curiously."Resource recovery." Nami didn't even look up as she began to strip Krieg's tattered clothes—there were quite a few gold coins sewn into the lining. She used her knife to pick the threads, and the gold coins tumbled out with a "clatter." She quickly caught them with the bag, muttering, "These armor fragments are also gold, can't let them go to waste..."She even rummaged through Krieg's boots, pulling out a small bag wrapped in oilcloth. Opening it to find half a bag of pearls, she immediately smiled until her eyes crinkled into slits.Zoro's mouth twitched at the sight, while Usoppmuttered quietly: "So... so skilled..."At this moment, Krieg's massive flagship happened to be blocking Hawkeye's path. The man's eyes narrowed slightly.No one saw him make any move, nor did anyone see him draw his sword. But the next second, the hull of Krieg's flagship, which was capable of dominating the East Blue, suddenly developed two huge, smooth cuts! The cuts extended from the bow to the stern, as if it had been slashed by an invisible giant blade.A few seconds later, accompanied by a harsh cracking sound, the entire ship began to collapse and disintegrate from the cuts."Oh, don't waste it!" Mark said, his Observation Hakiinstantly enveloping the entire disintegrating ship, a faint shimmer passing over his fingertips, "Decompose!"[Ding, special junk material tainted by sword intent detected, obtained Sword Stone from decomposition.]"Special energy has finally appeared, what a huge profit!" Mark chuckled softly.In the thick fog, the throne-like ship continued to sail slowly toward the Baratie. Inside the restaurant, everyone held their breath as an aura, a hundred times heavier than the pressure Krieg had brought, quietly descended.
Chapter 23: Zoro vs. HawkeyeThe blazing gaze could not dispel the sudden, almost suffocating pressure that had descended.Everyone's eyes were involuntarily drawn to the figure sitting on the throne-like boat on the sea.A wide-brimmed cowboy hat covered most of the person's face, revealing only a cold, hard jawline and tightly pursed thin lips. The throne he sat upon seemed to declare to the world that he was the strongest!That was Dracule Mihawk, the world's Greatest Swordsman.Roronoa Zoro stood by the edge of the Baratie, one foot already slightly raised, his body tense like a fully drawn bowstring. On his forehead, cold sweat slid down his angular cheeks like he had just been splashed with cold water, soaking his neck. It wasn't because of the heat, but a tremor originating from the depths of his soul.Just being enveloped by that aura made Zoro feel like a frog targeted by a giant python, making even breathing difficult. His muscles were uncontrollably screaming of danger, instinctively wanting to retreat, wanting to escape this destructive pressure."Is this... the world's strongest?" Zoro's teeth were clenched, a storm raging in his heart.Should I back down?As soon as this thought surfaced, he ruthlessly crushed it. The image of the girl who was younger than him but always easily defeated him instantly appeared in his mind—Kuina. Under the setting sun, on the wooden floor of the dojo, the two had clashed time and again. Finally, it was his unwilling yet solemn promise: "I will definitely become the world's Greatest Swordsman! When that time comes, I'll carry your share as well!""How could I be afraid!" Zoro growled low, his voice not loud, but enough to dispel the last trace of hesitation in his heart, "I just didn't expect... to meet him so soon!"Speaking of which... was that promise and the goal of achieving it actually such an unreachable distance away? Is it... still too early?...No, precisely because of that, I can't back down here!Just as Zoro's mind was racing, the figure wearing the cowboy hat stopped his boat. He slightly turned his head, and the gaze from under the brim didn't fall on Zoro first, but instead looked toward another person nearby—Mark.Mark stood there with a calm expression, as if having just completely dismantled the wreckage of the massive Krieg Pirates' flagship and turned it into nothingness was a trivial matter.Hawkeye's gaze lingered on Mark for a moment. In his originally deadpan tone, a rare, almost imperceptible ripple appeared: "A strange ability."Mark met Hawkeye's gaze neither subserviently nor overbearingly, then turned his gaze to Zoro beside him. He knew Zoro too well; the fire burning in the man's eyes and the hand tightly gripping the sword hilt all spoke of what he was about to do.As a partner, this was the only thing he could do to help him.Mark extended both hands, palms facing each other, then slowly slid them apart. In the air in front of him, wood grain textures slowly emerged! In just a few moments, a wide, flat wooden platform large enough for dozens of people to stand on appeared as if out of thin air, extending from the side of the Baratie all the way to Hawkeye's feet, completely smoothing over the sea between them.Without redundant words, Zoro took a deep breath, leaped, and landed steadily on the wooden platform. The three swords at his waist swayed slightly with his movement, making a faint metallic clinking sound. He walked step by step toward Hawkeye at the other end of the platform, each step exceptionally firm, as if the wooden boards beneath his feet were vibrating slightly.The sea breeze ruffled his short green hair, revealing eyes burning with intense fighting spirit."I set out to sea... just for you!" Zoro's voice reached Hawkeye's ears clearly, carrying an unquestionable determination.Hawkeye finally slowly raised his head, the shadow of the cowboy hat shifting away to reveal golden eyes as sharp as a hawk's, seemingly able to pierce through the human heart. He looked at the approaching Zoro and calmly uttered three words: "Your goal?""The strongest!" Zoro's answer was concise and powerful, resonating clearly.Hearing this, a barely visible curve formed at the corner of Hawkeye's mouth, carrying a hint of mockery, as if he found it purely ridiculous: "How foolish."Just then, Zoro suddenly stopped. He raised his hand, untied the green bandana he always wore on his arm, and nimbly tied it around his head. That bright green was particularly striking in the sunlight, as if it were a symbol of his determination."Shing!"A crisp sound of a sword being drawn rang out, and a cold light as clear as autumn water flashed and vanished. Zoro had already drawn the wado ichimonji from his waist, the tip of the blade pointing directly at Hawkeye."You must be very bored!" Zoro's gaze was as sharp as a blade, "Come and duel with me!"Around the platform, whether it was the chefs of the Baratie, the remnants of the Krieg Pirates soaking in the sea who had been saved by Gin, or Luffy's group, all eyes instantly focused on the tall figure on the wooden platform."That... he is..." A chef rubbed his eyes, seemingly unable to believe his own judgment, "The Pirate Hunter, Roronoa Zoro?!""What?!" another chef exclaimed, "The legendary Three Sword Style swordsman who has never lost in the East Blue?"Sanji, standing on the deck of the Baratie, was also stunned. His mouth, holding a cigarette, opened slightly, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes: "He's the one...?" Clearly, he had heard this name before. The Pirate Hunter of the East Blue, famous for his powerful swordsmanship and for never letting any bounty head escape; he didn't expect him to be Luffy's partner, and furthermore, that he would challenge that legendary man!Hawkeye looked at Zoro's stance, his golden eyes showing no ripple, and repeated in a flat tone: "Duel?"He shook his head slightly, his voice carrying a superior indifference: "Pitiful weakling... If you were truly a first-rate swordsman, you would understand the power gap between us even without fighting. To dare draw your sword against me, should I call it courage or stupidity?""Because of my ambition, and a promise to a friend!" Zoro's voice carried a hint of trembling, but it was from excitement and determination, not fear.Hawkeye said no more, only reaching out to pull a seemingly ordinary Cross Pendant from his chest. With a flick of his finger, the casing opened, revealing not a precious gem or a photo, but a... tiny, exquisite Fruit Knife. The blade was short, not even as long as Zoro's finger.Zoro's pupils shrank suddenly, and his hand holding the sword trembled slightly with anger: "You... what do you mean?!"This was a blatant insult!Hawkeye acted as if he didn't see Zoro's anger, still speaking in that flat tone: "I am not like those foolish beasts who use their full strength to hunt a rabbit... although it's a small knife," he paused, his gaze sweeping over Zoro, "as for the East Blue, the weakest of the seas, I'm sorry, I really don't have a smaller knife than this!""Bastard!" Zoro was completely enraged, "There's a limit to arrogance! Don't regret it when you're dead!"Before he finished speaking, Zoro's figure had already moved!"Three Sword Style—Oni Giri!"Almost instantly, the other two swords at his waist were also drawn, one in each hand and one in his mouth. Three fierce and matchless blade winds intertwined into the shape of a gruesome demon face, carrying a whistle that tore through the air, slashing madly toward Hawkeye! This was one of his ultimate techniques; until now, no one had been able to take it head-on, let alone see through it!However, facing this heavy blow, Hawkeye simply casually raised the hand holding that Fruit Knife."Clink!"A light sound, as if just flicking away an annoying fly.Zoro's Oni Giri, powerful enough to split boulders and cut steel, was actually blocked by Hawkeyeusing that tiny Fruit Knife with effortless ease! The three fierce blade winds were like a clay ox entering the sea, instantly dissipating without a trace.Time seemed to stand still at this moment.Zoro maintained his slashing posture, completely frozen. He widened his eyes, looking in disbelief at the Fruit Knife pressed against the intersection of his three swords, and the rock-steady hand holding the knife.Cold sweat once again poured uncontrollably from his forehead, this time even carrying a hint of icy despair.He finally understood.He understood what the so-called "world's strongest" actually meant, and understood that the gap between the two sides was as vast as the heavens and the earth. It wasn't a chasm that could be easily bridged by hard work, but a suffocating gap like that between a child and a giant."How is it possible..." Zoro muttered to himself, a feeling called "powerlessness" surfacing in his heart for the first time.Standing on the deck of the Baratie, Luffy clenched his fists tightly. Although he didn't understand swordsmanship very well, he could see the power of Zoro's move just now, and he could feel Zoro's current shock and... decline. A wave of worry surged in his heart; he even wanted to rush forward immediately."Zoro's ultimate move... was actually... actually blocked by such a small knife?!" Usopp's mouth hung open, his face filled with disbelief.Zoro suddenly snapped out of it, the shock in his eyes replaced by an even stronger fighting spirit. He didn't believe it! He would never believe it!"Hah!"Zoro roared, his wrists turning sharply, and the three swords seemed to come alive, instantly changing into dozens of attack angles. Blade lights flashed like a torrential rain pouring toward Hawkeye. Various techniques of Two Sword Style, One Sword Style, and Three Sword Style were performed one after another, each move condensing his years of hard training and obsession.However, Hawkeye still stood in place, his footsteps not moving an inch. The Fruit Knife in his hand seemed to have a life of its own; during the seemingly casual swings, it could always precisely block every one of Zoro's attacks. The "clanging" sounds of collisions were incessant, crisp and dense, and each collision sent a numbing vibration through Zoro's arms.In Hawkeye's eyes, Zoro's attacks were fierce but full of openings, like a child waving a toy sword around.Finally, Hawkeye seemed to grow somewhat impatient. He felt that Zoro's swordsmanship was too crude and lacked the true essence of the Way of the Sword; continuing to play along was meaningless.As Zoro swung his sword again, Hawkeye flipped his wrist, and the Fruit Knife gave a light flick at a tricky angle."Clang!"AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteWith a crisp sound, Zoro's three swords were parried simultaneously, leaving his chest exposed.Immediately following, an imperceptible flash of cold light streaked by."Pfft."The small Fruit Knife pierced precisely into the center of Zoro's chest; it wasn't deep, but it was enough to make him lose his strength instantly.Zoro's body jerked to a halt, and all his attacks ceased abruptly. He looked down at the Fruit Knifein his chest, blood slowly seeping from the wound and staining his clothes red.Hawkeye withdrew the Fruit Knife; there wasn't even much blood on the blade. He looked at the unmoving Zoro, his tone still flat but with a hint of curiosity: "Do you want to die? Why don't you retreat?"Zoro clutched his bleeding chest, panting heavily, his face pale as paper, but his eyes were exceptionally bright and unyielding."I don't know either," he said, panting, his voice raspy from pain. "I just feel... if I take a step back here... all my efforts and promises will vanish like bubbles... and I will never... be able to stand in this position again!"Hawkeye looked at him, a subtle flicker passing through his golden eyes: "That's right, that is defeat.""Then... I can't retreat even more!" Zoro raised his head, meeting Hawkeye's gaze, his eyes showing no hint of retreat, only flames burning to the very end.Hawkeye narrowed his eyes slightly: "Does it not matter even if you die?"Zoro grinned, a hint of determination and madness in his smile: "If I die... even better!"Hawkeye was silent for a moment, looking at the young man before him who, despite being severely injured, still glared at him like an unyielding wild wolf. The ripple stirred within his heart seemed to expand further.He slowly withdrew the Fruit Knife, placing it back into the pendant on his chest, then reached out and grasped the massive, cross-shaped black blade on his back—Yoru."Hum—"As the great black blade, symbolizing the world's strongest, was slowly drawn, an aura far more immense and sharp than before erupted instantly, as if even the air were being sliced, emitting a whimper. The entire sea seemed to calm down, leaving only the heart-palpitating pressure radiating from the black blade.This was the true Hawkeye."It has been a long time, strong one..." Hawkeye's voice was lower, carrying a hint of anticipation for the battle, as well as respect for the young man before him. "What is your name?""Roronoa... Zoro!" Zoro used all his remaining strength to grip his three swords tightly, even though two of them had already developed fine cracks from the previous collision."Very well." Hawkeye nodded, his hand gripping the black blade Yoru sinking slightly.Zoro took a deep breath, pouring all his strength, all his conviction, and all his unwillingness and persistence into the three swords in his hands. His body leaned forward slightly, adopting a stance like never before."Three Sword Style Secret Technique—Three Thousand Worlds!"This was the strongest strike he could currently unleash! Countless blade lights instantly converged and overlapped, forming a massive torrent that seemed capable of severing heaven and earth, sweeping toward Hawkeye with an unstoppable momentum!Hawkeye's eyes narrowed, holding nothing back. He grasped the black blade Yoru and slowly unleashed a single slash.There was no earth-shattering momentum, only a plain and unadorned black blade gleam that seemed to contain all the truths of swordsmanship in the world.The two attacks collided with a roar in the very center of the platform!There was no earth-shattering explosion as imagined, only a faint, crisp sound, as if space itself were being torn apart.Then, everything returned to calm.Zoro maintained his swinging posture, the two had exchanged positions, and Hawkeye's black blade Yoru was already sheathed.A few seconds later, the two swords in Zoro's hands shattered with a "crack," breaking into several pieces and falling onto the wooden platform.Only his wado ichimonji remained intact in his mouth."Have I lost..." Zoro lowered his head, looking at the broken swords in his hands, feeling the excruciating pain and exhaustion from his body, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.He swayed, finally unable to hold on, and fell to his knees with a "thud," then collapsed heavily forward, lying on the platform, motionless."Zoro!" Luffy could no longer hold back and shouted his name loudly, his voice filled with anxiety and anger.Nami covered her mouth, her eyes instantly turning red, and she fought back the tears. Usopp also clenched his fists nervously, his palms sweating.Just then, Zoro, lying on the ground, slowly and tremblingly raised his head. He used his remaining mobile arm to support his body and stood up bit by bit. Although his figure was unsteady, as if he might fall again at any moment, his eyes were more resolute than ever.He spread his arms, facing Hawkeye directly, exposing his chest.Hawkeye looked at this action, raising an eyebrow slightly, puzzled: "What are you doing?"Zoro panted heavily, his voice raspy but clear: "A wound on the back... is a swordsman's shame!"Hawkeye's pupils contracted slightly, looking at Zoro, who refused to turn his back on the enemy even in defeat. In his golden eyes, a clear look of appreciation finally appeared. He nodded slowly: "Remarkable."As the words fell, Hawkeye drew his blade again.This time, he did not use his full strength, just a casual swing.A sharp blade wind flashed by, precisely slicing across Zoro's chest, leaving a wound deep enough to see the bone."Pfft—"Blood sprayed violently from Zoro's chest, staining his clothes and the wooden platform beneath his feet red. His body swayed, unable to hold on any longer, and like a kite with a broken string, he fell backward toward the sea."Zoro!" Luffy roared again, his eyes splitting with rage.Almost the instant Zoro fell into the sea, a black figure leaped into the water like an arrow from a bow—it was Sanji. He pulled the unconscious Zoroup at top speed and quickly brought him back to the deck of the Baratie.Usopp and Nami immediately gathered around, anxiously calling Zoro's name, trying to do something for him. Mark also stepped forward quickly, his hands glowing with a faint light, covering Zoro's wound. Using his ability, he cleared the grime from the wound, trying to alleviate his pain and prevent infection.Sanji squatted to the side, looking at the gruesome wound on Zoro's chest, his brows furrowed. He wanted to grab a cigarette, but when he reached into his pocket, he only pulled out soggy cigarettes soaked in water. He squeezed them, leaving only a mess of damp paper, and tossed them aside. His tone carried a hint of complex emotion: "This guy... knowing he couldn't win, he still pushed forward!"Meanwhile, Luffy had fixed all his gaze on the figure still standing on the wooden platform. His eyes were filled with fury, his fists clenched tight, the muscles in his arms bulging. A layer of pitch-black Armament Haki uncontrollably covered his fists!"You guy... what did you do to my partner!"Luffy roared, his figure flashed, instantly crossing the distance of the platform, and with an earth-shattering momentum, he threw a punch fiercely toward Hawkeye's cheek!Hawkeye's eyes narrowed, clearly showing a hint of surprise at the suddenly appearing Armament Haki.East Blue... actually has someone who can use Armament Haki?He tilted his head slightly, easily dodging Luffy's furious strike. The wind from the punch grazed his cheek, causing his cowboy hat to sway slightly."Are you that guy's partner?" Hawkeye looked at the furious Luffy, his tone returning to calm. "Rest assured, he is fine."Luffy was stunned upon hearing this, his anger stalling slightly: "Really?"He immediately turned his head to look at Zoro on the deck. He saw that under the calls of everyone, Zoro coughed twice and slowly opened his eyes. Although his face was still pale, his eyes remained clear.Zoro struggled to raise one hand, covering his face which was still shedding tears, as if trying to hide something. His other hand tightly gripped the wado ichimonji, pointing the tip of the blade toward the sky."Luffy... did you hear that?" Zoro's voice was very soft, yet it reached Luffy's ears clearly, as well as everyone else present. "If I cannot become the world's Greatest Swordsman... you would be troubled, right?"Luffy looked at him, stunned.Zoro took a deep breath. Although every breath tugged at the excruciating pain in his chest, his voice was exceptionally resolute, carrying an unquestionable vow:"I will not lose again! Until I defeat him (Hawkeye) and become a great swordsman, I will never lose again! Do you have any objections? Pirate King!"Luffy was taken aback for a moment, then a brilliant smile appeared on his face, just like always, full of trust and unreserved support: "Yeah! No problem, Zoro!"Hearing Luffy's answer, Zoro's tense body seemed to relax a bit, and a faint smile of relief appeared on the corner of his mouth, though he immediately frowned again due to the pain.Mark patted Zoro on the shoulder, signaling him to rest easy, then slowly stood up.He turned around, casting his gaze toward the world's Greatest Swordsman who was still standing at the end of the platform."Mark! What are you doing?!" Usopp shouted nervously upon seeing this, having a bad premonition.Luffy also looked at Mark, seeing the intense fighting spirit in Mark, but he did not stop him. He could feel that Mark's emotions at this moment were not calm.Mark did not look back, nor did he speak.He simply began to walk, one step, then another, steadily toward Hawkeye at the other end of the platform.The sea breeze blew his clothes, and the sunlight shone upon him, yet it seemed unable to disperse the inexplicable and increasingly heavy aura surrounding him.His target was only one—Dracule Mihawk.
Chapter 24: Ink Meteor vs. YoruMark's footsteps landed on the wooden platform above the sea, each step falling like a heavy hammer on everyone's hearts.With him as the center, ripples visible to the naked eye shimmered in the air;The wooden deck groaned under the unbearable weight, and the distant waves seemed cowed by this invisible pressure, their surging rhythm slowing down.Hawkeye Mihawk's leaning posture against the bulwark finally changed. His hawk-like sharp eyes narrowed slightly, and the Black Blade "Yoru" spinning between his fingers came to a sudden halt.The Conqueror's Haki surging around Mark was like a physical tide, washing over this stretch of sea layer by layer—This was no ordinary atmospheric pressure, but the one-in-a-million quality of a king; even he had to take it seriously."Do you wish to challenge me as well?"Hawkeye's voice was calm and steady, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.The Black Blade "Yoru" vibrated slightly in his hand, its blade humming as if responding to its master's fighting spirit.Mark waved his hands hurriedly, but a defiant smile curled at the corners of his mouth:"No, no, no, don't misunderstand. I just want to crush you to death, or be hacked to death by your blades.""What? Is this kid crazy?To dare say such things to the world's greatest swordsman!"The chefs of the Baratie immediately burst into an uproar!"If this annoys Hawkeye, we're all going to suffer for it!""Keep it down! Can't you see Boss Zeff is perfectly calm?"Zeff thumped his cane heavily on the deck and said in a deep voice:"What's the panic? There's no killing intent on Hawkeye's blade. This kid knows what he's doing."Hawkeye raised an eyebrow, tilting his blade slightly as the cold light reflected off its surface:"Oh? And what is your reliance?"Mark calculated rapidly in his mind:He couldn't exactly say his reliance was the Trash-Trash Fruit ability he got after communicating with the system—resistance to slashing attacks?He certainly couldn't say he wanted to scavenge the things Hawkeye cut up to recycle special energy and forge two new swords for Zoro?Nor could he confess that all the powerhouses in the East Blue had been cleared out by Garp, so he could only find Hawkeye to test his strength...He straightened his back and said loudly:"My reliance is a boast I once made—I said I would fight you for three days and three nights. Now, I've come to make up for that regret!" (Chapter 3: Wooden Stick Pirates)"So it was you."A flash of realization crossed Hawkeye's eyes. "My reason for coming to the East Blue this time was precisely to see who dared to use my name to establish their prestige."In the distance, Gin was helping the heavily injured Krieg sneak onto the Baratie's supply ship. Hearing Hawkeye's words, Krieg shook with rage:"Fine! So defeating me was just a side task, and his main goal was to meet this long-haired brat!Just you wait, we'll settle this in the Grand Line!""Leader, keep your voice down!" Gin hurriedly held him back. "All their attention is over there. Let's leave quickly while there's chaos!"The two huddled at the stern, watching the tense situation on the platform, ultimately not daring to stay any longer.Before the words had even faded, the Black Blade "Yoru" in Hawkeye's hand moved.The pitch-black blade seemed to swallow all light. Conqueror's Haki exploded like ink, spreading outward in circles, causing even the sea breeze to stagnate wherever it passed.Tableware on the deck clattered to the floor, and the timid chefs had already shrunk behind the pillars."My god! Is this the aura of the world's greatest swordsman? The mere pressure makes it hard to breathe!""Look at Mark! He's actually standing still?""Of course! Would anyone dare challenge Hawkeyewithout some skill?"The chefs chimed in one after another, nervous yet unable to look away from this duel.Seeing this, Mark actually smiled—Since he was doing this, he might as well go completely wild for once. He slowly raised his hand toward the sky and shouted:"Ink Meteor, appear!"As he spoke, space seemed to be torn open by a thin slit.A weapon of bizarre design appeared out of thin air in his palm.The head of the weapon was a lion's head with ram horns, its mane exploding like steel needles, perfectly masking the connection to the central black steel pipe;The steel pipe was engraved with strange patterns like flowing clouds, but the end extended into a section of metal chain like a whip's tail.At the end of the chain was a steel needle sharp as a lion's tail, which was vibrating slightly.At that moment, the sky suddenly darkened. Dark clouds surged like ink, and several purple-blue lightning bolts tore through the clouds, illuminating Mark's figure as he stood holding the staff.The lion's eyes flashed with a red light in the electricity, and its mouth actually slowly opened and closed, letting out a low growl like a living creature."So... so... so powerful! Is that Mark's weapon?"Luffy clung to the ship's railing, his eyes bulging out, his fists clenched in front of his chest."I've never seen him use it before! Is he getting serious? Hey, that lion head moves! Usopp, look, it's so cool!"Usopp's face was pale, but he couldn't help peeking: "Hey! Luffy... that... that... what kind of monster is that weapon!...A weapon that actually has life... I've never heard of such a thing!?""Usopp, help me up."Zoro gritted his teeth, his blood-covered face written with stubbornness—even if he was heavily injured, he had to see this duel with his own eyes.Sanji lit a cigarette, the blue smoke rings dissipating in the wind:"Is this your true strength, Mark?"Nami looked at the scene with worry. Seeing Luffyjumping with excitement, she couldn't help but punch him on the head:"Show some concern! You idiot Captain! The opponent is a legendary man!"The chefs of the Baratie were already dumbfounded:"You've got to be kidding... this aura isn't inferior to Hawkeye's at all!""What exactly did Mark go through this past year or so? We only knew his cooking was okay; we didn't expect him to be so fierce in a fight!""Has he always been this strong? Then he was way too low-key normally!"Mark ignored the commotion around him and muttered in his heart:"System, add all energy points to the Bagua Staff.""Ding—Consumed 53,600 energy points. Bagua Staff upgraded to Proficient."A warm current instantly surged through his limbs. The insights into the Bagua Staff techniques became as clear as if they were carved into his marrow.He gripped Ink Meteor with one hand, the lion head at the staff's tip letting out a low roar as he pointed it directly at Hawkeye:"Mark, Bagua Staff, I seek your guidance!"Before his voice fell, he used the "Shooting Step" from the Bagua Steps.His figure shot out like an arrow from a bow, the resulting wind whipping wood chips from the deck into the air.In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Hawkeye. Ink Meteor smashed down with the force of a thousand tons, the staff held perfectly straight.This was the "Autumn Wind Sweeps Leaves" from the "Sweep" Formula of the Bagua Staff, but halfway through the descent, he suddenly changed the move.The lion head on the staff suddenly lowered, actually biting toward Hawkeye's wrist that held the blade!"This... is somewhat interesting!" Hawkeye smiled slightly, his wrist flicking as the Black Blade "Yoru" blocked in front of him at an incredible angle.With a crisp "clang," sparks flew. The steel pipe of Ink Meteor was vibrated until it bent slightly, but it used this rebound force to coil upward—This was the essence of the "Wrap" Formula, coiling along the blade of the Black Blade "Yoru" like a venomous snake coiling around a tree, instantly neutralizing Hawkeye's blocking force."What a fast change of moves! This staff technique looks unremarkable, but it has so many tricks!""To be able to take a blow from Hawkeye without falling behind, this kid has some skill!" The chefs' eyes went wide.A flash of surprise crossed Hawkeye's eyes. His wrist spun rapidly, creating a floral pattern of blade strikes. The Black Blade "Yoru" slashed out like a crescent moon, forcing Mark to retreat half a step."This weapon is indeed bizarre. It must be a SMILE Fruit ability!"He commented, yet his blade momentum did not diminish in the slightest. The Black Blade "Yoru" seemed to come alive in his hands.Every slash carried the momentum to rend space. As the blade wind swept across the wooden platform, it was instantly sliced clean.Mark advanced instead of retreating, his feet performing the Bagua Hooking and Swinging Step. His figure wove through the blade shadows like a swimming dragon.Facing Hawkeye's heavy vertical slash, he didn't dodge. Instead, he swung Ink Meteor horizontally in a circle, the staff drawing a perfect arc with the sound of the wind—This was the "Wind and Fire Wheels" of the "Circle" Formula, forcefully diverting the Black Blade "Yoru's" slash to the side.Taking advantage of the moment when Hawkeye's old strength was spent and new strength had yet to form, he flicked his wrist.The lion tail steel needle at the end of Ink Meteorsuddenly shot out, stabbing straight for Hawkeye's heart like a "White Snake Flicking its Tongue." This was the burst of inch-force from the "Flick" Formula."Beautiful! He actually found an opportunity to counterattack through the gaps in Hawkeye's blade!""This isn't a fight; it's practically dancing on the edge of a blade!"Hawkeye spun violently on his left foot as an axis. The Black Blade "Yoru" drew an afterimage along his body, precisely parrying the steel needle.The moment the blade collided with the needle, he suddenly changed his move, the blade flipping and sweeping out. This strike was at a tricky angle, heading straight for Mark's waist.Mark was well-prepared. Using the "Mud-Wading Step" of the Bagua Steps, he slid back half a foot. Simultaneously, he thrust Ink Meteor downward, the base of the staff poking upward, perfectly striking the spine of the Black Blade "Yoru."This move was "Using a long weapon for short range," using the base of the staff to meet the attack, while the tip of the staff suddenly flicked upward.It struck toward Hawkeye's left hand, which was holding his hat, like a "Dragonfly Touching Water"—a precise strike from the "Point" Formula.With a "ding,"Hawkeye's left hand rose slightly, his index and middle fingers catching the stabbing staff tip.He hadn't expected this seemingly chaotic staff technique to be so exquisite. The transitions between hard and soft were seamless, as if it were one with the user.The two were instantly locked in combat. The light from the Black Blade "Yoru" covered the sky like splashed ink, each strike containing enough power to split a giant ship;Mark's Ink Meteor wove through the blade shadows like a spirit snake, sometimes grand and sweeping like the autumn wind, sometimes tricky and bizarre like fine rain through a needle.The lion head at the tip of Ink Meteor would snap its jaws from time to time, and the whip-like steel needle was even harder to guard against,Several times it grazed Hawkeye's cheek, the resulting wind blowing his black hair into a mess."Oh my god! They're moving so fast! I can't see the moves at all!""Hawkeye is actually being held at bay? Who would believe this if it were told!""Go Mark! Show them what the East Blue is made of!"The chefs grew more excited as they watched, unconsciously starting to cheer for Mark.Mark pushed the "Change" Formula of the Bagua Staff to its limit, his moves unpredictable in their reality and deception.What looked like a horizontal sweep actually hid a thrust;It was clearly a blocking stance.,In an instant, it turned into a tangled mess..He was like a top-tier dancer, performing exquisite footwork on the edge of death, the staff always coiling around the Black Blade "Yoru,"Like the "Listening Force" in Tai Chi, he could always neutralize Hawkeye's attacks within a hair's breadth.But Hawkeye was, after all, the world's greatest swordsman. After dozens of moves, he had figured out the patterns of the staff technique.When Mark once again tried to wrap the blade with the "Wrap" Formula, Hawkeye suddenly let out a great shout. Conqueror's Haki and Armament Hakierupted simultaneously,The Black Blade "Yoru" vibrated violently, a massive force surging along the blade.With a "crack," Mark felt a burst of numbness in his arm, and his wrapping staff technique was instantly broken.He used the force of the impact to retreat rapidly, but saw the blade light following him like a shadow,The edge of the blade grazed his cheek, leaving a bloody trail.Mark touched his cheek. A layer of pale green gel rose from the wound, slowly filling the damaged skin—This was a characteristic of his fruit ability: a special recovery power against slashing attacks, though it wasn't indestructible.At this moment, the muscles beneath the gel were still throbbing with pain. Clearly, Hawkeye's casual slash had already broken through his surface defense."Oh no! He's hurt!""Don't worry, look, the wound is closing on its own! This constitution is just too ridiculous!"Hawkeye looked at the rapidly healing scar on his face, his gaze growing deeper.This kid not only had exquisite staff techniques but also a bizarre constitution. Ordinary slashes couldn't cause substantial damage. Even with the addition of Armament Haki, if he was just playing around, he could only barely break the defense.More troublesome was that weapon—the lion head would bite, and the whip-like steel needle was hard to defend against. A moment's carelessness and one would be hit—this kid would definitely be a monster once he grew up.While he was thinking, Mark had already closed in on his side, the Ink Meteor in his hand seemingly coming to life,AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteThe staff bent into an eerie arc, wrapping around the hilt of the black blade "Yoru" from an inconceivable angle."Let go!" Mark growled, putting strength into his arms as the auspicious cloud patterns on the steel pipe of Ink Meteor began to glow faintly.Hawkeye twisted his wrist, and the black blade "Yoru" suddenly accelerated its rotation. The airflow generated by the blade formed a vortex, forcibly pushing Ink Meteor away.Taking advantage of this, he stepped forward, and the black blade "Yoru" slashed down with the force of ten thousand jun. This strike contained only one-tenth of his power, yet before the blade wind even arrived, the deck had already cracked into spiderweb-like fissures.Mark's pupils constricted. His feet stomped out a Bagua position, and his body bent backward at an unnatural angle. The blade slashed down, grazing his nose, and cleaved the deck behind him in two.In this life-or-death moment, Ink Meteor suddenly flew out of his hand, traced an arc in the air, and was caught by him backhanded. He followed through with a sweeping strike—this was the ultimate "Sweep" technique, the staff whistling through the air as it struck toward Hawkeye's waist."That was close! Almost got slashed!""That reaction speed is incredible! If it were me, I'd be split in two by now!"Hawkeye turned his blade to block, and the loud "clang" sent Mark staggering back several steps.Hawkeye's cowboy hat was clipped by the wind of the staff, and the edge was bitten into a notch by the lion head. He raised his hand to adjust his hat.Mark stumbled backward, a deep, bone-visible sword wound on his chest being enveloped by a light cyan gelatinous substance. The healing speed had significantly slowed down—although that strike hadn't hit him directly, the residual force of the blade had torn through his defense. Clearly, his stamina was reaching its limit.Such exchanges of offense and defense had been repeating for two hours. The deck had long been hacked into a mess, and seawater had flooded in, forming puddles.As the sun set, Mark finally could not hold on any longer. His legs went soft, and he collapsed onto the deck. The gelatinous layer on his chest dimmed; clearly, his Devil Fruit ability had reached its limit.Hawkeye stood before him, carrying the black blade "Yoru." His breathing was slightly rapid, and the cowboy hat with the notched edge sat askew on his head.He looked down at Mark, who was lying on the ground, his golden eyes filled with unreadable emotions.Finally, Hawkeye turned and walked toward his small boat, his black trench coat flapping in the sea breeze."The East Blue is truly a wondrous place."As he stepped onto the small boat, he suddenly turned back to look at Zoro. "Surpass me, Roronoa Zoro."His gaze swept over the excited Luffy and Nami in the distance, and he added, "And that hat is yours, right! Kid, don't let it be shamed.""Jelly kid, if your physique were strong enough, you could indeed fight me for three days and three nights. I acknowledge you."Mark grinned, wanting to say something, but only coughed up a mouthful of blood. He did not even have the strength to lift his hand."It's over...""Although Mark has fallen, being able to fight Hawkeye for so long is already a miracle!""After this battle, his name will likely spread throughout the East Blue!"The chefs watched Hawkeye's small boat sail away, then looked at Mark lying on the ground, filled with emotion.The small boat cut through the waves, gradually disappearing at the end of the horizon.Mark lay on the deck, watching the sky grow dark, still clutching Ink Meteor tightly—the lion head's eyes flickered, and it gently rubbed against his palm, as if comforting him.Zoro, supported by Usopp, stared fixedly at the direction Hawkeye had left, whispering, "Just wait... I will definitely surpass you."Luffy suddenly ran over, squatted beside Mark, and poked his arm. "Mark, are you okay! You're so amazing! That lion head moves, does it have life?"Mark shook his head while panting. "The reason I could fight him for so long is that Hawkeye was curious about my staff techniques; he used at most one-tenth of his strength... And my ability naturally counters slash attacks. It seems... we are still far from being the strongest. Also, stop poking it, it bites."Nami rolled her eyes but still walked up and tossed a set of clean clothes to Mark. "Don't be discouraged; being able to fight Hawkeye for this long means you're going to be famous. Hurry up and clean yourself up, don't just lie there playing dead."Mark caught the clothes with a smile and looked down at his own clothes, which had been slashed into rags—there was not an intact spot on his body, but the notch on Hawkeye's hat had become his only "trophy."The gap was indeed significant, yet he did not feel much disappointment: on the surrounding shattered deck and the iron plates cleaved by Hawkeye, there was clearly a rich lingering sword intent—this was good stuff for recovering energy. Should be enough to forge two good swords for Zoro, right?His Haki was empty, and his stamina was nearly gone, but he still had the strength to manipulate his weapon. Mark struggled to sit up, gripped Ink Meteor tightly, and aimed it at the scattered wooden planks on the sea surface.The lion head at the head of the staff slowly opened its mouth, and a weak but steady suction force surged out—this was a special effect of the combination of his Devil Fruit ability and his weapon, capable of absorbing "discarded items" that contained residual energy."Ding—Absorbed wood tainted by sword intent, energy value +1000, decomposition obtained 10 units of Sword Stone!""Ding—Absorbed iron plate containing residual Armament Haki, energy value +3000, decomposition obtained 35 units of Sword Stone!"The system notifications kept ringing, so Marksimply muted them. A few minutes later, the surrounding fragments were sucked clean, and even the wooden board under his feet, covered in sword marks, was "swallowed" by the lion head.Standing on the deck of Baratie, just then, Ink Meteor suddenly became slightly hot. The flowing cloud patterns on the staff lit up with starlight, and the red light in the lion head's eyes grew brighter—as if it were about to evolve. Mark felt a stir in his heart, and fearing it would attract attention, he quickly retracted the weapon back into the system space.His stomach growled at an inopportune moment. "Sanji, I'm so hungry!" Mark called out."Me too!" Luffy immediately agreed, his stomach growling even louder than Mark's.Sanji poked his head out of the kitchen, a smile on his lips. "I really cannot do anything with you guys."Saying this, he turned and went into the kitchen, his voice drifting over from afar. "Just wait and see, today I will let you taste what real cooking is. I guarantee you will swallow your tongues!"Mark communicated with the system space and moved out all the ingredients he had hoarded, piling them into a small mountain. "We are treating this meal, no problem, right Luffy?""Of course! Let's have a banquet!" Luffy immediately jumped up and cheered, not forgetting to wave at the chefs. "Everyone come! Let's drink until we drop today!"The chefs immediately perked up. "Then I have to show off my signature thyme roast meat!""Tch, with your skills? Look at my cream lobster, I guarantee Miss Nami will love it!""Stop arguing, come and give a hand moving the ingredients!"Everyone chatted and laughed while moving the ingredients. Before long, Mark, who had changed his clothes, smelled the enticing aroma wafting from the kitchen.When Sanji pushed out the dining cart, several chefs followed behind him, each carrying large platters of dishes: sizzling meat skewers; cream lobster resting in golden puff pastry; and fruit tarts piled high with various berries, syrup dripping down from the tips, glistening under the lights."Wow—!" Luffy's eyes went straight. Without waiting for anyone to react, he lunged forward, grabbed a skewer of roasted meat, stuffed it into his mouth, and shouted indistinctly, "Delicious! Delicious!""Idiot! No one is fighting you for it!" Nami laughed and swatted his hand away, but she could not help picking up a piece of fruit tart. She took a small bite, and her eyes instantly curved into crescents. "Sanji, this cream is so refreshing, not greasy at all!"Sanji immediately straightened his back, his mouth stretching almost to his ears. "That is only natural, Miss Nami's special fruit tart, plus pudding cake!" Saying this, he specifically added an extra piece of cake to Nami's plate."Hmph, only good at sucking up to women." Zorocurled his lip, but he also picked up a whole roasted lobster, cracked the shell with one hand, and tilted his head back to take a big gulp of wine. "But this wine is actually pretty good, much stronger than that jug I stole earlier."Mark was drinking a bowl of seafood chowder with gusto. Hearing this, he looked up and smiled. "That is right, it is a treasure Buggy hid for three years that even Red Hair Shanks had his eye on. If it were not for this tough battle, I would not have been willing to bring it out.""Mark, you are really something!" A fat chef came over with a wine bowl, his face full of admiration. "To be able to fight Hawkeye for so long, I have never seen such a brilliant duel in my life! Who did you learn that staff technique from? It looks like dancing, yet every move can block the black blade, it is too amazing!"Someone nearby immediately chimed in. "Exactly! At first, I thought you were crazy, but I did not expect you to actually have skills! Your weapon is also strange; the lion head can bite people, did it eat some kind of Devil Fruit?"Mark was just about to answer, but Usopp cut him off. "Then you have not seen his more impressive feats! Last time on a certain island, he smashed a three-story-high boulder into powder with one strike of his staff! That lion head even breathed fire!" He gestured wildly, blowing Mark's achievements out of proportion."The king of braggarts is at it again!" Nami laughed and exposed him. "It was clearly something you dreamed up yourself, right?""Not at all!" Usopp's face turned red. "I saw it with my own eyes! At the time, Mark even said... he even said he was going to bite a big hole in Hawkeye's hat! And look, he actually did it!" Everyone looked at Mark following his words, and remembering the notched hat of Hawkeye, they burst into laughter."Speaking of which," Zeff walked over to Mark, leaning on his cane, and set down a bowl of wine. "Your Devil Fruit ability is quite curious, does it have special resistance to slash attacks? No wonder you could hold out for so long."Mark lifted his wine bowl to clink with him, drank it all in one gulp, and then said, "You could say that, but it was mainly because Hawkeye was just exploring my moves. A powerhouse of his level—if he really wanted to kill me, I would not last a single move.""To be able to make him exert himself is already quite remarkable." Zeff looked at him, his eyes filled with approval. "The East Blue has not produced any decent newcomers in a long time. You kids remind me of the sea when I was young."The banquet grew more and more lively. The chefs brought out their treasured wine barrels, someone held a guitar and started playing pirate songs, Luffydanced along to the rhythm, and Zoro and Markplayed rock-paper-scissors to drink. The loser had to down the entire bowl of strong liquor in one go, and before long, both of them were flushed red."Once we are rested, let us set off for the Grand Line!" Luffy suddenly shouted, standing up with his wine bowl. "Let us go beat up Arlong!""Oh—!" Zoro and Mark raised their glasses in response. Nami rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth could not help curling up, and Usopp was so excited he almost fell off the table.The chefs of Baratie watched this group of young people, their eyes full of envy. A young chef sighed, "I really envy them, daring to venture into the Grand Line. Unlike us, who are satisfied just guarding this restaurant.""Who is to say it is not," the fat chef took a sip of wine. "But watching them, it is like I have become young again myself. Maybe one day, we will see their names in the newspaper."The late-night banquet gradually died down. The drunken people lay scattered on the deck, all with satisfied smiles on their faces. Sanji leaned against the ship's rail, watching his sleeping companions, and flicked the cigarette in his hand toward the sea—the direction of the cigarette butt was the direction of his journey.