"Meeting again, Saint Rosse!", Mihawk held the black blade 'Yoru', eyes solemn as he stared at Rosse.
The last time they met, he had already felt Rosse's oppressive presence.
But compared to Rosse's strength, he was more concerned about Gion's sword, he had always been a pure swordsman.
"You want to block my way too?", Rosse asked with great interest.
Ever since Gion sliced Mihawk down last time, he hadn't seen him in quite a while.
However, in recent days, rumors of Mihawk had circulated continuously in the first half of the Grand Line.
After more than half a year of tempering, this sheathed treasure blade called Mihawk seemed now to be quite sharpened as well...
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[Dracule Mihawk]
[Overall Rating: A-]
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In just over half a year, he had leapt from B- to A-. It seemed those few slashes from Gion had provoked Mihawk quite a bit.
"Today, I act on behalf of another's request," Mihawk said in a deep voice, his sharp hawk eyes locked tightly onto Rosse.
His presence this time was purely because someone had entrusted him.
After being defeated by Gion last time, it was Roger's ship doctor who saved his life.
Repaying kindness was his principle.
This time, since the person had asked for his help, he would not refuse.
Even if the enemy was the extremely difficult-to-defeat Rosse, there would be no change in his stance.
"Hey hey, don't forget me," While the two exchanged a few words, Shanks gasping heavily leapt up from the sea, wielding Gryphon and slashing toward Rosse.
At this moment, Shanks looked exceptionally disheveled.
Not only was his whole body soaking wet, but the left side of his face where Rosse had struck was swollen like a bun, even his speech was slightly slurred.
"I didn't forget, just hoping you guys can last a bit longer," Rosse chuckled lightly, Haki-clad arm reaching to grab at Shanks.
He had no intention of going all out, nor of killing these two.
The experience difference between A-level and S-level was more than just a tiny gap.
If he wanted to step into a higher tier, every experience baby needed to be used to the fullest.
Toward those with S-rank potential, he had always been especially lenient. Wait until they're leveled up, then harvest all at once.
'These two... Are still too green.'
Ding!
A harsh screech of metal grinding echoed. Not the clash of blades, but a twisted sound like the hardest rock striking iron.
Facing Shanks' fierce strike, Rosse merely lifted his left hand imbued with Armament Haki and easily caught Shanks' sword Gryphon, stopping it dead in its tracks.
At the same time, Rosse raised his right arm, also covered in Armament Haki, to block the incoming Yoru from Mihawk.
These two Supreme Grade swords now seemed like they were striking a wall made of diamond, only producing a sharp, teeth-numbing sound, not even a spark flying, unable to break through Rosse's Armament Haki at all.
"This sword's not bad. I'll take it for a spin," Rosse's voice suddenly sounded next to Shanks's ear.
Before the words had even faded, before Shanks could react with alertness, Rosse's right leg had already lifted. It was wrapped in Armament Haki, carrying a muffled and terrifying force, ruthlessly kicking toward Shanks.
This time, the speed was equally fast. But Shanks, having been prepared, had time to respond.
A trace of resolve flashed in his eyes. Without hesitation, he instantly gathered all his Haki on his right leg and kicked back hard toward Rosse's strike, like two pieces of iron colliding.
BOOM!!!
At the moment their legs collided, it didn't feel like flesh and bone, but more like a mountain slamming into another mountain.
A terrifying shockwave, visible to the naked eye, erupted from the center of their clash and spread wildly in all directions.
The ship beneath them groaned under the unbearable force, the deck instantly cracking on a large scale, the hull being torn open into a huge hole, seawater pouring in. It looked like it could sink at any moment.
As for the combatants, they bore the brunt of the impact.
With Rosse's strength, Shanks' counterattack couldn't shake him at all.
But Shanks was a different story.
That terrifying force surged through the impact point like a tsunami, flooding Shanks's leg.
He felt an irresistible power rising from his feet, his entire body nearly got flung away.
What made his face change even more was that he clearly felt Rosse's left hand tightly gripping Gryphon was still exerting force, a powerful tug trying to wrest his sword from his hand.
To be kicked flying and have his weapon stolen at the same time, for a swordsman who regarded his sword as life, this was a humiliation worse than death.
If he remembered correctly, wasn't Vista defeated the same way?
Back during the Fish-Man Island battle, the details had long spread. As the ones tasked with intercepting Rosse, of course they knew about Rosse's wicked taste.
Back then, he had even joked with his companions, saying there's no way he would be disarmed.
But now, if he really got his sword taken, he'd never be able to show his face on the sea again. Too humiliating.
"Hmph!", A muffled groan of pain and anger came from Shanks's throat. He didn't choose to absorb the force to protect himself, but instead gathered all his strength into his arm, tightly gripping Gryphon.
In this way, using Rosse's pulling force, he barely stabilized his figure at the brink of being flung away.
He would rather endure the massive pressure that might damage his body than let go of his weapon.
"So what then?", A trace of mockery flashed in Rosse's eyes.
He completely ignored the black blade Yoru slashing in from his right, as if Mihawk's attack were just air.
His free right hand, carrying even more terrifying Armament Haki, swung cleanly like a hammer. Not at Shanks's body, but at the hand he was using to grip Gryphon.
'Take this—'
SMASH!
"ROSSE!"
Shanks let out a roar filled with anger and despair.
His barely stabilized stance was already unstable, and Rosse's precise strike left him no room to react.
Even though his arm was covered in Armament Haki, Rosse's full-force punch still caused a searing pain from deep in the bones, making Shanks reflexively wince and subconsciously loosen his grip.
Gryphon, slipped from his hand.
Watching helplessly as Gryphon was snatched by Rosse, Shanks's face was filled with frustration.
He'd been at sea for so long and never encountered a foe like Rosse.
'Who else fights by disarming their opponent mid-battle?'
'Don't you have a weapon of your own?'
"See? You couldn't keep it after all, huh?", As Shanks released Gryphon, Rosse chuckled and tucked it away casually, reversing his grip and holding it in his hand.
This was his war trophy.
Even if he didn't kill people, he had to collect weapons.
Shanks wasn't a pure swordsman, taking his sword wouldn't affect his growth.
But if he took Mihawk's Yoru, that might really break Mihawk's spirit.
Since Mihawk's blade couldn't be taken, then Shanks would have to suffer. Gryphon would be their ransom.
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