"So... Uchiha Ryujin."
Hawkeye's sharp, hawk-like gaze narrowed even further. "You came looking for me. What do you want?"
"To defeat you," Ryujin replied without hesitation.
A ripple swept through the crowd.
The entire restaurant stirred at his words. This was Dracule Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman. Even though Ryujin had crushed Don Krieg earlier, that meant little here. Compared to Mihawk, Krieg was nothing.
"Defeat Hawkeye? Who does this guy think he is?"
"He's asking to be humiliated."
"This has to be a joke."
Mockery rose from all directions.
Zoro clenched his teeth. "That man isn't someone just anyone can challenge."
Mihawk was his goal, the peak he aimed to reach. Hearing Ryujin speak so casually about defeating him left a bad taste in his mouth.
But Mihawk said nothing more. With a smooth motion, he drew the black blade Yoru from his back.
His expression turned serious.
Unlike the others, Mihawk could sense it clearly. The man before him wasn't ordinary. There was a dangerous presence surrounding Ryujin, something deep and unfathomable.
"Come," Mihawk said, lifting Yoru. "I have a feeling you're worth going all out against."
Zeff's face darkened immediately.
If Mihawk truly fought here, the Baratie would be split apart without a second thought.
"Ryujin-kun, can you take this elsewhere? My restaurant won't survive something like this."
"No need."
Ryujin vanished.
In the next instant, he reappeared far out at sea, standing directly on the water as if it were solid ground.
He glanced around, satisfied. Fighting here would keep the restaurant safe.
Mihawk's eyes sharpened.
That speed alone was already among the best in the world. But standing on the sea like that, without any visible method, that was something else entirely.
Mihawk felt uncertainty.
Maybe this opponent was stronger than him.
Back on the Baratie, the crowd erupted.
"He's standing on the sea!"
"How is that even possible?"
"This fight is going to be insane!"
Luffy grinned, gripping his straw hat. "Sugoi!"
Zoro frowned. "Is he a Devil Fruit user? And what's with that strange aura around him?"
Mihawk raised Yoru and swung.
Clang!
A massive slash tore through the air, slicing toward Ryujin. The sea split apart beneath it, waves surging skyward, a deep trench forming across the water.
The sheer force made everyone's hearts tremble.
"So this is the world's greatest swordsman," Ryujin said, almost casually.
He raised a hand.
A Truth Seeking Orb formed instantly, spreading into a dark barrier in front of him.
The slash collided with it.
And disappeared.
Just like that.
No explosion, no resistance, not even a ripple.
Ryujin stood there untouched, not a single strand of hair out of place.
"He blocked it... just like that?"
"What is that black thing?"
Mihawk's eyes narrowed slightly. Even he hadn't expected that.
"Impressive," Ryujin said. "You deserve your title."
The black barrier dissolved.
His eyes shifted, transforming into the Tenseigan. Another Truth Seeking Orb floated forward, reshaping itself into a radiant golden sword.
Mihawk felt it immediately.
That weapon was dangerous.
His thoughts raced. That wasn't a Devil Fruit ability, and those eyes... they had changed twice already.
Back on the ship, Usopp pointed. "Zoro, his eyes changed again!"
"I see it," Zoro replied, focused. "Red before, now white... his power might be tied to them."
Luffy tilted his head. "So he's got eye diseases?"
Zoro snapped. "That's not how it works!"
Out at sea, Ryujin lifted the golden blade.
"Hawkeye, take this."
He swung.
The ocean erupted.
Massive waves surged hundreds of meters high, the sea splitting apart as the attack tore forward with overwhelming force.
Mihawk's pupils shrank.
That power... even he felt pressured.
Without hesitation, he swung Yoru with everything he had.
Two monstrous slashes collided.
Boom!
The sea roared. Waves spiraled outward, rising into a massive tsunami that surged toward the Baratie.
Zeff grimaced. "So this is how it ends."
"We're going to die!" Usopp shouted, clinging to Zoro.
Even Luffy and Zoro had no answer against something like this.
Panic spread across the restaurant.
Ryujin sighed lightly. "Yeah, I underestimated that."
He clapped once.
Four wood clones appeared instantly, flashing to the corners of the Baratie.
"Four Red Yang Formation."
A red barrier formed around the restaurant.
The raging sea slammed against it.
But nothing got through.
The ship steadied completely, untouched by the chaos outside.
"We're safe?"
"How are there four of him?"
"He protected us!"
Zoro stared, stunned. "What... is this?"
Usopp trembled uncontrollably. "This is insane..."
Luffy stood frozen, his earlier confidence gone.
Then someone shouted, "Look!"
Everyone turned.
Out on the sea, Ryujin stood unharmed.
Mihawk had been blown back.
Even without seeing the full aftermath, it was clear.
The world's greatest swordsman had lost.
"That's impossible..."
"Hawkeye lost?"
At that moment, a voice echoed in Ryujin's mind.
"Ding! You have defeated Hawkeye Mihawk. Choose your reward:"
"One, Mihawk's Swordsmanship."
"Two, Mihawk's Conqueror's Haki."
"Three, Mihawk's Observation Haki."
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