An Astonishing Battle

"Could that be... Conqueror's Haki?!"

Mihawk, along with Red-Leg Zeff, stared at the imposing Zero in shock. They had never expected to encounter someone with the one-in-a-million qualities of a king in a barren place like the East Blue!

Luffy heard Mihawk as well and tilted his head curiously. "Conqueror's... what?"

"That is an ability possessed only by kings, one person in a million. To think I would encounter it here... how interesting!"

Mihawk spoke to himself, seemingly answering Luffy's question. Then he faced Zero directly and once more took the black blade from his back into his hand.

"Young man, since you possess Conqueror's Haki, you have the right to challenge me. Come, let me see how strong you are!"

"I don't only know Conqueror's Haki. Don't underestimate me!"

Mihawk looked puzzled. In the next moment, Zero grinned and casually grabbed a longsword embedded in the deck, holding it level before him.

"Armament Haki, Hardening!"

Buzz!

The blade was instantly coated in a layer of gleaming black substance!

"Interesting, very interesting!"

Mihawk's fighting spirit surged. His black blade slashed down, sending out a black slash like the fangs of an abyssal beast devouring its prey. It was enough to make one's heart tremble just looking at it!

"Zero!"

Luffy shouted Zero's name, but Zero merely gave him an OK sign. Then, his eyes fixed brightly on the black slash as the muscles in the arm gripping his sword hilt suddenly exploded with force!

Boom!

Everyone stood dumbfounded. Mihawk's terrifying slash was split cleanly in two by Zero's single strike. Only two soaring blade lights remained, flying into the distance and tearing the clouds in the sky apart!

"What kind of slash was that?!"

Everyone was horrified, their eyes wide as they looked at the two monsters. It felt as though their entire understanding of the world was collapsing!

Hawk-Eye Mihawk's strength was beyond doubt, but that inconspicuous kid from the Straw Hat Pirates had actually blocked such a slash without suffering the slightest injury. Compared to that, Zoro's Swordsmanship earlier had been no different from children playing house.

The Straw Hat Pirates were equally shocked. They had never imagined Zero's strength would so vastly exceed their expectations.

In truth, Zero had only managed to block that slash because Mihawk had not gone all out. Even so, it had taken everything he had to break it apart, and his slightly trembling arm was the clearest proof.

The next moment, Zero decided to take the initiative!

Soru!

The familiar footwork appeared again before Luffy and the others. In the blink of an eye, Zero was at Mihawk's right side, his black blade flashing as he swung it down at Mihawk with unstoppable force!

Clang!

A jet-black longsword blocked Zero's attack.

Zero snorted and used Soru again. This time, he attacked Mihawk from several directions at once with a barrage of slashes!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Their weapons collided incessantly, producing deafening booms. The sparks bursting between them were so intense that no one could make out their movements.

"Damn it... is the gap between us really that huge?"

Zoro gritted his teeth as he watched the battle, but his frustration did not last long before returning to calm. Yet the light in his eyes quietly grew brighter and brighter.

"Kid, is this all you've got? Too easy!"

With Hawk-Eye's furious shout, the black blade in his hand swept forward and forcibly drove Zero back. But it was not over. His gaze sharpened, and his black blade came down again—this time, five black blade lights flew toward Zero in midair!

"Try this, kid!"

Zero's lips curled upward. He swung his longsword once more, creating five astonishing slashes of his own!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The slashes collided, and several terrifying shockwaves spread from the point of impact. The resulting gale was so fierce that no one present could lift their heads!

"This isn't good, I'm going to get blown away!"

"Ahhh! My chef's hat!"

"..."

"Zero is amazing!"

Not far away, Luffy watched the battle with a delighted expression. He even remembered to stretch out an arm and securely tie himself to some part of a ship floating on the sea.

A moment later, the slashes annihilated one another. Everyone turned their attention back to the center, continuing to watch the battle.

Zero landed on the little deck space remaining above the sea, his chest heaving sharply with every breath. The earlier clash had clearly taken a great toll on him. Without Armament Haki coating the longsword in his hand, it would likely shatter in the next instant!

"Mihawk!"

"Hm?"

Mihawk could tell that Zero seemed close to reaching his physical limit. He thought Zero was about to say something like surrender, but instead, he heard:

"The next move is the strongest technique I can currently use. If you can block it, then I lose!"

"Come on, kid!"

Mihawk suddenly laughed. Although Zero had not yet forced out his full strength, the power he had displayed was already enough to make Mihawk take him seriously and enjoy a fierce battle to his heart's content!

How long had it been? Ever since Red-Haired Shanks lost an arm, Mihawk had not experienced this feeling again!

As he thought this, Mihawk noticed Zero's aura suddenly rise once more. Then he saw flames begin to coil around the longsword in Zero's hand, even forming a demonic figure made of flames behind him!

"What is that?"

"Why are there flames on his weapon? Could he be a Devil Fruit user too?"

"..."

Waves of astonished cries rang out once more.

The moment the flaming demon took shape, Zero pointed the longsword in his hand at Mihawk again and then swung it down!

A massive fire dragon suddenly burst forth, instantly incinerating the deck along its path. Even the seawater was evaporated by the sudden heat, sending up plumes of steam!

Faced with such an astonishing attack, Hawk-Eye merely raised his black blade high and slashed forward!

Boom!

The fire dragon suddenly vanished. Only the charred black remains between the two men hinted that it had ever existed. Mihawk, who had cut down the fire dragon, said nothing. He sheathed the black blade behind his back again, turned, and leapt onto his small boat. Leaving behind only one sentence, he departed.

"Young man, I acknowledge your strength as well. Work hard and grow stronger. The next time we meet, we will settle who is superior!"

Hearing those words, Zero drew a deep breath. The longsword in his hand snapped completely the instant the Armament Haki faded, but he still revealed a satisfied smile.

"Whew... I finally completed the mission..."