High above the sky—
Kane's flame-split body rapidly reformed, returning to normal in an instant.
His massive dragon head locked onto the figure standing on the sea below.
A man holding a massive black blade—
With a cross-shaped hilt and an imposing presence.
Eyes as sharp as a hawk.
Just one glance—
And fear naturally arose.
That man was none other than
Dracule Mihawk — the world's greatest swordsman.
The earlier slash—
Had made Kane feel real danger.
"If you don't give me an explanation… the consequences will be severe."
Mihawk replied calmly:
"When did someone like you appear in the East Blue? As for an explanation—there's none."
"When I see a strong opponent… I can't help but act."
"And someone like you… is worth drawing my blade for."
Kane smirked.
"So I should feel honored?"
He paused—
Then his expression darkened.
"But I don't like that explanation."
Mihawk's eyes sharpened slightly.
"So… what do you plan to do?"
"What else? Tear you apart."
"If you can."
Mihawk showed no fear.
In fact—
He was excited.
There were very few people left in this world who could interest him.
Shanks was one—
But he had lost an arm.
Mihawk had no interest in fighting someone incomplete.
At the peak—
Came loneliness.
That was why—
He had spared Roronoa Zoro earlier.
Because he saw potential—
A possibility to surpass him.
But still far from it.
Kane was irritated.
Before—
He wasn't Mihawk's match.
But now?
He would find out.
His wings beat violently—
And he dove down at extreme speed.
The massive force created a violent gale—
Even nearby ships were affected.
Mihawk's pupils shrank.
Too fast.
And the sheer size—
Was overwhelming.
But—
His slash was faster.
He leapt high—
Swinging his blade.
A massive slash tore through the air toward Kane.
Kane didn't dodge.
His dragon claw met the slash head-on—
CLANG!
A sharp collision echoed.
With a flick—
The slash was sent flying into the sky.
Kane continued forward—
Claws aimed directly at Mihawk.
Mihawk raised his blade and struck—
Another clash.
But with no footing—
He was blasted into the sea by Kane's strike.
The impact triggered massive shockwaves.
Even the nearby
Baratie
was nearly overturned.
Onboard—
Everyone was stunned.
Even the injured Roronoa Zoro stared in shock.
"So this… is the peak of the world?"
Monkey D. Luffy grinned excitedly.
"That's my goal!"
"But he disappeared…"
"He won't lose," Zoro said firmly.
Meanwhile—
Kane rose into the sky again.
He knew—
Someone like Mihawk wouldn't go down so easily.
And sure enough—
A massive slash split the sea—
Shooting toward him.
Kane dodged instantly.
"Still as strong as ever… Mihawk!"
Mihawk stood atop drifting wreckage—
Moving swiftly—
Swinging again and again.
Slash after slash came flying.
For a moment—
Kane couldn't even get close.
And due to his massive size—
He had already taken several hits.
Even with his flame body—
Mihawk's attacks were not easy to withstand.
So—
Kane shrank.
Down to about ten meters.
Now—
He was far more agile.
He rushed in again.
Clash after clash erupted.
Dragon claws coated in Haki collided with the black blade—
Sparks flying.
Shockwaves shattered the surrounding wreckage.
One deflected slash—
Skimmed past Baratie—
Splitting the sea itself.
Everyone trembled.
"Damn it—can't we go faster?!"
Zeff shouted.
"This is already the maximum speed!"
Kane frowned.
Mihawk was truly difficult.
They had fought for so long—
Neither could seriously injure the other.
But for Kane—
This dragged fight was disadvantageous.
His stamina—
Was the issue.
After all—
He was an old man.
Still—
He was satisfied.
Years ago—
He had been defeated by Mihawk.
And humiliated.
Even Tsuru had teased him about it.
How could he forget?
"Today… no matter what… I'll teach him a lesson!"
Kane shot into the sky.
Mihawk narrowed his eyes.
"Running? No… something else."
Kane inhaled deeply.
The air spiraled into a vortex before his mouth.
His abdomen swelled—
Power gathering.
Mihawk's expression turned serious.
He felt it—
Real danger.
At the same time—
A terrifying aura erupted from Mihawk.
The sea itself seemed to fall silent.
Conqueror's Haki.
And not just that—
Coating.
Red-black lightning crackled around his blade.
The black blade
Yoru
looked even more domineering.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!!!"
"Divine Strike!!!"
The roar—
And the Haki-infused slash—
Collided.
BOOOOOOM!!!
A world-shaking explosion.
Shockwaves spread outward—
Triggering a massive tsunami.
Even far away—
Baratie was nearly overturned.
The
Going Merry
barely survived by luck.
When everything settled—
Kane still hovered in the sky.
A massive dragon—
Dominating the battlefield.
Mihawk stood on a single piece of drifting wood.
Everything else—
Gone.
Burn marks covered Mihawk's body.
His skin was scorched red.
Even his iconic hat—
Was gone.
But—
His expression was excited.
Meanwhile—
A streak of blood ran down Kane's claw.
Even with flame transformation—
Mihawk's Conqueror-coated attack had injured him.
But to Kane—
It didn't matter.
And Mihawk—
Still stood at the peak.
"This battle ends here," Mihawk said.
"You're strong."
"A man like you… won't remain unknown."
"What's your name?"
Only the strong—
Were worth remembering.
Kane snorted.
"I need your acknowledgment to prove I'm strong?"
"Asking my name?"
"Tch… you're just a mere Warlord."