Chapter 44 – [44] : No More Words Needed! King vs. King!

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Mihawk Traits:Armament Haki (Apex Gold), Observation Haki (Apex Gold), World’s Greatest Swordsman (Apex Gold), Conqueror’s Haki (Apex Gold).

Armament Haki (Apex Gold): Haki that enhances one’s own defensive and offensive capabilities, and allows the user to strike the substantial bodies of Devil Fruit users.

Observation Haki (Apex Gold): Haki that heightens the five senses, potentially developing into preternatural perception. Allows sensing the presence and emotional state of nearby living beings, and can be used to anticipate and evade danger. At its peak, allows brief glimpses into the future.

World’s Greatest Swordsman (Apex Gold): Needs no further explanation! On these seas, among all who wield a sword, he stands as the Undisputed Strongest!

Conqueror’s Haki (Apex Gold): Complete mastery of Conqueror’s Haki – Infusion, possessing the power to reign as an Emperor on these seas!

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This… is a true pinnacle powerhouse of these seas!

The Traits possessed by the World’s Greatest Swordsman, ‘Hawk-Eyes’ Dracule Mihawk!

Seeing the blinding array of Gold, Rowen’s lips curled into a smile tinged with excitement.

Mihawk’s strength was, without a doubt, Emperor/Admiral level!

Just as expected, this man had fully mastered Infused Conqueror’s Haki.

Later in the original story, the main reason Buggy managed to become an Emperor was precisely because of this man standing before him.

Mihawk was also the only member of an Emperor’s crew (Cross Guild) whose bounty surpassed that of the Emperor (Buggy) himself.

As for Crocodile. His significantly lower bounty later on clearly indicated that, in the eyes of the Marines, Crocodile’s strength wasn’t considered top-tier; he hadn’t reached the pinnacle level of the world’s strongest.

The Marines even explicitly stated Crocodile’s high bounty was primarily due to acknowledgment of his strategic threat. Based on strength alone, even reaching the final stages, Crocodile wouldn’t have warranted a bounty close to 1.9 billion.

Essentially, the reason the Cross Guild in the original story was recognized as an Emperor crew was solely because of ‘Hawk-Eyes’ Dracule Mihawk!

Without a Emperor/Admiral level powerhouse, no amount of luck would have allowed Buggy to become an Emperor.

‘To finally meet one of the absolute strongest individuals on these seas after coming to this world…’ Rowen felt the Conqueror’s Haki within him stir, almost boiling with anticipation.

“Hawk-Eyes Mihawk!” Zoro, who had quickly moved to Rowen’s side, was visibly trembling.

Not from fear, but from excitement…

And nervousness.

After all, Zoro had only just set out to sea. He lacked the ‘Disposition’ and experience he would gain later.

Facing the World’s Strongest—the very man he had set out to challenge—Zoro couldn’t help but feel overwhelmingly tense.

“Rowen! I moved the ship to a safe spot!” Nami called out, having maneuvered one of the smaller boats alongside the Baratie’s outer deck where Rowen stood.

“Thanks for your hard work,” Rowen replied, suppressing the simmering Conqueror’s Haki within him and offering Nami a smile.

Nami, true to her developing reliance on Rowen, hadn’t abandoned them like her original counterpart might have to face Arlong alone.

“Bastard! What grudge do we have with you?! Why are you attacking us like this?!” At that moment, one of Don Krieg’s pirates, completely breaking down, screamed hysterically at Mihawk.

“Just… killing time,” Mihawk replied nonchalantly.

“Don’t screw with us!” the pirate roared, raising two pistols and firing at Mihawk.

With imperceptible speed, the black blade strapped to Mihawk’s back, Yoru, was drawn. Despite being a massive sword, it moved with impossible grace in Mihawk’s hands.

Clink! Clink!

The two bullets instantly ricocheted, their trajectories altered.

Rowen’s eyes narrowed.

Mihawk’s swordsmanship… unlike Zoro’s powerful, wide-open style… was a perfect fusion of hardness and softness.

Ordinary bullets without Haki infusion were like dust motes before Yoru—one of the 12 Supreme Grade Swords, renowned as the world’s strongest black blade.

Especially when wielded by the World’s Greatest Swordsman.

Yet Mihawk hadn’t simply cut the bullets; he had used the razor edge of his blade to deflect them, subtly changing their path without destroying them.

This demonstrated absolute, pinpoint control over every inch of his blade. Capable of cleaving mountains, yet also deflecting bullets with finesse.

Such mastery of both power and precision… in close combat, it would be an absolute nightmare for any other swordsman or fighter.

Swordsmen, even Great Swordsmen, might launch terrifying flying slashes, but their true killing techniques lay in close-quarters combat.

Haki and stamina were finite, even for Emperor/Admiral level fighters. Infusing massive amounts of Haki into wide-ranging flying slashes would be incredibly draining.

This was likely why the slash Mihawk launched during the Summit War could be blocked by Diamond Jozu—it probably lacked significant Haki infusion and was merely a probing attack.

Furthermore, flying slashes, being ranged attacks detached from the swordsman, inevitably lost some power compared to a direct strike from the blade itself.

Witnessing Mihawk display such terrifying skill with just a casual flick of his wrist…

Rowen pulled Nami behind him, the crimson-black light in his own eyes beginning to simmer intensely.

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“B-But I aimed right at him!” the pirate grunt stammered in disbelief.

“He deflected them. He used the edge of his sword to gently change the bullets’ paths,” Zoro stated gravely, stepping forward.

Without further words, Zoro began walking towards Mihawk.

“Hey! Who are you?!” the pirate who had shot at Mihawk yelled.

Click. Zoro drew Wado Ichimonji from its sheath at his waist. The sight of his three swords instantly drew the attention of everyone present.

“Three swords… Could it be…?!” one of Don Krieg’s pirates murmured, breaking into a cold sweat.

“I’ve never seen such a ‘soft’ sword before,” Zoro commented, looking at Mihawk, a feral grin spreading across his face.

“A sword wielded solely with brute force lacks depth,” Mihawk replied calmly, turning his gaze towards Zoro.

“That ship… Did you cut it with this sword too?” Zoro asked, glancing at the massive galleon cleanly sliced in two.

“Indeed,” Mihawk replied simply.

“I see… So you really are the strongest…” Zoro’s grin widened with excitement.

“I set out to sea… to meet you!” Zoro untied the bandana from his arm and tied it around his head, signifying his intention to fight with his full strength.

“Your goal?” Mihawk asked, showing a flicker of interest.

“To be the strongest!” Zoro declared, his own unique ‘Disposition’ radiating from his smile.

“Hmph. How foolish,” Mihawk replied, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching his lips.

“You seem bored. Let’s have a match!” Zoro pointed Wado Ichimonji directly at Mihawk.

“That guy… It’s “Pirate Hunter” Zoro!” one of Krieg’s pirates yelled.

“So he’s Zoro?” Sanji looked surprised. This moss-headed guy was the famous Pirate Hunter of the East Blue?

“Hmph. Pirate Hunter?” Don Krieg narrowed his eyes. So that brat’s crew has someone like this too.

But the feeling he got from that other man… was even stronger than Zoro.

Krieg looked towards Rowen, cold sweat beginning to form on his brow again.

W-What the hell?!

Why does this man… feel even stronger now than he did just moments ago?!

Just standing there… the feeling of terrifying power was overwhelming!

Especially when Krieg caught glimpses of the crimson-black light flickering in the man’s eyes… Krieg instinctively lowered his head, unable to meet his gaze directly.

“H-How?!” Panting heavily, veins bulged on Krieg’s forehead. He was the overlord of the East Blue! Yet looking at this man… he felt an absurd, instinctive sense of unworthiness, as if gazing up at something godly, something far beyond him!

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“A match? You pitiable weakling,” Mihawk stated flatly.

Shink! Without any discernible movement, Mihawk vanished from his coffin boat and reappeared directly in front of Zoro.

“If you were a skilled swordsman, you would grasp the disparity in our strength even without crossing blades. Pointing your sword at me now… should I call it courage? Or mere ignorance?” Mihawk asked, his golden eyes devoid of emotion.

“Ignorance, huh?” Zoro gripped Wado Ichimonji, his feral grin widening.

“Maybe before meeting Rowen, I was somewhat ignorant. But now… I have some understanding of what this sea truly holds. Luffy! Rowen! Sorry about this… I’m acting on my own here. Before heading to the Grand Line… I have to test myself against this man!” Zoro declared, his eyes blazing with wild determination as he looked towards Rowen and Luffy.

“A path you chose yourself… Walk it well, Zoro,” Rowen replied, a confident, powerful curve to his lips.

“As captain, I support whatever my comrades decide! I’ll be watching you right here, Zoro!” Luffy yelled encouragingly.

“Rowen? Could he be… that ‘Sky Sovereign’ Rowen?!” Hearing Zoro call out the name, everyone’s attention instantly focused on Rowen.

“‘Sky Sovereign’ Rowen?! It really is him!” Don Krieg’s jaw clenched.

He knew about the super rookie who had recently appeared in the East Blue, of course.

But he never expected to meet him like this!

He had initially assumed the title was just empty hype… but facing the man now… Krieg found he lacked even the courage to look him directly in the eye!

Damn it! He was the overlord of the East Blue! Krieg gasped for breath, struggling to regain composure.

“Rowen?” Mihawk’s sharp, hawk-like eyes turned towards Rowen. Sensing the powerful aura faintly radiating from Rowen, ready to explode forth at any moment, Mihawk’s own eyes narrowed slightly.

Conqueror’s Haki.

Interesting. To encounter a man possessing Conqueror’s Haki of this level… in the weakest sea.

Then, Mihawk noticed Luffy’s hat.

That’s… Shanks’s.

I see. So, Shanks… bet his arm on this boy?

Mihawk’s expression remained impassive, but ripples stirred within him.

Shanks losing his arm in the East Blue had caused huge waves back in the New World.

It was also a great personal regret for Mihawk. Shanks was primarily a left-handed swordsman; losing that arm meant Mihawk lost the pleasure of sparring with his rival.

Shanks had claimed back then that he “bet his arm on the new era.”

He hadn’t expected Shanks to bet it on such an unremarkable-looking boy.

However…

Looking at the crimson-black light flickering in Rowen’s eyes, Mihawk’s gaze sharpened again.

Acknowledged by a Conqueror’s Haki user of this caliber… and backed by Shanks’s bet… This boy’s future is certainly worth anticipating.

Well then… As a favor to Shanks… let’s show this swordsman before me just how vast this sea truly is.

“Oh!” With a disdainful sigh, Mihawk drew a tiny knife—barely larger than a fruit knife—from the cross pendant hanging on his chest. Zoro’s face fell.

“Unlike foolish beasts, I do not use a cannon to hunt a rabbit. Apologies, but I don’t seem to have anything smaller than this,” Mihawk stated calmly.

“There’s a limit to how much you can underestimate someone!” Zoro roared, thoroughly enraged. Clenching Wado Ichimonji between his teeth and gripping a sword in each hand, he charged ferociously towards Mihawk.

“Three-Sword Style – Oni Giri (Demon Slash)!”

CLANG!

The next instant, Zoro’s signature Three-Sword Style technique was effortlessly blocked by Mihawk using only the small knife.

“!!!” Everyone present, except Rowen, was utterly stunned.

The Pirate Hunter Zoro—blocked by a tiny fruit knife?!

“Can’t move! What’s happening?! How can the gap… be so vast?!” Sweat dripped continuously from Zoro’s brow.

He had only had one technique blocked, yet his body felt completely immobilized.

Having learned about Haki from Rowen, Zoro had anticipated a tough fight against Mihawk, perhaps involving Haki.

But he never imagined the difference in strength would be this immense!

Forget Haki; the man hadn’t even drawn a proper sword—just a small knife!

“The world’s strongest can’t be this far away!” Zoro roared mentally, his composure shattering. He launched a frantic barrage of attacks at Mihawk.

But his wild, disordered slashes were all parried with casual grace by Mihawk using only the small knife, as if taking a leisurely stroll.

Soon, Zoro was completely toyed with by Mihawk until he was utterly exhausted.

“Weakling. What burden do you carry? What do you aspire to achieve through strength?” Mihawk asked calmly, watching Zoro, completely drained but still swinging his swords feebly before finally collapsing from exhaustion.

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“Calling Big Bro weak! You bastard!”

“That man is our Big Bro—!”

Seeing Zoro toyed with like this, Johnny and Yosaku couldn’t hold back any longer. They were about to charge recklessly at Mihawk.

But Luffy’s rubber arms shot out, grabbing them and pinning them to the deck.

“Don’t interfere! Johnny! Yosaku—This is Zoro’s fight!” Luffy gritted his teeth, veins bulging all over his body as he restrained them.

“Watch closely—A man like Zoro doesn’t need pity,” Rowen stated firmly, the crimson-black light of Conqueror’s Haki almost visibly overflowing from his eyes.

“I absolutely cannot lose!” Zoro’s mind flashed with images—his promise to Kuina, his pact with Luffy, Rowen, and the others.

His ambition—to become the world’s greatest swordsman!

“Tora Gari (Tiger Hunt)!” Zoro roared, mustering his last strength for another attack.

Shink! The small knife pierced Zoro’s chest.

“Why didn’t you retreat? Did you wish for your heart to be pierced?” Mihawk’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He had held back. Zoro only needed to step back slightly to avoid this wound.

“I don’t know… I just felt that if I retreated… all the vows and promises I’ve ever made—would vanish completely,” Zoro replied, looking straight at Mihawk.

“Indeed. That is called defeat,” Mihawk stated simply.

“Then I definitely can’t retreat,” Zoro grinned.

“You’d rather die than retreat?” Mihawk’s gaze intensified.

“Maybe… dying here would be better,” Zoro replied, a smile reflecting his unwavering resolve.

‘Such strength of heart. Rather than accept defeat, he chooses death?’ A flash of admiration appeared in Mihawk’s eyes. He sheathed the small knife and drew the great black blade, Yoru.

“Boy. State your name.”

“Roronoa Zoro!” Zoro declared, arranging his three swords defensively, a feral grin spreading across his face.

“I will remember it. It has been long since I met such strength. As a gesture of respect between swordsmen, I shall use this strongest of black blades to send you to the depths,” Mihawk replied, a rare smile touching his lips.

“I appreciate the honor,” Zoro responded, gripping his three swords and unleashing his strongest attack.

“Three-Sword Style Secret Technique – Sanzen Sekai (Three Thousand Worlds)!”

“SHIIIING! “

Blood sprayed through the air. Other than Wado Ichimonji, the swords in Zoro’s hands shattered upon impact.

“I lost… So this is the power of the world’s strongest?” Zoro silently sheathed Wado Ichimonji, then turned to face Mihawk, spreading his arms wide, exposing his chest.

“What is this?” Mihawk looked slightly surprised.

“Scars on the back… are a swordsman’s shame!” Zoro declared, laughing loudly.

“Subarashi! (Magnificent!)” Mihawk laughed heartily in response.

SLASH!

The black blade sliced deeply across Zoro’s chest, sending him falling backward into the sea.

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“ZORO—!” Seeing the outcome, Luffy could restrain himself no longer. He launched himself at Mihawk using his Gomu Gomu powers, but Mihawk easily dodged, letting Luffy crash into the wreckage of Don Krieg’s galleon.

“Calm yourself. He is not dead yet,” Mihawk stated calmly.

Watching Johnny and Yosaku dive into the sea to rescue Zoro,

Rowen leaped gracefully, landing directly in front of Mihawk.

“Hm?” Mihawk’s eyes narrowed, focusing on Rowen.

VMMMM! The crimson-black light in Rowen’s eyes solidified, seeming to crackle faintly in the air.

A similar crimson-black glint flashed in Mihawk’s own eyes.

Conqueror’s Haki versus Conqueror’s Haki.

King versus King!

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