Astonishing Battle

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

Mihawk, along with Red-Leg Zeff, stared in shock at the imposing Zero. Neither had expected to encounter someone with the one-in-a-million qualities of a king in a barren place like the East Blue!

Luffy had also heard Mihawk's words. Tilting his head, he asked curiously, "Conqueror's... what?"

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

Mihawk spoke to himself as if answering Luffy's question, then turned his gaze squarely upon Zero and once more took the Black Blade from his back.

"Young man, since you possess Conqueror's Haki, you are qualified to challenge me. Come. Let me see how much strength you have!"

"I can do more than just Conqueror's Haki, you know. Don't underestimate me!"

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

"Armament Haki, Hardening!"

Buzz!

A layer of gleaming black substance instantly covered the longsword!

"Interesting, very interesting!"

Mihawk's fighting spirit surged as he swung down the Black Blade, instantly unleashing a black slash. Like the fangs of an abyssal beast devouring its prey, it was terrifying to behold!

"Zero!"

Luffy shouted Zero's name, but Zero merely gave him an OK gesture. Then, his eyes fixed brightly on the black slash as the muscles in his sword-wielding arm suddenly bulged!

Boom!

Everyone gaped as Mihawk's terrifying slash was split cleanly in two by Zero's sword. Only two soaring streaks of blade light remained, flying into the distance and forcibly tearing apart the clouds!

"What kind of slash was that?!"

Everyone turned pale in shock, their eyes wide as they stared at those two monstrous fighters. It felt as though their entire worldview was collapsing!

Hawk-Eye Mihawk's strength was beyond doubt, yet that previously unremarkable kid from the Straw Hat Pirates had actually blocked such a slash without suffering even a scratch. Compared to that, Roronoa Zoro's Swordsmanship from earlier had been nothing more than children playing house.

The members of the Straw Hat Pirates were equally stunned. They had never imagined Zero's strength would so far 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 him considerable effort to break it apart, and his faintly trembling arm was the best 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 appeared at Mihawk's right side, his black sword edge flashing as he swung down at Mihawk with an invincible momentum!

Clang!

A pitch-black long blade blocked Zero's attack.

Zero snorted coldly and used Soru again. This time, he launched multiple slashes at Mihawk from several directions!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Their weapons collided repeatedly, erupting with deafening crashes. The sparks bursting between them were so intense that no one could see their movements clearly.

"Damn it... Is the gap between him and me really this great?"

Roronoa Zoro gritted his teeth as he watched the battle, but his resentment did not last long before settling into calm. Still, the light in his eyes grew ever brighter without him realizing it.

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

With Hawk-Eye's furious shout, the Black Blade in his hand swept forward, forcibly driving Zero back. But that was not all. His gaze sharpened, and the Black Blade fell again. This time, five streaks of black blade light flew toward Zero in midair!

"Try this, kid!"

The corner of Zero's mouth curled up. He swung his longsword again, producing five equally astonishing slashes!

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 raise their heads!

"No good, we're going to get blown away!"

"Ahhh, my chef's hat!"

"..."

"Zero is amazing!"

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

A moment later, the slashes annihilated each other in the collision. Everyone looked toward the center of the battlefield and continued watching the fight.

Zero landed on what little deck remained above the sea, his chest rising and falling rapidly with his breaths. Clearly, that exchange of slashes had taken a great deal out of him. Without Armament Haki coating the longsword in his hand, it would likely shatter apart the next instant!

"Mihawk!"

"Hm?"

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

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

"Come, kid!"

Mihawk suddenly laughed. Although Zero had not yet forced out all of his strength, the power he had displayed was 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 seemed to have never experienced this feeling again!

As he thought this, Mihawk noticed Zero's aura surge once more. Then he saw flames begin to coil around the longsword in Zero's hand, even forming the image of a demon made of fire behind Zero!

"What is that?"

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

"..."

Waves of astonished cries rose once again.

The instant the flaming demon took shape, Zero aimed the longsword in his hand at Mihawk once more and swung it down!

A massive fire dragon suddenly burst forth, instantly incinerating the deck along its path. Even the seawater was evaporated by the abruptly rising heat, billowing with steam!

Facing such a shocking attack, Hawk-Eye merely raised the Black Blade high and slashed forward!

Boom!

The fire dragon suddenly vanished. Only the charred black remains between the two men hinted at its existence. Mihawk, who had extinguished the fire dragon, said nothing. He returned the Black Blade to his back, turned, and leaped onto his small boat, leaving behind only a single sentence before departing.

"Young man, I acknowledge your strength as well. Strive to become stronger. When we meet again, we will settle who is superior!"

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

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