Raiver withdrew his thoughts and refocused on the match.
A graceful maid leaped out of the water, flipping and twisting in mid-air, her body tracing a beautiful arc before executing a spectacular bicycle kick!
Boom!
The ball was struck with precision, shooting like a meteor toward the left side of the opposing goal.
The goalkeeper for the opposing team was a blue-haired mermaid named Lan Yi.
Her eyes fixed intently on the ball's trajectory, her tail thrashed powerfully in the water, propelling her entire body out of the surface like an arrow released from a bow.
Her hands stretched forward as she dove toward the ball!
She could save this shot!
But at that moment, a red-haired mermaid named Chi Shan leaped from the water, moving even faster.
She instantly overtook Lan Yi and headed the ball with her forehead!
The ball changed course mid-air, flying toward the right side of the goal!
By then, Lan Yi was too late to make the save and could only watch helplessly as the ball shot into the net.
"3:2! We won!"
The scoring team erupted into thunderous cheers!
"We won, we won!"
"Sister Chi Shan is amazing!"
"The last-minute winning goal!"
They embraced, cheered, and leaped joyfully in the water, splashing everywhere.
Soon, the victorious team swam to the shore and gathered around Raiver.
Among them were humans and mermaids alike.
They chattered excitedly, their faces glowing with exhilaration.
"Your Majesty! Did you see? We won!"
"How cool was that last-minute goal?"
"Aren't we amazing?"
Raiver looked at them, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"I saw. All of you, go back and prepare."
"Hooray—!"
The maids cheered, their faces filled with eager anticipation.
Because the winning team would have the honor of serving His Majesty tonight.
This was the reward they looked forward to the most.
Just then—
Buru buru, buru buru.
The Den Den Mushi on the shore rang.
Xingmian surfaced, picked up the Den Den Mushi, and pressed the answer button.
"Boss, Hawkeye Mihawk is outside the palace gates. He says he wants to challenge you," Jieming's voice came from the other end of the line.
Raiver frowned slightly. "Hawkeye Mihawk?"
Xingwan explained from beside him:
"Your Majesty, he is one of the first Supernovas to emerge after the dawn of the Great Pirate Era.
His Bounty is 600 million Belly, and he excels in Swordsmanship. His epithet is 'Hawkeye.'
It is said he has never been defeated and possesses immense strength."
Xingmian added:
"Others of equal fame include Doflamingo, Crocodile, and Gecko Moria.
These four are known to the world as 'the first Supernovas of the Great Pirate Era.'"
Besides being Raiver's personal maids, the sisters Xingmian and Xingwan also served as secretaries, managing all affairs of the Sky Palace.
Intelligence, personnel, logistics—everything was under their control.
Their status could be described as second only to one, above all others.
"Interesting."
Suddenly struck by an amusing idea, Raiver stood up and smiled faintly:
"It's been a while since I've fought. Let's go meet this little hawk."
With that, he teleported from the water to the shore.
Without a word, the sisters understood perfectly.
Xingmian immediately took the Emperor's Robe from the clothes rack with both hands and draped it over him.
Xingwan knelt before him, fastening his belt.
Soon, Raiver was fully dressed.
"You two, put your clothes on as well, and follow me out."
"Yes."
The two sisters replied in unison, each taking the dresses from the hangers and quickly dressing themselves.
...
Outside the palace gates.
Mihawk stood as still as a pine tree, unmoving.
Behind him, the Supreme Grade Sharp Blade "Night" was slung diagonally across his back.
He did not rashly barge into the palace, as that would be tantamount to invasion.
He simply waited at the entrance.
Waiting for that person to come out.
Or, waiting for that person to refuse.
Whichever outcome, he could accept.
Time passed minute by minute.
Mihawk's brow furrowed slightly.
Not out of impatience, but because he realized he was actually feeling somewhat nervous.
This emotion had not surfaced in a long time.
He took a deep breath, calming himself.
Just then, the space before him suddenly rippled with waves.
Like a stone thrown into a calm lake, ripples spread outward in circles.
Then, three figures emerged from the ripples.
The one in the middle was a young man.
He stood tall and straight, with a coldly handsome face, hair as black as ink, and crimson eyes like blood.
He wore a black and gold Emperor's Robe, embroidered with nine coiling dragons in golden thread, vivid and lifelike.
He simply stood there, making no movement, yet exuding an intangible sense of pressure.
No need to release Haki, no need to display power.
His mere presence was enough to suffocate.
Mihawk's gaze sharpened slightly.
The world's strongest man, Emperor of the Fengtian Empire, God Slayer—Raiver.
This was Raiver.
His eyes shifted to Raiver's sides.
The woman on the right wore a white dress, ethereal and graceful.
Her features were exquisitely beautiful, her aura cold and noble, like a celestial maiden untouched by mortal affairs.
The woman on the left wore a green dress, equally ethereal and graceful.
Her features were identical to the woman in white, but her aura was entirely different—alluring and captivating, with a hint of seduction in her gaze.
A drop of cold sweat formed on Mihawk's forehead; he could sense it.
These two women were strong.
Though he did not know exactly how strong, they were definitely not mere decorations.
He withdrew his gaze, turning back to Raiver.
A question arose in his mind—
Hadn't Raiver once been an Officer of the legendary Pirate Crew—the Rocks Pirates?
That was from the previous era.
Why did he look so young?
He appeared to be only in his early twenties.
But Mihawk did not dwell on this. His tone was neither subservient nor arrogant:
"I heard you are the world's strongest? I came seeking your reputation, specifically to challenge you. I hope you will grant me this!"
Raiver took a step forward, extending his right hand, index and middle fingers pressed together.
Haki coiled around them, instantly turning the two fingers as if forged from black iron.
He gently shook those two fingers, his tone indifferent:
"Come, let me see your strength."
Mihawk stared at those two fingers, his brow slightly furrowed.
"You're not using a sword?"
"For you, this is enough." Raiver's tone remained indifferent, devoid of any mockery—simply stating a fact.
Mihawk felt a surge of anger rise from within—not rage, but an instinctive reaction to being underestimated.
He gritted his teeth and said, "Don't regret it if you die!"
As the words fell, the Black Blade was drawn!
A dark green Sword Qi roared forth, skimming across the ground, shattering the earth in its path and sending debris flying.
It was a slash powerful enough to cleave an iceberg, yet just as it was about to reach Raiver—
Raiver raised his right hand and flicked his index finger lightly.
Clang—!!
The dark green Sword Qi shattered like glass under that single flick!
Mihawk's pupils contracted to pinpoints.
But he did not stop.
With a twist of his wrist, the Black Blade swung continuously!
Three Sword Qi shot out in a triangular formation, sealing off all of Raiver's escape routes!
At the same time, he himself stepped forward, the blade aimed straight for Raiver's throat!