"Are you sure?" Takuro asked, looking at Mihawk with a strange expression. The swordsman had just grasped the fundamentals of Ki and was already incredibly eager to fight him.
"Yes," Mihawk nodded firmly, his golden hawk eyes blazing with an unprecedented fighting spirit. "I'm sure."
After beginning to master Ki, the world in his perception had shifted slightly. Now, he could sense that everyone seemed to possess a flame of varying sizes, representing their 'life energy,' quietly burning within their bodies. For some, this inner flame was vigorous, like a torch; for others, it was as faint as a flickering candle in the wind.
Taking a moment to carefully scan the people on this giant conqueror ship, Mihawk came to a conclusion that filled him with confidence: everyone else, including the tall Fish-Man Tiger, had 'flames' that were, in his estimation, not even worth mentioning.
'Which means,' he mused, 'on this entire ship, the only person who can be considered my opponent is Takuro.' Since that was the case, he decided to use Takuro as a necessary touchstone after stepping into this new realm of power!
Seeing the seriousness in Mihawk's expression, Takuro sighed. "Alright," he said nonchalantly. "Since you want to fight so badly, I'll play along."
As he spoke, he held out one hand, while casually clasping the other behind his back.
Mihawk frowned at the gesture. "What do you mean by this?" he asked, confused.
"No special meaning," Takuro replied with a smile. "It's just… I'm giving you a one-hand handicap."
"!!!"
Mihawk's handsome face instantly darkened. 'He… he actually looks down on me this much?!'
Admittedly, Takuro might have mastered Ki for a longer time than him. But! He, Dracule Mihawk, was not to be underestimated!
However, another thought quickly crossed his mind: 'This guy, fighting with one hand behind his back… he really does look… quite arrogant.'
'...Later, should I also hang a small knife around my neck, specifically for dealing with the small fries not worth drawing Yoru for?'
But for now, he decided to first 'teach a lesson' to this arrogant young man who didn't understand the vastness of the world! He needed to learn that there were always people stronger than you, and there was always a higher heaven! This fight would serve as a warning.
Thus, Mihawk slowly drew Yoru, his Supreme Grade Great Grade Sword, and adopted the perfect offensive and defensive posture befitting the world's greatest swordsman.
"Then… please enlighten me," he said.
As he finished speaking, his figure vanished from its spot with a burst of speed, like a ghost using Shunpo! Yoru, now wrapped in the newly evolved Ki, silently slashed straight towards Takuro's chest!
But halfway through his attack, Mihawk realized the other man was still standing there, one hand clasped behind his back, making absolutely no move whatsoever! It was as if he hadn't even noticed the attack!
Finally, Yoru's incomparably sharp black blade stopped a finger's width in front of Takuro.
Mihawk looked at Takuro and asked, "Why didn't you dodge?"
Takuro smiled calmly. "Because I'm not afraid."
Mihawk frowned, pressing the issue. "Why aren't you afraid?"
Takuro simply repeated, "Not afraid is not afraid."
An unknown surge of anger instantly rose in Mihawk's heart!
"Young man!" he roared. "Such arrogance! On this vast sea, you won't live long!"
"What's with all the unnecessary talk?" Takuro retorted, his tone even more impatient. "Are we fighting or not?"
Mihawk paused at the sharp challenge, then said coldly, "Next time… I won't hold back anymore. If you die, don't blame me."
After speaking, he quickly retracted Yoru. Immediately, his figure shifted again! There was another ghostly flash, and in an instant, he appeared directly behind Takuro!
This time, he no longer held back in any way! Yoru, carrying a terrifying sword intent capable of cutting through anything, pierced straight towards the back of Takuro's head from an extremely strange and tricky angle!
Mihawk thought, 'This time, let's see if you dodge!' If the other man still dared to stand still like before… then this sword would absolutely pierce through Takuro's head like it was made of tofu!
Then… the next moment.
"Wh—what?!"
An incomprehensible cry of utter astonishment escaped Mihawk's mouth! He looked in disbelief at the scene before him, a scene that could overturn his lifelong philosophy of swordsmanship!
He watched the black-haired youth not even bother to turn his head! Takuro merely casually raised his free hand, then extended two fingers. He did so ordinarily, without even a trace of Armament Haki wrapped around them… and then, with such an understated, mundane gesture, he firmly clamped down on the blade of Mihawk's Supreme Grade Great Grade Sword, which was imbued with both Ki and terrifying sword intent!
That fatal attack was completely neutralized in that single instant!
No matter how red Mihawk's face became, no matter how much strength he poured out, Yoru remained utterly motionless, as if it had been welded in place!
"Th-this… how is this possible?!" Mihawk could no longer maintain the composure and stillness of a great swordsman, exclaiming in sheer shock: "How can the disparity in the world be so vast?!"
"Heh…" Takuro chuckled lightly.
Immediately, his two fingers, still clamping the blade, exerted a small, focused force!
"Crack—!!!!"
A crisp, teeth-grating sound, like shattering glass, echoed across the ship!
That Supreme Grade Great Grade Sword, Yoru, which had accompanied Mihawk for several years and was considered indestructible, was actually snapped in half by Takuro with just two fingers!!!
Mihawk stared blankly at the half-remaining hilt in his hand and the broken blade lying on the deck. His entire being was completely stunned, his mind reeling.
And Takuro's next words brought him sharply back to his senses.
"You're absolutely right. Remember this saying…" He slowly turned around, his expression calm.
"There are always people stronger than you, and there is always a higher heaven!"
After speaking, the boundless Ki within him, like a vast, limitless ocean, was no longer restrained in any way! It erupted with a silent, terrifying roar!
Mihawk's entire body instantly broke out in a cold sweat! In the face of that terrifying aura, which felt like a tsunami capable of changing the very heavens and earth, he felt as if he were a tiny skiff… no, not even a skiff!
Just this one sight was like a mere mayfly gazing upon the vast, limitless sky!
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