Whoosh...
Mihawk's face darkened, his sharp eyes blazing. His sword flashed from his back into his hand, sweeping in a fierce slash aimed straight at Ozz.
Ozz curled his lips into a mischievous grin, neither dodging nor flinching as the blade sliced past him yet not a drop of blood appeared.
"Hey, hey, hey! I swear, I didn't mean to! Why so mad?"
"Your expression doesn't look like an accident."
"Pfft… hahaha, really that obvious?"
While Mihawk talked, he subtly shifted his feet to brush off the dirt clinging to his shoe.
Ozz couldn't help but crack a wide smile.
Teasing the young Hawk-Eye.
It felt just as good as teasing young Shanks.
But when Ozz broke out laughing loud and clear, Mihawk's grip on his black sword, Yoru, tightened a little.
This time, Ozz didn't dodge by blurring himself away. Instead, he pulled the sword "Ace" from his waist and met the killing blow head-on.
"The Supreme Great Blades, Twelve Arts Ace, huh?"
Mihawk recognized the sword immediately.
That rumor... was true after all?
Originally, it belonged to Pirate King Roger. After his death, it was passed down to his worthy successor,Dotor Ozz!
But in reality,
Ozz was just helping his family and happened to keep it as a family heirloom.
He switched out the Black Raven because Ace was sharper, harder, and felt better in his hand.
No real boost to his power, just personal preference.
Both men stood firm on opposite sides of the clearing, black blades in hand.
"If this is a swordsmanship duel, I won't use my Devil Fruit powers. Otherwise, you'd just claim I won unfairly."
Clang.
Ozz calmly cloaked Ace in Armament Haki.
The young Mihawk wouldn't back down either. His black blade Yoru hovered in front of him, edges shimmering coldly. His voice cut sharp and clear:
"If you lose the Devil Fruit, can you still dodge my blade? My Yoru has tasted the blood of countless foes and is sharper than ever!"
"My Ace is no less lethal!"
Both men exuded dense Armament Haki, faces dead serious.
Ozz sensed the young Mihawk's power was formidable. At 19, Mihawk was close in age to Zoro, who had two years' training no way he'd be weaker.
Combat instinct, haki, swordsmanship.
Without Devil Fruit abilities, Ozz found himself evenly matched against this young Hawk-Eye.
He exhaled slowly, gripping Ace tighter. The Armament Haki flowing over the blade began to shift, flowing like water.
A brilliant crimson glow, like cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Yet the cut left behind was the color of a dark abyss.
"One-Sword Style: Sakura's End,Black Light!"
The sword's aura shimmered with flowing Haki, but the slash emitted black energy that tore the air apart, cutting the earth wide open.
Mihawk frowned but remained composed. He raised Yoru overhead, then slammed it down fiercely.
Boom!
A massive surge of sword energy exploded upward.
Vibrant green energy far larger and sharper than the black-red slash.
The two sword energies collided instantly, locking and weaving in midair.
Though the green slash was bigger and sharper, Mihawk's superior Haki constantly wore down Ozz's flowing Armament.
The clash was dead even.
Ozz didn't have time to admire the stalemate.
He noticed something he couldn't ignore.
Mihawk said nothing, silently raising his sword again, calm and cold like a true master.
Ozz's expression darkened immediately.
Why didn't you say your move just now?
It looked like I used some big move, and you just blocked it with a normal swing!
Do you think I'm clueless?
That slash was full power, wasn't it?!
From now on, if I shout my move's name, I'm a damn fool!
Feeling played, Ozz's mood soured fast. His teasing streak faded, replaced by a fierce red glow in his eyes.
He gripped his sword and charged, determined not to hold back anymore.
I really need to teach you a lesson, Mihawk!
Mihawk was caught off guard by the sudden change.
What's gotten into him?
But knowing Mihawk's personality, he didn't ask questions. Faced with a fiercer attack, he raised his sword and met Ozz's strike with all his strength.
Clang!
Their swords crashed, shockwaves fracturing the earth beneath them.
A duel fit for legendary swordsmen, sword energy crackling wildly.
Trees snapped clean, animals fled or were split in two, even earthworms were sliced lengthwise underground.
"What overwhelming power…"
After several exchanges, Mihawk's hands trembled slightly.
He wished he'd just stayed at a distance and fought sword energy alone.
With his brute strength augmenting his swordsmanship, Ozz's strikes felt more like giant warhammer swings.
They traded blows, sword energy, close-range skill.
Strike after strike, from the island's south end to its north, not a single stone left intact.
Three days and three nights passed without a clear winner.
Damn… how is this Hawk-Eye's swordsmanship so solid? No openings at all!
Ozz frowned, watching Mihawk breathe hard but still standing strong and determined.
Can this really be the world's future top swordsman?
With my natural talent and training under Roger and Rayleigh, I'm still only even with him?
Though Mihawk is a few years older, it still says a lot about the true value of the world's best swordsman title.
At least in swordsmanship, Mihawk's talent was no less than Ozz's.
Gradually, Ozz's patience wore thin.
He was ready to cheat.
Boom...
Dark red-black lightning crackled fiercely along Ace's blade, the aura erupting far more intense than before.
Ozz almost blurted out the move's name "Divine Departure" but caught himself in time.
At that moment, Mihawk's hawk-like eyes narrowed sharply, sensing an unmistakable danger rising inside him.
"That's... the move from Log Town?"
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