Chapter 81

"Interesting."

Mihawk leaned his upper body slightly backward, dodging the lethal blade tip with a casual movement, then countered with a backhand strike aimed at Karl's shoulder.

"Clang!!!"

Since he didn't have time to dodge, Karl could only rest his blade against his right shoulder, back of the blade facing backward and the edge forward, to avoid accidentally wounding himself.

This maneuver successfully blocked Mihawk's attack, but the immense force still made Karl's shoulder sink, nearly forcing him to his knees.

Mihawk nodded slightly: "A clever move."

Karl's face flushed red. Damn, how can this guy be such a show-off! So what if he's the world's greatest swordsman!

Hawkeye: Sorry, being the world's greatest swordsman is exactly that impressive!

"Bang~"

Karl clenched his left fist, turning it pitch black, and slammed it hard against the blade of Yoru, knocking it aside. He seized the opportunity to exert force with his right hand, the blade instantly sweeping toward Mihawk's neck.

If he didn't dodge, even Mihawk would have met his end right there.

But how could that be possible?

Utilizing the recoil from Karl's punch, Mihawk smoothly spun his blade in a flourish, colliding perfectly with the edge sweeping toward his neck, emitting a crisp 'ding'.

"Such pure Armament Haki. A man like you, how could you only be a Navy Colonel?"

Facing Mihawk's question, Karl smiled slightly: "A few days ago, I was still just a Navy Major!"

Oh! Now Mihawk understood. That explains it! This man's strength was more than enough to be a general-rank officer; he just hadn't had the chance to be promoted yet!

Consequently, Mihawk decided to turn up the intensity for Karl.

It was this decision that caused Karl to be injured within a mere dozen seconds.

"It seems you are still lacking a little..."

Mihawk stood holding his blade, blood slowly dripping onto the ground along the blade's edge—it was Karl's blood.

"Oh, is that so? In that case, I'll have to get serious too."

Karl plunged his sword into the ground and condensed a ball of Holy Light. The blade wound on his chest healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, returning to normal within a few breaths.

"A Devil Fruit user?"

Mihawk frowned slightly as he watched Karl, who was glowing with a golden aura. Karl's strength had clearly increased by a notch; could this be his ability?

Zing~

"Lord Mihawk, please enlighten me!"

"One-Sword Style: Instant Radiance!"

Karl held his sword in his right hand and gently brushed his left hand over the blade. The black blade he touched turned into a dazzling gold, as if cast from light.

Mihawk's gaze remained calm as he gripped Yoru with both hands and swung from bottom to top.

The next moment, Karl gripped his sword with both hands, his body erupting in a blinding flash that made it impossible to keep one's eyes open. Karl's figure flickered, and his blade carved a golden arc.

Ding~

The two figures began to cross; Karl was behind, Mihawk in front, both maintaining their swinging posture.

There was another crisp sound. Mihawk had blocked Karl's attack, but as the light faded, a spray of blood erupted from Mihawk's waist.

A gruesome blade wound appeared on Karl's body, stretching from his abdomen to his chest, with blood gushing out wildly.

Although injured, Mihawk was not angry; instead, he was pleasantly surprised: "Instant Radiance, truly a good name. A moment of radiance is enough to dispel all darkness."

The watching Navy soldiers were stunned!

What was happening? The world's greatest swordsman had actually been injured!

Although Colonel Karl was also injured, the two were clearly not swordsmen of the same level. Karl was just a rising Navy Colonel!

Could it be that Colonel Karl already possessed the qualifications to challenge the world's greatest swordsman?

Karl turned around and smiled bitterly: "If you hadn't held back, I would have been dead long ago!"

That was correct. In that last move, Karl clearly felt that Mihawk had pulled his strength; otherwise, it wouldn't have been as simple as just being injured.

"Young Navy man! You cannot die yet!"

"Although you currently lack the qualifications to make me go all out, no matter how many years it takes, I will wait for you at this peak position."

Mihawk's voice was faintly excited. After Shanks lost his arm, he had finally found another swordsman with infinite potential.

Although Karl was still young and his swordsmanship green, that was precisely his advantage. As long as he could become stronger, they would surely meet again on the sea one day.

To decide the victor with the swords in their hands!

Hearing this, Karl felt a strange sense of familiarity, but he still revealed a smile: "I believe that day won't be too far off."

Click~

Mihawk sheathed Yoru on his back and walked toward Karl. As he brushed past him, he whispered: "I hope you don't make me wait too long..."

After speaking, Mihawk walked past Karl, jumped onto the coffin-shaped boat at the shore, and gradually disappeared from Karl's sight along with the 'rhythm' of the boat.

"Hiss~ Phew..."

Under the effect of the Holy Light, the gruesome blade wound began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye, and Nelson and the others gradually gathered around.

"What do you all want?"