Swordmaster's Battle

"Cough, cough..."

Lin Feng knelt on one knee, using the Demon God Blade in his hand to brace himself against the deck and support his tottering body. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth and dripped onto the planks, blooming into vivid scarlet flowers.

He gasped for breath, his chest heaving violently, like an overworked machine that could stop running at any moment.

"So this is... the power of the world's strongest?"

Lin Feng raised his head, his eyes filled with unwillingness and longing, but above all, excitement.

He licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, feeling the battle intent boiling within him and the pain that kept surging through his body.

"It's not enough. It's still far from enough!"

Lin Feng growled and slowly rose to his feet. Under the enhancement of the Saiyan Bloodline, the wounds on his body began to heal gradually.

He raised his head and looked at Hawkeye opposite him, his eyes filled with determination and not the slightest hint of retreat.

Hawkeye still stood there, tall and straight like a towering mountain, immovable.

Yoru in his hand continued to radiate a suffocating pressure, like a dormant beast ready to devour anyone at any moment.

"Your strength is indeed impressive."

Hawkeye looked at Lin Feng, a hint of admiration flashing through his eyes, but his tone remained calm and utterly unruffled.

"But your current strength still isn't enough to defeat me."

Lin Feng did not answer. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes flashing with unyielding battle intent. He tightened his grip on the Demon God Blade and felt the repeated vibrations traveling through it—the blade was responding to his fighting spirit.

A strange black aura slowly seeped from the Demon God Blade, intertwining with the golden-red flames covering his body and forming a unique, heart-pounding field of energy.

A powerful longing rose within Lin Feng. He yearned to become stronger, yearned to defeat the formidable enemy before him.

Hawkeye's sharp gaze locked onto the Demon God Blade in Lin Feng's hand, his falcon-like eyes narrowing slightly.

The sea wind howled past, lifting his black cloak and making it snap loudly.

Under his gaze, the black aura slowly spilling from the Demon God Blade writhed like a living thing. It tangled with the golden-red flames around Lin Feng, refracting an eerie light under the sun.

"Interesting. This blade seems to have a will of its own."

Hawkeye murmured, a rare trace of surprise in his voice. As the world's greatest swordsman, he could sense how different the Demon God Blade was from ordinary famous blades.

That faint pulse of will seemed like a summons from an ancient battlefield, filled with Bloodthirst and a savage, violent aura.

Lin Feng closed his eyes and felt the repeated tremors coming from the Demon God Blade in his hand. The blade's temperature continued to rise, while the black aura grew denser, flowing through the air like ink.

Wrapped in this dark power, the golden-red flames became even more violent, crackling and popping as though undergoing some mysterious transformation.

"Old friend, let's fight together!"

Lin Feng suddenly opened his eyes, golden-red flames flickering in his pupils. His voice was low and resolute, filled with a yearning for battle.

The Demon God Blade seemed to respond to its master's call. Its blade trembled even more violently, releasing a series of buzzing sounds.

Bart stood some distance away, watching everything nervously. Sweat slid down his resolute face and soaked the front of his shirt.

As Lin Feng's companion, he wanted more than anyone to help his captain, but the level of the battle before him had already far exceeded anything he could reach.

Suddenly, a faint crack reached Bart's ears.

He lowered his head and saw spiderweb-like cracks spreading across the deck of the Gale. They had been caused by the sword aura released during the duel between the two swordsmen.

Bart hurriedly activated the power of the Steel Fruit, hardening his entire body into steel as he began reinforcing the damaged parts of the ship.

"I can't let the captain's battle be interrupted!"

Bart clenched his teeth and poured even more of the fruit's power into the hull, determined to protect the ship that carried their dreams.

"Oh?"

Hawkeye raised an eyebrow slightly, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes. He could sense that the aura radiating from Lin Feng had grown much stronger—and much more dangerous.

"Looks like you still have a trump card."

Hawkeye spoke softly, his tone carrying a hint of curiosity and expectation. He tightened his grip on Yoru once more, and his aura rose again, like a drawn sword revealing its full sharpness.

"Then I'll show you the power of the Demon God Blade!"

Lin Feng shouted, stomping down hard. His body shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, charging straight at Hawkeye.

"Sun Breathing: Twelfth Form, Flame Dance!"

Lin Feng let out a low shout. His entire body was wrapped in golden-red flames, like a blazing sun radiating dazzling light. The Demon God Blade in his hand erupted with even greater power and slashed toward Hawkeye with an aura capable of burning everything.

"Not bad."

Hawkeye spoke softly as Yoru in his hand also erupted with even greater power, slashing toward Lin Feng's attack.

"Clang—!"

A deafening metallic collision rang out. Sparks flew in all directions, and the powerful shock wave sent the surrounding seawater surging into the air, forming a massive column of water.

Their attacks collided in midair, releasing an ear-splitting explosion that shook the entire sea.

Lin Feng's body was sent flying again and crashed heavily into the mast, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood. A deep slash had appeared across his chest, and blood poured out continuously, staining his clothes red.

"Cough, cough..."

Lin Feng dropped to one knee again, using the Demon God Blade in his hand to brace himself against the deck and support his tottering body.

He gasped for breath, his chest heaving violently, like an overworked machine that could stop running at any moment.

"It's over."

Hawkeye looked at Lin Feng, his eyes calm and devoid of pity. His tone was cold, giving away no emotion.

"Your current strength still isn't enough."

Lin Feng did not answer. He merely raised his head slowly, his eyes filled with unwillingness and longing.

He tightened his grip on the Demon God Blade again, his body trembling slightly as though struggling with all his might to remain standing.

"I..."

Lin Feng spoke with difficulty, his voice hoarse and carrying a trace of unyielding resolve. "I haven't lost yet!"

He rose to his feet again and lifted the Demon God Blade in his hand, his eyes filled with determination and not the slightest hint of retreat.

"Oh?"

Hawkeye raised an eyebrow, a trace of astonishment flashing through his eyes. He had not expected this kid to be so stubborn. Even in this state, he still refused to admit defeat.

"Looks like you truly are an opponent worthy of respect."

Hawkeye's voice was low and magnetic, carrying a rare note of acknowledgment. The sea wind blew past, making his black cloak snap loudly and lending him an even more imposing air.

"But your current strength is indeed still insufficient." His words were flat, yet they struck like a blade aimed directly at the vital point.

Lin Feng knelt on one knee, blood dripping onto the deck and gathering into a small pool of dark red.

He clenched the Demon God Blade, feeling the humming vibration traveling through it, as though it were responding to his unyielding will.

Lin Feng raised his head. His gaze remained as sharp as a blade's edge, without the slightest trace of defeat.

Golden-red flames danced around his body, intertwining with the black aura emanating from the Demon God Blade. He looked like a war god fighting a bloody battle—tragic, yet overflowing with power.

"Hawkeye, I'll become the strongest man in the world. And I will definitely surpass you."

Lin Feng's voice was hoarse but resolute, echoing through the sea wind.

He looked at the world's greatest swordsman before him, knowing perfectly well that he was still far from the true pinnacle of strength.

His Haki and swordsmanship were both still far from enough. He still had a long road ahead of him.

Clutching the Demon God Blade and feeling the pulse traveling through it, a resolute gleam flashed through Lin Feng's eyes.