Blood Moon Sword Dance

Just as the Battle of Sabaody Archipelago came to a close, at the Castle Square on Kuraigana Island...

The morning mist swirled, and the square in front of the Castle was gilded by the cool morning sun.

A gentle breeze rustled through the leaves, Kuina stood alone in the center of the square, holding Wado Ichimonji in one hand.

The blade gleamed coldly in the morning light, reflecting her calm and serene expression.

Yet, hidden within those calm eyes lies a sharpness capable of destroying everything.

Mihawk's footsteps echoed on the Castle's stone-paved streets, his golden eyes narrowing slightly as he watched the girl ahead.

"This sword intent is completely different from yesterday's..."

"The initial hesitation has vanished; has the lock on my heart been unlocked?"

At the Castle gate, Zoro, his upper body wrapped in bandages, stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed on the square.

Chopper gripped Zoro's trouser leg nervously, "Zoro... Kuina, she..."

Zoro slowly grinned, revealing his familiar, wild smile, "Just you wait, Chopper..."

"This is the real Kuina."

Mihawk stood still, Black Blade "Night" was slowly drawn, its blade pointing directly at Kuina.

"Female Swordswoman, state your name."

Kuina's gaze was as white as snow, the tip of her knife slightly raised, her clear, cold voice echoing throughout the square:

"Shimotsuki Kuina."

Please enlighten me!

A fighting spirit flashed in Mihawk's eyes. "Very good."

"Let me see just how far your sword can go."

Kuina took a step forward, her figure suddenly transforming into a gust of wind, leaving spiderweb-like cracks in the ground beneath her feet.

"Shimotsuki Style, Illusion!!"

Three almost overlapping slashes came from different angles, the blades ethereal yet deadly, as if they could Sky Splitter itself in the next second.

"Clang clang--!"

Mihawk's golden eyes narrowed, and the Black Blade "Night" was swung at an incredible angle. The three slashes were precisely neutralized the moment the blades touched, sparks flying everywhere!

"The speed is impressive... but predictable."

Kuina did not respond, but the sword intent in her eyes grew even sharper. The next second, she spun around and used the rebound force to make Wado Ichimonji draw an extremely fast arc in mid-air!

"Shimotsuki Style, Swallow Return!!"

This time, the slash swept back like a whirlwind, several times faster than the first strike, and so powerful that it compressed the air into a loud popping sound.

The floor tiles beneath Mihawk's feet shattered, his boots sinking half an inch into the ground. "Using the momentum to counterattack... To execute such a rapid-fire slash in such a short time, Swordsmanship's swordsmanship has reached its pinnacle."

"Drink!!"

Kuina gripped the knife with both hands, and with a swift "Flying Swallow" maneuver, she changed angle again, thrusting straight at Mihawk's chest like a venomous snake.

Mihawk held his Black Blade horizontally, the clanging of metal like a thunderclap, the shockwave sweeping around and swirling all the fallen leaves in the Castle's forecourt into the air.

"Shimotsuki Style - Isshin-zan!!"

Kuina's aura suddenly subsided, and she seemed to merge with heaven and earth, her blade condensing an absolute intent of abandoning everything.

At this moment, it seemed as if only Kuina, Wado Ichimonji, and that one and only slash remained in the arena!

Mihawk's golden eyes flashed, and he raised his Black Blade to meet the attack.

"Boom!!"

The two sword intents converged in mid-air, and the Shockwave exploded, causing the stone pillars around the square to crumble. The sword pressure soared into the sky and tore through the clouds!

"Good..."

Mihawk's voice was cold, and his Black Blade "Night" emitted a long hum, its edge vibrating, accompanied by an aura like the low growl of Beast.

But that's not enough!

He took a step forward, transforming into a swift shadow, his Black Blade sweeping across with devastating sword pressure!

"Whoosh--!"

Kuina dodged to the side, but her shoulder was still grazed by the sword energy, and blood instantly stained her sleeve.

Suddenly, the mist spread across the square like a blood-red curtain, and the cold wind carried with it the intent of swords and the aura of bloodlust.

"What?!"

Mihawk's Observation Haki roared wildly, a dangerous omen striking his very soul.

Kuina's figure vanished into the mist like a phantom, and a crimson sword shadow, like Blood Moon streaking across the night sky, sliced Sky Splitter without warning!

"Clang!"

Mihawk was forced to parry with his sword, sparks flying, and his boots left a half-step mark as he was forced back for the first time!

As the mist dissipated, Kuina was now fully revealed in her reborn form:

His long, dark silver hair swayed with the sword's intent, and his blood-red vertical pupils radiated a chilling killing intent.

Wado Ichimonji is wreathed in Red Ogre, as if it can devour the life force in the air.

Mihawk stared at the scene. "This is... Devil Fruit?!"

"Blood Moon - Lingering Light Slash!!"

With a low shout, Kuina unleashed seven afterimages of sword light, like night bats on a hunt, crisscrossing and slashing towards Mihawk.

Mihawk spun his Black Blade, the sword pressing down like a curtain to block the attack, but he was shocked to find that Will-o'-the-Wisp clung to the blade like a shadow, eroding his Haki and physical strength.

"A vampiric ability? A combination of Devil Fruit power and swordsmanship?!"

With Haki burst of energy, the Will-o'-the-Wisp dissipated, but Kuina's attacks continued relentlessly like a torrential downpour.

"Blood Moon - Crimson Piercing Slaughter!!"

The Will-o'-the-Wisp transformed into a spiraling longsword, its blade spinning rapidly in the air like a venomous snake, aimed straight for Mihawk's throat!

Mihawk swung his sword, slicing through the Will-o'-the-Wisp, but the shattered blood flames transformed into two blood bats that lunged at him.

"Night" swept back, "Crack! Crack!" Two soft sounds rang out, the blood bats exploded, Will-o'-the-Wisps turned into a rain of blood.

Kuina seized the opportunity to close in, her blade transforming into crimson Inazuma, aiming straight for his chest!

"Clang!!"

As the two swords clashed, their sword intents intertwined, and the power of blood-sucking frantically drained Mihawk's stamina, causing the Black Blade's edge to dim!

Mihawk's eyes blazed with fighting spirit. "Good!"

A massive surge of sword intent, combined with Haki, suddenly erupted, blasting Kuina back several meters, and causing the ground to crack like a spider web.

Kuina rose from her knees, crimson flames shooting into the sky, her sword pointing upwards.

"Blood Moon - Blood Prison Net!!"

Crimson threads intertwined, forming a giant net that enveloped the entire plaza. Each thread carried a blood-sucking power, blocking Mihawk's escape route.

Mihawk snorted coldly, his Black Blade wreathed in top-tier Armament Haki, and the sword's pressure surged forth like a storm.

"Domain sword technique, huh...?"

"Boom--!"

The ring of sword energy suddenly swept out, tearing the blood net apart inch by inch!

Taking advantage of this opening, Kuina used the speed burst forth from the Mythical Zoan to transform into a crimson lightning bolt and rush in front of Mihawk.

"Blood Moon Secret Technique: Night Burial!!"

The blade flashed like a falling Blood Moon, slashing down with the force of shattering space!

Mihawk raised his Black Blade "Night" high, sword energy and Haki intertwined, his momentum like the falling night sky!

The two ultimate sword intents collided head-on, the roar shook the Castle, and the Shockwave destroyed all the surrounding walls!

Chopper was jolted backward, while Zoro stared intently at the scene, breathing heavily.

"She... was one step ahead of me..."

As the smoke and dust slowly dissipated, the plaza, where crimson and pitch-black sword energy intertwined, fell silent.

Kuina's blade stopped in front of Mihawk; the crimson Will-o'-the-Wisp still flickered slightly on the blade, but it could not advance any further.

Mihawk's Black Blade "Night" was already firmly pressed against Kuina's heart; just a slight push would pierce her chest.

A gentle breeze blew by, and the blood mist dissipated.

Mihawk slowly sheathed his sword, his voice low but firm. "Shimotsuki Kuina, you've lost."

Kuina knelt on one knee, her chest heaving violently, but her blood-red vertical pupils showed no sign of defeat; instead, they burned like blazing flames.

His hand was already split open, and blood dripped down his wrist. "Thank you... for your guidance."

Mihawk gazed at her, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke, "Your sword is no longer bound by doubt and hesitation."

"The power of the Devil Fruit is not impure; you must learn to accept it and fully integrate it into your sword intent."

"Given time, you will be more than just qualified to challenge me..."

Kuina slowly rose, the Wado Ichimonji in her hand still trembling slightly, the crimson Will-o'-the-Wisp flames dissipating in the wind. "I will come again."

Mihawk turned and walked away, his cloak Hunting Roar in the morning mist.

"Very good... I'll be waiting."