"Shhh——"
The flaming slash swept forward like the roar of a fire dragon, a scorching heatwave billowing behind it as sparks danced wildly in the air.
Facing this surging inferno, Dracule Mihawk revealed eyes not of fear, but of joy and curiosity.
It began with a water-attribute slash—eerily reminiscent of the Water Breathing techniques from Demon Slayer—and now it had transformed into a flame-imbued strike, echoing the Flame Breathing style.
Each breath altered the power. Each style harmonized seamlessly with swordsmanship.
How much is this boy hiding?
How many more forms of breathing slashes exist?
"Interesting. Truly interesting!" Mihawk muttered, secretly delighted. His grip on the black blade Yoru tightened, and the flames of his own battle spirit seemed to ignite in response.
"Come!"
With a low shout, Mihawk infused strength into his arms and swung Yoru like the gale itself. The black sword carved a crescent arc, unleashing a colossal green slash—the signature of his unrivaled blade. The cut surged skyward as if to split the heavens and the earth, colliding head-on with Yamir's fiery strike.
"Boom—"
The clash of flame against black sword aura sent shockwaves racing through the air. Sparks burst like meteors, walls rattled violently, and the entire building groaned as if it would collapse at any moment.
The flaming strike fractured into countless embers, scattering like starlight raining down.
"That's great! Keep going!" Mihawk bellowed.
"Snort…"
Yamir narrowed his eyes. Just one more exchange—and the 186th Marine Branch would be reduced to rubble.
Smiling faintly, he sheathed the Demonic Blade: Thousand Blades. Leaning forward like a crouching cheetah, he exhaled—
"Call—"
Lightning surged across his body. Sparks leapt along his arms and legs with a sizzling zila zila. His stance shifted into that of a thunder god.
"One Form: Thunderclap and Flash!".
In the blink of an eye, Yamir's body became a bolt of lightning, ripping apart the air itself. The explosive acceleration birthed a thunderous roar that shook the sky.
"Boom—!"
The deafening thunderclap swallowed the battlefield as Yamir charged, lightning trailing like divine judgment.
"Hahaha!"
Mihawk laughed uproariously the instant he saw the thunder form. His heroic voice shook with exhilaration.
This trip to the East Blue was worth it.
The flowing grace of the Water Slash, the scorching blaze of the Unknown Fire, and now the explosive speed of the Thunderclap and Flash—each technique was unlike anything in the One Piece world.
Though alien in form, these styles carried wisdom Mihawk could dissect and integrate. After all, he was the world's greatest swordsman.
"Yamir, you have impressed me," Mihawk declared.
"But from now on—I shall fight you in earnest."
Mihawk's voice, brimming with fighting spirit, reverberated like steel. His casual air was gone, replaced by a sharpness like a drawn blade. In that instant, Mihawk was no longer a man of leisure—he was a god of war.
"Clang—"
Yoru slashed through the air and met the Thousand Blades. The impact birthed a shockwave that swept through the branch like a storm tide.
"Boom—"
Explosions tore through the Marine base. Smoke and dust choked the halls, masonry crumbled, and shrieking steel beams fell with hideous screeches as the 186th Branch collapsed in ruin.
Outside, a square full of naval soldiers—already corrupted by their commander's "unique" sense of entertainment—stood watching in awe instead of alarm.
"Oh my god~ The Captain is fighting Mihawk-san for real!"
"Eh?! Did the Captain just destroy the branch?!"
"Will the Captain be held responsible for this…?"
The soldiers on the sidelines were whispering among themselves.
"I don't think so... The Captain will be transferred to headquarters soon."
"...Damn it! How much of the military funds will we have to deduct to repair the branch this time?"
"It's not you footing the bill, so why panic? If something goes wrong, someone higher up will take the blame."
"You... you've really inherited the Captain's teachings on tanking responsibility!"
"Hmph, not worth mentioning."
"Hahaha, looking at it now, the fight seems evenly matched!"
"Don't forget—Mihawk-san is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea! He used to roam the Grand Line as the world's greatest swordsman!"
"So if the Captain can really fight him like this..."
"Doesn't that mean the Captain's strength is on par...?"
"Yeah. Honestly, I thought the friendship between Mihawk-san and the Captain came from his silver tongue."
"You must be joking! I've long suspected the Captain's hiding his true strength."
"How do you know?"
"Haha... my family are swordsmiths," the soldier whispered mysteriously. "Last time, I took advantage of the Captain's nap and secretly borrowed one of his swords."
"And then?"
"..."
"Yeah, and then what happened?"
"I was bedridden for a week on sick leave! That blade was so fierce, it felt like it was going to devour me alive!"
"Just think about it—when the Captain is in a good mood, he waves that blade around like a stick..."
"How could he not be terrifying?"
"Seriously?"
"If I'm lying, I'll chop it off myself!"
"Wow... so the Captain's really that strong?"
"But then why is he always so lazy on normal days?"
The discussion was suddenly interrupted.
"Yo~"
A relaxed, almost mocking voice drifted into the air. A cluster of dazzling light particles quickly gathered nearby, merging into the figure of a man.
He wore a yellow-striped suit, a purple tie, and a green shirt. His curly black hair and unshaven stubble added to his casual, laid-back appearance. White leather shoes gleamed beneath his long legs, and the "Justice" cloak fluttered on his back.
"Ki... Kizaru! Admiral Kizaru!"
The soldiers of Branch 186 gasped, their eyes wide in disbelief.
Why would a Marine Headquarters Admiral appear here of all places?
Kizaru lazily scanned the battlefield—the branch buildings shattered and in ruins. Raising his head slightly, he let a relaxed smile tug at his lips.
"Oh my~ who's fighting here? The clash was so fierce the entire branch got blown apart."
"R-reporting to Admiral Kizaru!" one soldier stammered. "The duel is between Captain Yamir and Dracule Mihawk!"
"Captain Yamir, huh~"
Kizaru chuckled lightly, as if he had expected as much.
"Wait... Mihawk too?!"
His expression shifted. The lazy drawl disappeared from his voice as his gaze sharpened.
"One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea... 'Hawkeye' Dracule Mihawk?"
"Report, yes!"
"..."
Kizaru's brows lifted ever so slightly. Then, the corners of his mouth curved upward into a meaningful smile.
"Well now... things are getting interesting."