Chapter 14 Luffy defeats Hawkeye with three sword strikes and seals his sword"It's the Krieg Pirates!"
"Oh my god, that legendary, brutal pirate admiral really came!"
The guests, who were dining, instantly erupted in panicked screams.
The next second, everyone scattered like startled ducks, frantically fleeing towards the lifeboats at the stern of the ship.
"This stage is big enough; you can all show off your skills."
Luffy pointed at the dilapidated giant ship and chuckled.
Under the bewildered gazes of the crowd, Luffy slowly drew the seemingly ordinary broken sword from his waist.
His previously carefree expression vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling sharpness:
"Fighting like this is too boring. Let me increase the difficulty."
Before he finished speaking, Luffy suddenly swung his broken sword.
There was no fancy name for the move; it was just a casual swing.
In an instant, terrifying sword energy visible to the naked eye intertwined into a massive sword net, engulfing the entire giant pirate ship.
Hawkeye, standing to the side, narrowed his eyes in shock.
As expected, this guy was a hidden monster. His swordsmanship was definitely comparable to his own!
Before Zoro's eyes could even pop out of their sockets in astonishment, the incredibly sturdy Krieg pirate ship was instantly dismantled into countless pieces, like a paper toy.
Before the countless pirates could react, they were thrown into the sea like dumplings, "plop, plop."
Krieg, clad in golden armor, and his loyal companion Arkin stood on a floating plank, utterly bewildered, completely unaware of the supernatural event that had occurred.
Hawkeye, his eyes gleaming with excitement, his fighting spirit soaring instantly, drew his Supreme Grade Sword—the Black Blade Yoru—from his back, its tip pointing directly at Luffy:
"I am Mihawk, please enlighten me!"
Luffy, however, wore an inscrutable expression, shaking his finger at Hawkeye: "You're no good. You can't even withstand a wisp of my sword intent right now."
Hawkeye's forehead veins throbbed, utterly speechless.
He had never seen such a shameless and arrogant person in his life!
"Whether you're good or not, let's see who's better!"
Without further ado, Hawkeye leaped onto a massive piece of wreckage from Krieg's pirate ship, his black blade held horizontally before his chest.
Luffy calmly held up three fingers, arrogantly facing Hawkeye:
"Three sword strikes. I'll only use three. If you can withstand them, the title of the world's strongest swordsman is yours."
Hawkeye, enraged, laughed coldly. Even Shanks at his peak wouldn't dare underestimate him in a sword fight.
"Arrogant! Come on!" Hawkeye roared, his aura unstoppable.
Luffy stood still, not even moving his feet, casually waving his hand in the air.
Hawkeye: "..."
A few seconds of silence followed.
"Ahem, that was just a test, it doesn't count. I wasn't ready."
Luffy remained calm, but internally he was frantically calling for the system's approval.
Hawkeye didn't take advantage of Luffy's vulnerability. Instead, he instantly created distance, gripping the hilt of the black sword, Night, tightly with both hands.
This time, he watched Luffy's every subtle movement with utmost seriousness.
A jet-black Armament Haki instantly enveloped the sword, followed by a crimson-black Conqueror's Haki that coiled around the black blade like lightning.
Zoro and the others stood at a distance, their faces pale as they felt the terrifying pressure emanating from Hawkeye.
The feeling was like a mountain pressing down on their chests, almost causing them to faint. The pirates who had been struggling and calling for help on the surface were instantly knocked unconscious by this Haki, their eyes rolling back as they sank to the bottom of the sea.
Zoro swallowed hard, staring intently at the man's back: "Is this... the true strength of the world's greatest swordsman?"
Luffy appeared calm on the surface, but inside he was panicking. He glanced at the wary Hawkeye: "Are you ready this time?"
"Attack!"
Hawkeye growled, his muscles tensing.
Luffy swung his sword down again, the movement appearing weak and powerless.
However—
A clang!
The sound of the black sword, Night, hitting the ground was crisp and melodious, yet it echoed in everyone's ears like the resounding torrent of a great bell.
Everyone stared in disbelief as Hawkeye inexplicably knelt before Luffy once more.
Hawkeye's hands were empty, and he was making a gesture of catching a blade barehanded with utmost reverence.
Conqueror's Haki—it was terrifyingly powerful!
Hawkeye's mind had completely shut down.
What the hell is this?! Did he not even have the right to hold a sword in front of this man?
Why did his body, for a moment just now, act so instinctively, as if he wanted to drop his sword to parry his attack?
That sword strike clearly seemed to have no power at all!
Hawkeye looked up at Luffy in disbelief. Luffy remained calm, as if he had done something insignificant.
Hawkeye remained silent for a long time, then silently rose, returned to his spot, picked up his black sword, and looked at his companion of many years, sinking into deep self-doubt.
"This is my strongest move! I've never used it against anyone since I became the world's number one swordsman."
Hawkeye took a deep breath, his eyes regaining their resolve. "If you can withstand this attack, I'll cede the title of World's Greatest Swordsman!"
With that, Hawkeye raised his black sword again, the tip pointing directly at Luffy, his aura completely locked onto his opponent.
Zoro, standing to the side, stared at Luffy in shock. The truly invincible god of swordsmanship was right beside him?
Was he about to witness the birth of a new legend?!
Unexpectedly, Luffy suddenly sighed softly, saying listlessly, "This title is just an empty name, I don't need it. I concede."
"What?!"
The onlookers' jaws dropped, staring at Luffy in utter bewilderment.
Dude, are you kidding me?!
This is the world's greatest swordsman!
It's the glory that countless swordsmen on this sea dream of!
Even Zoro glared angrily at Luffy, feeling his precious dignity being thrown to the ground like trash by Luffy: "Hey! What do you take a swordsman's honor for?!"
Luffy shook his head, and the broken sword in his hand instantly turned to dust, scattering in the wind.
He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing intently into the distance, and said in a compassionate tone:
"The path of the sword is divided into three realms."
"First level: Body and sword as one, even a blade of grass in hand becomes a divine weapon."
"Second level: No sword in hand, but a sword in heart, a single finger strike can wound from a thousand miles away."
"Third level: No sword in hand, and no sword in heart. This is magnanimity, letting go, and the highest realm of swordsmanship."
Luffy looked at Mihawk with utmost sincerity, as if instructing a clueless junior.
"This is the ultimate truth of swordsmanship that I only just grasped after our clash. From now on, I will never use a sword again."
Zoro and Mihawk frowned, staring intently at Luffy. While these words seemed incomprehensible and impressive at first glance, upon closer examination, they felt incredibly profound, as if they contained the ultimate truths of the universe.
Only Luffy himself knew how bitter he was inside.
Yes, it was all nonsense.
Just now, after his second "clash" with Mihawk.
The damn system notification sounded: the time limit for the Li Jing template has expired…
What's most frustrating for Luffy is that, perhaps because of his sparring with Hawkeye, a top-tier swordsman, this damn system has determined the template fusion rate to be 100%!
[Congratulations, host, for successfully restoring the Li Jing template to 100%. Random skill being issued…]
[Congratulations, host, for successfully acquiring the Causality Skill: 100% chance of being caught bare-handed (Single Target Version)]
[100% chance of being caught bare-handed (Single Target): When the host uses a sword technique, a lucky spectator with hands will be randomly selected within the host's field of vision to catch the host's slash. This is a Causality Skill, ignoring level and strength differences.]
Luffy's inner monologue: (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻!
Oh my god!
What's the point of giving me a 100% chance to catch a blade bare-handed against a random target? Why would I even bother using a sword after that?!
Even if I grit my teeth and continue fighting Hawkeye, this skill is random!
Look around—hundreds of chefs, diners, and pirates who've fallen into the water. The probability of Hawkeye personally coming to catch my sword is lower than getting a gold gacha pull—less than one percent!
If Hawkeye, who always treats his basic attacks like ultimate moves, were to unleash a charged attack, I'd be nothing but cannon fodder.
Therefore, Luffy made a decisive decision: he had to stop the impending third sword strike and find a perfect excuse to completely shelve his sword later.
Unfortunately, Hawkeye was stubborn and didn't seem to buy into Luffy's profound theory.
Luffy could sense that Hawkeye's aura hadn't diminished; in fact, it had become even more terrifying.
Luffy appeared calm and collected, staring at Mihawk with an air of composure, but his back was actually soaked with sweat.
Finally, Mihawk moved!
He drew his sword and thrust it directly at Luffy!
A terrifying mix of Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki, carrying an unparalleled slashing wave, aimed straight at Luffy's face.
It was a sharpness capable of cutting through anything!
Instantly, Luffy's mind went blank from the terrifying Conqueror's Haki, his body stiffening like a stone.
Boom!
The world changed color!
To everyone's horrified gaze, the entire sea, like a cake, was cleaved in two by this single sword strike!
Huge waves crashed to both sides, and the Baratie restaurant shook violently in the surging waves, as if it might collapse at any moment.
Everyone looked in terror in Luffy's direction, thinking he was surely dead.
However, the dust settled.
Hawkeye slowly withdrew his black sword less than a centimeter from Luffy's cheek.
Luffy didn't move an inch, not even blinking.
Hawkeye glanced at Luffy with a complex expression, a hint of admiration in his voice:
"I haven't grasped it yet."
"Since you treat the position of the world's greatest swordsman as worthless, then I'll take your place for now. When I've reached that level myself, I'll come back to spar with you."
Luffy didn't speak, his lowered hat brim obscuring the upper half of his face.
Amidst the swaying of the Baratie, the proud figure of a peerless swordsman was captured by a newspaper reporter hiding in a corner with a "click"...
Luffy's inner monologue: "..."
Damn it! Stop taking pictures!
My legs are numb with fear, I can't move!
"Is this... the strength of a swordsman standing at the pinnacle of the world?"
Amidst the swaying waves, Zoro clung tightly to the railing, his gaze fixed intently on the sea, cleaved in two, which refused to heal.
And yet, Mihawk, possessing such power, had promised Luffy that he would only "temporarily" claim the title of number one.
Was Luffy's true strength truly unfathomable?
"I challenge you too!"
Zoro took a deep breath and shouted at Mihawk again.
"Oh?"
Mhawk turned around, looking at the green-haired boy with surprise. "Even after witnessing such a devastating difference in strength, you still have the courage to draw your sword?"
At that moment, Mihawk felt a sense of kinship with Zoro.
He seemed to see a reflection of his younger self in this young man.
Especially the fearless courage to unleash a third strike despite being forced to kneel before Luffy twice.
Of course, he admired Luffy the most.
Facing his own deadly sword strike, he truly embodied the supreme state of "no sword in the heart, no sword in the hand," not even bothering to dodge.
Unfortunately, his current level was too low to comprehend its subtleties.
Little did he know, Luffy's refusal to draw his sword was simply because his cheat-like ability had expired and renewal failed; he lacked the reaction speed to dodge.
At that moment, Luffy secretly vowed that he would never again show off such a deadly display without genuine strength.
This was too damn thrilling; my heart couldn't take it.
Hawkeye watched as the young Zoro slowly drew his black sword, Yoru, from his back.
"Since you've chosen to draw your sword against me, you must be prepared to die. Are you ready?"
Hawkeye's long sword pointed directly at Zoro, his tone icy.
"Of course," Zoro said, his jaws clenched tightly on the hilt of his Wado Ichimonji, his eyes fierce as a wolf's. "From the very day I set sail, I was prepared to die!"
"In that case, let's do it."
Hawkeye nodded solemnly.
Luffy, finally snapping out of his daze, stared in disbelief at the scene before him.
Holy crap?
This isn't how the plot works! What happened to the promised humiliation with the small knife hanging from his neck?
Why is he suddenly using the Black Blade Yoru?
This is like a max-level character slaughtering newbies in a beginner's village! Can Zoro's small frame even last a single round?
Facing the godlike Mihawk, Zoro showed no fear. He held his twin swords behind his back and charged at Mihawk like a cheetah.
"Three-Sword Style: Tiger Hunt!"
Zoro roared, his momentum unstoppable, his two swords slashing straight at Mihawk.
Mihawk, seeing Zoro's fearless demeanor, nodded slightly: "A long-lost heart of a strongman. To show the respect of a swordsman, I will use this world's strongest black sword to send you to a dignified burial at sea!"
"Brother Zoro!"
His underlings, Johnny and Joseph, were terrified, crying out loudly.
Luffy frowned deeply. He had completely messed up the plot with his own actions, and he had no idea whether Mihawk would show mercy.
His current strength was insufficient to intervene in a battle of this caliber, and given Zoro's personality, he would never allow himself to tarnish this sacred duel.