The sea cracked apart like broken glass.
The Baratie rocked gently on the calm sea. The scent of salt and sizzling seafood heavy in the air. Patrons had retreated to the edges of the restaurant-ship's deck, whispers spreading like wildfire.
The enormous ship that had loomed on the horizon with a battered hulk from Don Krieg's once-mighty fleet, had been cleaved in half. The two halves were now listing in the water like giant wounded beasts. Among the chaos was a single boat cutting through the waves with elegance and precision, looking completely out of place. Standing tall upon it, arms crossed and black coat fluttering, was none other than Dracule Mihawk, the greatest swordsman in the world.
Cassandra's breath caught in her throat. That tall figure, that emotionless stare and the black blade on his back. She remembered every second of seeing him in action before. A tingle of excitement spread from her spine to her fingertips. Her hands clenched around the hilts of her swords.
"He's here," she whispered.
Mihawk stepped aboard the wrecked hull with grace and calmness. His eyes landing briefly on Sanji, Luffy and the other stunned onlookers… but his gaze stopped on Cassandra. His brows rose a fraction.
The man was known as the greatest swordsman in the world. He was calm, composed, had eyes like a hunting hawk and a black cloak was flowing behind him. At his back was Yoru one of the Supreme Grade Swords. The massive black blade shaped like a crucifix.
Across from him stood Cassandra.
Clad in her battle garb, her long, blue hair fluttered in the sea breeze. Her presence was magnified by the four blades at her command. Wado Ichimonji was firmly in her grip, while the other three, Kashu, Yamaoroshi, and Shigure, hovered in a controlled orbit around her.
Her posture was proud, but her heartbeat drummed with anticipation. This was it, the greatest test of her strength yet and it could very well be her last.
Mihawk's golden eyes studied her. "You wish to challenge me?"
"I do," Cassandra said firmly. "I aim to be the best. To do that, I must face the best."
Mihawk raised a brow. "A Devil Fruit user seeks the title of greatest swordsman?"
"I do more than seek it," she said, her voice unwavering. "I'm building a style the world has never seen."
A quiet pause.
"For someone who relies on the crutch of a Devil Fruit," he said, cold and dismissive, "this will suffice."
Cassandra's eyes burned with fire and pride. "You'll regret that arrogance."
Cassandra didn't hesitate. She dashed forward, her four swords moving as one. Wado Ichimonji slashed with unrelenting precision, while her three flying blades spiraled, striking from every angle.
The deck cracked and splintered beneath her, as she danced.
Mihawk parried everything with calm indifference. His small dagger intercepted blow after blow with the elegance of a master. He barely moved his feet. Each of Cassandra's powerful slashes was redirected with nothing but flicks of his wrist.
"You're fast," he noted, "and creative."
As Yamaoroshi flew at him from behind, Kashu came in at an angle from the side, while Shigure was aimed at his legs in a sweeping arc. She gathered her ice into a spinning vortex and hurled it forward Yuki no Setsudan (Snow's Severing Edge).
He glanced down, brows narrowing in the first expression of true reaction. A thin layer of frost coated the Kugatana and Mihawk stepped back for the first time, not from danger, but from intrigue.
Cassandra took the chance, her swords spiraled in from every direction.
Then, with a simple twist of his wrist, the ice shattered. Mihawk moved forward and effortlessly disarmed two of her flying blades with the Kugatana.
Still, the pressure remained. Cassandra wasn't like other Devil Fruit users Mihawk had fought. They relied on tricks or pure physical strength and resilience. She could wove her elemental powers into every motion, making it feel like he was fighting a force of nature wrapped in a dancer's grace.
That was something even Mihawk never learned. The use of this elemental swordsmanship intrigued him.
With a brief lull in the exchange, Mihawk stepped back and sheathed the Kugatana.
He reached behind his back and pulled free Yoru.
"Very well. You've earned it."
The presence of the black sword changed the air itself. The sea grew still, the sky darkened slightly and even the seagulls vanished. Patrons gasped and ducked for cover.
Cassandra's eyes narrowed. Her breathing was heavy, but her body surged with adrenaline. She recalled the memory of Zoro's defeat not with fear, but with determination.
It was time.
Her swords rose around her again, hovering in a perfect arc. Lightning crackled, frost shimmered, and fire danced. Then she sheathed Wado Ichimonji and crouched slightly. Purple bolts of lightning lit up her aura.
"Raikiri."
Her signature technique surged to life. The blades followed behind her like comets, her body becoming a streak of focused destruction.
Mihawk met her with a single swing of Yoru.
The impact was thunderous.
Blinding pressure exploded outward as lightning clashed with darkness. Deck boards were torn apart. The surrounding sea rippled with unnatural waves. Luffy and Sanji were focused, eyes wide in awe and a bit of concern for Cassandra. Luffy believed in his vice captain.
Cassandra's body trembled under the force, but she gritted her teeth.
Then with a loud whoosh her other blades joined in. They slammed into Yoru to support her. Mihawk's eyes flicked in surprise for only an instant as Kashu broke off from the group and flew toward his head.
With a subtle lean, Mihawk avoided the strike, but he disengaged from her. He stared at her with his usual hawk like predatory gaze.
Snip.
The tip of the feather of Mihawk's iconic hat drifted down, gently landing between them.
Silence fell.
Mihawk looked at the fallen feather. Then, he smiled.
"Very few could do that."
He sheathed Yoru and looked at her directly. "What is the name of your sword style?"
Cassandra exhaled and stood tall, her swords circling her once more. "The Dancing Petal Sword Style," she said proudly.
Mihawk nodded. "I once thought that Devil Fruit users were doomed to mediocrity as swordsmen and dismissed you. Yet you've proven me wrong. You don't solely rely on your Devil Friut power. You built a style that enhances your swordsmanship, not replaces it. That is rare. Very rare."
His gaze softened, impressed. "You've got potential, Cassandra. We'll meet again. When you are stronger, perhaps then I'll use more than one hand."
He turned and began walking toward his small black coffin-boat, bobbing just offshore.
Cassandra fell to her knees, panting, heart hammering. The cooks rushed to help and Luffy ran over.
"That… was amazing!" he yelled.
She smiled faintly. "He didn't even go all out," she said while grinning.
She had survived not only survived. She hadn't been struck down like Zoro.
To add to the situation, Mihawk… was intrigued by her.
Nami stood at the side deep in thought. "Maybe these two could help me."
As Mihawk disappeared into the horizon, the Baratie returned to life, but something had changed. Cassandra's name was no longer unknown.
She had fought the greatest and he acknowledged her.
The sea had a new contender for the title of greatest swordsman and she was smiling through her exhaustion.
From the wreakage of the gigantic ship appeared a tall guy in golden armor. He looked devastated and on the brink of starvation.
"Bring me food, weaklings!" the man bellowed. "This floating shack now belongs to Don Krieg!"
His men cheered weakly behind him, barely standing.
Cassandra narrowed her eyes. She knew this man as a coward and a weakling, but the look of desperation and greed in his eyes made her instincts flare.
"Don Krieg," Gin muttered from the sidelines. "Captain of the Krieg Armada."
Luffy cracked his knuckles. "We just cleaned the deck and now this guy shows up?"
Sanji stepped forward, scowling. "Guess it's round two."
Cassandra walked beside Luffy and whispered something in his ear.
The air was charged once again, but this time, it wasn't a duel of honor.
It was a battle of survival.
And the Baratie would not fall.