"Wait, wait. Honestly, you people haven't been listening to a word I've said, have you?" Aokiji said helplessly. "I already told you that I only came here for a walk, so don't get so worked up. Relax."
"And as for fighting those great pirates…"
Aokiji scratched his head and said in a rather helpless tone, "Some great pirates are even more terrifying than Marine Admirals. Honestly, even I might lose my life against them."
"That goes double for ordinary Marine soldiers. As a Marine, my motto is Lazy Justice. I'm not someone who acts overly aggressively."
Aokiji continued chatting as he slowly lay down on the ground.
"Besides, when it comes to Marine Headquarters' greatest combat forces, apart from the few of us, there are still three Admirals."
As he spoke, Aokiji glanced at Luffy, who remained completely clueless.
"Now that I've said all that, let's get down to business."
Aokiji's eyes instantly turned ice-cold.
At the same time, on the outskirts of Long Ring Long Land, a small, eerie wooden sailboat reached the shore.
A man stepped off it with a massive black blade strapped to his back and ropes wound around his legs and feet.
After briefly examining his surroundings, Mihawk strode toward the depths of Long Ring Long Land.
He was heading directly toward Luffy and Aokiji.
"Everyone, run!"
Luffy was already covered in wounds, his body marked by blue frostbite.
He turned his head and shouted weakly.
Beside him stood Zoro and Sanji, both covered in similar frostbite and panting heavily.
"So this is the power of a Marine Admiral?"
"He really does deserve to be called one of the Marines' greatest military powers!"
Zoro and Sanji struggled to their feet. Their expressions were grave and astonished as they stared at Aokiji.
Behind them, Robin stood trembling with her arms wrapped around herself, her eyes filled with terror.
Because Luffy had trained seriously and already developed Gear Second, he had managed to protect Robin and prevent her from being frozen.
The sight before her brought back memories of Ohara engulfed in flames.
At that moment, Aokiji plucked several blades of grass from the ground and tossed them into the air.
He breathed out a stream of cold air, instantly freezing the grass into an Ice Saber.
"Well, then. This is where it ends."
Aokiji spoke calmly as he walked toward Luffy and the others.
"You're no match for him!"
Usopp shouted anxiously until his voice was nearly hoarse.
At the same time, he continuously fired flaming projectiles at Aokiji with his slingshot.
"Special Attack: Firebird Star! Firebird Star! Firebird Star!"
Suddenly, Usopp's hand froze while holding the slingshot.
He turned toward a certain direction and swallowed hard. The terror and despair in his eyes deepened.
"No way! With a presence like that, don't tell me another Marine Admiral has arrived!"
Aokiji and Luffy also stopped moving and turned in the same direction.
"That presence… Whoever it is, they're strong."
Aokiji raised an eyebrow.
The laziness on his face vanished, immediately replaced by solemnity. He straightened his body at once.
Even Nami sensed that something about the approaching presence was extraordinary and looked in the same direction.
Step. Step. Step.
The sound of footsteps pressing against the grass gradually drew closer, reaching everyone's ears.
The newcomer's figure slowly entered their sight.
The instant Aokiji saw the man, his expression darkened.
"Hawk Eyes… Dracule Mihawk!"
He pronounced every word clearly.
Aokiji had been telling the truth when he said that certain troublesome matters had driven him to take a walk.
Those matters had put him in a terrible mood. He had even begun to question the justice upheld by the Marines.
Now that he had encountered the famous swordsman of the Thunder God Pirates, he naturally had no reason to show him a friendly expression.
This was especially true because the swordsman before him was publicly renowned as the greatest swordsman in the world, although he was actually only the second greatest.
Even as the world's second greatest swordsman, Mihawk's strength was still extraordinary.
To be honest, Aokiji had no confidence that he could defeat Mihawk.
"A Marine Headquarters Admiral?"
Upon entering the clearing and seeing Aokiji standing there, Mihawk looked at the Straw Hat Pirates' miserable condition and immediately understood what had happened.
He noticed Wado Ichimonji in Zoro's hand, one of the Twenty-One Great Grade Blades, confirming that Zoro was indeed Koushirou's disciple.
As Mihawk examined Zoro, Zoro was also staring at him.
"So this is… Hawk Eyes?"
Although Zoro had never seen him before, as a fellow swordsman, he could keenly sense the unstoppable, all-conquering presence emanating from the man.
There was no doubt that the newcomer was the strongest swordsman known to the world—Hawk Eyes Mihawk.
Mihawk's presence was hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of times stronger than Zoro's. It was so overwhelming that Zoro's hands trembled slightly around his swords.
Nevertheless, Zoro's heart was filled with excitement and complicated emotions.
All he needed to do was challenge this man and defeat him.
Then he would become the world's greatest swordsman and fulfill his promise.
However, Zoro's current condition was far too poor.
Were he to issue a challenge now, Mihawk would never accept it. More importantly, Zoro himself would never allow himself to challenge Mihawk in such a pathetic state.
A duel between swordsmen was sacred.
"You have good eyes."
Mihawk gave the miserable-looking Zoro, who was staring intensely at him, only a brief glance before casually offering his assessment.
He then turned his attention toward Aokiji.
"That Ice Saber isn't bad."
As he spoke, Mihawk reached behind himself for the Black Blade Yoru.
"I happen to be bored. Why don't we have a contest of swordsmanship to pass the time?"
Aokiji remained silent for a moment before slowly nodding.
"Fine. I also happen to want to see what kind of swordsmanship and strength the world's second greatest swordsman possesses."
He intended to use Mihawk's strength to estimate the approximate power of the legendary man known as the world's strongest and greatest swordsman.
As the two of them spoke, Zoro stood there completely stunned.
(End of Chapter)
[200 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]