◇ Today, 5 new chapters will be dropping!◇ I'll need all your support today—drop your Power Stones, leave comments, and help push this Watching the two men stand there with their weapons in hand, staring at each other without moving, some viewers looked puzzled.
"Why aren't they moving?"
Of course, that was the majority.
Only a small number of people held their breath and stared intently at the screen, too focused to bother with those fools.
At the scene, only the sound of waves washing over the reefs could be heard.
Splash, splash, splash...
Nirizabello was utterly confused.
"Why are they standing still? Is there some meaning behind this?"
Some of the officials and nobles who had come with him immediately started spouting nonsense.
One said the two were competing with their auras.
Another said they were both waiting for the other to strike first, since both were men of status and it would look bad to move first.
The most ridiculous one claimed the two were already fighting with their minds, in a battle invisible to the naked eye that only they could see.
Nirizabello was completely fooled.
Was it really that mysterious?
Inside the room, Lady Lilith's face twitched beneath her mask.
"These people really know how to talk nonsense. They're clearly just observing each other."
White Ghost and Mihawk narrowed their eyes at the same time.
Both gripped their weapons with both hands and pushed off the ground, running toward each other.
They weren't moving quickly.
It was just the speed of an ordinary person running.
Clang!
Mihawk's black blade and White Ghost's great sword collided fiercely.
Neither of them used Haki.
Crack, crack.
Blade and sword pressed together, grinding constantly.
The two stared fixedly into each other's eyes.
White Ghost exerted force and knocked Mihawk back, then raised his great sword and chopped down.
Nothing flashy.
Just a strike.
A plain, simple strike.
Mihawk steadied himself, raised his black blade, and began trading blows with White Ghost.
Clang, clang, clang!
Every collision between blade and sword sent sparks flying.
Both men swung with full force, as if trying to cleave the other's weapon apart.
Watching the two hack away at each other without even releasing sword aura, Jozu curled his lip.
"What's this? Shouldn't a duel between Great Swordsmen have sword auras flying everywhere and all kinds of flashy moves?
"Look at these two. Are they competing to see whose blade is harder?"
The moment he said that, every swordsman on Whitebeard's ship glared at him as if looking at an idiot.
Jozu refused to back down and glared right back, one man against several.
Vista glanced at the big man.
"If you don't understand, then shut up and watch. They're comparing fundamentals."
After saying that, Vista turned back to the broadcast.
This was a rare opportunity. Watching carefully might let him understand more about a future opponent.
Jozu rubbed his chin.
"Comparing fundamentals? Even Great Swordsmen need to do that?"
When no one bothered answering him, Jozu could only keep watching.
Clang!
White Ghost brought his sword down on Mihawk's black blade, and the two began forcing strength against strength.
"You're comparing strength with me?"
The corner of White Ghost's mouth lifted.
Mihawk looked at him. "Just as Shanks said. Your strength is terrifying."
White Ghost knocked Mihawk away, pretended to think for a moment, then suddenly looked enlightened.
"Oh, you mean that shit-stirring stick, Shanks?
"More or less. Back then, I also pressed him down with pure strength."
Mihawk's mouth twitched. He raised his black blade and attacked, no longer wanting to trade words with this man.
"Hahaha!"
The big shots watching the broadcast burst into laughter.
The description was too accurate.
The current Red-Haired Pirates were running around the New World seizing territory, weren't they?
Morgans grew excited.
"Wahahaha! That comparison is perfect. Should I add this line to the newspaper?"
Shanks, who was watching the broadcast, went dark in the face.
Damn it.
If you two are going to fight, then fight properly. Why drag me into it?
"Pfft—hahaha! Boss, that guy called you a shit-stirring stick! How embarrassing! Hahahaha!"
The Red-Haired Pirates gave their captain no face at all and burst into loud laughter.
Shanks's face darkened further, and he cursed, "Bastards! Is it really that fun seeing your captain get mocked?"
No longer bothering with his idiot crew, Shanks focused on the duel.
Whitebeard happily took a drink.
That comparison really was fitting.
Back then, Roger had also run around the world causing chaos everywhere.
Shanks had clearly inherited that part of him.
Clang, clang, clang!
The speed of the exchange between the two men grew faster and faster.
Though their attacks remained broad and direct, it didn't diminish the intensity at all.
Clang!
White Ghost sent Mihawk backward with one strike.
Mihawk used the force to spin once, then swung his black blade toward White Ghost's waist.
White Ghost blocked horizontally with his sword.
Clang!
White Ghost's expression darkened.
"Hey, hey, hey. Are you trying to make me live the rest of my life in pain?"
Mihawk had never expected that strike to land. He withdrew his blade and slashed toward White Ghost's face.
Some of the women watching the broadcast had already grown a little infatuated with White Ghost's handsome face, his bare upper body, the evenly distributed muscles, and the faintly rough aura radiating from him.
Hearing those words, they all blushed.
"That's right. It would be awful if such a good-looking man were ruined for the rest of his life."
Then, as one, those women stared at Mihawk on the screen with unfriendly eyes.
Stella and the others blushed as well and secretly cursed White Ghost.
What kind of timing was this? He was still saying things like that?
Only Nami looked confused.
"Is the waist that important to White Ghost?"
Uta's little face turned red. She immediately hugged Nami.
"You'll understand when you're older."
"Oh."
Nami turned back to continue watching the battle, silently cheering for her White Ghost.
Clang, clang, clang!
The two fought rapidly, staring at each other without blinking.
Neither of them used Observation Haki.
They were simply testing whose fundamentals were stronger.
After fighting for a while, White Ghost narrowed his eyes and pushed off with his legs.
Crack!
The reef beneath his feet exploded.
Mihawk did the same, making the exact same movement.
Whoosh!
Their positions switched.
It was so fast the naked eye couldn't follow.
Both men now stood where the other had been, their backs facing each other.
Everyone widened their eyes, staring at the scene without missing a single detail.
The two turned around.
Only then did everyone see that both of their left cheeks had a thin cut, with a faint trace of blood.
A draw?
Those at the scene and those watching the broadcast could no longer stay calm.
What was going on?
White Ghost's fundamentals were actually on par with Mihawk's?
Was White Ghost really that strong?
That guy was younger than Mihawk, wasn't he?
How had he trained?
This had to be fake, right?
White Ghost wiped the blood from his cheek and looked at Mihawk.
"I knew you were strong."
Mihawk's face was full of excitement.
"It seems I really didn't find the wrong person. This journey was not wasted."
"Oh? Is that so?"
White Ghost raised his great sword.
"Indeed."
Mihawk also raised his black blade.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The two each unleashed a sword aura, sending the slashes toward one another.
Boom!
The two sword auras collided, and the resulting force shattered the surrounding reefs.
The two sword auras twisted around each other, then shot into the sky together.
Boom!
Finally, the sword auras exploded in midair, the shockwave blasting apart the surrounding clouds.
Duang!
Haki coated White Ghost's great sword. His calves tensed, and he charged fiercely toward Mihawk.
Duang!
Mihawk did the same.
Bang!
Blade and sword collided violently.
Bzzzt!
Black-red arcs of lightning crackled around the two men.
Lightning arcs were no longer exclusive to Conqueror's Haki. Once Haki reached the highest level, it could create the same visual effect—just without the special impact of Conqueror's Haki.
"Hahaha! Let's have a proper fight, Mihawk!"
White Ghost laughed loudly and swung his sword.
"Gladly."
Mihawk's face lit with excitement as he slashed toward White Ghost.
The two began exchanging blows again.
This time, the commotion was far more spectacular than before.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇◇ White Ghost and Mihawk's duel has finally entered its true stage.◇ New chapters have already been updated on P@treon!◇ Read ahead now to see how far this battle between Great Swordsmen will go.◇ Support the novel with Power Stones, comments, and reviews to help push it toward Rank 1 on Webnovel's Power Ranking!◇ Unlock early access chapters here: patreon.com/StrawHatStudios