Before reaching an agreement with the World Government to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Hawkeye was known as the Marine Hunter.
Compared to the disorganized pirates, the Marines were an organization with a complete system and the most sword masters.
In order to refine his swordsmanship, Mihawk continuously challenged and defeated sword masters within the Marines, unknowingly earning this title.
The fundamental reason driving his actions was his possession of eyes capable of seeing through essence.
This insight of the "Hawk Eye" allowed him to rapidly elevate his swordsmanship during battles.
...
Now, facing a similar situation, he was the first to react.
What surprised him even more was...
This Marine named Griffin wasn't like him, who refined his swordsmanship through post-battle analysis—instead, he evolved during the fight itself!
How was this possible!!
King also noticed something unusual and no longer had the mind to continue fighting Hawkeye, creating distance to observe the battle.
...
As time passed, Kari's suppression of Griffin's swordsmanship grew increasingly weaker. Even someone completely ignorant of swordsmanship could visually perceive Griffin's rocket-like progression speed...
It completely defied common sense.
...
...
"The legendary Uchiha clan possesses the world's strongest Eye Power—the Sharingan."
"They are our clan's natural enemy!"
"This talent... King, you understand why I'm so eager to kill him now."
Kari swung his blade rapidly, creating chaotic streams of fire.
If he possessed emotions, he would genuinely marvel at Griffin's rate of improvement.
In a short time, Griffin's swordsmanship had evolved from "imitation" to "rivalry," catching up to over a month of Kari's relentless day-and-night training.
...
That being said, Griffin's condition was far from optimistic.
His Navy Coat had long been shattered, with only a few tattered cloth strips hanging from his upper body. He had at least a dozen holes stabbed through by Kari, bleeding profusely.
Countless slashing wounds of varying depths covered his body, his chest heaving violently with each breath bringing searing pain.
...
Fourteen penetrating wounds—any of which would be fatal to a normal person.
This was the result of his conscious choice not to use his spear.
Kari lacked the function to lie; his claim of being able to kill Griffin 47 times was a judgment based on reality.
Moreover...
Griffin had granted Kari permission to kill him.
Kari wasn't some so-called robot, nor was he a true avatar in the conventional sense—there was no rule preventing him from harming his master.
...
One thing Griffin had figured out long ago:
Never underestimate anyone.
Having Kari stage a scene where he attempted to assassinate a Celestial Dragon but was repelled would contain too many flaws—it could never deceive the eyes of powerful individuals.
Therefore, from the very beginning, Griffin had given Kari the command to target himself as the assassination objective!
Unless Kari was shattered once, he would never cease his actions!
...
During this process, depending on the circumstances, Kari would fabricate a reasonable explanation for Griffin's origins and briefly explain the abilities of the Sharingan.
This demonstrates his extraordinary learning ability. Even if he later uses the same swordsmanship as Kari, it can be explained as having been stolen and copied through observation.
...
Just for the sake of an explanation, is it necessary to go to such lengths?
Not only that...
Clang—
Griffin's dual blades moved so fast they became a blur, the trajectory of his counterattack unmistakably that of the Uchiha Style.
Unlike the explosive Kari, his blades were faster and more elusive!
Like the wind stealing into the night!
Faint, almost imperceptible sword energy shot forth, bypassing Spring Rain which blocked his dual blades, leaving a clear mark on Kari's cheek!
...
...
"He's attaching abilities to his slashes... To think he advanced from Iron Cutting to the second realm in such a short time!"
"A genius!"
There are no clearly defined power levels among the strong across the seas, as the myriad possibilities of Devil Fruits create too many variables.
However, for swordsmen, there are relatively clear realms of mastery.
The first realm—Iron Cutting.
Even wielding an inferior blade, the swordsmanship capable of cutting through steel is the realm of Iron Cutting—the threshold of a qualified swordsman.
Though considered fundamental, among countless swordsmen, very few actually achieve this realm.
Griffin himself comprehended the Iron Cutting realm through years of combat.
Without this ability, his sword would have been shattered the moment it made contact with the fine blade 'Spring Rain'.
...
The second realm involves transcending the limitations of the blade itself, attaching special power to unleash slashes.
A representative example is coating the blade with Armament Haki, extending the attack range beyond the physical reach.
Hawkeye's frequently used Flying Slash is a technique of this realm.
Those who enter the second realm have truly stepped into the hall of mastery—a Great Swordsman rarely seen among millions.
...
Beyond that lies the realm of the Great Swordsman, so exclusive that they can be counted on one hand.
Through prolonged battle, they infuse their blades with Haki, permanently transforming them into Armament Haki blades.
Anyone who begins this process is called a Great Swordsman, and Hawkeye has reached the pinnacle of this level.
The name of his Black Blade - Night originates from this.
...
...
"The sequence is wrong..."
Hawkeye frowned slightly and murmured, "Why can he touch the second realm without even mastering Armament Haki?"
"Uchiha Griffin... What an interesting Marine..."
He began to wonder if joining the Seven Warlords of the Sea had been the right decision.
The reason he accepted the invitation was because he was tired of being pursued by the Marines, and there were no opponents within the Marines who interested him.
Now...
He found himself looking forward to Griffin's growth and a future duel.
This guy's swordsmanship talent is no less than mine!!
...
Realizing this, Hawkeye felt no apprehension, only delight.
He never cared for the hollow title of the World's Greatest Swordsman. What mattered was having opponents to continuously refine his sword path!
——
"Indeed, you possess an evolutionary ability even I cannot comprehend."
Through their special connection, Kari's voice transmitted directly into Griffin's mind.
"But the human body has its limits. If you don't stop the previous command, you will die from excessive blood loss."
"Before you defeat me, I still have 13 opportunities to inflict fatal wounds on you."
"Final inquiry: will you execute the command?"
...
The Shaped Magic Puppet isn't made of flesh and blood but a rubber-like constructed body with no vital points.
Griffin had previously managed to damage it, but it could recover in the blink of an eye.
Only area-of-effect attacks like Kizaru's, capable of shattering it completely in one strike, could trigger a single instance of its breakage.
Due to its teleportation ability—allowing it to resurrect elsewhere after being broken—it was virtually impossible for the puppet to be shattered six times consecutively and permanently destroyed.
...
Griffin lowered his gaze, the tomoe in his Sharingan slowing their rotation as a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"What is impossible for humans does not mean it is impossible for me."
"Don't speak as if you could kill me anytime you wish. That's far too arrogant, Kari."
"Get this straight..."
"You are merely a weapon of slaughter, and I am the one who wields you—"
"The King!!!"
Whoosh—
Without receiving any command to stop, Kari raised both hands high, engulfing the blade in blazing flames, and swung down with all his might.
...
Not good!!
Hawkeye stepped forward in an instant, his blade already poised to strike.
Ordinary Marines weren't worth his intervention, but an exceptional genius in the way of the sword was worthy of his action!
Yet the Black Blade he had just raised did not release its slash.
His Observation Haki had foreseen it...
—
—
Screeeech————————!!!!!
A piercing, resonant tremor echoed out, and an icy gale abruptly swept through the area.
In the center of the field, a white wolf had clamped its fangs onto the blade—the sound was that of teeth grinding against metal.
The white wolf was massive, its form sleek and powerful, covered in fur as pure and gleaming as snow, shimmering under the sunlight like moonlight woven into silk.
Vivid crimson patterns extended from either side of its face, trailing all the way to its silver-white tail, lending it an aura of mystery and majesty.
The scarlet of the Sharingan blazed like two eerie ghost fires.
A sudden blizzard swirled around, as if an icy tundra had descended.
...
The sovereign of the frozen continent, the master of the snowfields.
Ancient Zoan: Snowfall White Wolf Form!!
—
Blade against fang, flame against ice, intertwined into a raging sea!!
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