The moment Reno sensed Hawk-Eye's overwhelming aura, his blood began to boil.
Nami stood stunned.
She'd never seen Reno wear such a serious expression.
There was no need for words—his actions said everything.
"You girls stay here. I'll be right back."
Leaving the stunned women behind, Reno stepped out into the moonlit night.
At the end of the dock, the eerie coffin boat bumped gently against the Baratie's side.
On it stood a man whose sharp golden eyes locked instantly onto two trembling figures: Krieg and Gin.
Anyone who witnessed him rowing with Yoru, the black blade, couldn't be allowed to live.
His mystique had to be preserved.
Krieg and Gin were on the verge of losing their minds.
No way...
That bastard Hawk-Eye had actually chased them from the Grand Line all the way to the East Blue?
Was this man tireless? Obsessive?! Had they accidentally kick-started a personal vendetta with Death himself?
Step by step, Hawk-Eye approached, his bootfalls as steady and foreboding as a funeral march.
But then—
He suddenly stopped.
His eagle-like eyes narrowed.
He'd sensed it—a powerful will to fight.
"Who are you?" he asked, voice low and calm, gaze fixed on Reno.
Reno returned the stare without flinching.
"My name doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm here... and I want to fight."
Hawk-Eye raised a brow. "Do you know who I am?"
Reno gave a crooked grin. "Of course. Hawk-Eye Mihawk—the World's Greatest Swordsman."
"Then come."
With a flick of his wrist, the killing intent aimed at Krieg and Gin dispersed.
The two pirates collapsed to the ground, gasping like men who'd just been spared the noose.
Note to self: Never leave East Blue again.
Forget becoming Pirate King. Let someone else have it.
Meanwhile, Reno gripped the hilt of Wado Ichimonji, crimson light flashing across his eyes as his battle aura surged.
"So... East Blue has birthed another strong one," Mihawk murmured.
The pressure Reno gave off wasn't a bluff—it was real.
"Slash Wave!"
Reno struck first. Golden arcs of sword energy shot toward Mihawk like twin comets, tearing through the sky.
Mihawk's eyes gleamed.
This technique... why does it feel so familiar?
He didn't have time to dwell. With a casual swing of Yoru, he unleashed a horizontal cut.
BOOM—!
The two slashes collided in mid-air, detonating with a thunderous crack that echoed across the sea.
"Impressive technique," Mihawk said coolly. "But not enough."
And in the next instant, he vanished.
Fast!
Reno's smirk deepened. "You want to compare speed? You've picked the wrong guy."
The moment Mihawk's blade swept through empty air, alarms blared in his mind—his Haki screaming a warning from behind.
Impossible... he disappeared and reappeared before I could even react!
Reno's blade was already crashing down toward Mihawk's back.
CLANG—!!
Sparks flew. Mihawk had instinctively coated his body in Armament Haki just in time.
Damn fast reaction... Reno thought, inwardly impressed.
But Mihawk's face had finally changed—his calm was cracking.
He retreated, putting distance between them.
That technique... what was it? His Observation Haki caught the movement, but still couldn't keep up.
SWISH—
Reno vanished again.
Then again.
And again.
SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH—!!
In less than a second, he reappeared in more than a dozen locations, unleashing golden blade arcs in rapid succession.
It was a web of sword energy, inescapable and relentless.
Mihawk's brows twitched.
By the time he realized what was happening, he was surrounded—dozens of golden slashes closing in from every direction.
There was no escape.
Annoying brat...
With a grim expression, he began cutting them down, one after another. The black blade sang as he defended against the flurry of strikes.
Some he destroyed.
The rest? He had to tank them with Haki.
It was humiliating.
Even against Admiral Kizaru's Light-Light Fruit, Mihawk could predict the moves.
But Reno?
His attacks were random. No rhythm. No pattern. Pure chaos.
He could sense the danger—but not react in time.
A few slashes slipped through.
CRACK—!
The impact sent Mihawk staggering forward, nearly falling face-first into the dock.
SKRAAANG—!
In fury, Mihawk unleashed his killing intent. Sword aura exploded outward, carving deep trenches into the earth.
He'd had enough.
He hadn't felt this cornered since fighting Shanks.
And now, he was being toyed with by some unknown rookie?!
Absolutely unacceptable.
He had to regain control—his pride demanded it.
"Oh? Getting angry now?" Reno laughed, wild-eyed. "Perfect!"
This was exactly what he wanted.
With his growing arsenal of skills, he needed real combat to refine them.
"Let me show you what true pressure feels like—Infinite Slash Dance!"
With a maniacal grin, Reno vanished again.
His stamina drained rapidly, but with his Healing Fruit, it didn't matter.
Every burst of movement and every wild slash was instantly restored.
No fatigue. No weakness.
Just relentless pressure.
CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—!!
Blade struck blade, sparks igniting the night.
Mihawk's face grew darker with each exchange.
Reno's strikes rained down like a storm—fast, sharp, unending.
Observation Haki blared constantly, each time leading Mihawk to a new angle of attack—but he was always one step behind.
Is this bastard... using real teleportation?!
He gritted his teeth and began swinging Yoru with such speed that afterimages blurred behind it.
Most of Reno's slashes were deflected or shattered.
But a few still struck home.
Even with full-body Armament Haki, sparks danced across Mihawk's coat like blacksmith hammers on steel.
From afar, it really did look like someone was forging iron...