Chapter 44

More than half a day had passed since the clash between the two aspiring titans began, and currently, the fight had already tilted in my favor. Despite the high-intensity battle, I still stood strong, albeit with deep breaths, and a few minor scratches adorned my body. My Marine shirt was completely ruined and stained with blood, evidence of the fierce struggle.

However, Mihawk's situation was far worse—much, much worse. His upper body was bare, and he was now using his blood-stained shirt as a makeshift bandage to stop more bleeding from the deep slash wound on his abdomen. He had tied it off tightly to stem further blood loss, and his left hand hung limply by his side. I could tell that his left hand was now broken. Despite all this, his spirit remained unbroken. He stood tall, facing me, clutching Yoru with his right hand, his eyes still carrying the same intensity, never faltering for a second.

By his side, I could feel the worried glances from Shakky, but I was not going to disrespect the man who showed such resolve. Mihawk spat out a bit of blood to clear his air passage, his huffs indicating his efforts to take in more air and push his body further.

Bogard contemplated stepping in to intervene and put an end to the fight, but a quick glare from both fighters made him realize his attempt would be futile.

"I admit it, you are better than me as we are now. I never would have believed that there was someone younger than me who could best me with a sword. But it seems like I let pride get to my head after I cut down a few worthless Marines," Mihawk said, surprising both me and Bogard. Throughout the battle, he had barely uttered more than a few words at a time.

"Well, honestly, even I dare not call myself strong. There are monsters in the New World who could crush me like a bug in under a minute," I replied, unable to contain a chuckle.

"Haha, you dare to compare yourself against those monsters who stand at the apex? You sure are ambitious. Have you forgotten you have yet to hit puberty?" Mihawk's attempt at humor was cut short by a shot of pain from his slash wound, causing him to grimace and grit his teeth.

"Tell me, Mihawk, out in the wide sea, does my age really matter? Remember this well, my friend, man or child, strong or weak. None of those matter once you are out at sea! Never, for a second, believe that you are unbeatable. The moment you adopt such a mindset, you will stop growing, and sooner or later, you will fall," I declared, emphasizing the importance of humility and continuous growth.

In this world, no matter how strong one becomes, true invincibility remains an illusion. Even ants can bring down an elephant with enough numbers. Strength is essential, but one must never become complacent on the path to becoming stronger, for those who do are destined to fall, no matter how high they stand at the apex.

As my words resonated in the air, a profound silence enveloped the grove. Mihawk stood before me, his gaze fixed on the horizon as he contemplated the weight of my words. For the first time in his life, he felt a profound stirring within him, as if a dormant flame had been ignited in the depths of his soul.

Suddenly, a surge of energy coursed through Mihawk's veins, and his spirit soared like a phoenix rising from the ashes. It was as if my words had struck a chord deep within him, awakening a newfound determination and resolve. In that moment, he transcended his limitations and tapped into a power he had never known before.

A burst of Haoshoku Haki erupted from Mihawk, shattering the tranquility of the grove. Lightning crackled in the sky, and the ground trembled beneath our feet as the pressure of his aura tore through the air. Trees were uprooted and sent flying as if caught in a violent storm, their branches snapping like twigs under the immense force.

I stood in awe of the spectacle unfolding before me, witnessing firsthand the sheer magnitude of Mihawk's power. It was as if the very fabric of reality was bending to his will, bending to the indomitable spirit that burned within him.

Mihawk's eyes blazed with newfound intensity, a fierce determination etched into every line of his face. With Yoru clutched tightly in his hand, he exuded an aura of unparalleled strength and resolve, his presence commanding respect and admiration.

"I have been naive all my life. All these years, my goal had been set: to become the strongest swordsman in the world. But never once had I thought beyond it. It seems like my initial goal was simply subpar." Haoshoku Haki seeped out in waves from Mihawk as the center. Despite the mind-numbing pain, Mihawk started moving his now broken left arm, and with sheer will, he placed both hands on Yoru's hilt, holding it firmly despite the pain. He was using his haki to compensate for the broken bone in his arm. I could observe all this clearly.

Originally, I had worried that the commotion we were causing here would attract other parties because all of Sabaody would have known about our clash due to the commotion. But it seemed like a certain someone was keeping the other interested parties at bay, and I had already detected that person's presence following us since we left early this morning. Garp sure comes in handy while holding back the tide.

"I do not have proper control over this. I hope you are ready," Mihawk declared, now powered up with his newfound Haoshoku.

"Do you think you are the only one who can use it, Mihawk? Like I always say, the sea is truly vast. Never underestimate it." My Haoshoku oozed out with much more ferocity than Mihawk's nascent conqueror's Haki. It was like a toddler trying to fight against an adult. The two Haki bursts clashed, with my Haki immediately gaining an advantage. But Mihawk did not step back; he just smiled with satisfaction.

"Haha, no wonder. You were holding back all this time. Come, my friend, let's see whose will lasts until the end." Mihawk blinked forward, mustering all his strength. Even Yoru was showing signs of initial blackening as Mihawk tapped into more of his Haoshoku with all the strength he could muster.

As Sandai Kitetsu cried out with sheer delight, eager to taste Mihawk's boiling blood, I too felt a surge of determination coursing through my veins. This was it, the final clash that would determine the outcome of our battle. With Sandai Kitetsu in hand, I focused all my energy, infusing it with the strongest Armament Haki I could muster. My Haoshoku was primed to the max, ready to unleash its full force. I chose not to rely on my future sight, wanting to live in the moment and face Mihawk head-on at his absolute best.

As our swords clashed, the entire world seemed to hold its breath. The space around us warped, and the ground beneath our feet cracked and opened, unable to withstand the sheer power of our collision. The skies themselves seemed to split under the pressure, as red lightning clashed against golden-black lightning, illuminating the battlefield with an otherworldly glow.

Pulse after pulse of shockwaves radiated from the center of our clash, shaking the very foundations of the grove. Each impact sent tremors rippling through the air, causing nearby trees to sway violently and small boulders to scatter in all directions.

For what felt like an eternity, we fought with everything we had, neither of us willing to give an inch. And then, in a moment of pure determination and focus, I broke through Mihawk's defense with a decisive strike.

"Splash!" Blood sprayed into the air as Sandai Kitetsu tore through Mihawk's flesh, leaving a deep gash from his left shoulder to his right hip, exposing bone and sinew. If I hadn't pulled back in the last second, I might have cleaved Mihawk in two.

As our bodies crossed each other due to the momentum of our clash, I sensed Yoru slipping from Mihawk's hand. But in the next moment, as if he had come back to life, Mihawk clenched the sword tightly, refusing to let go even in the face of defeat. It was a testament to his unyielding spirit and unwavering resolve.

The aftermath of our clash left the grove in shambles, with trees uprooted and the ground torn asunder. But amidst the destruction, there was a sense of clarity and peace. We had both pushed ourselves to the limit, and in that moment, we had truly understood the depths of our own strength and the power of our convictions.

As the dust began to settle, Mihawk still stood tall, albeit unconscious, his hand tightly gripping Yoru as if it were his lifeline. Despite his defeat, there was a sense of respect and admiration in the air for the formidable swordsman, who had faced his opponent head-on until the very end.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction mixed with exhaustion as I surveyed the aftermath of our battle. The gash in my gut served as a reminder of the intensity of our final clash, a testament to the strength and determination of my opponent. I couldn't help but smile. Mihawk was a worthy foe. Even at the last moment, he chose to tear a piece out of me. If I hadn't reinforced myself with Haki, Yoru might have ripped through my gut.

Shakky had swiftly arrived at Mihawk's side, her expression filled with concern as she carefully tended to his wounds. I watched as she attempted to pry Yoru from his unconscious grasp, but I knew better than to interfere. The sword was more than just a weapon to Mihawk—it was a symbol of his strength and resolve, a part of his very being. To forcibly remove it would be akin to severing the bond that tied him to this world.

"Leave it," I instructed, sheathing Sandai Kitetsu and turning to Shakky. "It's the chain that's keeping him tethered to this world. Removing the sword now would only hasten his demise."

Shakky nodded in understanding, her hands now focused on providing much-needed medical attention to Mihawk's wounds. Despite his injuries, I had no doubt that he would recover. The man was a survivor, a true testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

As I took in the scene around me, it was evident that Grove 20 would never be the same. The once serene grove now bears the scars of our battle, with trees uprooted and the landscape forever altered. Even the infamous trees that had stood tall and proud were now nothing more than splintered remnants of their former selves.

But amidst the destruction, there was a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect. Mihawk and I had pushed each other to our limits, and in doing so, we had forged a bond that transcended mere rivalry. Our battle had left an indelible mark on Grove 20, a testament to the power of determination and the unyielding spirit of those who dare to chase their dreams.

It was already late at night when Mihawk woke up again. Shakky had already treated him, and all his wounds were now neatly dressed. I had left a message for Mihawk. Now that I had defeated him, I was confident that I could recruit him into the Donquixote family in the future. He owed me his life now, and with his pride intact, there was no fear of him defaulting. Mihawk was a maverick, so it was better for him to grow while challenging the world. I planned to have him eventually join the family after he became more accustomed to me. Our friendship was only set to grow after this life-and-death bout.

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[Silent_stiele]