The one sent flying was none other than Mihawk!
Everyone watched the scene in utter shock!
Mihawk's body tumbled through the air like a kite with its string cut, completely out of control...
Before crashing heavily onto the ground far away.
His Supreme Grade Blade, Yoru, slipped from his grasp and clattered onto the earth beside him.
He looked utterly miserable and defeated.
Meanwhile, El stood calmly in place...
Completely unharmed.
He wasn't even sweating.
It was as if the fierce clash a moment ago had been nothing at all to him!
Under such circumstances...
The outcome was undeniable and crystal clear!
El had won without the slightest doubt.
And it had been a total, overwhelming victory!
Countless people were stunned by El's immense power.
To cross swords with the World's Greatest Swordsman...
And defeat him in a single move!
Is this truly the power of the Strongest Man in the World?!
The pirates erupted in cheers for El.
"Lord El! Does this mean the title of World's Greatest Swordsman is changing hands now too?!"
"Lord El has no need for it! The title of 'Strongest Man in the World' says everything there is to say!"
"Incredible! Just incredible!"
The pirates discussed the event with wild excitement.
They were so glad they had come here today...
To witness such a breathtaking battle with their own eyes.
How fortunate they were!
From the distance, Mihawk slowly stood up.
Far from being angry or humiliated...
He looked absolutely delighted!
He had never cared for the empty title of "World's Greatest Swordsman".
It held no interest for him whatsoever.
What he truly cared about was the path of the sword itself.
Today, El had shown him a glimpse of a far higher level, a wider world.
He had proven that beyond Mihawk's own skill, there existed something far greater and more powerful!
How could Mihawk not be overjoyed?!
Already, his mind was racing, thinking about how he would train and improve from here on out.
He was filled with boundless excitement.
He walked over to El without the slightest hesitation.
"I accept my defeat. I am convinced in both heart and mind."
"I wish to become a member of your crew, Lord El!"
As he finished speaking, Jinbe stepped forward and offered him the traditional Oath of Brotherhood wine.
Mihawk took it and drank it down in one gulp!
From this day forward...
The World's Greatest Swordsman, former Warlord of the Sea...
Dracule Mihawk, had joined the El Pirates!
El's influence and power were becoming increasingly terrifying!
By this point, the vast majority of the Warlords of the Sea were already under El's command!
Many people believed...
That with such moves, El must harbor some earth-shattering ambition.
Surely, he was preparing to do something massive!
Naturally, the most worried group was the Marines.
By nature, their goals and El's were diametrically opposed.
Every action El took was effectively a challenge and provocation against them.
The Marines knew they had a duty to step up and stop him.
But the awkward truth was...
The Marines simply had no ability left to stop El at all.
El's power had reached a level completely beyond their control or understanding.
He was already far stronger than even the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, had ever been!
Back in Roger's day, there were still people like Sengoku and Garp, who could lead forces to stand in his way.
But with El? That was no longer possible!
Even if they gathered forces far greater than Sengoku and Garp combined...
It had already been proven time and again that they were simply no match for him!
In fact, if El truly wanted to...
He could wipe out the entire Marine force in one fell swoop right now!
Truth be told, the situation was already practically over!
Marine Headquarters had already been utterly destroyed, reduced to nothing but ruins.
Sengoku, Akainu, and the others had all been severely wounded and broken by El.
It was as if the Marines had already been completely crippled and finished.
On the seas, El could truly be described as invincible!
There was not a single force or power capable of stopping him from doing whatever he pleased!
Unless... the Emperors of the New World were to form an alliance specifically to oppose him.
Meanwhile, Mihawk stood before El, now fully submitted.
He spoke earnestly: "From this day forth, the title of World's Greatest Swordsman no longer belongs to me."
Mihawk was an extremely honest and straightforward man.
Since he was clearly no match for El, he naturally no longer deserved the title.
It was as simple as that.
But El simply shook his head.
"You remain the World's Greatest Swordsman! Never doubt your own skill with the blade!"
His words left everyone around confused.
They couldn't understand... why, after achieving such a total victory, would El say such a thing to Mihawk?
Mihawk himself was also puzzled. He focused his gaze on El, waiting for an explanation.
El simply lifted the scabbard of his sword...
And held it up for everyone to see.
Clearly etched into the metal was a long, deep mark.
"You carved this mark with a single strike."
"In truth, the battle just now... should more accurately be called a draw."
El stated plainly to Mihawk.
Far from making people think it was actually a draw...
This action only made everyone respect El even more deeply!
He was simply too humble!
He had completely dominated and crushed Mihawk, yet he still found a way to make excuses for him...
Just so that Mihawk wouldn't lose face or honor.
Where else could one find such a noble, generous man?
Mihawk looked at the mark, then smiled faintly.
"Come now... that is stretching the truth a bit too far."
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