Such contempt it made him feel as though he was being treated the same way he used to treat old Moria!
Impossible. He could not, and would not, allow such a gap to exist!
Swish!
Without wasting words, Shiryu charged straight at Mihawk.
Clang!
The strike of the katana fell, but was blocked by "Yoru."
Shiryu gripped katana tightly with both hands, unleashing a ferocious attack
Yet Mihawk, with just one hand on Yoru, stopped him cold.
The stark contrast left no doubt about the difference between them.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
One strike didn't land, so Shiryu instantly shifted tactics, his blade flashing with a chilling brilliance.
His figure blurred into afterimages as he launched relentless assaults, one after another, crashing down like a storm.
But Mihawk stood there as if time had slowed, casually swinging Yoru, effortlessly dissolving every one of Shiryu's frenzied blows.
Crash—!
Mihawk suddenly went on the offensive!
Shiryu's face darkened. His Observation Haki sensed danger, and he immediately pulled back, retreating in haste.
Swish!
Drip… drip…
Mihawk swung his blade across, holding it horizontally by his side.
Blood slid down along Yoru's edge, dripping from the tip to the ground.
With each drop of blood, time itself seemed to move forward.
Clutching the wound on his chest, Shiryu grimaced.
Had his retreat been even a moment slower, that slash would've cleaved right to the bone.
And that was after he had already reacted and covered himself in Armament Haki ahead of time.
"His swordsmanship surpasses mine. His Observation and Armament Haki both above mine."
Shiryu pulled his hand away from his chest, then slowly caressed the katana.
The blade was instantly soaked with his blood, letting out a faint, trembling hum.
"If I cut you down, it'll be so damn satisfying!"
Shiryu lifted his gaze once more, eyes turning bloodthirsty and frenzied. The cigar between his teeth shattered, dropping away.
Beasts never fear wounds.
The sight of blood only drives them into greater madness whether it's the enemy's blood… or their own.
Mihawk's hawk-like eyes revealed not the slightest ripple.
But the corner of his mouth curved upward ever so faintly.
Only such an opponent could stir his interest.
Shiryu's eyes were bloodshot. His Observation Haki stretched to its limits, while Armament Haki surged wildly into katana.
He abandoned all defensive reinforcement, pouring every ounce of it into raw attack power.
Blood for blood. Wound for wound.
Whoosh—!!!
A blood-red sword aura, seven or eight meters long, tore through the air!
As the crimson strike rushed forward, Mihawk twisted his right hand, Yoru slicing upward from below!
Whoosh—!!!
A massive emerald-green sword aura, over ten meters in length, surged forth!
The two collided midair!!
Boom!
Buzz!
Their clash tore at the atmosphere, whipping up wild gales.
Before the sword auras even decided a winner
Shiryu pounced like a beast unleashed, flying along with his crimson slash. With another swing, he cleaved through Mihawk's green aura
And pressed the attack straight toward Mihawk himself!
Seeing the dual assault coming, Mihawk finally moved!
For the first time in the battle, he shifted his steps.
Swish!
He soared forward to meet Shiryu head-on, casually slicing away the leftover sword aura mid-leap.
Clang!
Their blades collided again!
But this time, Shiryu had utterly abandoned defense.
He didn't care if Mihawk's blade would split him in two.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Steel and steel clashed in a storm of strikes, blood spraying, murderous aura flooding the air.
From noon until the sun neared the horizon, the two fought on!
Shiryu's body was covered in more and more wounds, yet his offense only grew fiercer!
His Observation Haki picked up Mihawk's next movement
Bang!
The hilt of Yoru smashed him away!
Why the hilt?
Because Shiryu's strike had forced Mihawk to change his move!
Drip… drip…
Blood ran down the katana.
"You're bleeding! That means you're ready to die by my hand, aren't you?!!"
Staring at the wound on Mihawk's arm, the blood-soaked Shiryu howled in madness.
And at that moment, his fighting spirit soared even higher!
The setting sun bled red across the sea.
Clouds drifted in the sky, glowing with twilight hues.
Beneath the sunset,
on a deserted island,
two figures stretched long, long shadows across the ground.
"You are a fine swordsman. I acknowledge you."
Mihawk's voice carried over the island.
The blood-drenched Shiryu stiffened, muscles straining tight. More blood gushed from his wounds as a result.
On any other man, the sheer number of cuts would've long since led to unconsciousness from blood loss.
But Shiryu still stood tall, his aura only climbing higher and higher!
"You think I need your damn recognition?! I don't give a damn about it!"
He roared like a beast, killing intent flooding forth!
Ordinary crewmen still on the ships trembled at the sight, some knees knocking uncontrollably.
This was pure, primal instinct the suffocating bloodlust saturating the air.
"Hehehehehe! Two absolute monsters… Even someone as strong as Shiryu ended up like this!"
Moria's signature laugh rang out.
Yet his face was covered in cold sweat.
How insignificant he now seemed, laid bare before his eyes.
The Shiryu who had defeated him in one move now stood like a demon returned from hell, drenched in blood.
And even against such a foe, Captain Rosen by his side remained calm and unruffled.
Recalling Mihawk's earlier reaction,
Moria was certain Rosen's strength exceeded even that of this young swordsman.
"Damn it! How can the gap be this vast!"
He was clearly the oldest present, yet the weakest of them all.
Like a frog seeing the vastness of the sky for the first time, his world crumbled, his outlook reshaped.
At this moment, Moria's resolve to become stronger solidified to an unshakable degree.
"If this goes on, you will die."
Mihawk spoke with utter calm.
"No! Someone will die! Either you or me I couldn't care less which!"
Shiryu showed no fear. To him, death was like a twisted kind of pleasure even if the one to die was himself…
"Die!"
A thunderous roar shook the air.
Swish!
Shiryu turned into a crimson blur, killing intent condensing behind him—
So tangible it manifested into the shape of a beast, lunging at Mihawk!
Mihawk gripped Yoru with both hands.
Armament Haki surged violently, the blade black as night, reflecting the glow of the setting sun
Heavy. Sharp. Unbreakable.
His hawk eyes locked onto the charging beast.
Boom!
Mihawk stomped hard, launching straight toward Shiryu!
Clang!
Their blades clashed, screeching with explosive resonance.
Armament Haki spilled out, dark mist seeping from their weapons.
Boom!
They broke apart once more!
Mihawk twisted his wrists, Yoru flipping over in a vicious arc, slashing horizontally.
He was a beat faster than Shiryu, seizing the initiative again
His strike was poised to cut Shiryu clean in half!
At that moment, Shiryu gathered every last shred of Armament Haki into katana.
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T/N:
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