Chapter 219

Back on the sea, the battle between the two had already entered a white-hot state.

Countless sword lights intersected, weaving into a dense net, and Karl and Mihawk were the weavers.

Between the clashing of blades, crisp and tight sounds rang out, and the figures of the two became dreamlike, almost impossible to capture with the naked eye.

"You indeed have the capital to stand on equal footing with me, Karl."

"Oh? Is that so? But, there can only be one world's greatest swordsman."

Mihawk curled his lips slightly: "Then let's see if I can hold onto the throne of the world's greatest swordsman, or if you will drive me off it."

"Deciding the outcome, and also life and death?"

"Hahaha, with your abilities, I can't kill you. But if I lose, I will die without regrets."

Karl swung his blade in a diagonal slash, which was blocked by the black blade Yoru, and said, "There's no need to be so serious, right?"

"You are a Warlord of the Sea, and I am a Navy hero. We are at least nominal allies! No need to be so serious!"

Mihawk pushed aside Karl's Raven and then launched a counterattack, slashing toward Karl's shoulder. Karl couldn't use Raven to defend in time, so he had to draw Thunder Rain to block Mihawk's attack.

Although Holy Light transformation could be immune to physical attacks, Mihawk's blades were all... *ahem*, not fire, but every slash was imbued with Armament Haki. He couldn't block it even if he wanted to; after all, Haki was a rather wicked thing.

"I am not joking. From the day I decided to become a swordsman, I had this resolve."

"You are not a pure swordsman; you won't understand."

He also stepped on the corpses of countless swordsmen to sit on the throne of the world's greatest swordsman. Every swordsman who died under his blade had this resolve.

Actually, the first time he met Karl, Mihawk didn't have high expectations for him. After all, a swordsman is lonely, and the sword is the swordsman's partner, but Karl was different.

Karl was different. He was Navy, he was a fruit user, and his purpose for picking up a sword wasn't to become some world's greatest swordsman, standing at the peak of the Way of the Sword and looking down at the swordsmen below.

To him, the sword was just a tool, just a weapon, just a means to deal with enemies.

That Karl could stand at the same height as him could only be said to be Heaven kneeling and begging him to eat.

"Indeed, I am not a pure swordsman. However, I do think highly of one guy. Look, that green-haired guy over there, I think highly of him. He is very pure."

Mihawk turned his head to look, then chuckled: "He is also a swordsman! Pity, too green..."

"I tested him a long time ago. He is quite good. You can go test him yourself; he won't let you down."

"Stop talking nonsense. Don't forget we are still fighting!"

Mihawk's tone returned to calm, but his blade was still full of killing intent.

Floating Restaurant.

Nami brought Usopp here, looked at the heavy atmosphere around them, and asked curiously: "Are those two fighting people very important?"

The simp Sanji immediately danced over with strange steps: "That's right, Miss Nami. I heard from that green-haired guy that it seems to be the Navy hero, Vice Admiral White Raven, and the world's greatest swordsman, Hawk-Eye Mihawk. You must not get too close; you will get hurt."

"However... Miss Nami, please rest assured. I, your loyal knight, Sanji, will always guard your side, my princess."

Nami didn't answer, staring wide-eyed at the two fighting in the distance, covering her mouth in surprise.

Vice Admiral White Raven—she was too familiar with this name. Wasn't this the very man she wanted to see?

"Karl..."

Sanji nodded: "That's right, that's the guy everyone is jealous of. Hmph, what's so great about being good-looking! Don't you think so, Miss Nami!"

But Nami didn't pay attention to him, quickly turning around to return to the Merry, taking out her binoculars.

"It really is him! So many years have passed, he seems to have no changes... No, he seems to have grown a little bit taller."

Hmm, Nami's observation was very careful. Now Karl was also a man over two meters tall. That's right, 2. 3 meters, definitely over two meters.

Seeing Nami's reaction, Sanji asked strangely: "Miss Nami, have you met him before?"

Nami nodded: "Yes, I was only ten-something then. It was Vice Admiral Karl and Mr. Smoker who defeated the pirates occupying our village. I have always been grateful to them."

Sanji, hearing that, was devastated, beating his chest and unable to control himself.

A beast! At that time, Miss Nami was only ten-something. How could that hateful Karl bring himself to do it!!!

Luffy also said with a strange expression: "Eh, Nami, you met that Karl when you were a kid too? I've met him too. Hmm, let me think, it seems to have been 7 years ago!"

Nami looked at Luffy, feeling a bit strange in her heart. Is it such a coincidence?

But she didn't say anything, continuing to watch the duel between Karl and Mihawk.

But no one expected that this battle would last so long.

On the vast sea, Karl and Mihawk moved rapidly on the waves, almost ignoring the existence of the sea. The two's blades intertwined, emitting bursts of harsh metallic sounds.

Mihawk's blade was sharp and swift, every strike a lethal attack. Karl was known for his flexibility, every strike unexpected, Move Move Like a viper spitting its tongue, but this was limited to defensive counterattacks.

In frontal combat, Karl was also bold and powerful.

As time passed, the speed of the close-quarters combat became faster and more accurate. Mihawk's attacks became more fierce, Karl's defense became tighter, and then they suddenly switched offense and defense, dizzying to watch.

Suddenly, Karl found a flaw in Hawk-Eye's defense. He immediately seized the opportunity and slashed fiercely, a strike that seemed to travel through time, landing on Mihawk's shoulder in the blink of an eye.

*Clang! A dull sound.

Mihawk blocked it, but was pushed back a few steps, losing his balance. Mihawk's expression didn't change, so he simply used the momentum to take a step back on the sea, retreating all the way to the ship wreckage before stabilizing his figure.

Mihawk wasn't someone who would suffer a loss, immediately launching a counterattack, crossing the sea to rush toward Karl.

For two people whose technique and physique were at their peak, this battle was destined not to end so quickly.

But this also destined Mihawk's ending.

Because in this world, no one could talk about "stamina" with Karl.

The second day.

The sunset gradually sank, a golden afterglow spilling over the sea. The sea surface rippled, the golden light swaying with the waves, as if the sea were welcoming the arrival of the sunset.

Karl and Mihawk stood on either side of the "sunset falling into the sea," holding their swords.

But the states of the two were worlds apart.

Karl's breathing remained steady, and there wasn't a single wound on his body, only his clothes had become tattered rags.

Mihawk's breathing was rapid, sweat the size of beans sliding down his cheeks, his body covered in wounds, and the ground beneath his feet had long been stained red with blood.

This battle was about to end.