Chapter 75: First Battle: Hawk-Eye (Request Follows

Even dying while climbing a peak is, for a swordsman, the most romantic thing.

“Something like that?”

“Kid.”

Gao Wen’s lips curled slightly:

“Something like that.”

“But now, it’s time for the captain to do what a captain should do.”

Saying this,

Gao Wen stepped forward quickly, briefly examined Zoro’s wounds, then exhaled deeply.

A slash had pierced through the original wound on his chest, but it wasn’t deep.

The downward strike from Blackbeard had looked like it might split Zoro in half, yet he had held back—no bones or organs were damaged.

With Zoro’s constitution, a month’s rest would be more than enough.

Gao Wen picked up Zoro and handed him to Jep beside him, saying:

“Old man, please have your ship’s medic treat his wounds.”

Saying this,

Gao Wen turned to look at Blackbeard, who stood silently to the side—his gaze heavy with solemnity.

His opponent was the absolute peak of the world’s swordsmanship, a man who had competed for years with the Four Emperor Red-Haired, and even surpassed him in swordcraft!

An absolute legendary combatant.

Compared to Gao Wen’s current Silver-tier rating, the gap was two full tiers.

Even among Iron-tier fighters, the difference in strength could mean instant death.

Thus, in this battle, Gao Wen had no hope of winning—whether he lived or died depended entirely on Blackbeard’s choice.

Yet the more dire the situation, the calmer his heart became, the more serene his expression grew.

If there was no choice, then give your utmost to do your best—that was a belief he had always held.

Thinking this,

Gao Wen turned to Jep and said:

“If I die here, you can go to Parra Island and demand money from the pirates there.”

“Hmph.”

Jep grunted, rubbing his beard between his fingers.

Previously influenced by Sanji, he had held a slight prejudice against Gao Wen.

But now, the man before him didn’t seem the type to do such a thing.

“Kid, don’t die. I’d rather you pay me yourself.”

“Ara ara~”

Gao Wen smiled helplessly:

“Facing a guy like him, anything’s possible.”

Jep’s expression didn’t change; he murmured:

“Everyone on your ship is in the storage room. They’re fine.”

“Thank you.”

Gao Wen thanked Jep, then turned to Sanji beside him:

“Kid, how about joining my crew? I need a cook too.”

Sanji froze, a flash of anger crossing his face, then halted instantly.

If this man dies here, will I never learn the truth?

“Hey—!”

Sanji opened his mouth, but ultimately didn’t voice his question—only warned:

“Don’t die!”

Gao Wen smiled faintly:

“Then if I survive, you come with me. I’m sick of the garbage those bastards cook!”

“Who the hell wants to join your ship, bastard!”

“Mm~”

Gao Wen smiled slightly, unfazed, turned, and strode a few steps to the deck, standing face-to-face with Blackbeard.

For a moment, no one dared make a sound—they were all waiting in breathless anticipation.

All around, silence reigned—even the rolling sea seemed to pause.

A few seagulls skimmed the water’s surface, about to snatch their prey, then startled, flapped wildly upward, a few feathers drifting gently into the sea.

Clang!

After a resonant hum, the Kokuō Masamune drew—its silver blade glowed crimson in the setting sun.

Blackbeard stood with his blade in hand, gazing at the young man before him, an unconscious smile tugging at his lips.

“Your aura is even better than I imagined—so impressive, I almost hesitated whether to pluck this unripe fruit right now.”

“But…”

“You shouldn’t have brought Roronoa here today!”

“Is that so?”

Gao Wen understood Blackbeard’s meaning—but felt no regret:

“If I hadn’t brought him, he’d hate me for life. Besides, you came for me from the start, didn’t you?”

!

“It’s not that I came to save these companions—it’s that they were dragged down by me.”

Blackbeard said nothing, merely gazed coolly at Gao Wen:

“I haven’t seen a true swordsman in many years.”

“Those who storm the New World may be stronger than you and Roronoa, but they lack the spirit to face death without fear.”

“I’ve seen too many who beg and cry for mercy. You—young men who know you’re outmatched yet still seek the Dao—make me eager.”

“Even this blade is thirsting for your blood!”

Gao Wen lowered his eyes to the black sword in Blackbeard’s hand—the blade that had wounded Zoro bore not a single drop of blood.

“So this is what they call… the Black Blade?”

“You know about Black Blades?”

Blackbeard blinked slightly:

“Any blade, forged and tempered by a swordsman’s conviction and will, can become a Black Blade.”

“The one in your hand can too.”

Gao Wen grinned, letting his battle aura surge:

“Enough talk. Let me see the view from the world’s number one!”

The words ended.

The deck beneath Gao Wen’s feet shattered instantly—the newly mastered Shunpo granted him speed beyond imagination.

The sound of the shattered deck hadn’t even reached the others’ ears.

Gao Wen’s figure appeared before Blackbeard—Kokuō Masamune, glowing crimson in the sunset, thrust forward.

“Fang Tū—Shun!”

This was Gao Wen’s strongest, fastest technique yet!

The thrust powered by Shunpo was several times faster than the speed he’d shown in Crow Harbor.

Coupled with his recent breakthroughs in skill levels,

under the advantage of initiative, even someone stronger than him could only take the full damage.

But…

“Fast sword?!”

“Incredibly brutal speed!”

Blackbeard murmured, his admiration barely concealed—yet his hand moved without delay.

His Black Blade thrust forward—red and black, the tips of the two blades met precisely.

Boom!

The force from Shunpo’s velocity slammed into the deck beneath them—the deck of the Sea Restaurant Baratie sank violently, nearly flipping over from the overwhelming pressure.

The extended deck split cleanly down the middle—the recoil sent Gao Wen, along with the shattered deck beneath him, flying dozens of meters back.

“What just happened?”

Those who barely stabilized themselves stared in confusion.

In an instant, the deck had shattered completely. Seeing Gao Wen’s grim face and Blackbeard’s calm expression, everyone felt their scalp tighten.

“They’ve already clashed? What kind of speed is this? Can humans truly move this fast?”

Only now did they understand one truth.

In a battle between top-tier experts, they might not even have the right to watch.

(End of Chapter)