The moment those words left Rogen's mouth, an overwhelming sword intent erupted from his body. Unlike the swordsmen of this world, Rogen's sword intent was something completely unfamiliar to them.
It embodied his will, his spirit. It was sharp beyond measure, pressing forward without hesitation, imbuing his sword with an unstoppable resolve and allowing it to unleash astonishing power the instant it was drawn.
"The captain's making his move!"
"This is exciting! I wonder how strong the captain has become."
"Everyone, get farther back. I've got a feeling this fight is going to be beyond anything we've imagined."
Behind him, the members of the Nether Soul Pirates trembled with excitement.
The world's greatest swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk, the man who struck fear into pirates across the Grand Line, against the captain of the Nether Soul Pirates, Gol D. Rogen, four to five years after setting sail. Who would come out on top?
Although this duel was limited to swordsmanship and neither man would be using his full strength, everyone knew one thing: it would still be an incredible battle.
"Oh?" Mihawk smiled, completely at ease. "So you've finally decided to fight yourself. Good. I've wanted to test your strength for a long time."
At that moment, Agson's heavily wounded body twisted and vanished back into Rogen.
"So your clone lost, and now you're stepping in? The truly strong can never accept being inferior to anyone else," Mihawk chuckled. From Rogen's earlier words and everything he'd just witnessed, he'd already guessed that Agson was some sort of clone.
"That's only part of the reason," Rogen smiled, his expression then growing serious as the Seven Star Sword trembled lightly in his hand. "The bigger reason is that I've become interested in your swordsmanship. Let's begin."
"Gladly. I won't hold back." The smile disappeared from Mihawk's face, replaced by cold concentration.
The two stood facing one another. The sea breeze swept across the shore as waves rolled in one after another beneath the bright moonlight, the ocean gleaming like silver frost.
'Whoosh!'
Without warning, Rogen's figure blurred and vanished. That single movement alone made Mihawk's eyes narrow.
"Right!" He spun instantly and swung Yoru.
'Clang!'
A crisp clash of steel rang through the air. Just as everyone expected the blades to remain locked together, both men disappeared again.
'Clang!'
At the same moment, they reappeared ten meters to the left. The tips of their swords met perfectly. Both had chosen to thrust, and both had struck the exact tip of the other's blade.
'Whoosh!'
In another flash, they vanished once more. When they appeared again, the edges of their swords collided. The blades remained locked for three seconds.
There were no spectacular explosions, no dazzling showers of sparks. Compared to Mihawk's battle with Agson, this duel looked almost ordinary. Yet everyone present felt an indescribable pressure. It was as though an invisible hand had wrapped around their hearts, making it difficult to breathe.
Nobody dared blink. Every eye remained fixed on the battlefield, carefully observing the seemingly casual swings of their swords and the terrifying skill hidden within them.
"That's Hawkeye... The captain is actually matching him sword for sword..." Daz Bones muttered in disbelief.
Beside him, Dragon-Elephant One snorted.
"That's our captain. You're still new. You'll understand just how terrifying he is soon enough. Here's the first thing you should learn after joining the Nether Soul Pirates: no matter how powerful the enemy is... we never need to fear them because we have him. Our captain."
Daz Bones stared blankly at Rogen, who continued exchanging blows with Mihawk at incredible speed. For the first time since joining the Nether Soul Pirates, he finally had a real understanding of just how powerful Rogen was.
If Agson's battle with Mihawk had been a brutal clash of overwhelming force... then Rogen's duel with Mihawk was a contest of technique, strength, speed, and experience. It was a far more complete battle and far more dangerous.
Every single step required calculation, and every swing was planned in advance. Each man tried to force the other into a mistake that could decide the entire fight with one strike.
Yet to anyone watching from the outside... the duel appeared strangely calm. There was no explosive spectacle, no overwhelming display of power.
After maintaining that blistering pace for a full three minutes, the two finally separated and stood facing each other once more. Neither man's breathing had become uneven; their stamina and control over their bodies were extraordinary.
A faint smile appeared on Rogen's face. As expected... Mihawk had not disappointed him. Those three short minutes had been more than a contest of swordsmanship. They had tested each other's combat experience, judgment, and intellect. And in the end... neither had gained the upper hand.
"Gol D. Rogen, I'll remember your name," Mihawk spoke calmly. "If this is really the level of someone who claims swordsmanship isn't even their specialty... then you've truly surprised me."
It was the highest praise he could give. Powerhouses came to understand one another through battle, and those few minutes had convinced him that Rogen was an exceptional swordsman.
Neither of them had displayed earth-shattering techniques; instead, their fundamentals had reached absolute perfection.
Even Mihawk had failed to find a single flaw in Rogen's defense. In a battle like this... the only way to decide a winner would be to unleash even stronger techniques. But now wasn't the time for that.
"Hawkeye Mihawk, my swordsmanship doesn't end here." Rogen's words immediately caught Mihawk's attention.
"Oh?" He had already intended to sheathe Yoru and leave, but those words made him stop. "Then show me."
Mihawk raised Yoru into a defensive stance, his gaze turning sharp once again. If Rogen spoke with such confidence... then whatever came next would be anything but ordinary.
'Hummm...'
A clear sword hum rang out from the Seven Star Sword. Then, to Mihawk's astonishment, Rogen let go of it.
"What...?" Mihawk frowned. Every great swordsman placed tremendous importance on grip strength, training it constantly. He had never seen anyone willingly release their sword during combat.
But in the next instant, the pitch-black, strangely shaped sword did not fall. Instead, it hovered in midair, humming softly.
"I call this sword art... Sword Manipulation. Be careful, Hawkeye." Rogen gave him a warning, his right hand forming a sword seal. Then he pointed forward. "Go."
With that quiet command, the Seven Star Sword shot forward as though it had come alive. At that instant, Mihawk's pupils shrank violently and his heart shook. The black sword had transformed into a streak of light, flying straight toward him.
Not thrown. Not swung.
Flying.
Its speed was so great that it resembled a bolt of lightning.
(End Of This Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395