"Oh? Hawk-Eye Mihawk is challenging Whitebeard?"
Hidden aboard a warship, continuing to watch the drama unfold, Lin Xuan couldn't help but feel a surge of interest when he saw Hawk-Eye charging toward Whitebeard.
Truth be told, there was a scene in the original storyline where Hawk-Eye challenged Whitebeard.
However, the current situation was different from the original plot. This time, there was no one to block his path, and it seemed that after his battle with Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, on the Sabaody Archipelago, Mihawk had gained some insights.
Thus, Lin Xuan was quite curious about what kind of power Hawk-Eye Mihawk could unleash now.
Seeing Hawk-Eye preparing to challenge Whitebeard, Roger tilted his head and asked Rayleigh, "Rayleigh, who is this young fellow? He actually dares to challenge Newgate? Quite the courage!"
Rayleigh suddenly felt that coming along this time might have been a mistake.
Because Roger was now treating him like a walking encyclopedia, asking him about everything he didn't know!
Still, he could only helplessly reply, "That's Mihawk. You've met him before. He's now the World's Greatest Swordsman!"
Roger looked surprised. "Oh? That little brat Mihawk has become the World's Greatest Swordsman? How unexpected!"
Meanwhile, on a remote island town, a large crowd had gathered in the central square around a massive screen broadcasting the live events from Marineford.
Standing among the crowd was Hatake Sakumo, who looked just like an ordinary person—low-key and inconspicuous. No one around him could have guessed he was a member of the recently prominent Ninja Guild!
When Sakumo saw Hawk-Eye preparing to challenge Whitebeard, a smile appeared on his face, and he murmured to himself, "Let me see what progress you've made during this time."
Sakumo looked on with anticipation.
Truth be told, he quite liked this world and his current state of being.
Free and unconstrained, without having to worry about issues like his clan's prosperity or the safety of his village.
In such an environment, he could wholeheartedly pursue the way of the sword, or what this world called the path of a swordsman.
Progress!
In the mere half-month since his last battle with Hawk-Eye Mihawk, he felt his long-stagnant swordsmanship had improved significantly.
That was why he regarded Hawk-Eye Mihawk as his best rival, eagerly looking forward to another duel to see what changes the latter had undergone.
Sakumo knew that after their last fight, Hawk-Eye must have also made progress, so he was eager to see just how much.
At the same time, the World Government forces on the battlefield also noticed Hawk-Eye Mihawk's actions.
"So one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea is finally making a move?" "I didn't expect Mihawk to be the first to act!"
"No wonder Hawk-Eye accepted the government's summons this time. It seems he came specifically to challenge Whitebeard!"
Discussions erupted from various corners of the battlefield.
The Seven Warlords of the Sea were essentially a collaboration between the World Government and powerful pirates, granting them privileges ordinary pirates didn't have while using their strength to intimidate certain troublemakers.
Those who bore the title of Warlord were required to respond to the World Government's summons when necessary and participate in certain operations.
However, the World Government rarely had opportunities to use the Warlords, especially lone wolves like Hawk-Eye. Unless there happened to be an opponent who interested him, he would never respond to the summons.
His purpose for taking action now was finally revealed: Whitebeard Edward Newgate himself!
Amid the chaotic battlefield, even Smoker, who was engaged in combat, couldn't help but glance toward Hawk-Eye, his eyes particularly drawn to the black blade in the latter's hand.
Smoker looked at Tashigi and asked, "Is that the black blade? The one said to be the world's strongest sword?"
Tashigi slashed away a pirate before solemnly replying, "Yes, that's one of the twelve Supreme Grade swords in existence—the black blade Yoru!"
Just as the two were speaking, Hawk-Eye made his move!
Hum—
With a calm raise of his hand, he swung his blade, releasing a sharp slash that cut through the air, spanning dozens of meters as it shot straight toward Whitebeard!
The terrifying force behind this slash made many pirates and marines nearby pale.
They suddenly felt grateful they had quickly moved out of the path between Hawk-Eye and Whitebeard earlier. Otherwise, they would surely have been bisected by that slash!
And just as that thought crossed their minds, the terrifying slash arrived before Whitebeard.
In response, Whitebeard simply raised his fist and punched out. It didn't seem like he used much force, yet a terrifying shockwave erupted from his fist, instantly cracking the surrounding air.
Hawk-Eye's slash shattered in an instant!
Witnessing this, many who had been hopeful about Hawk-Eye's performance were instantly disappointed.
Although they had expected that Hawk-Eke likely stood no chance against Whitebeard, they hadn't imagined the gap would be this vast!
Yet, at that very moment, everyone was stunned to see Whitebeard suddenly move his naginata, even though he had already blocked Hawk-Eye's attack.
What was going on?
Was he planning to counterattack and finish off Hawk-Eye?
That was the first thought that popped into everyone's minds.
But in the very next instant, they realized they were wrong, because to their horror, they saw that Hawk-Eye's earlier attack wasn't the simple slash they had assumed. Hidden within that slash were additional layers of slashes, stacked upon one another like nested dolls!
Whitebeard's punch had only shattered the outermost layers, but the innermost slash remained intact, forcing Whitebeard to swiftly bring his naginata into play to finally block Hawk-Eye's attack completely!
And at that exact moment, to everyone's astonishment, Hawk-Eye himself, gripping his black blade, appeared right in front of Whitebeard.
He himself was the final slash!
Watching from afar, Hatake Sakumo was taken aback. "Isn't that my Hatake clan's Four Instant Slashes? That Hawk-Eye guy actually learned this move?!"
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T/N:
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