"Oh … they've already started."
A slow, almost lazy voice drifted across the battlefield.
Golden particles of light began to gather in the sky above the shattered frozen sea.
They condensed… compressing into a human form.
A tall, slender man materialized.
He wore a yellow-striped suit, a dark green shirt, and a purple tie. White leather shoes rested lightly on the fractured ice.
Short curly black hair.
Stubble lining his jaw.
Orange-tinted sunglasses hiding his eyes.
Marine Admiral
Borsalino.
He lazily raised his wrist, revealing a Den Den Mushi bracelet.
"Hello hello? This is Kizaru… I've arrived."
"Fleet Admiral, please respond "
Silence.
"That's strange…"
"Hello hello hello ?"
SWISH !!
BOOM!!!
Two massive slashes tore through the air without warning.
They crashed directly onto the ice island where Kizaru stood.
The entire surface shattered instantly.
"Ohhh… how terrifying…"
In a flash of light
He vanished.
And reappeared several hundred meters away, standing casually on another drifting slab of ice.
"It seems… they don't really need me "
From his vantage point, he observed the battlefield.
Even though the two figures were kilometers away, appearing tiny to the naked eye
His Observation Haki allowed him to perceive everything clearly.
Saint Roselith Seraphina.
Dracule Mihawk.
Both were covered in countless sword marks.
Their clothing was torn.
Their breathing was heavy.
From early morning until now
Nearly half a day had passed in relentless combat.
Even Mihawk's iconic black hat was gone.
At this stage, victory was no longer about skill alone.
It had become a battle of endurance.
Of willpower.
Of who would collapse first.
And yet
Neither showed the slightest intention of making a mistake.
Because at their level
One error meant death.
Both swordsmen sensed Kizaru's arrival.
But neither reacted.
Their duel had long since isolated everything else.
As long as Kizaru did not step into the core of their battlefield
He would not become a target.
Conveniently
He stood right at the edge.
Seraphina's breathing grew slightly uneven.
Opposite her, Mihawk appeared calm
But his condition was far from perfect.
For the first time
The two paused.
The battlefield revealed itself.
The vast frozen ocean from earlier had been completely destroyed.
Only broken ice fragments floated aimlessly across the sea.
Melting.
Drifting.
Vanishing.
Their earlier elegance had disappeared.
No refined sword forms remained.
Only raw, overwhelming power.
To an outsider
It looked magnificent.
But to them
This was the crudest form of swordsmanship.
Pure force.
Pure killing intent.
Yet
This was also the ultimate expression of power.
Time passed.
Neither could defeat the other.
And neither could accept defeat through exhaustion.
That outcome
Was unacceptable.
Seraphina noticed it first.
Mihawk's attack speed was increasing.
Her rhythm began slipping.
"The world's strongest swordsman…"
"…is no simple title."
She raised her blade to block
But in that instant
Mihawk vanished.
He appeared directly before her.
Too fast.
Too precise.
The black blade descended.
Carrying overwhelming Armament Haki
And absolute killing intent.
!!
The strike landed.
Seraphina's body was sent crashing into the sea below.
SPLASH!!
The cold ocean swallowed her instantly.
Her body tensed from exhaustion and the sudden impact.
Silence.
The sea calmed.
Mihawk stood still.
Watching.
Sensing.
Nothing.
No presence.
No movement.
"…It's over."
"…Did this old man forget something?"
Kizaru tilted his head.
Looking down at the ocean.
"…Ah."
He blinked.
"Oh no "
Only now did it occur to him.
"She fell into the sea…"
"And I'm a Devil Fruit user…"
"That's troublesome "
He scratched his head lazily.
"I might get scolded by Fleet Admiral Sengoku again…"
SPLASH!!!
The ocean exploded upward.
A brilliant blue slash burst from beneath the surface
Faster.
Sharper.
More refined than before.
Mihawk's eyes narrowed
But this time
He was too late.
The slash cut across his shoulder.
Blood spilled.
Seraphina rose from the sea.
Unsteady but standing.
Her cloak was gone.
Her Marine uniform clung tightly to her body, soaked with seawater.
Droplets fell from her silver hair.
Her breathing was rough.
But her eyes
Still burned with resolve.
"I'm… not done yet."
She steadied her grip on Winter Solstice.
Her Armament Haki flared once more.
Mihawk looked at the wound on his shoulder.
"…You've taught me something today."
His voice remained calm.
But his gaze sharpened.
He had not expected that counterattack.
Not even for a moment.
And that
Was dangerous.
He was Dracule Mihawk.
The strongest swordsman in the world.
Yet this battle
Had pushed him further than expected.
And for the first time in years
He felt something stir.
Excitement.
Seraphina steadied her stance.
She understood clearly
Mihawk's stamina was nearly depleted.
Just like hers.
But he remained dangerous.
Extremely dangerous.
"Hmph…"
"What an arrogant man…"
"Buru Buru Buru "
The Den Den Mushi rang again.
Kizaru lazily checked his wrist.
"…Wrong one."
He searched his pockets.
Finally pulling out another snail
One with Sengoku's distinct face.
"Ah… this one."
"I am Borsalino "
"Kizaru! Didn't you bring a Den Den Mushi?! Did you stop their fight?!"
Sengoku's furious voice erupted immediately.
Kizaru blinked.
"Huh? Was I supposed to stop them?"
Silence.
Then
"What do you mean 'huh'?!"
"What did I send you there for?!"
"I couldn't reach you earlier "
Kizaru replied casually.
"…You didn't spend hours talking to the wrong Den Den Mushi again, did you?"
"…Anyway stop their fight immediately!"
"And ensure Seraphina's safety!"
"Leave it to me "
Mihawk slowly raised his blade once more.
The battle had not ended.
And now
He would finish it.
"Saint Roselith Seraphina…"
"You are worthy."
"Worthy to witness the pinnacle of my blade."
Dark Armament Haki surged violently across Yoru.
The air itself grew heavy.
Oppressive.
Like death had taken form.
Even the sea fell silent.
"This strike…"
"…will decide everything."
He stepped forward.
The black blade descended
Carrying overwhelming power.
A slash meant to end the duel.
JOIN MY PATREON TO READ 30+ CHAPTERS BEFORE PUBLIC RELEASE OR PURCHASE THE BOOK FOR LIFETIME ACCESS!
WE ARE CURRENTLY ON CHAPTER 76 ON PATREON.
Patreon.com/HACKDWORLD