"Two... noobs?!"
Hearing Takuro's words, which were full of pure mockery , Fisher Tiger was fine; he just rubbed the back of his head with a simple, honest expression. After all, after his crushing defeat at the Martial Arts Tournament and the subsequent "ideological baptism," he had long been convinced of Takuro's strength.
But Mihawk couldn't hold back. In his life, when had he ever suffered such... direct humiliation? He suppressed the urge to draw the black blade Yoru from his back and fight the other party to the death again , and said with feigned calmness, "Yesterday, I wasn't in good form. Next time, it won't be the same."
"Alright, if you say so, then it is," Takuro said, looking at him amusingly. Mihawk was truly stubborn. Takuro didn't bother to argue with him anymore and waved his hand dismissively.
Mihawk wanted to say something more to save face, but a strong curiosity ultimately overcame his damned pride. He then asked, "What was that... just now? That energy emanating from your body?"
"Oh?" Takuro raised an eyebrow, "You felt it?"
Mihawk nodded, his expression becoming serious: "Mmm. It felt very strange to me; it contained a... vibrant vitality. It's a bit like Haki, but completely different. But... it's very powerful."
Only then did Takuro seriously re-examine the man with eagle-like eyes before him.
'This guy...is the second person, after that red-haired Shanks, who can clearly perceive the existence of my 'Ki'. Could it be... that this short-haired guy's potential is also extraordinary, just like Shanks's?'
Thinking of this, Takuro immediately became interested. He began to explain, "That thing is called 'Ki'. You can understand it as... a more advanced and purer existence than the crude 'Haki' you speak of."
"Ki...?"
Mihawk softly repeated the word in his mouth, feeling that it sounded very familiar. Then, a flash of lightning-like light instantly streaked across his mind! He suddenly remembered! This word... wasn't it the same mysterious power that bastard Shanks had once flaunted in front of him before?!
The Genesis of the Rivalry
Mihawk's purpose for going to sea, from the very beginning, was only one: to constantly challenge strong opponents, continuously refine his swordsmanship, and ultimately become the undisputed "World's Strongest Swordsman."
A few years ago, he met the man named "Red Hair" Shanks. From then on, he and that man formed a deep, "ill-fated relationship" of both rivalry and friendship. That man also possessed incredibly masterful and powerful swordsmanship. Mihawk, thrilled by the challenge, vowed to completely defeat him in swordsmanship.
But somehow... in the beginning, he could fight Shanks to a draw, and even had a slight tendency to overpower him. However, after some time, he felt that Shanks's strength seemed to have made an incredible leap! When he dueled him again, he already began to feel somewhat out of his depth.
Mihawk thought that his training during that period was not diligent enough. So, he threw himself into training even more frantically, and rigorously practiced his swordsmanship once again. Then, Mihawk, full of confidence, went to "spar" with Shanks again.
But this time... the result was even worse. That red-haired bastard didn't even want to compete in swordsmanship with him anymore. As soon as he saw him, without a word, he directly raised his hand and blasted him with a glowing energy projectile!
And then... Mihawk lost. He lost terribly and completely. That time, he even lay on the ground, starting to doubt life itself; what was the point of his diligent training?
Finally, Shanks couldn't bear to watch and proactively revealed his situation. According to him, he had mastered a new power called "Ki," which was a purer and more advanced power than Haki, an ultra-evolution of Haki.
Mihawk understood immediately after hearing this. It turned out that it wasn't that he wasn't working hard enough, but that his efforts were in the wrong direction. What he needed to improve was his Haki.
However, he also sighed, that Shanks... was truly a once-in-a-century genius. He could even research such an incredible thing himself. He felt inferior.
However, what Shanks could do, he, Dracule Mihawk, also believed he could definitely do!
So from that day on, his goal increased by one : While refining his swordsmanship, he would find a way to make his "Haki" also complete that so-called... "evolution."
But over these past few years, Mihawk traveled the seas, feeling that he had clearly touched that invisible threshold, but no matter what, he could never truly cross it, feeling extremely frustrated.
And today... he met another guy who also possessed that mysterious power called "Ki." His curiosity could no longer be contained.
"Takuro," Mihawk asked, his voice more serious than ever, "Did you learn this 'Ki'... from Shanks?"
"Pfft—!"
Takuro almost spat out a mouthful of old blood. Not to mention that this guy also knew Shanks, just the words coming out of his mouth made his head ache.
"What are you talking about?! That red-haired bastard's shoddy skills were what I taught him when I had nothing better to do!"
"..."
Mihawk was momentarily dazed upon hearing this.
'So... I misunderstood all this time?' He had always thought that Shanks had researched it himself.
'That bastard!' Mihawk cursed inwardly.
However, he suddenly thought of another more important question.
'Since... this Takuro can teach Shanks...''Does that also mean... he can teach me?'
But... thinking that the other party had just saved him and treated him to a good meal. Such words, with his pride as Dracule Mihawk... were truly a bit difficult to utter.
But the next moment, Takuro seemed to see through his thoughts. He looked at the eagle-eyed man before him, who was clearly eager but suffering because of his damned pride and desire to save face, and smiled.
"Want to learn?" he said.
"...I'll teach you."
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