Chapter 46

When Carnes' voice fell, the three individuals who were surrounding Mihawk—the Preta Path, Asura Path, and Human Path—simultaneously withdrew from the battle.

They quickly retreated and returned to the Eternal Gale ship.

"Retreating? Mihawk looked somewhat surprised at the sudden retreat of the three individuals.

The distance to the Eternal Gale was quite far, and Mihawk couldn't hear what Carnes had said on the ship.

On the ship, Bonney, who was watching Pain's retreat, was somewhat puzzled.

"Why are they retreating? Isn't now the best time to attack him?!"

However, Demiurge responded to Bonney with a cold voice.

"Could you please be quiet for a moment?"

He seemed to attribute the reason for the captain's intervention to his own mistake.

Seeing that Demiurge didn't respond to her, Bonney turned her head and looked at Carnes not far away.

Carnes had arrived at the bow of the ship.

Before Bonney could speak, he took a step forward and jumped straight into the sea.

"Crack!"

The impact of Carnes' fall created a few splashes, but his figure stood steadily on the surface of the water.

Bonney, who witnessed this scene, was dumbfounded.

"What... What is this?! How can these guys, one after another, stand on the sea as if it were solid ground? Devil Fruit abilities?!"

"This doesn't make sense, right?! Seawater is the natural enemy of Devil Fruit users!"

Mihawk was also somewhat surprised. It wasn't strange for one or two people to stand on the sea.

But now, four people came, and all four of them could stand on the surface of the sea as if it were solid ground. It was inevitable for people to be amazed.

"Is it the power of Devil Fruit?" Mihawk wasn't too sure.

At this moment, Carnes spoke again, but not to Mihawk.

"This time, you don't need to intervene."

Seeing that Carnes actually had plans for a one-on-one confrontation with him, Mihawk's face showed an even stronger expression of surprise.

"You seem to be quite confident in yourself?"

Carnes remained calm.

He reached for his waist and drew out "Eclipse."

"Clang~"

The longsword slowly unsheathed, accompanied by a humming sound.

"No need for meaningless chatter."

"I hope your strength lives up to my expectations, but don't die too quickly."

With such arrogant words, Carnes made Mihawk involuntarily reveal a smile.

"Is that so? It seems you have underestimated me."

Carnes didn't waste any words. He held "Eclipse" in his right hand and raised his left hand, palm facing Mihawk.

"Wood Release."

As Carnes' voice fell, six wooden roots instantly sprouted from his palm!

After these six wooden roots shot out of Carnes' palm, they rapidly swelled and grew, interweaving into a massive wooden net.

The wooden net covered the sky, enveloping the entire area in a moment!

On the ship, Bonney, and Vibbs of the two pirate crews—Bonney Pirates and Vibbs Pirates—watched in shock as the enormous wooden net, several times larger than the ship, obscured half of the sky. Their eyes widened in fear.

Even speaking became difficult for them.

"What... What is this?!"

Even on the Eternal Gale, Bonney, the captain of the Bonney Pirates, couldn't help but show a shocked expression, her face full of disbelief.

"What... is this?!"

At the same time, the shadow of the wooden net had completely enveloped Mihawk.

As he saw the descending wooden net, Mihawk's eyes sharpened, and he lifted his sword to strike.

"Swish!"

The blade reappeared, cutting through the descending massive wooden net.

"Boom!"

"Thud!"

The sound of a tremendous impact echoed as Mihawk's strike pierced through a large hole in the wooden net.

Countless wooden blocks and splinters scattered in all directions.

However, this did not stop the descent of the wooden net!

"Thud!"

The enormous and heavy wooden net slammed fiercely onto the surface of the sea, causing waves several meters high to rise instantly.

"Boom!"

Looking down at the massive wooden net floating on the sea, Mihawk lifted his head and glanced at Carnes.

"Are you... building a platform for me to stand on?"

Carnes did not deny it.

"Restricting the battle to that small wooden ship would make it lack a bit of excitement."

Wood Release was the ability Carnes acquired from Obito.

However, it didn't come with any powerful skills like "Mokuton Hijutsu: Jukai Kōtan that could cause massive area damage."

The massive and all-encompassing wooden net created by Carnes was not a particularly impressive skill.

It was purely a forceful creation by Carnes relying on his strength.

Its only characteristic was its size and breadth.

And it also required some physical stamina.

"You might regret your actions. In that case, I won't hold back anymore." As Mihawk spoke, he stepped onto the wooden net.

At this moment, his movements were completely unrestricted.

Similarly, Carnes also stepped onto the wooden net on the sea.

Without any communication, Mihawk immediately took action!

He swung his sword with a casual strike, unleashing a terrifying sword energy!

"Clang!"

Carnes naturally didn't show weakness. He also swung his sword "Eclipse" in his hand, unleashing a dark red sword energy with the same terrifying power.

"Clang!"

"Thud!"

The collision of the two sword energies erupted with a tremendous roar.

The wooden 'floor' couldn't withstand the immense residual impact and exploded.

"Crack!"

"Boom!"

The surging seawater rose several meters high, gushing into the sky!

Mihawk, wielding the Black Blade Yoru, instantly rushed towards Carnes, swinging his blade in a horizontal slash!

"Swish!"

The longsword cut through the air, accompanied by a piercing buzzing sound. Its speed was so fast that it was difficult to perceive with the naked eye!

But in front of Carnes, who possessed excellent Observation Haki, Mihawk's strike was slow to the point of being incredibly slow.

He didn't even bother to meet it with his sword.

Carnes covered his right leg with Armament Haki and stepped on the blade that was swinging towards him.

"Crack!"

"Thud!"

A violent shockwave rushed forward!

Behind Carnes, the wooden 'floor' suddenly shattered, being flung into the air by the violent shockwave!

And Mihawk's slash was effortlessly intercepted by Carnes using his foot!

Seeing this scene, even Mihawk couldn't help but reveal a look of astonishment.

"He blocked it?! How is this possible?!"

Although Mihawk's strike was mostly a probing move and didn't exert much strength, such a strike is not something an ordinary person can withstand, let alone casually intercept it like this!

On the Eternal Gale, Bonney, who witnessed the scene with her own eyes, widened her eyes, and her mouth involuntarily formed an "O" shape.

"Is... is this a joke?!"

"That's Hawkeye Mihawk! That bastard... he actually intercepted his attack just like that?!"

Bonney's words were a bit stuttered, and her eyes trembled violently like an earthquake. Her face was filled with an expression of disbelief.

The visual impact this scene brought to her was even more intense than when she single-handedly infiltrated Mary Geoise!

At this moment, Carnes, who was locked in a stalemate with Mihawk, also spoke.

"If you keep probing like this, you will die!" Carnes's voice was calm, without any trace of mixed emotions.

Upon hearing these words, Mihawk smiled self-mockingly.

"I take back what I said earlier. I... underestimated you! To show my apology, allow me to go all out!"

And the moment when Mihawk's words fell.

His aura suddenly skyrocketed!

"Boom!"

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