Mihawk then uttered a truly cool and intimidating line: "No matter how long it takes, I will stand at the pinnacle of this strength and wait for you. Surpass this sword, surpass me! Roronoa Zoro!"
"Haha, before Zoro surpasses you, I, his Captain, have to get revenge for him first!"
Just then, Luffy smiled and approached Zoro, placing his Straw Hat on his tear-streaked face.
"Luffy... I won't lose again," Zoro's voice came from under the hat.
"Don't be so quick to make promises, just watch how I, your Captain, get revenge for you," Luffy chuckled and walked toward Mihawk.
"So, you're not using a sword?" Mihawk asked with a smile.
"No, fighting with fists is more fun," Luffy twisted his neck, his tone quite calm. "I said this was just a duel, but you cut him twice... So, as 'payment,' I don't think it's too much to beat you half to death, Hawkeye!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly put his left arm to his mouth.
Whoosh—
It made a sound, like a balloon inflating.
A tall figure, completely enveloped in black and red, suddenly appeared before Mihawk's eyes!
This transformation... it's incredible! A new development of a Devil Fruit?
He's wearing Shanks' Straw Hat, so he must be Luffy. But didn't Shanks say he ate the Gum-Gum Fruit? This clearly looks like a Mythical Zoan.
It seems... Shanks was hiding something from me.
"I never expected to meet such a master in the weakest sea."
Mihawk narrowed his eyes. "Can you tell me your name?"
"Monkey D. Luffy!"
The one Shanks mentioned, Mihawk thought.
At that moment, Luffy was also amused, his tone quite casual. "How about we make a bet?"
Mihawk became interested. "What are we betting?"
"If I win, you join the Straw Hat Grand Fleet and become a member of my Zero Squad!"
Upon hearing this, Mihawk's face immediately fell. He said coldly, "Many people have wanted me to join their crew over the years, but you are the weakest one!"
"Don't say that, you're the weak one!" Nami couldn't stand anyone belittling Luffy.
Luffy ignored Nami's protectiveness and said directly, "So, do you dare to bet?"
Mihawk didn't reply, but instead wiped his black sword with his finger. Then, a line came out. "You can't win against me; this fight is pointless."
"However—"
"If you truly have the ability, I will spare your life today!"
After saying that, his gaze toward Luffy sharpened. "Come on, young man, show me your true ability! Standing at the top of the world is too boring, I long for someone to surpass me! But if you are too weak, then this fun will be lost. This sword will end your arrogance!"
Luffy thought, No way, why is this guy talking so poetically? He's a bit like my favorite poet, Zoro. If I could bring him to the future, he'd definitely get along with Zoro!
Luffy's Status
Name: Monkey D. Luffy Age: 17 Physique: 7.8 Mental Strength: 8.0 Swordsmanship: 6.9 Armament Haki: 5.6 (Intermediate) Observation Haki: 5.7 (Intermediate) Conqueror's Haki: 4.8 (Intermediate) Special Ability: Natural Phenomenon Integrated Devil Fruits: Gum-Gum Fruit, Lightning-Cloud Fruit, Repair Fruit, Time Fruit Combat Power: 7.8 / Admiral Candidate!
Luffy glanced at his attribute panel and immediately became excited. His basic abilities hadn't improved much, and his three types of Haki were still stuck at the intermediate level. However, his research into the Devil Fruit abilities had given him the strength of an Admiral Candidate. Four Devil Fruits, that was incredible! Especially the Repair Fruit; as long as he wasn't killed in one blow, he was invincible!
"Come on, the world's greatest swordsman!"
Luffy appeared in front of Mihawk in a flash.
Mihawk frowned. "Spatial transfer? Is this your trump card?"
"No, this is just one of my ways."
Luffy pulled his fists into his arms, preparing to fight. "To dare to reject me, you'll pay the price."
"I'd like to see how great that price is!"
Gum-Gum... Specter Serpent!
Luffy made the first move, his figure disappearing in a flash. The upgraded Gear Four, its power was already approaching half of Gear Five. The battle of "mind-over-matter," half the victory was already in hand!
Below, Nami and the others watched the fight, too stunned to speak. When Mihawk drew his sword, they felt the vast difference in power.
With a swing of the black blade, the sword light was as dazzling as a death god's scythe, sweeping a thousand meters, its mountain-cutting power making people tremble. Luffy's golden fists seemed vulnerable before this sword light.
Rumble!
The sword light collided with the black fist. Luffy's strongest attack was easily shattered, and the remaining force pressed directly onto his chest.
Whoosh!
Luffy instantly vanished, his Observation Haki couldn't even catch a trace of him, and he punched toward Mihawk's back again.
Smack!
Just as Luffy's Armament Haki power quickly merged, his fist hit Mihawk's back hard, actually sending Mihawk flying several meters.
Is this... the difference between top-tier and quasi-top-tier fighters?
Luffy admitted to himself that he felt a bit embarrassed right now. Mihawk, that guy, was a tough character who could fight the Four Emperors Red-Haired; his strength was truly top-tier. But Luffy never imagined that a punch thrown with all his might would only send him flying such a short distance.
Is my position as a quasi-top-tier fighter... a bit shaky?
Thump!
Mihawk swung his sword, and Luffy vanished in a flash again.
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