Chapter 373: Two Days and One Night

"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's mouth curled 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."

"To decide who is superior, and also to decide life and death?"

"Hahahaha, with your abilities, I cannot 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! There's no need to be so serious!"

Mihawk deflected Karl's Raven, then launched a counterattack, slashing toward Karl's shoulder. Karl couldn't use Raven to defend in time, so he had to draw *Raiu* to block Mihawk's attack.

Although Holy Light transformation could immunize against physical attacks, Mihawk's blades were all—*ahem*, not all—blades imbued with Armament Haki. You couldn't block it even if you wanted to; after all, Haki is a rather wicked thing.

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

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

He also stepped over the bones 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 hold high expectations for him. After all, a swordsman is lonely, and the sword is the swordsman's partner, but Karl was different.

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

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 being 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: "Do those two fighting have a big background?"

The sycophant Sanji immediately swam over with strange dance steps: "That's right, Miss Nami. I heard from that green-haired guy that it seems to be the Navy Hero, Vice Admiral White Crow, and the world's greatest swordsman, Hawk Eyes 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 by 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 Crow—she knew this name too well. Isn't this the 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 looking a bit handsome! Don't you think so, Miss Nami!"

But Nami didn't pay attention to him, quickly turning around to return to the *Going Merry* to take 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 taller."

Hmm, Nami's observation was very careful. Now Karl was also a man over two meters tall. That's right, 2.03 meters, definitely over two meters.

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

Nami nodded: "Yes, at that time I was only ten years old. 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, couldn't take it anymore, immediately beating his chest and stomping his feet, unable to control himself.

Beast! At that time Miss Nami was only ten years old, 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 child too? I've met him too, hmm, let me think, it seems to have been 7 years ago!"

Nami glanced 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.

It was just that no one expected this battle to last so long.

On the vast sea, Karl and Mihawk moved quickly, stepping 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 was a fatal attack. Karl, on the other hand, was known for his flexibility; every sword strike could be unexpected, like a viper spitting its tongue, but this was limited to when he was defending and counterattacking.

When fighting head-on, Karl was also wide-open and extremely fierce.

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

Suddenly, Karl discovered a flaw in Hawk Eyes' defense. He immediately seized the opportunity and struck with his blade, as if it were a strike that crossed time and space, landing on Mihawk's shoulder in the blink of an eye.

*Clang! * A dull sound.

Although Mihawk blocked it, he was also knocked back a few steps, losing his balance. Mihawk's eyes didn't change at all; he simply used the momentum to perform a backstep on the sea, retreating all the way to the ship wreckage before stabilizing his figure.

Mihawk wasn't someone who would take a loss, immediately launching a counterattack, crossing the sea to charge at Karl.

For the two of them, both at the peak of technique and physique, this battle was destined not to end so quickly.

But this also destined Mihawk's ending.

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

The second day.

The sunset gradually sank in the west, a piece of golden afterglow spilling over the sea. The sea surface was sparkling, the golden light rippling 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.

It was just that the states of the two were worlds apart.

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

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

This battle was about to end. ===== CHAPTER 375 =====