Fierce Battle! Frost Moon! Invitation to Join Forces!

"Are we going to fight someone like Hawk Eyes right after arriving in the East Blue?"

Luo's expression was somewhat complicated. "This has really stirred up quite a stir."

The first enemy they faced was the number one swordsman; to be honest, it was a truly impressive lineup.

Is that guy really that strong?

Violet asked in a low voice.

"Among all those in the world who call themselves swordsmen,"

Jack said calmly, "He should be the most powerful."

Using a sword as a weapon is a different concept from being a true swordsman.

Hawk Eyes is widely recognized as the strongest swordsman.

"Is it that amazing?"

Violet gasped in astonishment.

The strongest swordsman?

She had only ever heard the title of "strongest" applied to three people: the strongest man, Whitebeard; the strongest woman, Charlotte Linlin; and the Strongest Creature, Kaido.

Could this man be a powerhouse on par with those three?

"Can Ian win?"

She couldn't help but ask.

Then, he was met with two burning gazes.

Yamato and Hancock both turned to look at her.

Violet felt a chill run down her spine. "W-what did you do?"

"Ian won't lose!"

The way of Yamato and inevitable.

"That's right!"

Hancock, unusually, shared Yamato's opinion. "Ian is the strongest!"

Hawk Eyes's lips curled slightly, and he asked with interest, "The strongest?"

Ian coughed lightly, a little embarrassed, "The kid doesn't know any better, he was just joking."

"Then let me see the strongest!"

Hawk Eyes held his long sword diagonally downwards, its sharp blade gleaming coldly.

You won't listen to me, huh?

But.

Ian noticed.

The knife in Hawk Eyes's hand hadn't turned black yet; the blade was still white.

Has the Black Blade not been forged yet?

Therefore, his strength is still somewhat inferior to that of the top-tier monsters.

Once he forges the Night Blade into the world's number one Black Blade, he will become a truly top-tier powerhouse in the world.

"Don't rush, let's find another place to fight."

Ian said, "If we're fighting here, it wouldn't be good to destroy the Execution Platform."

Hundreds of years from now, this Execution Platform will likely be a historical relic; it would be such a pity to destroy it like this.

"Good."

Hawk Eyes readily agreed.

He didn't want to destroy the Execution Platform either.

After all, he came here to witness Roger's execution ceremony and the opening of the Great Pirate Era.

It could be said that this Execution Platform was the beginning of everything.

The final duel location was chosen on the sea outside Loguetown. Yamato used his ability to create a vast ice field, providing the arena for the two of them.

"Don't attack downwards."

Ian stamped his foot. "It's sturdy, but still too fragile for us."

"Is everything alright?"

Hawk Eyes chuckled and said, "No matter what, this is still on the sea."

But Ian is a power user.

"I can fly."

Ian unbuttoned his collar and loosened his tie slightly. "Just don't feel it's unfair."

"I'm not that cowardly."

Hawk Eyes brandished his longsword. "Then—"

Laugh!!

A sudden gust of wind swept out, causing the onlookers to squint.

"Bring it on."

Ian waved to him.

Whoosh!

The air was pierced in an instant, and streaks of emerald green slashes shot through the air like missiles.

Ian's eyes flashed red, and he casually took a step, effortlessly dodging Hawk Eyes's slash.

"Amazing Observation Haki!"

The ice beneath his feet shattered, and Hawk Eyes transformed into a whirlwind as he arrived.

Ian simply pointed and said, "Surtur, battle mode."

"Yes, Master!"

The Fire Spirit that had been perched on his shoulder was instantly sent flying, and in the next instant, it swelled into Golden Giant over twenty meters tall, shouting, "Turn to ashes!"

"Divine Fist Shatters!!"

A surge of flames erupted from its fist, while simultaneously, within Surtur, the flames compressed and expanded, propelling its fist to roar forth.

"Um?"

Hawk Eyes, who was rushing towards them, stopped and his expression changed slightly.

What's this?

A creation of fire? Yet it possesses its own consciousness?

"Don't worry about it, this is my clone."

Ian laughed, "It shouldn't count as two against one, right?"

"Interesting."

Hawk Eyes's lips curled into a smile.

Rub!

The next instant, a brilliant blade of light, like a crescent moon, instantly severed Surtur's fist and the flames coiling around it.

"Hmm!"

Surtur's expression changed slightly.

"Is it not working?"

Hawk Eyes muttered to himself, "No physical form?"

Brush!

The blade flashed, leaving behind countless spatial rifts in the air, as dense as a fishing net.

Surtur was cleaved into pieces in that instant, like a Lego set collapsing.

"Completely useless!!"

All the cracks healed in the next instant, Surtur returned to normal, opened his mouth, and a blazing golden pillar of fire surged down, "Turn to ashes!"

Hawk Eyes's lips curled into a smirk as he swung his sword, severing the heads of both the fire pillar and Surtur. "Didn't you say not to attack the Icefield?"

A large portion of the ice field beneath their feet had melted, but there was no standing water, as it had all evaporated.

"How,"

Ian raised an eyebrow. "Because you can't do anything about Surtur?"

"No way?"

Laugh!

A strong wind is blowing.

Surtur was torn to pieces once more, the black blade hurtling towards Ian.

"As expected, there's absolutely no way to stop you."

Ian laughed, twisted his body, and lashed the side of the Black Blade with his long right leg like a steel whip.

When!

The air vibrated violently, and the ice field shattered.

Ian was thrown backward like a cannonball. "That was an exaggerated slash!"

Hawk Eyes didn't give chase. "Get serious, Ian, or it'll be no fun."

"OK."

Ian landed lightly, extending his hand, "Surtur, Levantine."

"Yes, Master!"

Surtur transformed into a torrent of flames, flowing into Ian's hand and coalescing into a golden greatsword.

"Oh?"

Hawk Eyes's eyes lit up. "How interesting."

Although Ian isn't a swordsman, it's definitely more interesting to fight against opponents who use swords.

Flames then began to spread across Ian's body.

With golden wings spread, the golden god appeared in the world.

Laugh!!

Even though Ian had managed to control it, the terrifying heat emanating from his body caused the ice field beneath his feet to evaporate rapidly.

"Yamato!"

Ian shouted, "Keep the field in order!"

"Learn!"

Yamato's power was activated again, reinforcing the ice field.

She even stomped her foot on the ground, Hardening.

Ian gave her a thumbs up.

"Hey-hey!"

Yamato smiled smugly.

I can do that too!

Hancock gritted her teeth inwardly, activated her Haki, and enhanced it twice.

"Excellent, let's begin then."

Hawk Eyes sprang forward instantly, gripping the knife with both hands; the blade was pitch black.

Ian's lips curled into a smile. "Okay!"

Flames rose from the Flame Sword, turning its once golden blade pitch black, with invisible energy swirling around it.

Then he swung his sword.

When!!

The two swords clashed.

Laugh!!

The ice field, strengthened by the combined Haki of Yamato and Hancock, shattered into pieces in an instant, with sharp cracks tearing everything apart.

Even beyond this vast ice field, the distant sea has been carved into abysses.

"Oh?"

Ian was somewhat surprised. "A remarkable slash."

He certainly didn't make that commotion.

It's Hawk Eyes.

Even the aftershocks of this guy's slash had such an exaggerated effect.

Is this the Breath of All Things?

However, Hawk Eyes, who had unleashed such astonishing power, was sent flying by Ian's sword.

The man flew hundreds of meters before stomping heavily in the air and plummeting back down like a meteorite.

The moment he landed heavily, a look of astonishment flashed in his sharp, eagle-like eyes. "Incredible power! That's truly outrageous!"

Even with his slash, he was sent flying with almost no chance to retaliate.

Ian, sword in hand, chuckled and said, "You should be going all out now, Mihawk."

That attack just now wasn't up to the level of the strongest swordsman.

"It seems that's indeed the case."

Hawk Eyes slowly raised the longsword in his hand, then let it float down lightly.

Laugh!

A very visually striking scene unfolded.

The ice sheet, along with the seawater further out, instantly cracked open—no! Not just the seawater, but the seabed below was also torn apart, revealing a chasm!

"Oh!"

Ian raised an eyebrow; he saw it clearly—the black Inazuma flashing on Hawk Eyes's longsword, "Conqueror's Haki Infusion!"

Zoro possesses Conqueror's Haki, which is his ultimate goal and Red-Haired's nemesis. It would be strange if Hawk Eyes didn't have Conqueror's Haki.

"They're here!"

Almost instantly, the pitch-black blade came hurtling towards him.

Ian's eyes flashed red as he swung his sword to meet the attack.

Boom!!

The ice field shattered instantly, and jet-black Inazuma shot into the sky.

"No! Ian!"

Yamato shouted from afar, "It's out of control!"

The ice field could no longer withstand the aftershocks of their battle, and even with the combined enhancements of Yamato and Hancock, it was inevitable that it would shatter.

"Then let's stay far away!"

Ian laughed loudly, gripping his sword with both hands, "Surtur, go all out!"

Each time he swung his sword, it wasn't just him swinging the sword; Surtur, the Flame Sword incarnate, was also exerting its power, making each swing a double force.

"Yes, Master!"

Surtur responded in a muffled voice.

Flames surged from the golden sword, and then the sword cleaved down.

Boom!

The two swords clashed, and jet-black Inazuma shot across the sky.

Ian was launched into the air, while Hawk Eyes was slammed into the sea.

Even the Conqueror's Haki Infusion is not invincible.

In terms of strength, Ian has a huge advantage.

The next moment, Ian swooped down.

Hawk Eyes launched himself out of the water, using a piece of broken ice for leverage to soar into the sky.

The two swords clashed once more.

The Flame Sword and the Black Blade clashed repeatedly, causing the entire sea to boil. Sometimes the blades were vaporized by the flames, and sometimes they were cleaved in two by Hawk Eyes.

"They were actually able to fight to this extent?"

In the distance, the group had already retreated to the Golden Flying Dragon. Luo clicked his tongue in amazement, "Hawk Eyes is actually pretty good."

They certainly wouldn't think that Hawk Eyes's title of the world's greatest swordsman was enough to make him a match for the Pirate Emperor.

Hawk Eyes's strength is about the same as Red-Haired'; their previous duel ended inconclusively.

Red-Haired's bounty was only half that of Ian, so they originally thought Hawk Eyes's strength was just so-so.

But now it seems that's not the case?

"Even,"

Jack said gravely, "Brother Ian is still being subtly suppressed."

Hawk Eyes's Armament Haki was already on par with Ian's; he even possessed Conqueror's Haki Infusion.

Even with his absolute power, Ian would inevitably be outmatched when facing Hawk Eyes, whose Haki far surpasses his own.

"Ian hasn't even used his full strength yet!"

"He won't lose!" Yamato said angrily.

Ian certainly hasn't gone all out yet.

And his opponents knew this too.

"Amazing!"

While exchanging blows with Ian, Hawk Eyes exclaimed in amazement, "He already possesses such power without using destructive flames or flame forms?"

"What are you still hesitating for, Ian! Don't I deserve your full effort?"

Damn World Government, they've spread my abilities so widely that everyone knows about them.

"Then you'll regret it."

Ian smirked. "Levantine, Destruction Mode."

"Yes, Master!"

The golden sword instantly turned crimson, and scarlet flames surged forth.

Hawk Eyes's eyes lit up; he looked extraordinary.

"Here I am!"

The Crimson Sword tore through the air.

It truly tears the air apart, even erasing the air itself, creating a narrow vacuum from which sound and Shockwave cannot spread.

So much so that despite being a powerful strike, it didn't even create a ripple.

It seemed so ordinary.

But this time, it was a truly all-out attack!

"How delightful! Come on, Ian!"

Hawk Eyes's lips curled into a smirk as he stepped onto a block of ice and launched himself forward like a cannonball.

Compared to Ian's calm demeanor, Hawk Eyes's actions were far more exaggerated.

The dark Inazuma above the Famous Sword Night Arises surges like never before, radiating outwards like a spider web. Just its impact on the sea surface causes columns of water to erupt.

The strongest against the strongest!

Both of them held nothing back, unleashing their full power in a single strike.

The next instant, they collided.

Crimson and black, Flame Sword and pitch-black blade, clashed fiercely at this moment!

The world fell silent for a moment.

Then.

The sea level began to dip.

An invisible force squeezed the sea surface downwards, crushing the broken ice and forcibly pushing aside all the seawater to reveal the bare seabed below.

Dark black Inazuma shot out in all directions, piercing the sea and blasting open the seabed.

Wave after wave of giant waves spread out, crashing towards Loguetown.

The raging winds even caused the distant Golden Flying Dragon to rock violently; if it weren't for its anchor, it would probably have been pushed away.

"Whoa! I'm going to be blown away!!"

Violet clung tightly to Black Maria, screaming.

"It's nothing, it's nothing."

Black Maria gently grasped her hand. "But it's really exaggerated! Their fight."

"Mouth-Tearing Ice Fang!"

Yamato unleashed a powerful Ice Ray, which instantly struck the distant giant wave, freezing it completely as it hurtled towards Loguetown.

"Really,"

She wiped her mouth. "Wait, didn't we just say we couldn't let their fighting destroy Loguetown?"

After these giant waves pass, the Loguetown will probably be completely destroyed.

"Um?"

Jack was somewhat surprised. "It's stopped? Is it over?"

"So fast?"

Luo was also somewhat incredulous; could a fight of this caliber really have a result so quickly?

Even if Ian has used all his skills, judging from the strength Hawk Eyes just displayed, he shouldn't be defeated so quickly, right?

In the distance, on the battlefield.

Hawk Eyes levitates by stepping on the air.

He certainly knew how to use Geppo, even something as simple as it.

However, at this point, he had completely lost the will to continue fighting.

He just stared blankly at the knife in his hand.

The Famous Sword, Yoru, which had been with him for many years and which he had vowed to forge into Black Blade, now had a very noticeable notch in the middle of its blade.

"Ha ha."

Ian scratched the back of his head awkwardly and said sheepishly, "I told you, I hope you won't regret it."

Even when Teacher Kai's Conqueror's Haki with his destructive flames.

Hawk Eyes's Haki, of course, couldn't completely block his own slash.

Therefore, after the Haki was shattered, Levantine and Night clashed.

It should be said that the fact that it wasn't completely severed, but only damaged and created a gap, shows that Night's reputation as a Famous Sword still holds some value.

Its strength is extremely high.

Hawk Eyes's golden eyes trembled.

As everyone knows, a swordsman only needs a sword and his hands.

The hand is still there, but the sword is gone.

Ian looked at the dazed Hawk Eyes and couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

I hope I won't have to pay compensation for this?

Hawk Eyes's trembling hands finally steadied. The man took a deep breath, and then smiled.

"What a magnificent move! It actually rendered me, a swordsman, unable to even protect my own sword. I have lost!"

"A complete and utter defeat."

"I only won by a small margin."

Ian gently pinched his right index finger and thumb together.

Indeed, he only won by a small margin. If Hawk Eyes's Haki had been stronger, the Sword of Destruction would not have been able to completely penetrate him, and thus would not have been able to destroy his sword.

"A loss is a loss, there's nothing more to say."

Hawk Eyes slung the sword back over his shoulder, a hint of delight in his voice. "In fact, quite the opposite," he said.

His eyes practically lit up as he looked at one of them, "It's wonderful to be able to spar with you!"

It's unbelievable that such a person exists in the world, possessing such unreasonable abilities!

If I cannot become stronger, if I cannot master the Black Blade, it is absolutely impossible to defeat him!

Hawk Eyes felt his heart pounding wildly.

A raging fire burned within his chest.

That's fighting spirit!

Hawk Eyes was already impatient; he couldn't wait to master the Black Blade and fight Ian again!

Ian, however, only felt a chill run down his spine.

What's with that burning look in his eyes?

To be honest, it's a little scary.

Suddenly, Ian raised an eyebrow. "Mihawk, do you want to repair your knife?"

"Repair?"

Hawk Eyes paused for a moment, then said, "Of course."

Then he shook his head with a hint of regret, "Night is Famous Sword of the Great Grade Sword; there are very few people in the world capable of repairing it."

I'll have to find a new knife.

But.

Ian's lips curled into a smile. "Coincidentally, I know someone who can fix it."

Moreover, there was more than one.

Aside from the Kozuki Sukiyaki from Wano Country.

There's one in the East Blue too.

Shimotsuki Kozaburo, who fled from Wano Country to the East Blue Shimotsuki Kozaburo back then.

He should still be alive, right?

Coincidentally, Shimotsuki Village was also one of the destinations on this trip. Ian had wanted to see the remnants of the Shimotsuki family, especially the remnant named Zoro.

"Really?"

Hawk Eyes's eyes lit up. "If that's the case, Ian, I'll consider it a favor I owe you!"

"Then come with us, Mihawk."

Invite me to join your cause!