The sea breeze gently swept across, carrying away a trace of the midday heat.
The awkward silence on the deck lasted for about three minutes.
Just when Perona thought that this Marine Admiral named Renzo had actually fallen completely asleep and was about to persuade Mihawk to just leave, the book covering Renzo's face finally moved again.
A hand slowly stretched out, removing How to Efficiently Enjoy Retirement Life, revealing Renzo's sleepy eyes.
"Ah… I just dreamed I was counting money. Counted and counted, and I fell asleep."
Renzo gave a completely unconvincing excuse, then sat up and stretched lazily.
He looked at Mihawk, who had remained seated without moving an inch, and a playful smile curved on his lips.
"Since you want to come here and retire, it's not impossible."
Renzo picked up a crystal-clear purple grape and tossed it into his mouth. "But although G-5 is a retirement paradise, we don't keep freeloaders."
Mihawk slightly raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Let's do a test."
Renzo pointed at Rehn in the distance, then at a barren rocky islet about two nautical miles away.
"I've been busy sleeping lately, so I haven't checked this guy's progress. Since the world's greatest swordsman came to my door, you might as well spar with him."
Renzo smiled brightly, like a shady boss who just signed his fighting dog up for the arena.
"If you can make Rehn completely convinced, I'll agree to let you stay. Food and lodging included, plus monthly allowance."
"Oh?"
Mihawk's sharp eyes turned toward Rehn.
He could sense that within this bulky, fleshy man was an extremely violent power of lightning. Pure destructive force, if judged purely by damage output, it might already rival an admiral.
"Interesting."
Mihawk stood up. The black blade Yoru on his back let out a faint hum.
"Since it's an interview, I won't hold back."
Ten minutes later.
On the barren rocky island two nautical miles away.
Jagged rocks stood everywhere, with no vegetation. Only the roaring waves crashing against the reef echoed endlessly.
A perfect battlefield, no need to worry about property damage.
Rehn stood atop a massive rock. The sea wind blew his specially tailored oversized suit, and the thick gold chain around his neck glittered under the sun.
Even facing the world's greatest swordsman, there was no fear on his face, only excitement.
"Heh heh heh… world's number one?"
Rehn cracked his wrists, blue-white arcs of electricity snapping between his palms.
"Even though I'm a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user, my lord taught me that more skills never hurt! Recently, I've been secretly imitating Admiral Kizaru and developed an incredible new move!"
Rehn glanced toward the distant Lullaby.
On its massive deck, Renzo lay under a parasol holding a telescope, Monet peeling oranges beside him, while Perona floated around aimlessly.
My lord is watching!
This is my chance!
As long as I defeat, or even just draw with, Mihawk, I'll prove I'm the strongest under my lord!
"Mihawk!!"
Rehn roared. His fat body tensed instantly as violent lightning erupted from him, shooting into the sky!
BOOM!!
Clear skies were instantly swallowed by dark clouds as lightning danced wildly.
"Witness the peerless swordsmanship I've painstakingly trained!!"
He clapped his hands together. The lightning in the sky responded, gathering violently into his palms.
Blinding electricity was compressed, stretched, and shaped.
Finally, it formed a five-meter-long giant sword made entirely of high-voltage lightning!
Unlike Kizaru's elegant Ama no Murakumo Sword, this blade was jagged and violent, like a forcibly straightened thunder dragon.
"Tremble, mortals!!"
Rehn struck what he thought was an extremely cool pose (in reality, like a gorilla holding a lightning rod) and roared the name he'd spent three days inventing in the bathroom:
"This is, Divine Judgment of the Thunder God: World-Destroying Heavenly Punishment, Great Thunder Sword!!!"
Renzo, drinking water, "Cough cough cough!"
The orange slipped from Monet's hand.
Even Perona couldn't hold back: "That name is so lame! And why add 'Great Sword' at the end?! Your taste is terrible!"
On the island, Mihawk looked at the crackling "Great Thunder Sword" in Rehn's hands. A trace of… helplessness flickered in his golden eyes.
Even a hint of self-doubt about why he agreed to this fight.
"This… is your swordsmanship?"
His hand slowly gripped the hilt of Yoru.
"Your stance is full of openings. Even your understanding of the sword is filled with distractions."
"Cut the crap! Take this!!"
Rehn, embarrassed and furious, stomped forward, shattering the ground.
He turned into a bolt of lightning, swinging the massive blade down with world-destroying force!
The strike could flatten a mountain.
"Too slow."
Mihawk didn't even fully draw his blade.
A simple flick of his wrist.
Clang!!
No explosion. No stalemate.
The terrifying lightning sword collapsed instantly upon contact with the black blade, dispersing into sparks.
"What?!"
Rehn was stunned.
Why could his lightning, an element, be cut by a blade?
"Haki can sever flowing water. It can also cut lightning."
Mihawk spoke calmly.
Then he pressed down slightly, using the back of the blade, he slammed Rehn squarely in the belly.
BOOM!!
Rehn flew like a home-run baseball, crashing into a rock formation hundreds of meters away.
Renzo chewed an orange slice Monet fed him. "Wow, nice distance. That's a grand slam."
Perona hugged her doll, trembling. "Is he… dead?"
"Not a chance."
Renzo waved dismissively. "That guy's tough. As a Logia, this is just a massage."
Sure enough, a flash of blue lightning.
Rehn crawled out of the rubble and clothes torn.
No injuries, but his pride was shattered.
"Damn it… I underestimated him!"
He gritted his teeth and formed another lightning sword, this time dual-wielding!
"Again!! Two-Sword Style: Lightning Cross Slash!!"
What followed wasn't a duel.
It was a one-sided… lesson.
Or rather, humiliation.
Rehn swung wildly like a kid with a laser pointer, showing off before a master painter.
He shaped lightning into various "swords."
Rapiers, broadswords, even a three-sword style.
"Take this! Lightning thrust!"
He dashed forward.
Mihawk sidestepped and lightly hooked his foot.
Splash!
Rehn plunged into the sea, electrocuting a school of fish.
"Again! Spinning slash!"
Rehn spun like a top.
Mihawk casually planted his blade into the rotation's center, ding, stopping him instantly.
Then slapped him across the face with the flat of the blade, spinning him eighteen times.
Ten minutes. Twenty minutes.
The island was devastated, with charred craters everywhere.
The battle looked intense.
But in reality, Mihawk hadn't moved outside a two-meter radius.
His breathing steady. Clothes spotless.
Meanwhile, Rehn lay spread-eagle in a crater, gasping.
His expensive suit was now rags. No bleeding, but his confidence was destroyed.
"This… this isn't right…"
He muttered, doubting life.
"I'm a swordsman too… so why can't I even touch him?"
Mihawk stood at the crater's edge, black blade in hand.
No mockery, just calm truth.
"Your sword has no soul. You're only imitating, forcing crude techniques with your fruit's power. It's an insult to swordsmanship, and a waste of your own strength."
"A waste…"
Rehn repeated blankly.
"Pfft!"
Renzo burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Hear that, Rehn? Official confirmation from the world's greatest swordsman, you're not cut out for swords!"
Rehn lay in the crater, looking toward the ship with grievance.
His dream of becoming a swordsman…
Was completely shattered today, into pieces so fine, they couldn't even be put back together.
....
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu