Visiting the World's Greatest Swordsman

In the forest, Urouge charged at the Human Imitators, swinging his enormous pencil down at the lead baboon.

Boom!

When the dust settled, a crater several meters deep had appeared in the ground.

Mad Monk Urouge stared in astonishment. How was that possible? That baboon—an animal—had actually dodged his attack?

Then, one baboon after another, each wielding a hammer, suddenly dropped from the sky. Imitating Urouge's earlier attack, they slammed their weapons heavily toward his head!

Urouge hurriedly held his pencil weapon horizontally across his chest to block the baboons' heavy blows.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Sparks flew everywhere.

Massive iron hammers struck Urouge's pencil weapon, producing a deep metallic hum.

Overwhelming force spread through him. Urouge's feet sank into the earth, and cracks spread beneath them.

Urouge revealed a stunned expression. Were these baboons really this strong?

He was a Supernova who had fought his way through the first half of the Grand Line. He might not have been qualified to face the monsters of the New World, but why was fighting a few baboons this difficult?

The wound Akainu Sakazuki had left him suddenly tore open under the immense force. The intense pain made Urouge's hands tremble uncontrollably.

"Woo woo hoo!"

The surrounding baboons jumped about, cheering excitedly.

The baboons that had not attacked earlier also raised their weapons, shouting as they charged at Urouge.

Urouge was still desperately resisting the Hammer Baboons' suppression. With so many more baboons rushing in, he could not free his hands at all!

A Supernova like him was actually helpless against a group of baboons. Urouge was starting to question his life!

Just as the surrounding baboons were about to strike Urouge, an invisible force appeared.

"I say, Urouge, you're no match for them right now, so stop forcing yourself," Ye Yu said calmly.

The baboons abruptly froze. Their weapons slipped from their paws, and each of them looked terrified, as though they had seen their natural predator.

Woo woo woo... woo woo woo...

The baboons cried out in terror, their voices mournful.

"I'll spare you lot for now. Don't disturb me again." Seeing that the baboons were genuinely terrified, Ye Yu withdrew the Conqueror's Haki he had just released.

These baboons seemed capable of understanding Ye Yu's words.

After Ye Yu withdrew his Conqueror's Haki, the baboons cried out in terror, threw down their weapons, and fled as fast as they could.

Urouge, who had been watching from the side, looked utterly embarrassed.

He had finally tried to show off in front of his captain, only to be humiliated by a bunch of animals!

Urouge felt his face burning. He had volunteered to drive away the baboons, yet a Supernova like him could not even defeat a group of them.

No one would believe it if he told them!

In the end... he still had to rely on Captain Ye Yu to step in personally!

Ye Yu found Urouge's embarrassment rather amusing.

"Let's go, Urouge. Train properly on my ship from now on. You're still far from being able to establish yourself in the New World," Ye Yu said in the tone of an elder lecturing a junior.

Urouge lowered his head like a child who had made a mistake, a manner completely at odds with his massive frame.

"Understood, Captain Ye Yu. I definitely won't be so reckless next time." Urouge silently swore that he would strengthen himself in the future.

Otherwise, he would only disgrace Captain Ye Yu too much!

They continued onward. Before they even reached Ghost Castle, a man appeared before them. With eyes as sharp as an eagle's, he stared intently at Urouge and Ye Yu.

Those piercing eyes were unmistakable. There was no mistake—this was Hawkeye Mihawk, known as the world's greatest swordsman!

Hawkeye Mihawk wore a black top hat, had a black beard, white trousers, and carried a massive black blade on his back that gleamed brightly.

This black blade was known as the strongest black blade, the cross-shaped Black Blade Night!

"I don't think entering someone else's territory without permission can be considered polite behavior."

Hawkeye Mihawk narrowed his eyes as he spoke, a faint fighting spirit radiating from him.

Mad Monk Urouge was deeply shaken.

Was this the fighting spirit of the world's greatest swordsman? Although Mihawk had not unleashed Conqueror's Haki, that cold, sinister battle intent still made one's heart tremble!

What kind of monsters were all these people in the New World?!

Having just been taught a lesson by the baboons, Urouge suffered another blow to his confidence.

He turned to look at Ye Yu beside him. Ye Yu remained as calm and composed as ever, forming a stark contrast with him.

Urouge sighed inwardly. Comparing oneself to others really could make one furious!

He was already forty-seven years old and had only barely become a Supernova! He had thought that once he reached the New World, he could finally begin the peak of his life.

But ever since arriving at the Sabaody Archipelago, he had thoroughly understood what it meant for there always to be someone greater beyond oneself, and a sky beyond the sky!

Captain Ye Yu, Akainu Sakazuki, Tyrant Bear, Dark King Rayleigh, Hawkeye Mihawk! Which one of them could not crush him to death with ease?

Even mere baboons dared to bully him now! What a miserable life this was...

Yet look at his captain, Ye Yu. Not even twenty years old, he had annihilated the Blackbeard Pirates! Beheaded Jack the Drought! Ended Admiral Akainu! Slain Celestial Dragons!

Which of those achievements was not a height he could never reach in his entire life?!

Ye Yu scratched his head. A sword fanatic like Hawkeye Mihawk was not easy to deal with!

Ye Yu smiled. "Mihawk, sorry for disturbing you. I came specifically to see you about something this time. I didn't bring you any gifts, so please forgive me, forgive me!"

Mihawk narrowed his eyes.

"You're the one who killed Admiral Akainu, aren't you? If you're here to ask me to join your Whitebeard Pirates, then I refuse!"

Hawkeye Mihawk spoke without the slightest politeness.

"To me, Mihawk, justice and evil are meaningless. What I want... is a battle with the world's strongest man!"

"Only that can temper my swordsmanship!" Hawkeye Mihawk said coldly.

Ye Yu was not offended in the slightest. Instead, the corners of his lips curled upward.

"Mihawk, sparring with Whitebeard would not do much to improve your swordsmanship," Ye Yu said with a smile.

"Hm?" Hawkeye Mihawk looked at Ye Yu suspiciously.

Ye Yu smiled again.

"If you want to improve your swordsmanship, I can teach you. Not just swordsmanship—I can teach you what the Way of the Sword truly is!"

"Arrogant brat!" Hawkeye Mihawk did not believe that Ye Yu, who looked so carefree and did not even carry a weapon, understood the Way of the Sword.

Just as Hawkeye Mihawk was about to order them to leave, an immense force appeared above Ye Yu's head.

Hawkeye Mihawk looked up. Above Ye Yu's head, an eerie white blade had appeared, its tip pointed directly at him!

Hawkeye Mihawk's eyes widened. He swallowed hard, his face filled with shock and excitement.

"This... could this be... the legendary Sword Intent?!"

"You... actually understand the legendary Sword Intent where no sword triumphs over a sword?"

"Using intent to command the sword! It can defeat all swordsmen beneath heaven!"

Hawkeye Mihawk licked his lips and spoke excitedly.

Ever since he had ascended to the throne of the world's greatest swordsman, he had discovered that his swordsmanship had reached its end. He could not advance even a fraction further!

As a swordsman utterly devoted to swordsmanship, the empty title of world's greatest swordsman meant nothing to him.

His inability to advance in swordsmanship was even more unbearable to Hawkeye Mihawk than death!

He had thought he already stood at the pinnacle of the world's swordsmen, but... the person before him had unleashed a realm of Sword Intent that he had never set foot in!

The legendary realm of Sword Intent truly existed. His swordsmanship could still improve!

"Mihawk, if I defeat you in the way of a swordsman, will you assist my Whitebeard Pirates in the Marineford War?" Ye Yu asked with a smile. For someone like Hawkeye Mihawk, who sought only the sword, this was the most effective way to win him over!

"Of course! Please do not hold back in teaching me!!" Filled with excitement and anticipation, Hawkeye Mihawk slowly drew the Black Blade Night from his back, his eyes blazing with incomparably brilliant battle intent!

Challenging the young man before him was far more interesting than challenging Whitebeard!