"Next, I'm going to teach you how to behave."
The moment Lei En finished speaking, an aura that sent chills down one's spine erupted from his small body without warning.
The air seemed to turn viscous at that instant.
"Bzzzt—!"
Accompanied by a low hum, an ink-black sheen rapidly spread from Lei En's hand gripping the sword, instantly covering Yubashiri's entire blade.
Armament Haki!
And not just any Armament Haki—it was Advanced Armament Haki condensed to the extreme, so dense it seemed ready to drip like water!
Mihawk, still kneeling on one knee, had his pupils suddenly contract.
He stared fixedly at the black blade radiating an aura of destruction, feeling as if he could barely breathe.
"Th-this much Armament Haki?! How old is he?!"
A raging storm rose in Mihawk's heart, yet it did not make him retreat. Instead, it stirred the most primal survival instinct and fighting spirit of a swordsman within him.
He suddenly bit down hard enough to break his gums, forcibly suppressing the trembling in his hands as he held Black Blade Yoru horizontally before himself.
A layer of Armament Haki—not weak by any means, but rather thin in comparison—also covered his blade.
"Even if you're a monster... I'll never back down!"
Mihawk let out a hoarse roar, his legs exploding with force as he actually charged headlong into Lei En's terrifying aura!
Lei En watched Mihawk struggle like a trapped beast, a flicker of approval passing through his eyes.
As expected of the future world's greatest swordsman. That resilience—the refusal to bow even in the face of death—truly suited that black blade.
"Since you've got such backbone, I'll show you what a true pinnacle looks like!"
Lei En took a deep breath and gripped the hilt with both hands.
The most domineering, most unreasonable ultimate killing move of Roger's Swordsmanship began to gather madly at the blade's edge.
Although Lei En had yet to awaken Conqueror's Haki and could not unleash the true complete form, this modified version of the attack was still enough to destroy heaven and earth!
He raised Yubashiri high and brought it down cleanly upon the charging Mihawk.
"Divine Departure!"
"Boom—!!!"
A massive, pitch-black crescent-shaped slash burst from the blade like a raging dragon breaking free of its shackles, roaring as it surged forward!
Wherever the sword energy passed, the beach was instantly plowed open into a colossal trench dozens of meters deep, while the rock beneath was ground directly into powder by the violent force.
Facing that unstoppable black dragon, Mihawk felt like a praying mantis standing before rolling wheels—so insignificant it was laughable.
Never before had the shadow of death hung over him so clearly.
"AAAAAHHHH!"
Mihawk unleashed an unprecedented roar, pouring every ounce of his strength, Haki, and even his life force into this single strike without reservation.
"Yoru: Extreme Slash!"
A massive green slash, carrying his final pride as a swordsman, crashed head-on into the black dragon!
"Boom—!!!"
At the instant the two waves of sword energy collided, time itself seemed to freeze.
There was no sound.
Only blinding light erupted violently from the center of the collision, making it impossible to keep one's eyes open.
Then came an immense blast that seemed capable of tearing heaven and earth apart!
"Crack!"
Centered around the two of them, the sea within a radius of several hundred meters was forcibly split open by the collision's power, forming a bottomless abyss!
The seawater rushing in from both sides was instantly vaporized by the terrifying aftershock of sword energy, sending white mist billowing into the sky.
And above them—
The once-heavy clouds were directly cleaved in half by the sword energy soaring into the heavens, revealing a strip of azure sky!
It was as though a god had swung a sword and split apart the chaos.
"Crack... crack..."
The deadlock lasted less than a second.
Dense cracks appeared across the surface of Mihawk's all-out green slash.
"Im... possible..."
Mihawk's eyes widened in despair.
"Bang!"
The green slash shattered with a thunderous explosion, turning into countless glowing motes.
The black dragon did not slow in the slightest as it slammed fiercely into Mihawk's chest!
"Pfft—!"
Mihawk spat out a mouthful of blood, his body flung away by that irresistible force like a kite with its string cut.
He rolled across the beach for more than a hundred meters, smashing through countless reefs along the way before barely coming to a stop.
Mihawk lay flat on his back amid a pile of rubble, covered in blood and lacking even the strength to move a finger.
His Black Blade Yoru was embedded in the sand nearby, letting out mournful cries.
Yet his amber eyes held not the slightest trace of fear or dejection. Instead, they were filled with fervor, admiration, and an intense yearning for a higher realm.
He had lost.
Lost completely.
He was battered beyond recognition.
Yet he felt that this one sword strike had completely cleaved open a brand-new gate on his path of swordsmanship!
Soft footsteps approached.
Lei En leisurely sheathed Yubashiri and strolled over to Mihawk's side.
Looking at the wretched young Hawkeye, he let out an old-fashioned sigh and reached out with his little hand to pat Mihawk's bloodstained shoulder.
"Young man, your sword has some potential."
Lei En spoke in the tone of an elder lecturing a junior.
"But you're still far, far from the true pinnacle."
"Go back and swing your sword a few tens of thousands more times. Build a solid foundation, and stop running around trying to look cool all day."
Mihawk gritted his teeth and used every bit of strength in his body to painfully climb out of the rubble.
He did not refute Lei En's mockery, nor did he care about his severe injuries.
He straightened his back and grasped the black blade embedded in the sand with blood-covered hands, pulling it free.
Then, before Lei En's eyes—
The future world's greatest swordsman solemnly bowed deeply.
"Thank you... for your guidance."
Mihawk's voice was hoarse, but his tone was incomparably firm.
"I will remember today's defeat, Lei En."
He raised his head, his sharp eyes fixed on Lei En as though he intended to carve the appearance of this six-year-old brat into his soul.
"One day... I will surpass the mountain that is you!"
Lei En looked at the boy's stubborn eyes and laughed inwardly.
Surpass me?
By the time you learn Haki coating, I'll have already led the Heavenly Court to scatter Imu's ashes to the wind.
Still, he did not discourage Hawkeye. He merely waved a hand casually.
"Fine, fine. I'll be waiting."
Lei En yawned and rubbed his somewhat empty stomach.
That Divine Departure just now had not used his full strength, but it had still drained plenty of stamina. He needed to hurry back and have Kuina make him some grilled meat to replenish himself.
He turned around and walked toward Shimotsuki Village on his short little legs without looking back.
"Oh, right."
As if suddenly remembering something, Lei En stopped and turned to look at Mihawk, who was still tending to his wounds where he stood. An especially wicked smile curled onto his lips.
"I hear you've got plenty of free time and like wandering all over the world?"
Before you continue