"Are we really going to fight someone like Mihawk as soon as we arrive in the East Blue?"
Law's expression was a bit complicated. "Seems like this excitement just got a lot bigger."
The first enemy they faced was the world's greatest swordsman. To be honest, it was already a big deal.
"Is that guy really that strong?"
Viola whispered.
"Among all the self-proclaimed swordsmen in the world," Jack said calmly, "he's probably the strongest."
Using a sword as a weapon and being a true swordsman are two completely different things.
And Mihawk is universally recognized as the strongest swordsman.
"Is he really that strong?"
Viola was taken aback.
The strongest swordsman?
She's only ever heard of the title "strongest" attached to three people: the strongest man, Whitebeard; the strongest woman, Charlotte Linlin; and the strongest creature, Kaido.
Could this man be on the same level as those three?
"Then can Ian win?"
She couldn't help but ask.
Just then, two scorching gazes turned toward her.
Yamato and Hancock both turned their heads to look at her.
Viola felt her scalp tingle. "W-What's wrong?"
"Ian won't lose!"
Yamato said as if it was a matter of course.
"That's right!"
Hancock, rarely agreeing with Yamato, said, "Ian is the strongest!"
Mihawk's lips curled into a faint smile, intrigued. "The strongest?"
Ian coughed lightly, looking a bit embarrassed. "Sorry, the kids don't know better. It was just a joke."
"Then let me see for myself, the strongest!"
Mihawk's long sword was held at a sharp angle, its blade flashing with a cold gleam.
"You don't want to listen, huh?"
"Well then."
Ian noticed.
The sword in Mihawk's hand hadn't turned black yet; the blade was still white.
He hasn't forged the black blade yet?
So, his strength is still a bit lacking compared to the top monsters.
Once he forges the Yoru into the world's greatest black sword, that's when he'll become a true top-tier powerhouse.
"Don't rush. Let's move the fight elsewhere."
Ian said, "It wouldn't be good to destroy the execution platform here."
A few hundred years from now, this execution platform will likely be a historical relic. It'd be a shame to destroy it now.
"Alright."
Mihawk readily agreed.
He didn't want to destroy the platform either.
After all, he had witnessed Roger's execution here, and had seen the beginning of the Great Pirate Era with his own eyes.
It could be said that this execution platform marked the start of everything.
The final battle location was chosen to be on the sea outside of Loguetown. Yamato used her powers to create a vast ice field, providing a battleground for the two.
"Don't attack the surface below." Ian stamped his foot. "Though it's sturdy, it's still too fragile for us."
"Are you sure about this?" Mihawk chuckled. "After all, we are still above the sea."
And Ian is a Devil Fruit user.
"I can fly." Ian loosened his collar and slightly adjusted his tie. "As long as you don't think it's unfair."
"I'm not that weak." Mihawk raised his sword. "Then—"
Swish!!
A fierce gust of wind instantly surged, forcing the nearby spectators to squint their eyes.
"Let's go."
Ian waved at him.
Whoosh!
The air was instantly pierced as a series of emerald green slashes shot towards him like missiles.
Red light flashed in Ian's eyes, and he casually took a step, effortlessly dodging Mihawk's slashes.
"Impressive observation haki!"
The ice beneath his feet shattered as Mihawk rushed like the wind.
Ian simply pointed his finger, "Surtur, battle mode."
"Yes! Master!"
The fire spirit, originally perched on his shoulder, immediately flew out and, in the next moment, expanded into a twenty-meter-tall golden giant. "Turn to ashes!"
"God Fist Smash!!"
Raging flames erupted from its fist. Meanwhile, inside Surtur, the flames compressed and expanded, propelling its fist forward with a roar.
"Huh?"
Mihawk, rushing forward, stopped and his expression changed slightly.
What is this?
A creation of flames? But it has its own consciousness?
"Don't mind it, this is my clone."
Ian smiled. "I guess this doesn't count as two against one?"
"Interesting."
Mihawk's lips curved up.
Swish!
In the next moment, a dazzling flash of the sword cut through the air like a crescent moon, instantly severing Surtur's fist and the flames wrapped around it.
"Ugh!"
Surtur's expression changed slightly.
"Doesn't work?"
Mihawk muttered, "No substance?"
Whoosh!
The sword light burst forth, leaving behind slashing marks in the air, like cracks in space, dense and overlapping like a fishing net.
Surtur was split into pieces in an instant, like a collapsing Lego structure.
"Completely useless!!"
All the cracks healed in the next moment, and Surtur returned to its original form. It opened its mouth, and a scorching golden fire column surged downward. "Turn to ashes!"
Mihawk's lips lifted, and with a swift strike, he severed both the fire column and Surtur's head. "Didn't you say not to attack the ice field?"
The ice beneath their feet had already melted considerably, but there was no water left because it had been directly vaporized.
"What's wrong?"
Ian raised an eyebrow. "Is it because you can't handle Surtur anymore?"
"Can't handle?"
Tch!
A gust of wind blew.
Surtur was once again torn into fragments, the pitch-black blade heading straight for Ian.
"As expected, there's no way to stop you."
Ian laughed heartily, twisting his body. His long right leg whipped like a steel whip, striking the side of the black blade.
Clang!
The air trembled violently, and the ice field shattered.
Ian's body flew backward like a cannonball. "What an exaggerated slash!"
Mihawk did not pursue. "Get serious, Ian. Otherwise, this won't be interesting."
"Alright."
Ian lightly landed on the ground, extending his hand. "Surtur, Lævateinn."
"Yes! Master!"
Surtur transformed into a torrent of flames, merging into Ian's hand and turing into a golden greatsword.
"Oh?"
Mihawk's eyes brightened. "Interesting."
Although Ian wasn't a swordsman, fighting a sword-wielding opponent was indeed more exciting.
Flames began to spread across Ian's body.
Golden wings unfurled, and the golden god appeared in the world.
Tch!!
Even though Ian had controlled it, the terrifying heat emanating from his body caused the ice field beneath him to rapidly evaporate.
"Yamato!"
Ian shouted. "Maintain the battlefield."
"Understood!"
Yamato activated her ability once again, reinforcing the icy plain.
She even stomped her foot on the ground, hardening the ice with Armament Haki.
Ian gave her a thumbs up.
"Heh heh!"
Yamato smiled proudly.
I can do this too!
Hancock gritted her teeth secretly, activating her Armament Haki, doubling its enhancement.
"Great, then let's begin in earnest."
Mihawk instantly shot forward, gripping his sword with both hands, the blade now pitch black.
Ian's lips curled into a smile. "Alright!"
Flames surged up the Sword of Fire. The once golden blade turned pitch black, invisible waves swirling around it.
Then, he swung the sword.
Clang!!
The swords collided.
Sizzle!!
The icy plain, reinforced by Yamato and Hancock's combined Armament Haki, shattered instantly. Sharp fissures tore through everything.
Even the vast ice plain outside, and the distant sea, were cut into a deep chasm.
"Oh?"
Ian raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Impressive strike."
The explosive sound wasn't caused by him.
It was Mihawk.
Even the aftershock of his strike caused such an exaggerated effect.
Is this the breath of all things?
However, even with such astonishing power, Mihawk was still sent flying by a single strike from Ian.
The man flew several hundred meters before landing heavily in the air, as if falling like a meteor.
At the moment of the heavy landing, the sharp eyes, like those of an eagle, were now filled with a look of surprise. "Incredible strength! Truly exaggerated!"
Even his own slash was almost effortlessly countered and sent flying.
Ian, holding his sword, chuckled lightly. "You should be using your full strength now, Mihawk."
That previous strike didn't show the caliber of the world's greatest swordsman.
"It seems so."
Mihawk slowly raised the long sword in his hand, then let it drop gently.
Swoosh!
A visually stunning scene unfolded. The icy plains, along with the sea further away, instantly cracked open. No, not just the sea—the seabed below was also torn apart! A massive rift appeared!
"Whoa!"
Ian raised an eyebrow, clearly seeing the pitch-black lightning that surged from Mihawk's long blade. "Conqueror's Haki Entanglement!"
Zoro himself possessed the Conqueror's Haki, and as Mihawk's rival, it would be strange if Mihawk didn't have it.
"Here it comes!"
Almost in the next instant, the pitch-black blade was coming straight toward him.
Red light flashed in Ian's eyes as he swung his sword to meet it.
Boom!!
The icy plains exploded in an instant, with pitch-black lightning shooting up into the sky.
"No, Ian!"
Yamato shouted from a distance. "I can't control it!"
The ice field could no longer withstand the aftermath of their clash. Even with the dual enhancement from Yamato and Hancock, it was inevitable that it would shatter.
"Then stay further back!"
**********
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