Dragon-Slaying Draw

"Rumble!"

Dark clouds gathered overhead, lightning flickering through them amid the low rumble of thunder.

Their battle had thrown both the sea and the sky into turmoil. As time passed, it only grew fiercer.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!"

The relentless clash of steel shook the air, sending surging shock waves in every direction.

The light in River's eyes grew sharper and brighter, while his aura grew ever stronger.

Dracule Mihawk's presence likewise became increasingly terrifying.

The world had no precise system of ranks for swordsmanship, only broad descriptions drawn from the insights of countless master swordsmen.

Cutting iron, cutting Haki, cutting through anything-but the two men fighting had undoubtedly reached the highest level.

Every slash they delivered could cleave the sea and sky or sever a mountain, its power terrifying beyond measure.

In a battle like this, what mattered was the combined strength of will, spirit, and body, united as one.

Gradually, as their swings grew stronger and faster, small wounds finally began to appear on both men.

"Rip!"

A blast of force pierced Dracule Mihawk's black hat, shearing off part of its brim. His pupils contracted, and he swiftly retreated.

"Whew!"

Mihawk slowly exhaled, his gaze grave.

In a world-class battle like this, being the first to suffer a setback was hardly a good sign.

He really is powerful!

A light sheen of sweat formed on Mihawk's forehead as he murmured inwardly. His stamina and energy were being drained.

Yet his opponent remained at his peak, like a perpetual motion machine. Those sweeping movements and all-out attacks had not diminished his condition in the slightest.

Drawing a shallow breath, Mihawk's eyes sharpened further. He turned the Black Blade Yoru in his hands and gripped its hilt with both hands.

The next second, he stepped forward. His figure flickered, and he was already above River, turning his blade until its tip pointed straight down.

Then he drove it down with all his might.

"Boom!"

River retreated to evade it, and the blade punched a hole through the deck where he had stood.

He glanced down and saw a tear slashed into his robe.

"Interesting. You really won't let yourself get the short end of the stick!"

River grinned.

He raised his sword and pointed its tip at his opponent. With a slight tremor, a surge of purplish-red energy swept over it, staining the blade an eerie color.

"Are you going all out now?"

Mihawk spoke gravely.

He held his sword in both hands, his aura erupting.

"Tap, tap, tap!"

His feet struck the deck with crisp taps before he charged at his opponent.

This time, he was slower than before. Even those watching from afar could clearly follow his movements.

Yet his aura was even more terrifying and powerful.

Two breaths later, Mihawk's gaze abruptly sharpened, and his figure vanished into thin air.

When he reappeared, he had leaped high above River and was bringing the Black Blade down with both hands.

"Ha-ha!"

River grinned, gripping the hilt in his right hand. Purplish-red lightning blazed along his blade as he swung it fiercely toward the sky.

"Divine Departure!!!"

Time seemed to slow at that moment. The two blades drew closer, about to collide.

Yet just before they touched, the purplish-red blade suddenly turned, slipping past the Black Blade.

Dracule Mihawk's pupils contracted, shock surging through him.

The next second, his opponent's blade struck his body.

"Slash, slash, slash, slash!"

Blood sprayed almost instantly, and Mihawk felt an immense force slam into him. Then he abruptly gritted his teeth.

How could I let myself lose so easily!

The Black Blade in his hands shuddered in midair, gleaming pitch-black as he brought it slashing down.

"Slash!"

River tilted his head slightly, avoiding a fatal blow, but a long, bloody gash opened across his body.

His gaze tightened, and he stepped back.

Dracule Mihawk landed on both feet, panting lightly.

"Drip!"

Blood dripped from both men onto the deck, each drop clearly audible.

"You really are a monster!"

Mihawk spoke in a low voice.

That last strike had bypassed his weapon and attacked his body directly, leaving him no way to evade it.

"And you truly deserve your place at the top of the world!"

"With swordsmanship like yours, few people in the world could stand beside you!"

River spoke gravely.

This was a contest of swordsmanship, and he was more than willing to face his opponent in a duel at the pinnacle using sword skills alone.

Without question, in terms of pure swordsmanship, the man before him was the most fearsome opponent imaginable.

A difference of a hair's breadth could decide victory or defeat.

Swordsmanship was a delicate art.

Then both men tightened their grips on their swords once more.

"Drip!"

Blood fell from their bodies, staining the deck red.

Neither Mihawk nor River paid the slightest attention to their bleeding.

Until one of them fell, this battle was not over.

Even River, who possessed the power of the Recovery Fruit, did not use it at that moment.

"I will fight this battle against you with pure swordsmanship and sword skills."

"That is also my way of showing respect to you, the World's Greatest Swordsman!"

River bent slightly, slowly returning his sword to its sheath.

His aura began to draw inward as well, as though it were being hidden inside the sheath along with his blade.

"If you truly respect me!"

"Then you should use your full strength. Whatever power it may be, it is still your own strength!"

"A true battle between swordsmen should be fought with everything they have!"

Mihawk held his sword in both hands, drew a shallow breath, and spoke in a low voice.

"Is that so?"

River paused, vaguely realizing his mistake.

"Very well, then. I'll fight you with my full strength!"

As his words fell, the long gash across his body began to heal. In the blink of an eye, it had vanished entirely.

Seeing this, Mihawk's lips twitched twice, and he fell silent.

He suddenly realized he could have done without saying that.

Now the pressure is even greater!

What did it mean to face an enemy who could neither be wounded nor killed, yet was overwhelmingly powerful?

"For this next strike, I'll use everything I have!"

"Mihawk!"

River rested his right hand on the hilt at his waist and spoke in a low voice.

"Then let me see it for myself!"

"The power that shook the world in the previous era!"

Dracule Mihawk lowered his stance slightly, gripping the Black Blade tightly in both hands as he spoke gravely.

Blood still dripped from his body, but it did nothing to diminish his presence.

"Whoosh!"

A light breeze swept past. Facing each other, the two men's auras grew ever more formidable.

Suddenly.

They snapped their heads up, sharp light bursting from their eyes.

Their feet struck the deck, and their figures vanished in an instant as they charged toward each other.

"Shing!"

The clear ring of a sword being drawn rang out. Dracule Mihawk's pupils contracted, and he swung his blade down fiercely with both hands.

At that same instant, River's hilt trembled. Strangely, in the brief moment it moved, his sword was already in the air.

His draw was as fast as lightning.

Another flash, and the blade was already in front of Mihawk.

"Roar!"

A faint azure dragon's roar echoed. Mihawk opened his eyes and saw an enormous dragon winding into view behind River, its blood-red eyes fixed on him.

"Dragon-Slaying Draw!"

River uttered the words softly.

In an instant, the two men streaked past each other, their swords crossing as they came to a halt back-to-back.

With a crack, the head of the manifested dragon phantom snapped off. It let out an agonized roar and vanished into nothing.