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A brilliant flash of sword light burst forth with a dazzling blue glow.
In an instant, it sliced through Kabuki's body. The savage, arrogant expression on his face froze, replaced by shock and terror.
"W-Why...?"
From a distance, he saw a man slowly approaching, a black blade in hand and a wide-brimmed hat casting shadows over his face. Those hawk-like eyes were cold and merciless, filled with a killing intent that drove Kabuki to absolute despair.
He looked down. From his chest to his abdomen, a bloody slash had split his body open, exposing the flesh beneath in a horrifying display.
The charging Kabuki Pirates all came to an abrupt halt, fear spreading across their faces. The man walking toward them wasn't moving quickly; his expression remained entirely calm and indifferent. Yet the mere sight of his face made their hearts tremble.
"H-Hawk-Eye Mihawk!"
The newcomer was none other than Hawk-Eye Mihawk, who had crossed countless seas in pursuit of Kabuki. Looking at the terrified pirates, Mihawk didn't waste a single word. He swung his Black Blade in a swift, horizontal arc.
A dazzling crescent of sword light burst across the battlefield, cutting through every member of the Kabuki Pirates in a single stroke.
"AAAAAH!"
Screams of terror rang out. Blood sprayed through the air as every last one of Kabuki's men collapsed to the ground.
Even as they lost consciousness, they still couldn't understand why Mihawk had suddenly appeared just to slaughter them. No one would ever answer that question; they died with nothing but fear and despair in their hearts.
Mihawk slowly sheathed his sword, his expression as calm as ever. To him, wiping out Kabuki's crew had been nothing more than a casual swing of the blade.
Then, his gaze fell upon Rogen. His pupils suddenly contracted.
"Gol D. Rogen."
"What a surprise. I didn't expect to run into you here."
Mihawk's eyes held genuine surprise. He had heard the news that Rogen had escaped from Impel Down, but he'd assumed the man would disappear into hiding after such a feat. Instead, they had crossed paths here.
According to the rumors, the man before him, who was roughly his own age, had once been an exceptional swordsman, someone who had even cut down a Marine Admiral.
For a moment, a fierce fighting spirit surged within Mihawk. As the world's greatest swordsman, he had longed for a worthy battle for far too long. Not long ago, he had crossed blades with Shanks, exchanging dozens of blows before ending their duel.
Mihawk respected Shanks, but unfortunately, Shanks wasn't a swordsman devoted solely to the path of the blade.
Rogen, however... Deep within him, Mihawk could sense an overwhelming sword intent, as though it could split the heavens themselves.
"Hawk-Eye Mihawk."
"What brings you here?"
Rogen was just as surprised. The World's Greatest Swordsman from the original story had been incredibly popular in his previous life, admired and respected by countless fans. Swordsmanship capable of splitting the sea and the sky... the title truly suited him.
"I came to cut someone down." Mihawk glanced toward the corpses of Kabuki and his crew.
Following his gaze, Rogen couldn't help but shake his head. Those idiots had really brought this upon themselves; of all the people in the world to provoke, they had chosen him.
"Interested in having a drink?" Rogen smiled, raising his cup toward Mihawk.
Around the campfire, everyone looked at the legendary swordsman with curious eyes. Four or five years had passed, and while Rogen didn't know much about what had happened in the outside world during his imprisonment, the others had all heard of the fame of the World's Greatest Swordsman.
After defeating the previous holder of the title with his unmatched skills, Hawk-Eye Mihawk had claimed the crown. Countless stories had spread across the seas about the newly anointed master of the blade.
People said he was aloof, proud, and possessed all the quirks and habits expected of a true swordsman. He was a pirate, yet he resembled a wandering vagabond more than anything else, traveling the Grand Line alone in a tiny boat with nothing but his Black Blade, cutting down anyone who displeased him.
Whether they were Marines or pirates, if they disturbed him or offended his sense of right and wrong, he would draw his sword without hesitation.
There were even rumors that if someone interrupted his sleep, Mihawk would chase them across the sea for thousands of miles out of sheer boredom, only to sink their ship with a single slash.
There were also whispers that the Marines had recently launched a new program, with Mihawk listed as their top candidate.
"May I?" Mihawk looked at Rogen and asked quietly.
"Of course," Rogen laughed.
Without another word, Mihawk sat down. He had also heard about Rogen's past, and unlike the distorted rumors most people believed, he had learned the truth. A man willing to sacrifice himself for his companions was worthy of respect.
Even more admirable was that, after suffering such a crushing defeat, Rogen had managed to gather his old crew once again and return to the sea. Very few pirates could do that; sometimes, a single failure was enough to break a person forever.
Seeing Mihawk sit beside Rogen, the members of the Nether Soul Pirates all smiled warmly.
"Wow! It's really Hawk-Eye Mihawk!" Chaporos stared at him in amazement. "He's my idol! I've always looked up to him!" His excited rambling made everyone around the fire burst into laughter.
"I've heard your swordsmanship is extraordinary. I'd like to see it for myself," Crocodile spoke up with a smirk.
"Oh?" Mihawk raised an eyebrow. "I heard you once fought Whitebeard and survived. I'd actually like to hear from you just how strong Whitebeard really is."
"Whitebeard..." Crocodile fell silent.
It was a battle he never wanted to remember. No one could question Whitebeard's strength. During that fight, Crocodile had thrown everything he had into the fray, and time and again, he thought victory was within reach.
But reality proved otherwise. Whitebeard had remained an insurmountable mountain before him, a man whose true depth he couldn't even begin to comprehend.
"I won't kill you, Crocodile. I'm waiting for that kid to come out. He's the one I want to fight. As for you... Go back and train a little more. Maybe one day you'll catch up to me."
As Crocodile had lain on the ground back then, covered in wounds and breathing heavily, Whitebeard's words had echoed in his ears. He had been unwilling to accept them, but he had no choice.
The gap between himself and the world's strongest was simply too vast. That battle had made him realize both his own weakness... and Rogen's strength. If Whitebeard himself was waiting for Rogen, then just where was his captain's limit?
"He won't disappoint you," Crocodile narrowed his eyes, speaking in a low voice.
"That only makes me look forward to it even more." A faint smile appeared on Mihawk's face.
"However..." He paused, turning his gaze back to Rogen. "Right now... the person I'm most curious about is your captain."
(End Of This Chapter)