Even while holding back his strength, Hawkeye was still far stronger than Shimotsuki Ryuma.
Perhaps when Shimotsuki Ryuma was alive, his strength was no weaker than the current Hawkeye.
Now, although he retained his memories, his reanimated zombie body was simply unable to display the corresponding level of swordsmanship.
Even with Hawkeye holding back his power to compete only in swordsmanship, the zombie body's slow reactions meant that Shimotsuki Ryuma couldn't hold on for long.
"I have lost!"
Looking down at his body, which was on the verge of collapse from exerting his full strength, Shimotsuki Ryuma said to Hawkeye.
A trace of regret flashed in Hawkeye's eyes.
He could feel that if this opponent had a living body, he would definitely be a good match.
Shimotsuki Ryuma sheathed Autumn Water and threw his sword toward Hawkeye.
"I am no longer worthy of using this sword. You have a fine sword in your hand and probably have no use for it. Help me find a new master for it." Shimotsuki Ryuma said.
"Alright!" Hawkeye nodded.
Seeing Hawkeye nod, Shimotsuki Ryuma's body, which was already on the brink, directly disintegrated.
A black shadow emerged from his body and flew off in a certain direction.
After glancing at the truly deceased Shimotsuki Ryuma, Hawkeye walked back, carrying Autumn Water.
"Hawkeye!"
Moria was still in a daze after Cyrus had left.
"Our target wasn't you, Moria!"
Hawkeye stopped at his words and glanced at the fat man, leaving him with this sentence before tossing Autumn Water to Issho and jumping off the ship.
Issho raised his hand and caught Autumn Water.
He then raised his hand and stroked the scabbard, a look of emotion on his face.
The legendary famed sword of Wano Country.
He thought it had been lost, but to think it had ended up here.
Was that person who called himself Shimotsuki Ryuma truly the legendary dragon-slaying swordsman?
Issho thought to himself as he also turned and leaped off Thriller Bark.
Gecko Moria and his three subordinates cautiously approached the edge of the ship, watching the much smaller vessel depart.
"Captain!"
Perona was still a bit dazed.
"Since these people have left, let's not speak of it again."
Gecko Moria only breathed a sigh of relief after watching Cyrus's ship leave, then spoke to Perona and the other two.
They really just took a sword and left?
He had brought Shusui back along with Ryuma's corpse.
Shusui was certainly a treasured sword, but it wasn't that important in Moria's eyes.
Of course, even if it were important, it wouldn't have mattered, he couldn't have protected it.
After their brief exchange just now, Moria already knew he was no match for that person.
Not to mention Hawkeye was there as well.
And in a remote corner of Thriller Bark, a black shadow flashed by and entered the body of a skeleton.
"Yohohoho, my shadow is back!"
The skeleton abruptly sat up, letting out a strange laugh.
"Although I don't know why it came back."
...
On the departing ship.
Cyrus raised his hand and drew the Black Blade Shusui.
The black blade reflected a dark light, its body covered in regular and intricate patterns.
He raised his hand and pinched the tip of the blade, applying a little force.
The black blade bent slightly, but that was all.
After a brief test, Cyrus released his grip on the blade's tip.
"It's not easy to forge a Black Blade. That dragon-slaying swordsman must have gone through countless battles with this sword to turn it into a Black Blade."
Issho noticed Cyrus observing Shusui and offered an explanation.
"You seem to know a lot about Wano Country."
Cyrus turned his head to look at Issho, his eyes sizing him up.
Issho fell silent at the words and did not answer.
Since Issho didn't want to talk, Cyrus didn't press further.
"The spine is thick, and the blade is heavy, not much lighter than my own. Can you use it?"
Cyrus looked at Robin.
Robin was also a little curious about this Black Blade that Cyrus had made a special trip for.
She didn't know much about swords right now, but being around three Master Swordsmen, she had picked up some interest through osmosis.
Seeing the sword Cyrus handed over, she took it and swung it a couple of times.
"It's not suitable for me. This is a man's sword!" Robin shook her head after a brief try.
"Then forget it. We'll carry it for now and give it to my juniors later."
"Your juniors are also Master Swordsmen?"
Hawkeye had heard Cyrus mention his junior disciples more than once.
During their previous duel, he had even said that his junior brother aimed to be the World's Greatest Swordsman.
So he asked now.
"Well, I'm not sure right now. Perhaps they've already become Master Swordsmen."
Cyrus himself didn't know if Kuina and Zoro had become Master Swordsmen after he left.
But they both had the talent, and with Koshiro's guidance, plus the two of them sparring with each other, they might become Master Swordsmen even sooner.
"But I'm not the World's Greatest Swordsman anymore!" Hawkeye said again, clearly referring to his loss to Cyrus earlier.
"Well, I'm not interested in that title. I'm not a pure swordsman either!"
Cyrus shook his head slightly.
Compared to the title of World's Greatest Swordsman, he was more interested in the title of an Emperor of the New World.
He was especially interested in becoming an Emperor of the New World before Red-Haired Shanks.
Several hours later, with the acceleration from the Flame, Cyrus's ship left the Florian Triangle.
The entire sky brightened in an instant.
The darkness and fog-shrouded Florian Triangle was left behind them.
"Forward, to the Sabaody Archipelago!"
Looking up at the clear sky, Cyrus pointed in the direction of the Eternal Pose and shouted.
The ship accelerated again.
"Are you sure you don't want to go to the City of Water Seven first?"
As the strong wind blew, Robin shouted to Cyrus.
"We don't have a Log Pose for it. We'll go to the Sabaody Archipelago first, then go to the City of Water Seven to build a ship!" Cyrus replied.
Coming down from Sky Island this time, he had used his ability to make the ship glide through the air for a long distance, skipping many islands in between.
Perhaps if they had found the islands on the route, recorded their magnetic fields, and followed the path, they would have passed the City of Seven Waters first.
But with an Eternal Pose in hand now, there was no need for the trouble of stopping at various islands.
Besides, Cyrus was now eager to master the technique of infusing Conqueror's Haki, as well as more applications of it.
Of course, there was also the progress on Crocodile's side.
But in this situation, he might arrive at the Sabaody Archipelago before Crocodile.
After all, flying through the sky was definitely faster than sailing on the sea.
It would be a good time to toss Enel to Crocodile to act as a hired thug.
As for whether he could keep Enel in line, that would depend on Crocodile's skill.
...
While Cyrus and his group were rushing to the Sabaody Archipelago, a great war in the New World was capturing the world's attention.
The war between Red-Haired Shanks and one of the Emperors of the New World, Charlotte Linlin.
"Captain, a number of Marine ships have docked in the nearby waters."
Vice-Captain Beckman walked over quickly, reporting the news sent back by their subordinates on the periphery.
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