Top of the Mountain

Holding my sheathed blade in one hand, I gestured at Mihawk, "Come on. Then the day isn't getting any younger." In the blink of an eye, he was in front of me, his sword drawn in an underhand slash.

There was an explosion as I stopped the Mihawk with my sword. The pressure wave caused everything in the room to go flying, slamming against the walls and shattering the rest of the windows.

While the standstill seemed to last for eons, the next second, Mihawk's sword suddenly disappeared, coming from my right, trying to cut me from head to groin. My years of combat experience kicked in as my body almost moved on its own, stepping into and under the attack to maneuver outside Mihawk's guard.

But as soon as my foot hit the floor, my eyes widened, and I drew my sword before blocking the backhand swipe from Mihawk. My entire body went numb from the impact, and I slide across the floor before stopping a few feet away.

It shouldn't have been possible to pull off such an attack. No matter how good Mihawk was, he shouldn't be able to ignore the laws of physics. As we stared at each other, looking for an opening, my mind was racing while replaying the attack.

There was a second nay, a nanosecond of time in between his first and second attack. As I tried to apply reason to Mihawk's attack, I grew more and more excited when I failed. Returning Sanguinem its sheath, I smiled at Mihawk, "You are no doubt the best. I feel like I can die at any moment."

I left a crater on the floor as I pushed off the ground propelling myself at Mihawk. Carving an x in the air, I sent out an air blade that grew as it traveled. Canceling the air blade with one of his own, Mihawk then stepped forward, and our swords clashed with even more force, destroying any furniture left in the room.

Looking Mihawk in the eyes, I smiled as I tried to gain the upper hand and break his guard. Equally matched, I turned, kicking him in the side, sending him through the wall and into a free fall to the ground outside.

Jumping out after him, I landed a few feet away, "Come on, I came here for a fight. You said you wanted to kill me. Then go ahead and do it!" Roaring, I moved faster than I ever had before, seeming to disappear only to reappear behind Mihawk on a path to take his head.

But again, I felt something happen, and Mihawk's sword Yoru was suddenly behind him, flush against his back. Time seemed to slow down as he turned and locked eyes with me. They were a bright yellow, almost glowing.

In an instant, I felt pinned as if a great bird of prey was swooping down, ready to tear into my neck with its talons. It was exhilarating.

Vaulting away, I flipped before landing on my feet and sheathing my sword, "Your eyes, how did you get them?" Mihawk turned and pointed Yoru at my throat, "I earned them through years of battle and training. It is something no one, including you, will be able to replicate."

Smiling, I crouched and squeezed down on the handle of Sanguinem, "Most likely not, but that doesn't mean I don't have my own techniques!" Biting down on my thumb, a stream of blood welled up to the surface that I swiped across my blade.

The cursed sword singed in pleasure as it greedily drank the red fluid before taking on the sheen itself. But Mihawk was done waiting as he sucker-punched me in the stomach. Going with the energy, I flew as if shot from a bow.

Stabbing my sword into the ground to stop, I raised it just in time to block the stab that you have gutted me. Knocking his sword to the side, I created a second smaller blade that I tried to drive into Mihawk's side.

Mihawk turned to the side, so the dagger glanced off his hip. In a flurry, I flipped the blade around and grinned when I felt a splash of blood hit my cheek. But something was off, breaking away. I looked down at my stump where my arm used to be.

Blood dripped to the ground from Mihawk's sword and my severed arm laid at his feet, "You have yet to land a hit on me, though I feel as if you aren't using your full power."

Before I could respond, my severed arm twitched and lunged at Mihawk, plunging the dagger into his stomach before crawling away and reattaching itself to my stump. "You're right. I'm not using any of my devil fruit, but the same could be said for you."

Mihawk grunted as he grabbed the knife and pulled it out, "Then how about we get serious. Otherwise, we might be battling for days on end." Mihawk gripped his sword and pushed off the ground, his body almost flying.

Rushing forward to meet him, we clashed before breaking away and doing it all again. Sliding across the ground, I pushed my left leg back as Mihawk jumped above me before coming down with his sword.

Sparks flew, and the ground shattered, leaving the both of us in a crater. Roaring, I pushed him off before driving my sword forward, but again Mihawk's sword teleported to deflect the attack.

Frowning, I stood back, waiting to see his next move, "At first, I thought you were nothing more than a butcher who sullied the name of swordsmen around the world, but after exchanging blows with you, I can see that you have true skill. I now name you, my rival!"

Mihawk pointed Yoru at me to emphasize the point and I smiled, "I hope you're not trying to end this fight?"

For the first time Mihawk smiled one almost as insane as mine, "I wouldn't dream of it."