Chapter 293

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"Good, I've been wanting to see the swordsmanship of the world's greatest swordsman for myself."

Abel found no reason to refuse, so he immediately drew his sword Onimaru, ready for battle.

"Baby-5, stay back a bit."

"Abel, are you going to fight this guy? I can stay and help."

"It's just a friendly duel between swordsmen. Stay back, please."

"Okay."

Baby-5 was seeing Abel's stern expression for the first time, indicating that the enemy they were facing was extraordinary. 

She wanted to stay and help, but she obediently ran off after Abel told her to do so, albeit with some concern.

'Hawk Eyes' Mihawk didn't even spare a glance at Baby-5 from beginning to end as if she was of no interest to him.

Giving the kid across from him a taste of his blade was just a whim.

If one had to explain it, it would be chalked up to a swordsman's intuition.

"This kid is worth cutting!"

Upon having this thought, he acted upon it.

However, he didn't draw his large black blade from behind but instead took off the cross necklace around his neck and unsheathed a small and sharp knife.

If Abel had noticed the scars on Howard's body earlier, he would have found it strange. 

And upon seeing this small knife, he would have instantly understood!

But at that moment, Abel's mind was clear of any distractions, his eyes only on the opponent in front of him.

"Are you sure you want to use that?"

"It's sufficient."

Insult?

Abel didn't feel insulted, but he wouldn't feel satisfied until he had vented.

In that moment, he seemed to understand Zoro's feelings when he first stood before 'Hawk Eyes' in the original story.

Win or lose, he had to make the man put away his toy knife!

Then let's give this guy a surprise!

Gradually, the wind started to blow, fluttering their clothes.

Then, in the next instant, they moved almost simultaneously.

In the blink of an eye, they had switched places, standing back to back.

The wind stopped.

Abel looked at his left shoulder, where a fresh wound was bleeding profusely.

'Hawk Eyes', however, was completely unharmed.

It seemed that in this first exchange of blades, he had been utterly defeated.

But when 'Hawk Eyes' turned around, things weren't as they seemed.

The cross necklace that was hanging around his neck, which doubled as a knife sheath, was gone.

Likewise, Abel, who also turned around, suddenly opened his left hand, and the missing necklace lay quietly there.

During their passing, Abel had indeed been wounded by 'Hawk Eyes', but his own blade had not been in vain.

'Hawk Eyes' had managed to avoid a direct hit, but not the theft of his necklace, which the quick-reflexed Abel captured.

That was what had transpired in the blink of an eye.

Abel, at the price of an injury, had given 'Hawk Eyes' a 'surprise'!

"It seems I may have underestimated you, young swordsman. State your name."

Mihawk shifted his attitude from underestimation to seriousness with Abel.

"Gustavus Abel, no school, no style; please enlighten me."

Abel tossed back 'Hawk Eyes'' necklace, then took a combat stance with his sword, his eyes seemingly glinting with a certain light.

Clearly, the idea of 'taking another hit' had never bothered him from the start.

The chance to challenge the world's greatest swordsman wasn't something that came by often.

If he were to back down at this moment, he felt that his achievements in the way of the sword would probably plateau there.

So, no backing down, just go for it!

Mihawk gently placed the severed necklace into his pocket after sheathing the so-called 'toy sword.' 

"Dracule Mihawk, what follows will be a battle between swordsmen. I will take this seriously and give it my all."

"If you fall to my blade, it is merely a sign that your strength is not up to the challenge of my position."

As he finished speaking, Mihawk grasped his supreme great sword, Yoru, which signified a certain level of acknowledgment for Abel's ability.

Or more accurately, his swordsman's intuition was spot-on—Abel was an opponent worthy of his sword.

"Even in defeat, I shall draw my sword! That is my strength and resolve. Come at me!"

Abel stood ready with a stern expression.

Mihawk's gaze sharpened instantly, and Abel felt as if he'd been marked by some terrifying beast, a quarry for the eagle no matter where he fled.

Stimulated by this murderous intent, Abel's Conqueror's Haki burst forth uncontrollably, breaking free from that odd sensation of being trapped.

I stand unrivaled under the heavens!

Mihawk, slightly surprised at this display of spirit, hadn't expected to find someone in the West Blue who had awakened the Conqueror's Haki—and it was clear this wasn't Abel's first awakening.

How old was this kid, anyway?

Even though Abel stood at a height of 1.9 meters, he couldn't fool the piercing eyes of Mihawk.

"Definitely under 15 years old! Could it be that another king is about to emerge in this vast ocean?"

These thoughts briefly crossed Mihawk's mind but then vanished. If Abel's sword skills and spirit failed to satisfy him, then perhaps this budding king of the seas might meet his demise too soon.

He didn't care about something like Conqueror's Haki, not unless it reached the level of a certain rival-turned-ally he knew, who warranted special attention with their formidable Haki.

Compared to that, Abel's display of Haki was still too immature.

Holding the black blade, Mihawk unleashed a powerful flying slash, forcing Abel to retract his Haki and prepare for battle in earnest.

"Asura Aurora Slash!"

Abel responded in kind, his move sharp and direct.

At level 7, the Asura Aurora Slash, even without charging up, possessed a terrifying power, the slash reaching a staggering 30 meters in length!

Imagine a flying slash 30 meters long—what sort of power was that?

Mihawk was momentarily taken aback but then swung the black blade, sending one flying slash after another.

While they fell short in length, his slashes were clearly more solidified, and Abel's splendid Asura Aurora Slash was forcefully shattered!

To this, Abel showed no surprise. After all, his opponent was fond of flying slashes and was a formidable expert at that.

A flying slash from the supreme great sword wasn't something just anyone could withstand.

Hence, just this brief exchange was enough to elevate Abel's reputation greatly.

It's inevitable—this is 'Hawkeye' Mihawk we're talking about!

It's like every basketball player wanting to challenge Jordan; even holding one's own for a short time is a feat worth boasting about.

But clearly, Abel wasn't content with just that, or perhaps he didn't need fame gained in such a way.