34. Challenging Mihawk

"The world's strongest swordsman? What the hell is that person doing here?" Usopp exclaimed.

Izumi shrugged his shoulders and said,

"Maybe he was boring."

"Oi, Zoro! Don't tell me you want to challenge him?" Usopp tried to grab Zoro with his hand, but was stopped by Luffy who said,

"Let him be!"

Zoro immediately jumped to face Mihawk.

"Taka no Me. I finally found you!"

"Oh, you were looking for me? What for?" With an indifferent expression, he replied to Zoro while seeing how Zoro was holding his swords.

"You have a lot of free time, right? Let's fight! I've been looking for you for a long time. I didn't expect you to appear on your own."

Mihawk raised his eyebrows. He wondered if the swordsman in front of him was stupid or what.

"Hoh. You are a swordsman. Didn't you already understand the difference between our strengths?"

"That doesn't matter. This is my ambition. To become the strongest swordsman, I must surpass you. Let's fight!" Then, Zoro put one sword in his mouth and bit the handle. He also held the other two swords in each hand and formed a stance.

"Interesting. Three-sword style, huh?" Mihawk grinned. Then, he pulled out the necklace that had a cross-shaped pendant. It turned out that the cross-shaped pendant was a knife after Mihawk pulled it from its sheath.

Zoro frowned.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Against you, this knife is enough."

"Don't joke with me!" Zoro felt humiliated for being belittled.

"Santouryuu: Oni Giri!"

He dashed forward to attack. But…

*Clank*

Zoro's attack using three swords was stopped by the small knife just as his three swords flowed simultaneously in one direction.

Zoro was stunned. Blindly, he launched slash after slash which was easily parried by Mihawk who only used a knife or easily dodged because Zoro's movements were too slow for Mihawk. And easily, Mihawk hit Zoro until he fell.

Zoro gasped. But he stood up again facing Mihawk. Mihawk looked at Zoro who seemed to have a burden he had to bear.

"What exactly do you want, weakling?"

Zoro didn't answer and once again used the three-sword style.

"Santouryuu: Tora Gari!"

However, Mihawk stepped forward to avoid Zoro's attack and stabbed him in the chest.

"Why don't you just give up? Why are you trying so hard? You certainly have no chance!" Mihawk asked Zoro.

"I don't know. If I give up here, I feel that my important promise to my dead friend will be crumbled. She wanted me to become the strongest swordsman in the world. And that means all I have to do is defeat you." Zoro answered it with a sharp look.

"Even if you could die?"

"I'd rather die than give up."

"Admirable. Then let me know your name!"

"Roronoa Zoro"

As soon as Zoro said his name. Mihawk put away the knife and drew the cross sword on his back. Mihawk intended to take Zoro seriously. Zoro curved his lips when he saw that.

Out of respect for fellow swordsmen, especially after seeing Zoro's strong determination, Mihawk felt he had to finish off Zoro with his cross sword.

Zoro took a stance with one sword in his mouth and two swords in each hand. Meanwhile, Mihawk exposed many gaps where he just casually wielded his sword.

Zoro dashed forward.

"Santouryuu Ougi: Zanzen Sekai!"

Meanwhile, Mihawk dashed forward and swung his sword calmly.

*slash* *clank*

Blood spurted from Zoro's back, and the two swords in each hand shattered from the clash of the sword.

Mihawk glanced at Zoro and said.

"Superb!"

Zoro stood up again. Then he spread his arms as if to say "kill me" to Mihawk.

"What is it, Roronoa Zoro?"

"What a shame for a swordsman who has a wound on the back."

With no hesitation, Mihawk immediately slashed him until Zoro fainted and fell into the sea.

That's when Izumi appeared standing on the water. He glanced at Mihawk for a moment with a sharp look, then dived into the water to save Zoro.

Mihawk widened his eyes in surprise to see Izumi who could stand on water without sinking as if he was a boat.

Shortly after, Luffy propelled himself toward Mihawk to attack. Mihawk dodged it easily which made Luffy crash into the wreckage ship.

"Are you and your friend who can stand on water friends of that swordsman? It's surprising that you guys were able to hold on until our battle was over."

Then he turned to Izumi who emerged from the water carrying Zoro on his shoulder. He asked Izumi to convey a message to Zoro to become stronger to surpass Mihawk.

Luffy himself felt a little calm after knowing Zoro wasn't dead.

Izumi took Zoro to Johnny's boat, then jumped up and stood beside Luffy.

"Luffy? Can you hear me? Sorry for worrying you. If I don't become the world's greatest swordsman, that would be a problem for you, wouldn't it? I...I will...I WILL NEVER LOSE AGAIN! Until I defeat him and become the greatest swordsman, I'll never be defeated again! Any problems with that, Pirate King?!"

Everyone looked at Zoro in surprise. Zoro can still speak loudly even though the wound is quite heavy. But back then, the pain he felt was due to his defeat to Mihawk. He even shed tears because he was unable to do anything and instead received forgiveness from Mihawk.

Mihawk asked the two of them.

"Kids, what's your goal?"

"The Pirate King." Luffy answered straight away.

Mihawk grinned.

"That's even harder than surpassing me." Then, he looked at Izumi.

"My goal? In this world or another world?" Izumi curled his lips while looking at Mihawk. Mihawk was certainly a bit confused by what Izumi meant. However, he certainly felt that Izumi's goal wasn't small either.

"Well. For now, my goal is—" Izumi suddenly took out his Kunais. Then, he launched a spinning slash toward Mihawk.

"—is how to defeat you!"

Mihawk widened his eyes when Izumi launched an attack. However, the energy slash from Izumi could be dodged easily.

"Tch." Izumi jumped backward by standing on the water.

"Sneak attack, huh?"

"I'm a ninja. Sneak attacks are my specialty. Unfortunately, my attack didn't affect you at all."

"A ninja? Are you from Wano country?"

"Not quite. Because our techniques are different."

"Oi, Izumi! You too?" Luffy yelled. However, Izumi apologized to him.

"Sorry captain. I want to test my limits and I want to learn something called Haki from him if possible. There is another reason why I challenge him."

"Testing your limits and learning Haki from me? You will die!" Mihawk smirked. Even though he was attacked first, he didn't mind it because he knew Izumi couldn't kill him. He thought that Izumi was too weak for him. However, he was quite surprised that there was still someone who dared to challenge him even though he had already shown quite a bit of his strength.

"I'll try my best to not die."

"Hahaha. Previously a swordsman, and now a ninja. You guys really are not afraid of death."

With Mihawk's prowess, it would be useless if Izumi immediately released a high-level attack-type Ninjutsu. So…

"Lightning Chakra Mode!" Suddenly, Izumi's body was wrapped in a layer of lightning. His lightning chakra stimulated his nervous system to enhance his speed and reaction.

What Izumi did shocked everyone present. Even Mihawk was no exception.

*Swoosh*

Izumi moved swiftly. His Kunai, which was filled with lightning that flowed from his body, was aimed at Mihawk. Mihawk already knew where the kunai was aiming even though Izumi's speed had increased drastically. Mihawk, who was carrying his small knife, was already preparing to ward off Izumi's attack.

However, before the kunai touched Mihawk's knife, Izumi suddenly disappeared. Mihawk widened his eyes in surprise. But then, he felt a presence behind him that made him shift his body.

*Clank*

Izumi's attack from behind was unsuccessful, which was blocked by Mihawk's sword that was on his back after he shifted his body.

Izumi bounced back and looked at Mihawk in amazement.

"The fuck! That was almost zero distance. And he still dodged it?" Izumi exclaimed in his heart.

"Are you a Devil Fruit user? Ah no. If you are, there's no way you can still survive after diving in the water." Mihawk really didn't expect that there was a boy who had unreasonable speed. Even he couldn't predict it. Then, he grinned.

"Interesting."

Mihawk started to draw his sword. This time he couldn't underestimate Izumi. Although Izumi could still be said to be weak in terms of strength. Izumi's speed exceeded Mihawk's expectations.

"Merciless Dagger!"

Using the skill from Immortal Touch. Izumi launched slash after slash which formed slashes of energy around his body. Then, he used his magic to randomly teleport around Mihawk.

*Clank*

*Clank*

*Clank*

"Since you want to learn Haki, then do your best not to die!" Mihawk said inwardly.

Initially, Izumi took the lead and continued to attack. But over time, Mihawk, who was already used to Izumi's attack pattern, started to counterattack. Even though Mihawk seemed to predict Izumi's movements despite using teleportation magic, it was actually wrong.

Mihawk's face showed his curved lips while looking at Izumi.