As the Felynes finished off their respective opponents, the battle between Sherwin and Mihawk, who were gradually getting into the spirit of things, also steadily intensified.
The blade lights slashed out with a wave of their hands were incredible attacks to anyone else, so not long after they started trading slashes, everyone deliberately avoided the area where the two were fighting, and as the combat grew more intense, this range continued to expand.
At the same time, the ice beneath their feet finally couldn't withstand the crisscrossing sword qi and shattered into floating pieces of ice of various sizes.
However, neither Sherwin nor Mihawk were ability users, so they didn't care all that much.
"So Sherwin current strength is already this powerful? He actually fighting on par with that Hawkeye!"
Some Marines, whose impressions of Sherwin still lingered from his time as a Warlord, couldn't help but say in surprise.
There was no helping it the Felynes of the Felyne Survey Corps were simply too eye-catching, making Sherwin, the Hunter, feel a bit lacking in presence.
Even in the eyes of some people who didn't know Sherwin well, he, the Hunter, had actually "ascended" to the throne of the Five Emperors by clinging to the thighs of the Felynes...
Though saying it that way wasn't exactly wrong either.
But to be fair, as a traveler with a cheat, even though Sherwin cheat was a bit stingy and the increase to his own strength wasn't as simple and convenient as the golden thighs of many travelers, the growth rate of Sherwin strength was already not slow compared to the original inhabitants of the pirate world...
Especially since on this world line, there wasn't a certain pink-haired deserter king who had turned on a two-hundred-times effort cheat.
Therefore, even under the circumstances where Sherwin only used a Longsword, brought no Felynes, and took no potions, he could still fight back and forth with the "World Greatest Swordsman" today.
Even because of some special mechanisms in Hunter skills, he could occasionally cause some small trouble for Mihawk...
However, it stopped at small trouble.
With Mihawk being the ceiling of swordsmanship in the pirate world, if Sherwin only relied on a single Longsword without using all the methods of a Hunter (mainly bringing Felynes), he would ultimately be a step behind the opponent.
Moreover, compared to Shanks who used Conqueror Haki infusion, Hawkeye, who didn't have Conqueror Haki, was actually stronger in terms of physical power, and the sense of danger he brought to Sherwin was even more intense.
Aside from the fact that this contest wasn't a pure sparring match, it was also because Mihawk had absorbed a part of the Hunter-style swordsmanship, taking another step forward in the way of the sword.
If Shanks and Mihawk were to clash now, the Red Hair might really not be able to beat Hawkeye.
"Whew... whew... whew..."
Ever since the Felyne army took shape, Sherwin had not fought to such a point of exhaustion in a very long time. However, the physical fatigue brought with it a surge of mental exhilaration.
Just like playing a competitive game, a victory achieved in a bot match was far less satisfying than defeating an evenly matched opponent. Even if it ultimately ended up being a match where he just did his best, the sense of accomplishment felt much more fulfilling than crushing a dumb AI or a newbie.
And Mihawk mood at this moment was equally pleasant. At his level, finding an evenly matched opponent was truly no easy task, and if the premise of swordsmanship was added, the available choices were even fewer.
Originally, Hiko Seijuro from the Felyne Investigation Team would have been an excellent opponent. Unfortunately, due to the limitations of a Felyne size and Mihawk deeply hidden cat-lover nature, he couldn't bring himself to go all out the way he did when slashing Sherwin.
"..."
For some unknown reason, it suddenly felt like Mihawk had become a lot more punchable. An inexplicable wave of annoyance washed over Sherwin heart.
However, before Sherwin could convert this annoyance into trash talk, Mihawk spoke up first...
"Your body should be close to its limit by now, right?" He flashed a confident smile that looked increasingly punchable. "That 'Flurry Rush', how many more times can you use it?"
After all, having sparred with Sherwin many times before, Mihawk could still make a rough deduction regarding his physical limits.
"Do you want me to give you some time to drink a potion? I wouldn't want to accidentally overdo it and get hated by Klee Meow and the others."
Completely unaware that he had long been disliked by Klee Meow, Mihawk had already begun to "bestow" charity upon Sherwin from a winner perspective.
"Bah! Even without drinking a potion, I can still keep using 'Flurry Rush' hundreds of times! Until I beat you!"
Feeling the stinging pain and soreness radiating from the bones and muscles all over his body, Sherwin forced himself to talk tough.
"Very well! You finally look somewhat like a swordsman!"
Although Sherwin did not accept his suggestion to make this battle last longer, Mihawk was not disappointed at all instead, he seemed very happy.
Because in his view, Sherwin had talent and inheritance, and his swordsmanship had long surpassed many Grand Swordsmen, but he simply did not seem like a swordsman, and even he himself did not consider himself a swordsman. This had to be said to be a very regrettable thing.
Although Mihawk also understood that the reason Sherwin did not become a pure swordsman was that he simply had too many options, and fighting in the way of the "Monster Hunter" he mentioned would not result in poor actual combat strength—it might even be higher—Hawkeye did not think there was anything wrong with him doing so.
However, as a top-tier swordsman, seeing Sherwin "wasting" his talent like this made Mihawk feel a bit of pity and regret after all. Furthermore, if Sherwin could focus on the way of the sword just like Seijuro Meow, wouldn't the battle between them be much more enjoyable?
Thinking of this, Mihawk fighting intent surged, and he laughed loudly, saying, "In that case! Let us settle the score as swordsmen!!!"
...Huh?
Sherwin looked completely dazed.
He was just being stubborn moments ago, so why did this guy Mihawk suddenly get so excited? He even rambled a bunch of things all by himself...
The Hunter, who completely lacked any self-awareness as a swordsman, really could not GET the mindset of Hawkeye, the "World Greatest Swordsman."
But...
It wasn't a big deal!
In the end, wasn't it still just a fight?
Sherwin cast aside the stray thoughts in his mind, sheathed the Longsword at his waist, and assumed a sheathing stance...
Monster Hunter Style · Ultimate Technique · Iai · Sunset!
"Boom—!!!"
The Longsword and Yoru clashed in their most violent collision to date, the massive commotion drawing the attention of everyone on the battlefield.
Furthermore, the impact and the scattered sword Energy generated by their clash shattered the already fractured floating ice around them into a flurry of airborne ice spray.
Speaking of which, the first exchange between Sherwin and Mihawk was also at Marineford, and it had similarly caused quite a commotion. Only this time, the disturbance they created was even greater.
But the biggest difference was that Sherwin was not blown away by Mihawk strike like he was back then instead, he was locked in a fierce, unyielding deadlock with his opponent...
Although Sherwin was slightly suppressed on his end, and his already overloaded body was somewhat unable to hold out, he had at least frontally withstood the strongest full-power slash from Mihawk, the "World Number One Great Swordsman."
Mm, and it was an "Hawkeye" Mihawk who had further upgraded by figuring out a pseudo-Spirit Blade Slash.
Having unleashed this strike, Mihawk was already fully satisfied. Knowing that Sherwin was close to his limit, he slowly withdrew his battle intent, and the power on the two clashing blades began to weaken in tacit agreement.
Right at this moment...
"Grandpa! I'm here to save you!!!"
A shout suddenly echoed from high above everyone heads, followed immediately by the terrified screams of a group of people.
"Aaaaaah—! We're gonna fall to our deaths!!!"
"Straw Hat, you bastard! Had I known, I wouldn't have listened to your suggestion!"
"I'm gonna kill you! Luffy!!!"
"I'm truly an idiot for trusting this moron!"
...He still came after all. As expected, the "Summit War" wouldn't be complete without the protagonist, Luffy.
Sherwin and Mihawk, who were in the middle of withdrawing their strength, also had their attention diverted by the voices from above...
"Crack, crack, crack..."
Not good!
Due to the momentary distraction, the power leaking from the two of them shattered the only remaining piece of floating ice beneath their feet into fragments.
Splash.
Splash.
Boom—!
Right after Sherwin and Mihawk, a pirate ship with a cartoon lion figurehead also crashed into the sea closely behind them.