Chapter 327

"Even as a Logia user, I could never have blocked that fatal strike."

"Dracule Mihawk really was a top-tier fighter. He was far stronger than Doflamingo."

Bartolomeo grinned. "The captain's still the captain, as strong as ever."

"He even caught Dracule Mihawk's full-force strike with ease!"

The battlefield was crisscrossed with deep gouges.

It looked nothing like it had when they first arrived.

Now, everything had fallen quiet again.

Only a little dust remained in the air.

Neither Chris nor Mihawk had gained the upper hand in that exchange.

Mihawk nodded approvingly. "You broke Eagle Strike—Great Rending Gale through sheer force. A straightforward answer to a complex move."

"You're exactly like Shanks!"

Of all Mihawk's opponents, only those two had ever broken his moves that way.

He had sparred with Red-Haired Shanks many times and knew him all too well.

"Chris, it's astonishing that you've reached such a pure, unadorned level of Swordsmanship at your age!"

"No wonder you've come this far."

Chris remained calm. "Martial arts are for killing."

"The simplest, most direct and effective attack is what matters."

"I don't care for flashy tricks, so that's easier for me to understand."

Chris paused, then continued, "Your Eagle Strike—Great Rending Gale looked flashy at first."

"But not a single movement was wasted. That made it all the more impressive!"

For a moment, Chris and Mihawk felt a kinship.

Each held the other's Swordsmanship in high regard.

But this was a contest, and a contest needed a winner.

Dracule Mihawk's eyes narrowed slightly. "Now, let's have a real fight."

Chris had earned Dracule Mihawk's full respect.

Dracule Mihawk now regarded him as a true opponent.

Their earlier exchanges had sparked Dracule Mihawk's interest in Chris's Swordsmanship.

As two of the finest swordsmen, they naturally wanted to see who was better.