Chapter 60: Whose Basic Attack is Stronger

South Sea, a nameless desolate island.

Since their reunion at the Twin Snakes Island of the West Sea, Saint Saint Saiwen, Mihawk, and Master Tenghu successively rushed to Ohara to fight the Navy's Buster Call fleet.

Then they traveled at high speed all the way from the West Sea to the Sorbet Kingdom to invite Xiong Xiong and Jin Ni to board the ship.

During this time, they had never formally compared swordsmanship.

Not only was the black blade Yoru in Mihawk's hand thirsty for battle, but Saint Saint Saiwen also wanted to see if a gap still existed between them in a pure swordsmanship contest.

Passing the desolate island, the two drew their blades.

In the distance, on the deck of the Donghai Dihuang, the trio of onlookers led by Jin Ni, Xiong Xiong, and Robin, each holding a telescope, provided a real-time broadcast for Master Tenghu.

"The captain has drawn his blade, and the first mate has drawn his blade too."

"However, they haven't struck yet."

On the reef of the desolate island, the salty sea breeze blew the hems of their clothes, and Saint Saint Saiwen's head full of white hair danced in the wind.

"Mi-san, you have a high level of education; when you have time, help me think up names for sword techniques."

A basic attack's coolness is undoubtedly extremely high, but not shouting it out always feels like something is missing; shouting it out is awkward and a bit chuunibyou, but damn, it's cool.

That "Ex Calibur" shout from the King of Heroes, putting aside everything else, already won in terms of momentum.

What about "The World," "Unzip Your Pants," "Spicy Tenshin," "Moving Toilet," and "Pants Off, Frantic Rubbing!"

Fire Wash!!!

Unlike Saint Saint Saiwen and Mihawk, who slashed at each other for three days and still couldn't come up with a single technique name.

If Zoro hadn't been born yet, Saint Saint Saiwen would have wanted to go to the Shimotsuki Village in the East Sea first, kidnap Zoro onto the ship, do nothing, and just help think up technique names.

Mihawk nodded slightly: "Good."

The sword intent of the two facing off climbed step by step, and even the sea breeze was severed by invisible sword qi.

Buzz~ Buzz~

Two crescent-shaped flying slashes were unleashed simultaneously by the two, rushing forward; Mihawk's eyes narrowed slightly, and the black blade Yoru turned into a streak of dark light, cutting through the incoming shockwave.

Saint Saint Saiwen's left hand ignited with Xiong Xiong's blazing flames, forcibly withstanding this flying slash.

Before the Lunarian bloodline modification, the situation Saint Saint Saiwen worried about most was—ending up with a fire poker.

Facts proved his worry was half unnecessary; the flames could burn on any part of the body, it could be a fire poker, or it could be flame wings.

Seeing that Saint Saint Saiwen did not use Armament Haki and withstood the flying slash with his bare body unharmed, the corners of Mihawk's eyes twitched slightly twice.

"Truly a monster."

"Mi-san, I'm going to speed up!"

The instant the flames on his left hand extinguished, heavy afterimages trailed behind Saint Saint Saiwen; holding Mengxiang Yixin, he attacked with a blade swing in a manner nearly indistinguishable from teleportation.

Mihawk raised his blade to block.

Clang~

Centered on Mengxiang Yixin and the black blade Yoru, the shockwave generated merely by their collision instantly blew the sails of the Donghai Dihuang, and the ship's hull shook violently.

Xiong Xiong, quick-eyed and fast-handed, blocked the shockwave for Jin Ni and Robin: "Sit on my shoulders to watch."

After placing Jin Ni and Robin on his shoulders, Xiong Xiong extended one hand, forming a bubble shaped like a bear's paw in front of him.

On the distant desolate island, purple and green flying slash shockwaves ravaged the surrounding sea; Master Tenghu had to draw his sword, Gambler's Fire Line, to cut down the residual waves surging toward the ship one by one.

"Dear Xiong Xiong, the captain and the others are so strong."

Such a posture already possessed a fraction of the intensity of the God Valley Great War from his memories.

"Yes," Xiong Xiong sighed.

A contest purely of swordsmanship could cause destruction no less than some powerful Devil Fruits; if the captain also used Haki and Devil Fruit abilities, the scene would be too beautiful to behold.

This is no mere swordsman; he is clearly a walking natural disaster, worthy of the Navy's Buster Call certification.

From now on, I can sleep soundly.

As a mixed-blood of the Baccarat tribe, Xiong Xiong had suffered countless hardships; for these years, the shadow of the World Government had always loomed over him. Refusing Jin Ni's proposal was precisely because he feared his identity would implicate Jin Ni.

Now, he finally need not feel afraid anymore.

"I must work hard too."

Accompanying the residual waves of Saint Saint Saiwen and Mihawk's battle, the desolate island was covered with dense, neatly aligned trenches.

For Mihawk, who aspired to become the World's Greatest Swordsman, challenging sword masters everywhere over the past two years had led to immense progress in his swordsmanship cultivation.

He originally thought that Saint Saint Saiwen becoming a Great Swordsman within two years was already the limit of progress.

Never did he expect that the Great Swordsman title was not the limit.

If this pace continued, before he reached the peak of the World's Greatest Swordsman, the other party might catch up first.

The probability of surpassing him is actually not high.

Recently, Saint Saint Saiwen had spent most of his time developing his Devil Fruit abilities, not even forgetting to roll and knead lightning into various shapes during meetings.

Mihawk secretly made a resolution: From today on, quit iced black tea, double the cultivation, and must spar with Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen in swordsmanship for one day every three days.

Boom~ Mihawk was knocked flying dozens of meters.

"Mi-san, don't get distracted."

Mihawk stood up, a rare smile curling the corners of his mouth, "Barzab, I will get serious now."

If Mihawk just now was a fierce tiger playing, Mihawk now was fighting the enemy like a madman, with attacks becoming increasingly fierce.

The current Saint Saint Saiwen is no longer the swordsman from two years ago who needed him to hold back.

Mihawk resolved to pour out all his strength; Saint Saint Saiwen not only did not stop him, but a burning desire for such a match flashed in his eyes—

The cultivation of the One Sword of No Thought requires just such a hearty and satisfying duel.

Putting aside Conqueror's Haki and Devil Fruit abilities, being on this uninhabited desolate island without worrying about exposing his flame abilities, Saint Saint Saiwen attacked with nearly no reservations at full power.

The Donghai Dihuang had already moved far away from the desolate island, so it would not be affected by the residual waves of their battle.

On the desolate island, two figures clashed together at times, and at other times unleashed fierce sword qi to fight from a distance, utterly unaware of what fatigue meant.

The two had even paused for a moment; after eating and drinking their fill, they resumed the battle, vowing to prove whose basic attack was stronger.

The duel had lasted a full two days and two nights with no victor yet decided; after colliding fiercely once more and using the force to separate again.

Saint Saint Saiwen grinned.

"Mihawk, in terms of swordsmanship, no one surpasses you. I, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, am willing to call you the strongest."

Mihawk panted heavily: "You are not bad either."

Saint Saint Saiwen threw his head back and laughed wildly: "Mihawk, your stamina must be running out."

Once upon a time, Saint Saint Saiwen had encountered the same distress Mihawk faced now on more than one occasion: having poured every effort into cultivation, yet his physique simply could not keep up.

There was actually no way around it.

Everyone's physical constitution differs from birth; even children born of the same father and mother can be strong or weak.

Since activating the System and successively obtaining the Big Eater, Innate Divine Strength, Steel Balloon, and Lunarian bloodline, Saint Saint Saiwen had no flaws left in any aspect.

Even a powerhouse like Mihawk could not outlast the current Saint Saint Saiwen.

Mihawk's fighting spirit surged: "Let us fight!"

Saint Saint Saiwen gripped his sheathed blade: "As you wish!"

……

The South Sea waters.

On the Dog-Head Warship, Navy Vice Admiral Garp was listening to his adjutant, Bogart's, report.

Ever since secretly calling his dear son Monkey D. Dragon to get the situation, Garp had asked no more questions about why Dragon had come to the Sorbet Kingdom.

"Golden Lion escaped the Impel Down underwater prison at the cost of severing both his legs. Fleet Admiral Sengoku demands we return to Marineford as soon as possible. Additionally—"

"We have found the whereabouts of the Morning Star Pirates."

The sea breeze blew through Garp's black hair: "Ignore Sengoku; we will sail the ship over there."