"That depends on whether you have the strength for it."
A faint arc lifted at the corner of Mihawk's mouth, his gaze fixed tightly on Kyle. In the next second, he swung his sword fiercely, without any wind-up at all.
A dark green slash wave cut through the air, carrying the momentum to sever heaven and earth, and streaked towards Kyle at extreme speed.
Kyle's eyes focused slightly, his hands gripping Purple Lightning tightly. He felt a great sense of threat from this slash.
A basic attack is an ultimate move, is it?
Without the slightest hesitation, Armament Haki rapidly enveloped the blade. Simultaneously, purple lightning erupted from the blade body. After a brief charge, he likewise swung his sword fiercely.
A deep purple slash wave shot out, once again clashing head-on with the dark green one.
However, the aftermath caused this time was far greater than the previous two times, the sea waves continuously pushed back.
The two slash waves were locked in a stalemate in the air for a few seconds before the deep purple one fell into a disadvantage. After another two seconds, it was shattered by the dark green slash wave, transforming into streams of fierce energy that ravaged the surroundings.
The dark green slash wave still surged towards Kyle, but its momentum had weakened considerably after the prior consumption.
As it arrived before Kyle and was about to strike him, Kyle, holding Purple Lightning, gave a fierce downward chop, shattering this slash wave.
After the chop, Kyle followed the momentum, raised the blade, and pressed down hard once more.
Clang!!
A sound of metal clashing rang out. Mihawk had arrived before him at some unknown time.
The two blades crossed, sparks flying.
The two looked at each other, then in the next moment both withdrew their swords, and simultaneously slashed out again!
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!!
A series of metallic clashing sounds came, the two continuously exchanging blows in the air. Every collision produced a shockwave, a chain of vibrations transmitted through the void.
After who knows how long, Mihawk's body suddenly flew out, falling towards the sea surface below.
But his expression showed no change at all. He glanced around, spotted his ship, and immediately slashed towards one direction.
The recoil propelled him towards his ship's location, and he landed steadily on deck.
Raising his eyes to look at Kyle in mid-air, fighting spirit surged in his eyes, the smile at his lips deepening.
"Interesting. To think there is a swordsman of your level on the seas whom I don't know. Why have I never heard your name before?"
Mihawk was somewhat puzzled. A swordsman of Kyle's strength would be unknown on these seas.
After all, if Kyle were famous, Mihawk would likely have sought him out for a fight long ago.
But it wasn't too late now. This trip to the East Blue wasn't bad. Although he didn't get to compete in swordsmanship with Red-Hair as desired, he discovered a new opponent.
From now on, he had one more partner for sparring.
"It's simple. Because I'm relatively green, not as seasoned as you."
"Just starting out, how could I have any reputation. Not like you, struggling and climbing on the seas for so many years, of course you have fame."
"But it's fine. My reputation will naturally grow in the future, and it will be much greater than yours."
"World's Greatest Swordsman?"
"That title will only be mine in the future."
Hearing this, Mihawk's eyebrows raised slightly, his eyes narrowing. He said in a low voice:
"Kid, you are quite arrogant."
"No. This isn't arrogance. It's confidence."
Kyle looked at Mihawk, speaking with a smile.
Mihawk just stared at Kyle, not speaking for a long moment, then suddenly gave a light laugh.
"Heh."
His legs bent slightly at the knees.
"Then let me see where your confidence comes from."
As the words fell, Mihawk leapt up fiercely, charging towards Kyle once more.
Seeing this, Kyle did not hesitate either, similarly rushing towards Mihawk.
"Afraid of you."
...
Whoosh!!
A sound of something cutting through the air came. A figure was sent flying back at extreme speed, drawing a white trail in the air.
"Cough. Cough."
Kyle couldn't help but cough, lowering his head slightly to look at a bloody gash on his chest, and shook his head helplessly.
"There is still a gap."
The result wasn't too far from his expectations. He had lost.
Kyle was not someone who couldn't accept his own defeat. Losing was losing.
At least in swordsmanship, the current him was indeed not Mihawk's match. One could even say the gap was not small.
Mihawk's swordsmanship level was stronger than Koushirou's from their fight a year ago. Even if he hadn't reached the level of a Great Swordsman, he was very close. And Mihawk was only thirty years old now.
Had to praise again, worthy of the future World's Greatest Swordsman. His talent in swordsmanship was truly strong.
In this battle with Mihawk, apart from using his Devil Fruit ability to stay airborne, Kyle had not used even a bit of his fruit ability in either offense or defense.
Because this was a battle between swordsmen. Adding other elements would make it impure.
Kyle seriously suspected if Zoro's heart of a swordsman had also been tripled and fed back to him. Otherwise, how could he have such thoughts?
According to his past personality, it would have been absolutely impossible.
Kyle even felt a hidden sense of relief within himself that this wound was on his chest. Otherwise, if it were on his back, he was afraid he might end up like Zoro, spreading his hands and saying, "Scars on the back are a swordsman's shame."
He shook his head, dispelling these distracting thoughts from his mind. Kyle's body suddenly transformed into purple lightning. After a flash, he arrived in mid-air not far in front of Mihawk.
Looking down at Mihawk below, he spoke.
"I lost."
"But I still have to say, the future World's Greatest Swordsman will definitely be me."
Kyle's expression remained confident.
There was no help for it. With Zoro (the invincibly diligent), the Navy Headquarters's hardest-working model, how could Kyle not be confident.
"Haha."
Mihawk gave a light laugh, looking at Kyle and saying:
"I will become the World's Greatest Swordsman before you. Then I will wait for the day you come to challenge me."
Mihawk similarly stated his own resolve.
The position of World's Greatest Swordsman, he would not yield it willingly.
This had been his goal all along.
"Kid, what is your name."
Suddenly, Mihawk spoke again, proactively asking Kyle's name.
Once these words came out, it meant that Kyle had completely earned Mihawk's respect.
"Kyle."
"Kyle..."
Mihawk murmured the name, then looked at Kyle and shouted loudly:
"I will remember it. Kyle."
"When I become the strongest, no matter how many years pass, I will be waiting for you on that strongest seat. Waiting for you to challenge me."
"Surpass me, Kyle."
The last words Mihawk shouted with intense passion, but they made a few question marks surface in Kyle's head.
What? You say this to Zoro, fine. But you have to say it to me too?
Kyle gave a wry smile, shaking his head.
His gaze turned to Mihawk once more.
"Let's discuss that when we next fight as swordsmen in the future."
"As for now..."
"Shall we have a dialogue under another identity?"
"Under the identities of Marine, and Marine Hunter."
...
...
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