Sunlight streamed down through the massive crack.
Hawk Eyes's spirit stood high in the sky and suddenly burst into laughter.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
"What a fine sword!"
"This is true swordsmanship!"
" Sword Saint!"
"The Saint of Swords!"
His laughter grew louder and louder.
There was no resentment after defeat.
They also did not face the fear of death.
"My lifelong pursuit has been the pinnacle of swordsmanship."
"I once thought that the Great Swordsman had reached the end."
"After losing to you, I realized I wasn't strong enough."
"Today I was defeated by Tashigi, and I witnessed this sword strike with my own eyes."
"Enough!"
Hawk Eyes watched the lingering sword light in the distance.
"To have witnessed such swordsmanship in this lifetime, I have no regrets even in death!"
The giant sword energy finally dissipated 100,000 meters away.
The torn clouds did not immediately close up.
The sword intent that pierced the sky began to recede.
The power that Uchiha Xin left in Hawk Eyes's soul also dissipated.
The transparent soul began to disintegrate from its feet.
Hawk Eyes did not struggle.
He took one last look at the Black Blade Yoru in Tashigi's hand.
The knife that had been with him for many years had found a stronger master.
His gaze then fell back on Uchiha Xin.
Hawk Eyes nodded.
The soul transformed into tiny specks of light.
The specks of light drifted away with the wind high in the sky.
A few breaths later, the last trace of life completely vanished.
The former World's Greatest Swordsman.
Dracule Mihawk.
And so it came to an end.
The sea surface has resumed its current.
Seawater that had accumulated on both sides began to seep into the crack.
The roar resumed.
Uchiha Xin stood on the sea surface, refraining from further attacks.
Robin, Tashigi, and Perona fell from the sky.
Tashigi gripped the Black Blade Yoru and first glanced at the spot where Hawk Eyes's soul had vanished.
She wasn't sad.
For a swordsman, dying on the path he pursues is the best possible outcome.
Perona couldn't help but ask:
"Master, didn't you say you wanted to recruit Hawk Eyes to your side?"
"Why did you still kill him in the end?"
Uchiha Xin looked at her.
"He doesn't want to live anymore."
Perona was somewhat puzzled.
"You even managed to subdue Kalifa by force."
Why can't Hawk Eyes work?
Whether or not they can be subdued is one thing.
Whether or not it's worth subduing is another matter.
Uchiha Xin said:
" Hawk Eyes is challenging again, and it's not just to reclaim Black Blade Yoru."
He was prepared to die in battle.
"After Shanks died, his last attachment was gone."
" Tashigi showed him a realm beyond the Great Swordsman."
"This final sword strike fulfilled all his obsessions."
"Even if we force him to stay, he'll just be a swordsman who's lost the will to live."
Perona understood.
"His heart is dead, there's no point in him staying."
"Good."
Uchiha Xin turned and walked towards the island.
Perona followed beside him.
After flying a distance, she raised her chin again.
"But you acted too quickly."
"What?"
" Red-Haired."
Perona hugged Kumashi tightly.
"You just picked him directly."
"I have no choice but to stay on the Red Fosse and deal with Beckman and his men."
"If I had known Red-Haired was so weak, I should have let him fight me."
As she spoke, she opened her floral umbrella and twirled around.
So what if they're the Four Emperors?
" Beckman claimed to be on par with Red-Haired, but I still beat him to a pulp."
"If I were to face Red-Haired, I might not necessarily lose."
Uchiha Xin glanced at her.
Are you blaming me for not leaving Shanks to you?
"I didn't say that."
Perona turned her face away.
"It's just a bit of a pity."
"I didn't even get to witness the true power of the Four Emperors before he died."
"If anyone asks me in the future, I can only say that I killed the first mate of one of the Four Emperors."
It just doesn't sound quite right.
Tashigi landed behind the two.
Upon hearing this, she immediately spoke:
"Didn't you just say that you've already reached the level of one of the Four Emperors?"
Perona immediately turned around.
"That's exactly right."
"Even Beckman is no match for me."
"So what if we take down another Red-Haired?"
Tashigi glanced at the floral umbrella in her hand.
"Next time you encounter Four Emperors, you can go yourself."
"Fine, I'll do it myself."
Perona raised her chin.
"Who's afraid of who?"
Robin chuckled softly.
"Now there are only three of the Four Emperors left."
"If this continues, Perona won't find a worthy opponent before the Four Emperors are gone."
Perona's face stiffened.
She looked at Uchiha Xin.
"Owner."
"You are not allowed to take all Four Emperors."
Uchiha Xin raised his hand and pressed it against her head.
"Take care of the rest of the Red Hair Pirates first, then you can talk to me about the Four Emperors."
Perona slapped his hand away.
"That was because Sister Robin pressed it down with her arm."
It's not like I can't beat them.
Tashigi walked past, carrying her Black Blade Yoru.
"If you really want to prove your strength, you can catch up now."
The Red Voss hasn't gone far yet.
Perona was speechless.
Beckman is dead.
The remaining members of the Red Hair Pirates were also rendered unable to fight.
Chasing after them now wouldn't even qualify as a battle.
She snorted.
I won't bully a bunch of wounded soldiers.
Uchiha Xin was too lazy to listen to her argument anymore.
"Are you all really free?"
Robin came to his side.
"It's not that we're idle."
"You always make it sound so easy."
She looked at the crack in the sky that had not yet fully closed.
"A single sword strike pierces through 100,000 meters."
"In your mouth, it's probably just a minor breakthrough."
Tashigi nodded immediately.
" Sword Saint Stage Realm ".
"Slice open the sea."
"Tearing the sky apart."
"It is indeed very small."
Perona then said:
"If it gets any smaller, you'll slice the entire sky in half."
Uchiha Xin stopped in his tracks.
"A breakthrough in strength is nothing to be surprised about."
Tashigi picked up the Black Blade Yoru.
"So my breakthrough to Sword Saint isn't something to be surprised about?"
Your power comes from me.
Uchiha Xin's answer was very direct.
What's there to be proud of?
Tashigi looked at him.
I'm not smug.
"From beginning to end, you were the one who was smug."
Robin and Perona both looked at Uchiha Xin.
Perona couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Master, you didn't have this expression when you said you could crush all the Four Emperors with your swordsmanship."
Uchiha Xin scanned the three of them.
"It seems you guys really have too much free time."
Perona immediately floated behind Robin.
"Trying to punish someone again?"
I'm just telling the truth.
Tashigi gripped her Black Blade Yoru, and didn't approach any further.
They all knew Uchiha Xin's personality.
If we continue, he might actually take action.
Robin did not dodge.
She approached Uchiha Xin.
" The Hawk Eyes matter is over."
Should we go back to Sky Island first?
"No."
Uchiha Xin said:
"You three go back first."
I also need to go somewhere by myself.
Perona peeked out from behind Robin.
"Are they going to leave us behind again?"
Where are you planning to go this time?
"Searching for Poneglyph."
Robin stopped moving immediately.
" Poneglyph?"
She immediately took a step closer.
"You've discovered a new Poneglyph?"