Chapter 58: Kozuki Hiyori vs. Hawkeye
After a long moment, the shock in Sanji’s eyes gradually faded, replaced by cold detachment.
“What are you doing here? Haven’t we already severed our blood ties?”
“Sanji~” Reiju had countless thoughts in her heart, but all that came to her lips was a sigh: “Are you alright?”
Red-Leg Zeff realized the relationship between the two, let out a laugh, and stood in front of Sanji, his sharp gaze fixed on Reiju: “So you’re Sanji’s tragic family, are you?”
He waved his big hand, pointing towards the ship’s rail, unceremoniously expelling them: “Get out! Baratie doesn’t welcome you!”
“Wait!” Sanji unexpectedly spoke up to object: “Baratie shouldn’t turn away any hungry guests.”
He knew better than anyone the power and unreasonableness of the Vinsmoke Family.
Although only his sister had appeared at the moment, he had no doubt that his inhumane brothers were certainly nearby.
“How kind.”
Kane chuckled, breaking the stalemate, and gestured to Reiju, “Go on, Reiju, have a good talk with your brother. We still have plenty of time.”
Reiju nodded slightly, got up and left, pulling Sanji outside.
Sanji outwardly resisted, but his body was involuntarily pulled by her towards a corner of the deck.
Seeing this, Zeff realized that the relationship between the siblings didn’t seem too bad, so he snorted and no longer blocked them.
Mihawk had no interest in this sudden family drama, but as Reiju left, Kozuki Hiyori caught his peripheral vision, immediately making him unable to look away.
To be precise, it was the long sword Kozuki Hiyori wore at her waist.
What an evil sword!
A glint flashed in Mihawk’s eyes, and he slowly walked over to Kozuki Hiyori, his sharp gaze fixed on Enma without blinking: “Hey, you’re a swordsman, aren’t you? How about a match?”
“You are?”
Feeling the sharpness emanating from the opponent, like a famous sword drawn from its sheath, Kozuki Hiyori instantly became alert, her hands subconsciously resting on the twin swords at her waist.
Having always lived in Wano Country, she didn’t know many of the less active powerhouses on the sea.
Kane introduced him: “Hawkeye Mihawk, one of the Shichibukai, the World’s Strongest Swordsman. Hiyori, if you’re interested, you might as well agree; it might help you on your future path.”
Here’s an aside: the World’s Strongest Swordsman isn’t necessarily the strongest among all who use swords.
For example, Charlotte Linlin, although she also uses a sword, her main strength comes from brute force, not swordsmanship.
Using a sword as a weapon and considering oneself a swordsman are two different things.
Back to the main topic.
“Is he that powerful?” Violet clicked her tongue.
In any case, anyone who can bear the title of “World’s Strongest” and hasn’t been defeated is undoubtedly a powerhouse.
For example, Whitebeard, the World’s Strongest Man; Kaido, the World’s Strongest Creature; Charlotte Linlin, the World’s Strongest Woman; and so on.
“The World’s Strongest Swordsman?” Kozuki Hiyori was somewhat tempted.
Even if she was a woman who disliked conflict, as a swordsman, who could refuse a match against the World’s Strongest Swordsman?
“Huh? A sword fight?! I want to see, I want to see!”
Yamato suddenly became energetic; wouldn’t it be wonderful to watch a duel before dinner was served?
“Let’s go together,” Kane also said with anticipation.
Hawkeye didn’t mind having spectators for his duel, as long as they didn’t interfere.
Soon, the group arrived at the Raikougo.
After all, Baratie had no space for them to use as a battlefield.
“This is my first time boarding a Beasts ship.”
Hawkeye spoke calmly, with only a hint of curiosity in his eyes and no other emotions, even though it was a ship of the infamous Beasts Pirates.
He also hadn’t expected that by simply coming to East Blue for some idle fun, he would encounter people from the Beasts Pirates.
Before the duel began, Kane lightly stamped his right foot on the deck.
Deep, dark Armament Haki spread out from beneath his feet like a living thing, instantly covering a large area of the deck.
Without reinforcing it with Armament Haki, he was afraid that half the deck would be destroyed after one duel.
“Let’s begin.”
Hawkeye retracted his gaze, locking onto Kozuki Hiyori, and gripped the Supreme Grade sword, Yoru, worn on his back, with his right hand.
This was a magnificent long sword, as tall as a man, with a jeweled cross-shaped hilt and a chaotic, heavy flower-patterned blade.
Mihawk slowly raised it, the tip pointing towards Kozuki Hiyori.
“Please enlighten me.” Kozuki Hiyori suppressed the tremor in her heart, drew her usual good quality sword, and assumed her starting stance.
Unexpectedly, Hawkeye frowned, “Why aren’t you using the other sword?”
He had sought out Kozuki Hiyori precisely because he had noticed the unusual nature of Enma and wanted to witness the strength of a swordsman who could wield such an evil sword.
Kozuki Hiyori frankly admitted: “I haven’t completely tamed Enma yet; I only have one strike of its power.”
“Is that so?”
A clear hint of disappointment flashed in Mihawk’s eyes.
To everyone’s astonishment, he actually put away Yoru.
Though disappointed, he had no intention of stopping the duel. Instead, he took off the cross-shaped necklace from his chest, and with a slight movement of his fingers, drew a small, gleaming knife from it.
“Sorry, I don’t have a sword worse than this.”
Hawkeye shrugged, exuding an air of arrogance.
It appeared, the famous scene, the small knife duel.
Kane narrowed his eyes slightly: “What a proud man.”
But no matter what, such an action was somewhat insulting to the swordsman opposite him.
When Hawkeye made this move, even Kozuki Hiyori, who was usually kind and friendly, couldn’t help but tighten her grip on her good quality sword.
Kozuki Hiyori also understood that without sufficient strength, any demand for respect was merely a mirage.
“Oden One-Sword Style: Flying Dragon!”
Kozuki Hiyori’s gaze sharpened, her right foot pushed off the ground, and her figure shot out like an arrow from a bowstring.
Her good quality sword, imbued with Armament Haki, transformed into a straight, chilling gleam, piercing directly towards Mihawk’s heart.
Clang—
The sound of metal clashing rang out.
A small knife, a knife that seemed only capable of cutting fruit, precisely blocked the sharp sword tip.
“How is this possible!”
Kozuki Hiyori’s pupils constricted, and she pushed with both hands, trying to break through, but she felt as if the sword tip had pierced into a mountain of ten thousand blades, unable to penetrate even an inch.
Hawkeye, opposite her, remained motionless, his face still bearing that calm expression.
In that case.
“Hah!” Kozuki Hiyori instantly changed her move, retracting her sword and striking again.
The sword light was like a violent storm, wildly sweeping towards Mihawk.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!...
A continuous series of dense, rain-like Tackle sounds.
Mihawk, at the center of the storm, remained as indifferent as ever.
The dark small knife in his hand, with the simplest, most precise trajectory, parried and deflected Hiyori’s storm-like onslaught one by one.
Not a single strike missed, not a single wasted movement!
This was pure showmanship.
Finally, Mihawk seemed to grow bored, his wrist moved slightly, and the small knife seemingly casually thrust forward.
Bang!
With just one strike, Kozuki Hiyori couldn’t withstand it and was sent flying backward uncontrollably, only managing to steady herself after stumbling back more than ten steps.
