"Lord Reddy, I... I'm sorry."
Perona flew over from a distance, apologizing in a guilty voice.
When Kuzan froze the entire island earlier, she had been genuinely frightened. Fortunately, as a spirit, she wasn't affected. However, in the brief moment she was distracted, Mihawk managed to shake off the Negative Hollows and quickly headed toward the source of the battle noises.
He knew Reddy was most likely there.
As soon as he arrived nearby, Mihawk saw Sakazuki attacking Reddy, followed by the scene that had just unfolded.
"Go help them."
Reddy signaled Perona to assist Pyo and the others in capturing Onigumo, who was still barely holding on. He then raised his right hand to the side.
The maid leaped into the air, transforming into a long, slender sword.
"Oh, interesting!"
Mihawk, witnessing Reddy using a Devil Fruit user as a weapon, raised an eyebrow in amusement, curious about what surprises Reddy would bring him.
Reddy gripped the hilt, resting the blade on his shoulder as he turned to leave. "Follow me. This place isn't suitable for our duel."
"Don't even think about running!"
Sakazuki's face darkened as he launched a Great Eruption.
Three clones simultaneously counterattacked, combining their strength to shatter the attack and continue blocking Sakazuki.
Mihawk chuckled lightly and followed Reddy into the distance.
"You seem to have guessed my purpose."
Mihawk had no interest in the battle behind him, but he was curious how Reddy had deduced his true reason for coming. Otherwise, Reddy wouldn't have used the word "duel."
Reddy didn't turn back, smiling as he replied, "You're the world's greatest swordsman. Other than swordsmanship, what else could possibly interest you?"
"Nothing."
Mihawk also smiled.
After walking several kilometers, the two finally stopped.
Reddy turned around and grinned. "Actually, I also want to know how far my swordsmanship is from the world's greatest."
After implanting Ryuma's shadow into himself, he had gained formidable swordsmanship. However, without a suitable opponent, he wasn't sure whether his skills had reached the level of a master swordsman.
Mihawk was the perfect benchmark.
"I also want to know what level of swordsmanship you possess, aside from those clones."
Mihawk had already warmed up with Bartolomeo and was in peak condition. As he spoke, he unleashed a slash, not using his full strength but roughly 60%.
If Reddy couldn't even block this attack, there was no point in continuing. He might as well go fight a clone instead.
"Speed is power!"
Reddy grinned confidently and swung his blade with extreme speed.
This was the refined swordsmanship he had grasped from Ryuma's techniques—simplified to its essence, focusing purely on speed.
The slash shattered instantly.
Mihawk raised an eyebrow, his eyes instantly burning with fighting spirit.
As the world's greatest swordsman, he recognized the essence behind Reddy's strike.
Speed.
Extreme speed.
Abandoning techniques like flying slashes, condensing everything into pure velocity.
"Impressive swordsmanship."
Mihawk sincerely praised, already closing the distance to engage Reddy in close combat.
"Thanks."
Reddy laughed, his eyes equally ablaze with fighting spirit.
Who said idealists couldn't have a playful side?
Facing the world's greatest swordsman, all that mattered was the fight itself.
Clang!
Yoru was deflected.
Mihawk was pleasantly surprised—this was the first time since becoming the world's greatest swordsman that someone had managed to repel Yoru.
Only by experiencing this extreme speed firsthand did he truly understand the brilliance of Reddy's swordsmanship.
Speed granted the blade immense force.
If not for Yoru being one of the supreme-grade swords, a lesser blade might have been severed by such a strike.
"Swordsmanship isn't just about speed!"
Mihawk's slashes were only slightly slower than Reddy's, but where speed was lacking, he compensated with technique.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The crisp sound of clashing steel rang out incessantly.
Both fought with blinding speed.
But Reddy soon grew frustrated.
His strikes were faster than Mihawk's, but in terms of skill, he was completely outmatched.
In pursuit of ultimate speed, he had discarded all else, attacking in straightforward motions.
Mihawk, though slower, made up for it with flawless technique.
After a rapid exchange, both retreated, ending the second round.
"I lost."
Reddy sighed ruefully.
The Lunarian bloodline had granted him exceptional speed, Ryuma's swordsmanship had provided its essence, and his blade was naturally imbued with Armament Haki.
Yet, he still couldn't breach Yoru's defense.
In a pure swordsmanship duel, he conceded defeat wholeheartedly.
Mihawk smiled, sheathing Yoru behind his back before turning to leave.
The outcome of this trip satisfied him.
Reddy's swordsmanship had clear flaws, but its extreme speed offered him a fresh perspective.
"Do you want to take your swordsmanship further?"
Mihawk paused at the voice behind him, turning to look at Reddy with a questioning gaze.
At his level, improving his swordsmanship required absorbing the essence of others' techniques, refining his own.
That was why he had accepted the summons to join this operation—his only reason.
"You and I are different."
Reddy spread his hands with a smile. "You're the type wholly dedicated to swordsmanship, while I merely acquired my skills through special means."
"What means?"
Mihawk's curiosity was piqued.
Reddy smirked mysteriously. "Have you heard of the dragon-slaying swordsman, Shimotsuki Ryuma?"
"Oh?"
The legendary swordsman Ryuma, revered as the Sword God of Wano, had left behind countless tales that still circulated on the seas. Mihawk naturally knew of him.
But he didn't understand why Reddy had suddenly brought up this centuries-old legend.
Reddy pointed at his chest. "I have Shimotsuki Ryuma's shadow inside me. That's how I gained my swordsmanship."
Then, shifting the topic, he continued enticingly, "What I've mastered is only a fraction of Ryuma's techniques. After all, I'm a scientist, not a swordsman... or rather, I lack talent in swordsmanship."
Mihawk's eyes instantly lit up.
A mere shadow had turned a scientist with no swordsmanship talent into a master swordsman?
If he implanted Ryuma's shadow into himself, could he experience the true essence of the dragon-slaying swordsman's techniques?
Mihawk stared intently at Reddy. "What do I need to give in return?"
All he wanted was to comprehend Ryuma's swordsmanship—nothing else, like demanding the shadow itself.
"Give me a sample of your blood."
After dueling Mihawk, Reddy entered a state of clarity, his interest in swordsmanship waning.
Yet, abandoning Ryuma's techniques would be a waste.
The genetic sample of the world's greatest swordsman became Reddy's top priority.
With Mihawk's swordsmanship talent and Ryuma's shadow, he might create a true monster.
"How much?"
Mihawk removed the cross pendant from his chest, drawing the small knife attached to it, then looked at Reddy.
"Wait."
Reddy pulled out a blood collection needle from his pocket and tossed it over. "Use this to avoid contaminating the sample."
Mihawk caught it, asked for instructions, then completed the blood draw before tossing the needle back.
Reddy carefully stored the needle, smiling. "The clone that can extract shadows from me is still fighting... Well, the battle should end soon."