What Exactly Did You Make Up In Your Brain?

Yan Hui!

With one slash from the real world, followed by two overlapping slashes that transcend the concepts of time and space, Finn executed a three-sided attack!

This was no trick—just pure, physical swordsmanship!

A "multi-dimensional twisting phenomenon" that surpassed speed, skill, and even feints!

Slash! Slash! Slash!

Three strikes, seemingly simultaneous, descended on Hawkeye from three different directions!

Hawkeye's expression darkened instantly. In that split second, his Observation Haki was pushed to its absolute limit.

He had a chilling premonition—one that told him his head was about to be severed by Finn's attack!

In response to this intense sense of danger, Hawkeye immediately shifted from offense to defense.

But the real shock came next.

Despite his Observation Haki pinpointing Finn's attack paths, it was useless.

Hawkeye felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness—knowing exactly where Finn's strikes were coming from, yet unable to block all three. No matter how he defended, at least one of those strikes would land on his neck.

"Damn it!"

Hawkeye gritted his teeth and mustered all his strength to block the attacks!

In an instant, his figure blurred and reappeared more than ten meters away!

Finn, too, had shifted—from his previous stance to a two-handed grip, completing a vertical slash.

A single drop of blood trickled from the tip of his blade.

Gasp!

Those who were still conscious and watching could only gasp in shock!

Their eyes shifted from Finn's sword tip to Hawkeye's neck—where a shallow wound marked the spot where Finn's blow had landed.

Just moments ago, everyone had believed Finn was overestimating himself and heading toward his own demise.

But now, no one dared to underestimate him.

Especially those who had mocked him before—they were trembling now, praying silently that this young hero wouldn't remember them...

Pat!

A slight snapping sound echoed as the rope of the cross pendant around Hawkeye's neck broke, sending the pendant tumbling to the ground.

"Amazing! You barely escaped with that move~" Finn raised an eyebrow, retracting Xiaoye Shiyu.

"No, I didn't escape..."

Hawkeye took a deep breath, touching the shallow wound on his neck. He was still in shock.

Looking at Finn, he spoke calmly: "If my judgment isn't wrong, it's because you weren't using your own weapon, which led to a slight miscalculation in distance with that move just now~"

Hmm~

Hearing this, Finn had to admit—Hawkeye was spot on.

Indeed, as Hawkeye said, Finn had miscalculated the distance.

Although he had inherited the Yanfu swordsmanship, he didn't have Sasaki Kojiro's sword, the Wugangan. Instead, he had borrowed Tashigi's sword—Xiaoye Shiyu.

Xiaoye Shiyu was shorter than Wugangan.

This was Finn's first time using the Yanfu technique in actual combat, and he instinctively calculated the distance as if he were wielding the longer blade.

Because the sword was shorter, the wound on Hawkeye's neck was shallow.

Otherwise, if the blade had been as long as Wugangan, Hawkeye might have been seriously injured by now!

Of course, it wouldn't have been fatal.

After all, Hawkeye's mastery of Armament Haki was so refined that even if he had taken a direct hit, he wouldn't have been decapitated.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Finn clapped his hands, smiling slightly. "As expected of you. In just a brief exchange, you've nailed it. If I'm not wrong, the wound on your neck was intentional, right?"

Given Xiaoye Shiyu's shorter length, Hawkeye should have been able to completely avoid the reach of Finn's Yan Hui attack.

But he didn't—he allowed the blade to strike at the critical point of the Yan Hui's range.

Was it intentional?

Hawkeye calmly replied, "Yes."

Finn quipped, "Why? Do you want to keep it as a reminder?"

"You could say that!" Hawkeye nodded, continuing in a deep voice, "I need this scar to constantly remind me that I was nearly beheaded!"

Hearing this, Finn laughed, "Haha, if you want, we can go another round! Now that I'm familiar with this sword, I won't misjudge the distance again!"

"No need! You are strong, but your swordsmanship is close-range. If I keep my distance, I'll be unbeatable."

Now that Hawkeye knew Finn's fighting style relied on close-quarters combat, he wasn't about to engage him up close again.

Finn smiled faintly, "Are you making excuses?"

"I'm just stating facts. But in our last clash, I did lose!"

"And I lost at the cost of 'death!'"

Hawkeye's eyes deepened as he looked at Finn and said solemnly, "From this moment on, the title of the world's number one swordsman is yours!"

"What!!"

The crowd gasped in shock!

Was the title of the world's greatest swordsman about to change hands? Just like that?!

"So sudden!!!"

What the—

"Cut it out! That title is meaningless to me. You can keep it for yourself~" Finn shrugged, shaking his head indifferently.

Wait, what?!

You're turning it down?!

Seriously?!

This is the title of the world's greatest swordsman! It's the dream of every swordsman, something they spend their entire lives striving for!

And you're just going to reject it?! How humiliating must that be for all the swordsmen in the New World!!!

Hawkeye froze, thoughtful, occasionally frowning, occasionally nodding.

After a while, he looked up at Finn with a serious expression and said, "Thank you, Your Excellency!"

Thank me?

Finn was stunned.

I just said something casually, and now you're thanking me? What did you come up with in that head of yours?

Hawkeye solemnly bowed in a swordsman's salute to Finn, then asked seriously, "Your Excellency, may I ask your name?"

"It's not important~" Finn waved dismissively.

He was only interested in meeting girls—he had no interest in guys.

"Isn't your name important too~?" Hawkeye frowned again, deep in thought.

After a while, Hawkeye spoke seriously again, "Thank you for your guidance. I think I've come to a better understanding!"

What!?

What have you figured out?

Can you tell me what exactly I 'guided' you on?

Hawkeye laughed loudly:

"Hahaha! This trip was worth it!"

"Your Excellency, I look forward to our next encounter!"

With that, Hawkeye turned to leave.

Finn called out, "Hey! Don't try to skip out on paying the tavern owner!"

Hawkeye stumbled slightly but quickly regained his balance.

Turning back, he glanced in the direction of the tavern and tossed a bag of gold coins, which landed in front of the tavern owner...