Ch-54 Medusa vs Hawk-Eyes.

"Hawk-Eyes Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman!"

As Mihawk slowly approached, Li Fan's gaze grew increasingly serious.

Before Li Fan could speak, Zoro, who had been waiting impatiently, stepped forward.

"Hawk-Eyes Mihawk, as a swordsman, I challenge you!"

Mihawk cast a disdainful glance at Zoro with his piercing eagle-like eyes.

"You, who don't comprehend the heights of heaven and earth, should recognize the vast gap between us if you consider yourself a swordsman."

"I don't have the time to deal with you now. I'm here to find the person who withstood my attack earlier."

With those words, Mihawk ignored Zoro and continued to walk towards Li Fan.

Whoosh—

Zoro unsheathed a long knife from his waist and blocked Mihawk's path.

"Sorry, but I'm a persistent individual. I won't back down until you agree to a duel."

"Pathetic," Mihawk said, turning his gaze to Zoro. "Alright, before finding the one I'm looking for, I'll entertain your request."

Mihawk removed his necklace, taking out a tiny dagger from the cross-shaped pendant and pointed it at Zoro.

"Apologies, I don't have a smaller blade on me, so I'll have to use this for our duel."

"You need to show some restraint when you look down on others," Zoro said through gritted teeth, quickly adopting a three-sword style stance and launching a fierce attack against Mihawk.

"Clang, clang, clang—"

The air was filled with the ringing of clashed steel.

Despite Zoro's rapid and forceful strikes, he couldn't penetrate Mihawk's defense with the small dagger.

"It's incredible. He's effortlessly blocking Zoro's three-sword style with that tiny blade!" Nami exclaimed in amazement. "Indeed, the world's greatest swordsman is a true monster."

"You shouldn't casually label others as monsters like that, Nami, or they might take it seriously and come after you!" Li Fan retorted.

Nami was taken aback by his response.

"Li Fan, you will keep me safe, won't you?"

"Who made you the protagonist in my script?"

Meanwhile, the two Li Fans continued their conversation.

Zoro, engrossed in the battle, was completely taken aback.

"Damn it, why is the gap so enormous?" Zoro lamented.

After another exchange, Zoro found himself stabbed in the chest by Mihawk's dagger.

"Huh? Boy, why not step aside?" Mihawk inquired.

"I don't know. I just feel that if I back down, I'll be abandoning what I've always stood for."

"Fascinating!" Mihawk retracted the dagger and unsheathed the black blade on his back. "Boy, you are a skilled swordsman."

"In that case, I'll respond to you with the courtesy of a swordsman."

"In that case, I can't ask for more." With a smile on his face, Zoro stepped back a few paces, watching Mihawk intently. "Next, let's determine the outcome with a single strike."

"Huh..." Zoro's began to breathe rhythmically.

The air surrounding his body began to tremble slightly.

"This seems intriguing." Mihawk narrowed his eyes and lowered his black blade.

"Three-swords style, Thunder Breathing: Hekireki Oni Giri!"

"Buzz—"

Zoro's speed surged to its peak as he suddenly closed the distance between him and Mihawk. He launched three slashing strikes from different angles.

In response, Mihawk gracefully swung his black blade.

In the blink of an eye, their figures passed each other.

Crunch—

Apart from the word "peace" on Zoro's lips, both of his knives suddenly shattered.

"Seems like I've lost?" Zoro shook his head and sheathed his sword.

He turned around and faced Mihawk with open arms.

Mihawk asked, "What's your point?"

"The scar on his back is the mark of a swordsman's disgrace," Zoro remarked with a sinister smile.

"Not bad!" A faint smile appeared on the corner of Mihawk's lips as he raised his black blade and slashed across Zoro's body.

"Ah! Zoro is done for!" Nami clutched Li Fan's arm tightly. "Li Fan, what do we do now? Zoro is dead, we should..."

"Alright, Nami, stop trembling," Li Fan reassured her, patting her head. "Zoro isn't dead yet."

"Hey, someone with medical expertise, go and get ready to tend to Zoro's injuries."

After Li Fan's instructions, a hesitant individual stepped towards Zoro.

"You're quite impressive. It's too early for you to die," Mihawk commented.

"I'll be waiting for you in the highest echelons. Strive to surpass me."

Mihawk said with a smile on his face.

Initially, he had been pursuing the Krieg Pirates out of boredom. But now, he had encountered a swordsman in the East Blue Sea who intrigued him, which brought a hint of delight to his mood.

Upon finishing his words, Mihawk approached Li Fan, brandishing his sword with formidable intent.

Nami, standing beside Li Fan, trembled involuntarily.

Li Fan stepped forward to shield Nami.

"Mihawk, what do you want from me?" Li Fan inquired calmly.

"Just now, you attacked me!" Mihawk gazed at Li Fan, finding the person before him who had withstood his attack quite interesting.

"Can you blame me?" Li Fan shrugged. "You were the one who initiated the encounter. And it happened twice in a row. I only attacked you once, which seems rather fair."

Mihawk had been targeting the Krieg Pirates and had no intention of attacking Li Fan. Nevertheless, he didn't see a need to provide lengthy explanations.

"Is it of interest to you?" Mihawk asked, "When you encountered me, didn't you consider challenging me?"

"No!" Li Fan replied without hesitation.

Even Mihawk was slightly taken aback by such a straightforward response.

"I'm just a filmmaker, and my swordsmanship is solely for cinematic purposes."

"I have absolutely no desire to defeat you and become the world's greatest swordsman."

"Very well, but the final decision isn't yours." Mihawk's eyes narrowed slightly as he raised his black sword.

"Swordsman from the East Blue Sea, let me witness your swordsmanship."

With those words, Mihawk's black blade descended.

"Ding!"

A short sword materialized from the side and blocked Mihawk's slash.

"A woman?" Mihawk frowned, looking at Medusa who had suddenly positioned herself in front of Li Fan. "You are not the one I seek. Step aside."

Having spoken, Hawkeye exerted more force in an attempt to push Medusa aside. However, for Medusa, who possessed unusual powers, it was not as simple to displace her. Medusa countered with equal strength, resulting in a standoff with Mihawk.

...