(T/N: Please consider reviewing this Fanfic, Thanks and appreciate all who support me)
(T/N: There is a new novel called Naruto: The Strongest. Come check out and continue to support me)
(T/N: Enjoy!!)
<><><><><><>
Mihawk suddenly sharpened, and his entire body trembled slightly at that moment. Without a doubt, it was excitement—or perhaps even joy.
Arashi! In the era when the Pirate King, Roger, still roamed the seas, his name had already resounded across the world, striking awe into all who heard it.
Mihawk had, of course, heard of him. In his eyes, the man standing before him was nothing short of a legend.
Yes! A true legend!
If Vice Admiral Garp was hailed as the Marine Hero, the man before him was the Marine's living legend.
His record was simply too astonishing, so anyone hearing it for the first time would find it unbelievable.
In just one or two short years, he had risen from an ordinary Marine soldier to a force rivaling the Admirals, leaving his peers far behind.
Even the three current Marine powerhouses had, at one point, been his subordinates during that era.
And if one were to look into his accomplishments, one would feel like he were a towering mountain within the Marine ranks—an insurmountable force.
"Captured the Pirate King, Roger."
"Single-handedly repelled the Golden Lion, Shiki, during his assault on Marineford and personally sent him to Impel Down."
"Years ago, rumors even spread that he infiltrated Whitebeard's territory alone, fought the world's strongest man to a draw, and left unharmed."
"This man's strength has long since reached the pinnacle of the world."
Mihawk's heart grew heavier, and the light in his eyes burned even brighter.
"I have never heard of you using a sword," he said in a low voice.
His right hand quietly tightened around the hilt of Yoru, gripping it even more firmly.
Like all great swordsmen, he, too, was eager to measure the distance between himself and the world's strongest.
"I do not allow myself any weaknesses," Arashi smiled. "And so, I have learned a thing or two about swordsmanship."
"That is truly wonderful!" A faint smile appeared on Mihawk's face, though his eyes grew sharper.
The opportunity to exchange sword techniques was far more valuable to him than any casual battle.
With those few simple words, their gazes locked, and silence filled the air for a moment.
The breeze blew gently, causing the grass and flowers around them to bow.
Then, like a flash of lightning, Mihawk's figure leaned forward and vanished.
Almost instantly, he appeared behind Arashi, swinging his long blade with immense force.
Swish!
The air was sliced apart, and the black blade seemed to sever even space itself, aiming directly at Arashi's neck.
He struck with a killing blow from the very start! It was a sign of his respect and wariness toward the man before him.
But in the next second, Mihawk's expression changed slightly. His blade had passed through Arashi's neck—only to shatter a lingering afterimage.
"What?" Mihawk's pupils contracted.
At the same time, a powerful gust of wind surged from behind him. On instinct, his legs moved immediately, propelling him forward.
Boom!
The air trembled as a blade slashed diagonally through the spot he had just stood in. The sheer force of the strike caused the entire island to shake violently.
Then, under Tashigi's shocked gaze, the island was split in two. "A strike that seemed so simple… yet held such terrifying power!"
Her scalp tingled with shock. Even if she unleashed her strongest attack, she doubted it could match such devastating might.
"Your reflexes are sharp! I hear you often spar with Red-Haired Shanks. How does his strength compare to yours?" Arashi chuckled as he spoke.
"Such incredible Observation Haki… It's almost no different from Shanks' own." Mihawk did not answer. But his heart grew even heavier.
A moment ago, he also sensed the man's Conqueror's Haki—so powerful it could affect the world around him.
No wonder he was a Marine whose name shook the world in the previous era.
"They say that when learning swordsmanship, one should start in a pitch-dark room."
"Light a single incense stick, and then use your blade, moving only your wrist, to split the tip of the incense in half."
"If you can cut it cleanly while keeping the flame alive, then you have taken your first step into the way of the sword."
Arashi smiled lightly.
"An ingenious training method," Mihawk remarked, briefly stunned before nodding in approval.
"But to become the world's greatest swordsman, I imagine the training you've endured goes far beyond slicing incense millions of times."
Arashi swung his blade. The void before him trembled, and the sheer force shook the air.
"No one reaches success without struggle! Talent is merely the beginning—blood and sweat are what determine whether one reaches the peak!" Mihawk replied.
Their duel had somehow turned into a discussion about the path to success and the hardships of training.
It seemed unrelated, yet it reflected how much they valued this battle.
Only They engage in such a discussion only one recognizes the other as a true equal do tndeed! None who stand at the peak of this world achieved it easily!"
"They have all endured countless hardships, shed blood, and paid a price beyond measure." Arashi sighed.
Suddenly, his blade trembled—then he swung it fiercely.
Boom!
The air split in two, surging toward Mihawk like a crashing wave. "And to go even further, one must face an even greater pressure. Such pressure can only come from an opponent—or an enemy!"
"In terms of swordsmanship alone, you are undoubtedly a worthy opponent!"
Mihawk listened carefully, then swung his blade as well. His powerful slash rushed forward, colliding with the incoming strike.
A violent tremor erupted, shaking the ground beneath them. Sparks of electricity crackled and flickered, surging into the sky before dissipating.
"I hope I can provide you with a worthy challenge!" Mihawk smirked.
His body shot forward, leaping across the chasm torn open by their blades, and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of Arashi.
Lifting his other hand, he gripped his sword's hilt and swung down with full force.
Boom!
The space within a thousand meters trembled violently. The very air seemed to be sucked away. Arashi's robe fluttered though there was no wind.
His lips curled into a grin, and his eyes burned with battle spirit. The long-lost thrill of combat surged through his veins.
In his grip, Ace gleamed brilliantly for an instant—before turning pitch-black, covered in mysterious patterns.
Clang!
Their swords clashed, releasing dazzling sparks and sending force ripples surging outward like crashing waves.
The shockwaves spread far into the distance, carving through the land.
"You truly are the world's Strongest Swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk!" Arashi laughed.
Their gazes met in that close-quarters clash. He could feel the burning intensity and razor-sharp focus in Mihawk's eyes.
It was as if even a single clash was enough to pierce his skin. Time had passed, and the eras had changed.
The once-young boy had now sat upon the throne of the world's strongest swordsman for many years. Even Arashi was impressed with his talent.
Mihawk's eyes gleamed brilliantly. Both hands gripped his sword.
With each collision of their blades, a torrent of raw power surged from Arashi's arm—like facing a raging tsunami.
This simple clash of swords… Yet Mihawk felt like he were staring into the vast and boundless sea.
"Truly worthy of being a legendary Marine!" Mihawk murmured, a faint smile flashing across his sharp eyes.
Then, with a slight shift of his feet, his long blade twisted in his grip as his entire body soared into the air, spinning rapidly.
With the tip of his black blade acting as a spearhead, he transformed into a whirling thrusting lance.
In an instant, electric sparks erupted, and a whirlwind howled through the air.
Arashi's gaze sharpened as he stepped back, momentarily surprised by the sheer explosive power Mihawk had unleashed.
Mihawk's long blade thrust forward at an unimaginable speed in the blink of an eye.
Within a fraction of a second, it had already split into hundreds of afterimages, whipping up a violent storm that roared toward him.
Arashi swung his blade. "Clang! Clang! Clang!" The fierce clash began, sending ripples of force radiating outward.
After more than ten seconds, Mihawk's expression grew serious as he pulled back.
His opponent's Observation Haki was undeniably incredible, already reaching the level of future sight—and at its highest tier.
At the same time, his swings carried overwhelming power, and his mastery of swordsmanship was astonishingly profound.
Just by standing there, in Mihawk's eyes, Arashi was like an impenetrable iron fortress, completely devoid of openings.
"Now, this is a true challenge!" Mihawk's lips curled into a grin.
"If the world's strongest swordsman didn't have such strength, that would be a true disappointment!" Suddenly, he laughed aloud.
With a flash of his figure, he launched another attack.
Arashi grinned as well, stepping forward with his blade in hand. "I like your fighting spirit, Mihawk!" He laughed.
"Show me the power of the world's greatest swordsman!" In a flash of lightning, their blades clashed once more.
A brilliant light shot into the sky, leaving behind a long, deep scar like the heavens had been sliced apart.
Right after, Arashi laughed heartily as he swung his blade downward with a single hand.
"Screech!" Black and red lightning burst forth.
The once-bright blade became enveloped in a unique aura, taking on a deep black and crimson hue.
"Conqueror's Haki!?" Mihawk's pupils contracted as he realized the extraordinary nature of the incoming strike.
In that same instant, Arashi closed the distance between them in a flash. His shining blade slashed forth.
"Divine Departure!!" Arashi roared.
Mihawk gripped his sword with both hands, letting out a deep shout as intense electric sparks exploded from his blade to meet the attack.
"Boom!" Their swords collided once again, unleashing a tempestuous gale across Long Chain Island.
A crushing pressure blanketed the entire archipelago, and in that moment, lightning flashed, and thunder roared through the oppressive sky.
"So it truly is that move!" Mihawk murmured. He lifted his head, his gaze serious as he stared at the man before him.
He couldn't comprehend it—why did this man know that technique?
Sliding several meters backward, Mihawk bent his knees slightly, gathering his strength before surging forward once more.
"Impressive! The younger generation today truly are monsters!" Arashi marveled, seeing that Mihawk remained as fierce as ever.
"Our ages are not too different," Mihawk muttered, swinging his blade downward. Arashi laughed, raising his sword for another Divine Departure.
"Boom!" The dazzling light radiated outward, creating a powerful shockwave. Mihawk's pupils shrank as he exerted his full strength to resist.
Between their colliding blades, an intense sphere of pulsating energy formed.
After several breaths of deadlock, the sphere exploded, unleashing an even greater shockwave.
Mihawk let out a muffled grunt as he was blasted backward, skidding across the ground. "So strong!!" he exclaimed. "I can barely find any openings!"
Light flared as fierce winds sliced past his face, leaving behind thin, blood-red marks.
Mihawk's expression was more solemn than ever. The man before him was undoubtedly one of the strongest he had ever faced in his life. "A man who stood at the peak alongside Whitebeard!" "This battle truly excites me!"
In his hawk-like eyes, everything else faded away. At this moment, there was only one person in his vision.
Without a doubt, the world's greatest swordsman had now devoted his full concentration to the opponent before him.
His figure shifted, launching another attack. Arashi grinned. "Your resilience excites me!" He lifted his blade high and charged forward.
"Let's see how long you can hold out!" Mihawk roared, "I won't disappoint you!"
Though they were close in age, they carried the presence of different eras.
Especially Arashi—everyone who knew him felt as if he belonged to the previous generation, standing alongside Roger, Whitebeard, Shiki, and Garp.
Yet, in reality, he was only around forty, a man in his prime.
"Boom!" Their swords clashed again, and a massive, radiant sphere of light expanded, instantly engulfing the entire island.
Ferocious winds surged outward, sweeping far beyond the battlefield.
"Tsshhh~~" Mihawk was pushed back once more, sliding a long distance across the ground.
His eyes were sharp and serious, and a thin sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead. Divine Departure! Yet another Divine Departure!
The man before him wielded such a devastating technique as if it cost him nothing.
Behind this display, there was no doubt—Arashi possessed terrifying endurance and an unbelievably powerful physique.
Whether it was Observation Haki, Armament Haki, or Conqueror's Haki, all required immense stamina and energy.
As the battle dragged on, the stronger the technique, the greater the toll it took.
A sword technique as explosive as Divine Departure demanded an extraordinary level of power.
"This feeling… it's familiar!"
"It's as if I'm facing Shanks before he lost his arm," Mihawk murmured. This battle thrilled him. His heartbeat quickened in excitement.
Their blades clashed back and forth, sending waves of force surging outward with each strike.
In the distance, Tashigi and Kuina watched with solemn expressions.
The wind swept through their hair, revealing their fair faces. Standing side by side, they looked almost like twins.
Unnoticed, a group of people had gathered behind them. Kuina turned, momentarily stunned, before turning back to watch the fight.
"The world's greatest swordsman. Dracule Mihawk." Crocodile exhaled a puff of smoke, his gaze serious as he watched the dueling figures.
"In terms of swordsmanship alone, he is formidable."
Doflamingo narrowed his eyes with a smirk. "A swordsman who dedicates himself entirely to the blade will naturally have the upper hand in offensive power."
"Let alone the fact that he is the world's greatest swordsman."
Crocodile nodded. Smoker, Buggy, Fisher Tiger, Rosinante, and others had also arrived to observe up close.
Judging by the intensity of the battle, this was clearly an impromptu duel rather than a fight to the death. After all, Arashi only used swordsmanship.
As they clashed, the two showcased extraordinary techniques and unpredictable footwork, leaving the spectators in awe.
"The gap is gradually becoming apparent, but it's not significant."
"Arashi's strength is evidently greater, his strikes are powerful and forceful, whereas Mihawk's techniques are more refined and precise."
"In terms of swordsmanship, though I hate to admit it, Mihawk, who has dedicated himself solely to the blade, holds a slight advantage."
"If it's purely about swordsmanship, the battle could very well end in a draw."
Rosinante, Buggy, and Smoker all spoke slowly. To the spectators, this was an obvious conclusion.
If even those watching could see it clearly, then naturally, the combatants themselves realized it as well.
Arashi suddenly grinned, swinging his longsword. He unleashed multiple Kamusari slashes as if they cost him nothing.
Such an expenditure of energy, for him, seemed insignificant. His power was all-encompassing, making him a nearly flawless warrior in every aspect.
At this point, finding any weaknesses in him had become almost impossible.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The two clashed repeatedly, and Mihawk's breathing gradually became unsteady as his body was forced back.
The battle raged on. "Will the title of the World's Strongest Swordsman change hands today?" Buggy murmured.
Kuina's eyes trembled, her mind clouded with doubt. "Does this mean that in the future, I must surpass my teacher?"
Compared to Mihawk, she clearly had no desire to face her mentor.
Having followed him for years, Kuina knew better than anyone what kind of monster her teacher truly was.
He had worn Seastone shackles for nearly a decade, yet it had done nothing to hinder him. Instead, he had only grown stronger.
In her eyes, even now, her teacher might not have been using his full strength. Moments later, a strong gust of wind blew past the spectators.
The two figures in the center of the battlefield had reached their peak, their auras surging to their highest points.
Their relentless exchange of blows came to an abrupt halt. "They're about to decide the winner!" Rosinante said.
Instantly, tension filled the air as everyone fixed their eyes on the battlefield with heavy gazes.
Suddenly, the dust on the ground trembled. Mihawk gripped his sword with both hands and vanished in an instant.
At the same time, the ground beneath Arashi cracked, and he leaped upward. "Swoosh!" A ripple spread through the air as the two figures crossed paths.
The strike was clean and swift, silent yet filled with immense dread. Because, to everyone's shock, at that moment, their entire field of vision turned black and white.
It was as if the world had been split down the middle—one half pitch black, the other pure white, the division stark and absolute.
As their robes fluttered, a few crimson droplets fell, staining the world ahead with a touch of red, restoring color to the monochrome sight before them.
"Drip!" The two warriors landed almost simultaneously, standing back to back.
Then, a powerful gust roared across the battlefield, sending shockwaves in all directions.
The fierce wind even caused Tashigi to cry out in alarm as her frail body was lifted into the air, her panicked scream cutting through the silence.
Smoker, standing behind her, caught her with a grave expression and steadily placed her back on the ground.
As the world regained its color and the wind settled, the two figures in front of them finally came into focus.
Crocodile exhaled a cloud of smoke, his gaze unreadable. But before anyone could react further, a figure suddenly trembled, and from the center of his chest, a spray of blood gushed forth.
"Mihawk lost?!" Buggy shouted.
Yet no one responded. Without fully grasping the situation, they couldn't determine the outcome of the duel.
"Hahahahaha!"
"The world just keeps getting more interesting!" A hearty laugh rang out as Arashi slowly turned around.
When everyone saw his front, their pupils shrank again. A slight scratch across his chess, not worth paying attention to. "In pure swordsmanship—"
"You and I are equals. What do you say?" Arashi declared loudly.
He was well aware that over the years, his focus had shifted toward physical combat, and after his time with Roger, he had largely set aside his dedication to the sword.
Though his unique ability allowed him to refine his skills, true mastery still relied on personal growth.
In swordsmanship alone, there was indeed a gap between him and the world's strongest.
"Very well!" After a long silence, a voice responded.
Mihawk slowly turned, revealing a matching wound on his chest, fresh blood dripping from his body.
However, compared to Arashi, his condition was noticeably worse. This strike had inflicted a serious injury, which would severely impact any further battle.
"A mere contest of swordsmanship cannot fully display your strength. As expected from the legendary figure of the Marines." Mihawk sighed.
"A human life is fleetingly short. To have honed your swordsmanship to the pinnacle of the world is no small feat." Arashi smiled.
Mihawk fell silent. At first, it seemed like praise, but upon deeper thought, it almost sounded self-congratulatory.
In truth, there were very few who could perfect their physical prowess, swordsmanship, and Devil Fruit abilities all at once.
The man before him might be the only one. "This battle has been most enlightening! I look forward to our next duel!" Mihawk stated.
But as soon as he spoke, his pupils contracted once more.
Because before his eyes, the wound that had been carved across Arashi's chest had already scabbed over and begun to heal.
It was simply terrifying! What kind of monstrous regenerative ability was this? Did this man possess some unknown power?
His strength was simply unfathomable. "The World's Strongest Swordsman title is well-deserved!" Arashi chuckled.
Then, Mihawk turned and left. With that, the duel came to an end.
As Arashi boarded the Marine warship with Foxy in tow, Mihawk's coffin boat had already drifted away from Long Chain Island.
Looking down at the fresh wound still bleeding across his chest, his expression remained solemn.
He calmly applied medicine, bandaged the wound, and then closed his eyes, replaying every moment of the battle in his mind as if reliving the clash once more. "There is a gap in our strength!"
"His Observation Haki is overwhelmingly strong, completely suppressing mine and his Conqueror's Haki infusion..."
"No wonder he's considered a legend on par with Whitebeard. Even in just swordsmanship, he is terrifying."
"If we fought at full strength, I wouldn't stand a chance!"
Opening his eyes, Mihawk's expression turned extremely serious. Slowly lifting his gaze, he stared at the vast, boundless ocean before him.
"So this... is the difference between me and the strongest in the world?"
"Far greater than I ever expected!" His expression flickered slightly. Raising his right hand, he touched the wound on his chest.
"This kind of sharp, awakening pain... it has been so long since I last felt it!"
"But it will drive me to become even stronger!"
Taking a deep breath, Mihawk's eyes gleamed with newfound determination. "Arashi! I will become stronger! Next time, our battle won't just be a test of swordsmanship!"
The duel ended in a draw on the surface, but Mihawk knew deep down—he had lost. Because in real combat, no battle was ever fought on just one front.
(T/N: There is a new novel called Naruto: The Strongest. Come check out and continue to support me)
If you want to support me, join my patr**on. Have 10 advanced Chapters for you guys.
patr**n.com/saitamablast > OP:COI NOVEL TIER