Chapter 203

Luo En spoke, and his figure slowly rose into the air.

As he floated past above Mihawk's eyes.

A Life Card drifted to Mihawk's front.

He reached out and caught it.

"This is my Life Card; you can use it to find me later."

Luo En's voice gradually faded away.

Mihawk looked down at the corner of the Life Card in his hand, and for the first time in years, a faint smile curled his lips: "To give a Life Card to an opponent you've only fought once… what an interesting man."

"Did you enjoy the fight…? I haven't felt this exhilarated in many years."

Mihawk gazed at the direction where Luo En had departed.

In this moment, his long-dormant heart stirred with a vigor it had not known in nearly a decade; the blood of a swordsman boiled within him.

He had not felt this sensation in a long time.

"You haven't shown all your strength yet… your Haki and your sword techniques."

"Next time we fight, it will truly be a full-power clash—who will be the world's greatest swordsman…"

"It seems this sea won't let us grow bored anymore… Yoru."

Behind him, the world's strongest black blade, Yoru, emitted a low, resonant hum.

As if agreeing with his words.

One man, one ship, one blade slowly vanished into the night-dark sea.

…………

When Luo En returned to the sea restaurant.

Krieg and the others who had sought to seize the sea restaurant had already been defeated by Luffy.

"Luo En!"

Amid Luffy and Nami's astonished gazes.

Luo En drifted down from the air and landed atop the shattered remains of the ship Mihawk had cut in half.

Sanji, bound in bandages and seated cross-legged on the ground, stared intently at him:

"It really is you, Luo En…"

Luo En, eyes closed, faced him and smiled:

"It's been a long time, Sanji. You've grown stronger."

His black coat, slashed in several places, and his shoulder-length black hair stirred gently in the night wind.

Those inside the sea restaurant watched his back through the glass, voices trembling:

"Did he and Mihawk settle their fight?"

"What exactly happened?!"

"Who won? Was it Mihawk… or him?"

"Will the title of World's Greatest Swordsman change hands?"

The young black-haired man appeared calm and composed, with no hint of menace, yet

the thought that some of those earth-shattering slashes earlier had come from him sent shivers down their spines.

Sanji listened, and gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Stronger? I'm still nowhere near your level. I still haven't fulfilled the promise I made to you in the Dao Coffin."

Yet now, Sanji seemed to have resolved something within him; he no longer dwelled on it, but chose to face himself honestly.

He looked up at Luo En before him, his tone earnest:

"You healed me. Thank you."

"Don't mention it—it was nothing. I only sped up your wound's healing; I didn't fully cure you."

"Even so, it helped immensely."

Sanji said firmly.

He changed the subject.

"Your eyes—are they alright?"

Luo En lightly touched his eyelids with his fingers and smiled: "They're fine. I'll be able to open them again in a while."

"I see."

Sanji nodded, then asked again:

"How is Guina? Is she with you?"

"Guina is well. She should be on the Shichibukai Islands in the Grand Line now."

Zoro stood outside the sea restaurant, a cigarette dangling from his lips, watching the two converse, listening to their talk, his frustration mounting.

"That green-haired bastard—doesn't ask the important question, just thanks me? Useless!"

The others felt the same, glaring hatefully at the green-haired swordsman.

Ask the important thing first, you idiot!

Finally, Sanji asked the question they all cared about most.

"Who won your duel with that guy?"

Redfoot Zeff, Zoro, Akin, Luffy, Nami, and everyone else in the sea restaurant fixed their eyes on Luo En, waiting for his answer.

"If we're speaking purely of swordsmanship, it was a draw."

Luo En smiled.

The crowd stirred slightly inside.

A draw…?

"He held his own against the world's greatest swordsman, Hawk-Eye Mihawk, in swordsmanship…"

Someone swallowed hard, gazing in stunned awe at that tall, lean figure.

"So does that mean he also possesses swordsmanship worthy of the world's greatest swordsman?!"

World's greatest.

The weight of that phrase is not ordinary.

It is the highest peak countless swordsmen strive endlessly to climb.

At that lonely summit, only one throne can exist.

Though Zoro had already suspected it, hearing the news from Luo En still stirred his heart slightly; his gaze at the man before him grew complex.

Long ago, he and Kui Na had pledged that one of them must defeat Luo En and reach the pinnacle of the world's greatest swordsman—now, the prophecy had come true.

Defeating Luo En had become one and the same as becoming the world's greatest swordsman…

Luffy, wearing his straw hat, crossed his arms and grinned at Luo En:

"World's greatest…? Of course he's amazing!"

Nami, standing beside Luffy, murmured to herself: "He's been growing stronger all along, always surpassing others—how could he not be amazing…"

Back then, he had already told Nami that there were many people on the Grand Line stronger than Arlong, even stronger than he himself was at the time.

Now, those who were once stronger than he had gradually been surpassed by him, then left far behind, unable to even see his silhouette.

Nami gazed at that back, a strong, inexplicable feeling rising within her.

One day, he will surpass every strong person in this world, reaching a height beyond the reach of all mortals…

…

(Also, later)

180, frantic Darshiki

Luo En spoke at length with Zoro atop the wreckage of the ship, inquiring about the dojo and Koushirou—everything was largely fine.

Upon learning from Luo En that Kui Na had already reached the realm of a great swordsman, Zoro's face darkened: "Of course I still can't face her."

Afterwards, Luo En chatted with Luffy.

After learning that Sabo was alive and now with the Revolutionary Army, and that Ace had joined the Whitebeard Pirates…

Luffy was overjoyed.

"I can't wait for the four of us to reunite on the Grand Line again, hehehe."

…

The latter half of that night.

Nami sat atop the roof of the sea restaurant Baratie, with Luo En lying beside her.