Chapter 253: Blood Moon Sword Dance
Just as the battle on the Sabaody Archipelago came to a close, a new scene unfolded on Kuraigana Island, in the Castle Plaza.
Morning mist lingered, and the cold rising sun plated the plaza in front of the castle with a thin layer of gold.
A breeze brushed past, fallen leaves dancing in the wind. Kuina stood alone in the center of the plaza, holding the Wado Ichimonji in one hand.
The blade edge shimmered with a cold light under the morning sun, reflecting her expression, which was as calm as still water.
Yet within those tranquil eyes, a sharpness capable of destroying everything was hidden.
Mihawk's footsteps echoed on the stone brick path of the castle. His golden hawk eyes narrowed slightly, gazing at the young girl before him.
"This sword intent... is like a completely different person from yesterday..."
"The original hesitation is gone. Has the lock on her heart been opened?"
At the castle entrance, Zoro, half his body wrapped in bandages, stood with hands behind his back, staring deathly at the plaza.
Chopper nervously clutched Zoro's pant leg. "Zoro... Kuina, she..."
Zoro grinned slowly, revealing his familiar wild smile. "Watch, Chopper..."
"This is the real Kuina."
Mihawk stopped. The Black Blade "Yoru" was slowly unsheathed, the tip pointing straight at Kuina.
"Swordswoman, state your name."
Kuina's gaze was as cold as snow. She raised the tip of her sword slightly, her clear voice ringing through the plaza:
"Shimotsuki Kuina."
"Please instruct me!"
Battle intent flashed in Mihawk's eyes. "Very good."
"Let me see just how far your sword can go."
Kuina took a step forward, her figure instantly transforming into a gale. The ground beneath her was forcibly stamped into spiderweb-like cracks.
"Shimotsuki Style: KYOKA SUIGETSU (MIRROR FLOWER, WATER MOON)!!!"
Three slashes, almost overlapping, attacked from different angles. The blade light was illusory yet fatal, seemingly capable of cutting the air itself the next second.
"CLANG-CLANG-CLANG—!"
Mihawk's golden eyes focused. The Black Blade "Yoru" swung at an incredible angle, precisely neutralizing the three slashes the moment the edges touched, sending sparks flying!
"Speed is not bad... but predictable."
Kuina didn't respond. Instead, the sword intent in her eyes grew sharper. The next second, she spun around, using the recoil force to make Wado Ichimonji trace an extremely fast arc in mid-air!
"Shimotsuki Style: HIEN GAESHI (SWALLOW REVERSAL)!!!"
This slash rolled back like a whirlwind, several times faster than the first strike. The force was so heavy that the air was compressed into an explosive sound.
The stone bricks beneath Mihawk's feet shattered, his boot soles sinking half an inch into the ground. "Counterattacking with borrowed momentum... To complete such a variable-speed slash in a short time, your mastery of Kendo has reached a high level."
"HAAH!!!"
Kuina gripped the sword with both hands, taking advantage of the momentum to turn the "Swallow" sharply again, stabbing straight at Mihawk's chest like a venomous snake.
Mihawk blocked horizontally with the Black Blade. The sound of metal colliding exploded like thunder. Shockwaves swept the surroundings, sweeping all the fallen leaves in the castle forecourt into the air.
"Shimotsuki Style: ISSHIN ZAN (ONE HEART SLASH)!!!"
Kuina's aura converged abruptly. She seemed to merge with heaven and earth, her blade condensing an absolute will to abandon everything else.
In this moment, it seemed only Kuina, Wado Ichimonji, and that single slash remained in the field!
Mihawk's golden eyes brightened suddenly. He raised the Black Blade to meet the attack—
"BOOM!!!"
Two sword intents converged in mid-air. The airwave exploded into a shockwave. Stone pillars around the plaza cracked in unison, sword pressure rushing into the sky to tear the clouds!
"Not bad..."
Mihawk's voice was cold. The Black Blade "Yoru" emitted a long hum, the edge vibrating, accompanied by an aura like a beast's low growl.
"But not enough!"
He stepped forward, transforming into a swift shadow. The Black Blade swept horizontally, carrying destructive sword pressure!
"SWISH—!!!"
Kuina dodged sideways, but her shoulder was still grazed by the sword energy. Blood instantly stained her sleeve red.
Suddenly, mist filled the plaza like a blood-colored curtain. The cold wind carried sword intent and a bloodthirsty aura.
"What?!"
Mihawk's Observation Haki rang madly, a premonition of danger striking his mind.
Kuina's figure dissipated in the mist like a phantom. A crimson sword shadow, like a blood moon sweeping across the night sky, cut through the air without warning!
"CLANG!"
Mihawk was forced to block horizontally. Sparks flew, and his boot soles slid back half a step's length. For the first time, he was forced back!
The mist dispersed, and Kuina now fully revealed her new form:
Dark silver long hair flowed with her sword intent; blood-red vertical pupils revealed cold killing intent;
Wado Ichimonji was wrapped in scarlet Onibi (Demon Fire), seemingly capable of devouring the life force in the air.
Mihawk stared at this scene. "This is... a Devil Fruit?!"
"Blood Moon: ZANKO ZAN (AFTERGLOW SLASH)!!!"
Kuina shouted low. The blood mist turned into seven afterimage blade lights, like hunting night bats, slashing at Mihawk in a crisscross pattern.
Mihawk spun the Black Blade, sword pressure blocking the attacks like a curtain, but was startled to find the Onibi clinging to his blade like a shadow, eroding his Haki and stamina.
"Life-drain properties? A combination of fruit power and sword moves?!"
With a shake of Haki, the Onibi dispersed, but Kuina's offensive was like a rainstorm, endless and unceasing.
"Blood Moon: SCARLET PIERCING KILL!!!"
The Onibi transformed into a spiraling longsword. The blade turned sharply in the air like a venomous snake, stabbing straight at Mihawk's throat!
Mihawk swung his sword to cut open the Onibi, but the shattered blood flames turned into two blood bats biting at him.
"Yoru" drew back and swept. With two soft "pop" sounds, the blood bats exploded, the Onibi turning into a rain of blood.
Kuina seized the chance to close in, her blade turning into crimson lightning, aiming straight for his chest!
"CLANG!!!"
Dual blades collided. Amidst the intertwining sword intent, the life-draining power madly siphoned Mihawk's stamina. The edge of the Black Blade dimmed momentarily!
Battle intent surged in Mihawk's eyes. "Good!"
A massive sword intent fused with Haki erupted suddenly, blasting Kuina back more than ten meters. The ground cracked like a spiderweb.
Kuina rose from a half-kneeling position. Scarlet Onibi soared into the sky, blade pointing heavenward.
"Blood Moon: KETSUGOKU TENRA (BLOOD PRISON HEAVENLY NET)!!!"
Blood-colored threads interwove, turning into a giant net covering the entire plaza. Each thread carried life-draining power, cutting off Mihawk's retreat.
Mihawk huffed coldly. The Black Blade was wrapped in top-tier Armament Haki, sword pressure surging like a storm.
"Domain sword technique, huh..."
"BOOM—!!!"
Ring-shaped sword energy swept out violently, shattering the blood net inch by inch!
Taking advantage of this gap, Kuina used the explosive speed of the Mythical Zoan to transform into crimson lightning, appearing instantly before Mihawk.
"Blood Moon Secret Art: YASOU (NIGHT BURIAL)!!!"
Blade light fell like a crashing blood moon, slashing down with the momentum to shatter space!
Mihawk raised the Black Blade "Yoru" high. Sword energy and Haki intertwined, imposing as the falling night sky!
Two extreme sword intents collided head-on. The roar shook the castle, and the shockwave destroyed all surrounding walls!
Chopper was knocked back repeatedly by the tremors. Zoro stared deathly at the field, breathing heavy.
"She... is one step ahead of me..."
Dust slowly settled. Silence fell over the plaza where blood-colored and pitch-black sword energy crisscrossed.
The tip of Kuina's sword stopped in front of Mihawk, scarlet Onibi still flickering slightly on the blade, but unable to advance another inch;
While the edge of Mihawk's Black Blade "Yoru" was firmly pressed against Kuina's heart. One more sliver of advancement, and it would pierce her chest.
A breeze blew past, dispersing the blood mist.
Mihawk slowly sheathed his sword, his voice low but carrying affirmation: "Shimotsuki Kuina, you lost."
Kuina knelt on one knee, chest heaving violently. Yet there was no defeat in her blood-red vertical pupils, only burning like a blazing flame.
The webbing of her hand had split long ago, blood dripping down her wrist. "Thank you... for the instruction."
Mihawk gazed at her, silent for a moment before speaking slowly: "Your sword is no longer bound by doubt and hesitation."
"The power of the Devil Fruit is not an impurity. You must learn to accept it and fully integrate it into your sword intent."
"Given time, you will be qualified to do more than just challenge me..."
Kuina stood up slowly. The Wado Ichimonji in her hand still trembled slightly, scarlet Onibi dissipating in the wind. "I will come again."
Mihawk turned to leave, his cape flapping loudly in the morning mist.
"Very good... I'll be waiting."
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