Black and Red Reunite

Kuraigana Island Harbor

Night fell, and the tides surged.

The firelight illuminated the Harbor, but the sound of the wind was completely suppressed by the two sword intents.

The newcomer's figure finally became completely clear in the firelight.

It was a man draped in a black cloak, his Red-Hair fluttering in the night wind, his arms intact, his left hand tightly gripping "Griffin," the blade faintly shimmering with a divine and bloodthirsty radiance.

--It is none other than the current Commander of the Holy Knights, Figarland Shanks.

Shanks looked at Mihawk, a familiar smile playing on his lips, "Long time no see ~ Mihawk."

His voice contained both teasing and an undisguised fighting spirit.

Mihawk's eyes suddenly sharpened, and the Black Blade "Night" on his back was drawn in the next moment.

"Clang!!"

The moment the sword was drawn, it was as if a dark sun had appeared between heaven and earth.

An invisible sharpness shot into the sky, cleaving through the night.

"Shanks..."

His voice was deep and cold. "It seems you've made a very difficult decision."

The gravel beneath his feet trembled slightly under his imposing aura, Mihawk's entire body erupted with sword energy, as if the entire night sky had been torn apart.

"But--"

He held the "Night" weapon high in his hand, its sharp edge like a cold light piercing through the long night.

"What you want to say now is useless. Let's fight, then we'll talk!"

Perona sensed the terrifying sword intent, her heart tightened, and she dared not approach. She quickly floated away to a distance, her eyes filled with worry and shock.

"... Seriously, those two are crazy."

Meanwhile, Shanks also sensed his old friend's long-suppressed desire, his eyes burning with intensity and a wild smile spreading across his face.

With his left hand gripping "Griffin," his entire body surging with Haki, his Red-Hair flying wildly as he roared to the sky, "Come on!!"

The next moment--

"Boom--!"

The light of black and red suddenly burst forth!

The two figures collided suddenly like shooting stars!

"Clang--!"

The swords clashed, the metal clanged, and the resulting Shockwaves swept across the Harbor like a hurricane, instantly sending waves dozens of meters high!

Mihawk wielded "Night," the sword's pressure extremely fierce, its energy tearing through the night sky like a black eagle's talons ripping the heavens!

Shanks wields his sword in his left hand with wild and domineering movements. The sword's blade is crimson red, and his Haki is concentrated, as if setting the night sky ablaze!

"Clang! Clang! Clang!!"

Each collision shattered the air, the sword energy and Haki intertwined, like thunder roaring!

"Boom--!"

The red and black sword energies collided instantly!

Mihawk's sword energy was incredibly sharp, like a falcon's wingspan, cleaving through the heavens and earth;

Shanks' sword is wild and domineering, its Haki accompanied by a blazing red light, as if flames were scorching the air!

"Boom--!"

Swords clashed repeatedly, each strike unleashing a devastating Shockwave.

The two crossed paths dozens of times in an instant, their black and red trails weaving a web of death across the night sky.

The sword energy swept across, cleaving the entire Harbor in several deep cracks, allowing seawater to flood in and creating a deafening roar.

Perona, watching from afar, was forced back by the fierce wind, her eyes wide and her face deathly pale. "This... this isn't a human battle at all!"

The only thing on the field was the clash of swords.

Mihawk's eyes flashed with a hawk-like sharpness, his sword aura as oppressive as the endless sky. "Shanks! With your arms restored, you are the true great swordsman!"

Shanks laughed, his Red-Hair flying, and a crimson Shockwave erupted from his sword. "Haha! Mihawk! I've been waiting for this moment for a long time!!"

"Clang--!"

This strike, a fusion of sword pressure and Haki, tore a narrow slit in the night sky, even splitting the clouds in two.

Under the cover of night, the figures of the two swordsmen, one in black and one in red, constantly clashed, each strike capable of shattering rocks and shaking the waves!

This is a long-awaited battle of destiny.

This is a truly unspoken greeting between sword masters.

Ships sailing in the distance were nearly capsized by the giant waves; the sailors, their faces filled with terror, pointed to the interlacing black and red lights on the horizon:

"Was that... was that a duel between sword gods?!"

Kuraigana Island Castle

The aroma of red wine filled the air, as if trying to mask the chill of the night wind.

Inside the Castle's main hall, Mihawk and Shanks sat facing each other, while Perona floated on a silver platter held steadily in her palm, elegantly refilling their glasses with red wine.

The night sky shone through the broken window frames in the distance, and the Harbor, which was mostly destroyed, could still be vaguely seen, with broken stone slabs and collapsed embankments still visible.

Perona couldn't help but pout, her tone full of helplessness. "You two, you've gone too far! The Harbor is in ruins!"

Shanks threw his head back and laughed heartily, then raised his glass and downed it in one gulp. "Haha! Don't worry, I'll get someone to fix it!"

Mihawk gave him a cold glance. "Forget it. Don't let the Holy Land people bother me, or I can't guarantee... I won't chop them up."

Perona shuddered in fright and immediately drifted to a more distant corner, muttering, "These two dangerous individuals... they're both terrifying."

Shanks simply smiled without saying a word, as if enjoying this long-awaited reunion and drink together.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually quieted down.

Mihawk slowly set down his glass, his Hawk-Eye sharply fixed on the person opposite him. "Speak, Shanks."

You've come to see me all of a sudden, not just to rekindle an old battle. What is it you want?

Perona also stopped moving, obediently floating behind Mihawk, quietly watching Shanks with a hint of nervousness in her eyes.

Shanks lowered his head, gently swirling the glass. The red liquid flowed along the glass, reflecting a faint, somber hue.

He remained silent for a moment, then finally spoke slowly, "This sea is about to descend into chaos once again."

He looked up, his gaze heavy. "What will you do then?"

Mihawk's eyes Flash, sensing the deeper meaning behind the words, and his brows furrowed slightly. "Did you... receive some news?"

Shanks did not respond, but silently drank the wine in his glass in one gulp, the light at the bottom of the glass dimming under the candlelight.

The air froze instantly.

However, Mihawk merely chuckled coldly, poured himself another drink, raised his glass, and said calmly, "My ideals have never changed."

"I clash with the strong to find the ultimate Swordsmanship. Apart from that, any chaos or power struggles are irrelevant to me."

Shanks stared at him, his expression complex, and then slowly said, "What if— the Seven Warlords of the Sea system were completely disbanded?"

Mihawk raised an eyebrow, paused for a moment with the wine glass between his fingers, and gently placed it on the table.

After a moment of silence, he spoke, his tone firm. "If those old men really want to abolish the system, then so be it."

Even without the title of 'Shichibukai,' I am still me.

His eyes were sharp as a hawk's, and his voice was deep yet carried an undeniable confidence.

"The World's Greatest Swordsman fears no one."

Shanks was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, as if a certain answer in his heart had been confirmed.

Ah—just as I expected, it's still your personality.

The candlelight flickered, and the lingering aroma of red wine still filled the air.

Shanks stared at Mihawk with a complex expression, as if he were weighing something.

After a long silence, he finally put down his wine glass and said softly, "If this sea is truly about to usher in a new order, then when the Shichibukai completely collapse... you might find that some people will piece together new flags from the ruins."

A smile played at the corners of his lips, "At that time—even you will inevitably be drawn to 'that flag,' won't you?"

Mihawk's hawk-like eyes narrowed, his fingers slowly stroking the wine glass, without responding.