"Great Swordsman?"
From a distance, Mihawk's gaze shifted sharply as he watched the sword slash released by Kaelen.
Sensing his rising emotion, the black blade at his waist trembled faintly, emitting a subtle ringing sound.
"No doubt about it—this is a fight worth having."
His eyes sharpened like a hawk locking onto its prey.
---
As the lightning strike faded, the intense pressure of [Conqueror's Haki] dispersed. Everyone around felt as though a crushing weight had been lifted from their chests.
"Fiftyfold!"
Just then, as the bullet was sliced apart by Kaelen's lightning slash, World flashed forward, his Haki-clad fist surging with [Armament Haki] as it rocketed toward Kaelen's head.
Swift, precise, merciless.
Veteran pirates don't hesitate. They don't pull punches. Anyone soft-hearted has long since turned to bones beneath overgrown graves.
Feeling the force of the oncoming blow, Kaelen's eyes narrowed. His expression didn't waver. As World's fist neared, Kaelen tilted his head slightly to the left.
In the same motion, his right fist clenched and launched upward—like a dragon breaking the surface of the sea—aimed straight for World's chin.
Whoosh!
World's fierce strike tore through an afterimage, grazing only empty air near Kaelen's neck.
A gasp rang out—Hancock's. To an outsider, it looked as though Kaelen's head had been shattered.
"Ah... it was just an afterimage. He's fine!"
Relieved, Hancock lowered her raised leg, tension leaving her frame. With her strength and perception, she could track their movements—but her concern still showed.
Above, Kaelen's lightning-imbued fist, though slightly delayed, carried just as much momentum as World's.
The difference was clear: World missed. Kaelen didn't.
Boom!
With a thunderous impact, World was sent flying backward, a deep fist mark embedded in his jaw despite his full-body [Armament Haki].
His blood surged violently from the shock, flushing his face red. He nearly lost consciousness from a single blow.
When true masters clash, just one move is enough to determine the upper hand.
World now understood—he wasn't Kaelen's equal.
And yet, decades of bottled rage surged within him. Thirty years of suppression burned to be released.
He would fight, even if it killed him. He needed to feel alive.
Kaelen didn't strike again.
He recognized the fire in World's heart. Out of respect, he gave him time to recover, to fight with dignity.
Besides, sparring with someone like World offered valuable experience. A battle at this level was rare.
"Lulululu... I take back what I said. You're strong. You even dared to kill a Celestial Dragon... That courage earns my respect."
World inhaled deeply and laughed toward the sky. His gaze, no longer clouded by rage, had become clear—like that of a man truly awake.
"It's nothing. Trash like them, you deal with when you come across them. When I have the time, I'll get rid of all of them."
Kaelen smiled calmly. There was no arrogance in his voice, only the weight of conviction.
He didn't see the Celestial Dragons as untouchable.
He really was ready to wipe them out.
Off in the distance, Hancock trembled slightly. Her gaze toward Kaelen changed once more.
"Hah... hahaha…"
World froze, staring at Kaelen. Then, he broke into maniacal laughter.
"The Grim Reaper... that title the World Government gave you suits you perfectly. I wonder—can you truly become their end?"
"Who knows what the future holds? But I think I can."
Kaelen shrugged nonchalantly, his tone light.
"Your bloodlust seems to have calmed. Let's finish this."
"Fine by me."
World nodded, activating his full-body [Armament Haki] once again. Then, his eyes lit with resolve.
"Hundredfold Speed!"
Boom!
A sonic boom cracked the air as World vanished, tearing through space with terrifying velocity.
He had decided—he would win with speed. Kaelen's attacks were too unpredictable.
But reality didn't match his hopes.
As he appeared in front of Kaelen—
Flash!
A violet streak passed him. Kaelen was gone.
A gust of wind surged behind him.
"Not good!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
World stepped through the air, vanishing and reappearing in quick flashes, already back at Kaelen's side.
But before he could land a strike, Kaelen vanished once more, streaking away like purple lightning.
What followed was an aerial pursuit beyond the scope of ordinary vision. Two blurs danced across the sky, trading positions in an unrelenting duel.
Kaelen used the moment to grow more attuned to his Goro Goro no Mi abilities.
Few could match World's speed. Besides Kaelen, maybe only Kizaru could surpass it.
This fight was a gift.
He'd made the right choice not to end it quickly.
The high-speed clash continued for three full minutes, each fighter unleashing over a hundred attacks—none landing clean.
But as Kaelen's expression sharpened, everything changed.
"Quake Gravity!"
In a flash, Kaelen cut off World's path, intercepting him with a rising right hook charged with explosive force.
World tried to dodge—
—but the fist surged into view, growing larger by the second.
He felt helpless. Powerless.
Only then did World realize Kaelen had been holding back the whole time.
BOOM!
The punch struck him in the chest, unleashing a cataclysmic force that shredded his insides.
World's memories flooded in—his childhood with his brother, the dreams they'd shared, the joy of his Devil Fruit powers, the bitter betrayal that followed.
Like a reel spinning too fast, it all played before his eyes.
Kaelen's second fist came without delay, crashing directly into his skull.
THUD!
There was no hatred in the blow—only respect, maybe even sorrow.
World's lips curved into a faint smile as his eyes closed for the last time, his consciousness slipping into the void.
---
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