Earlier, Mihawk had demonstrated various sword techniques, hoping to see if Arton could replicate his blade and emulate his slashes.
What Mihawk didn't know was that his patience and willingness to wait made him the perfect opponent in Arton's eyes—not only was Mihawk incredibly strong, but he was also giving Arton time to prepare. For Arton, Mihawk was an ideal rival for leveling up.
At that moment, Arton was eagerly looking forward to how far he could push the Shirou Emiya template.
"Copying your sword and your slashes? Let's put that idea aside for now," Arton replied with a slight smirk.
"In my current state, I don't have the stamina to expend on such things."
"As for what kind of power I'll use to face you, Mihawk, you'll find out very soon."
Arton was keenly aware that his Shirou Emiya template had not yet updated, and his stamina was still at the level left over from his earlier fusion and battle with Mihawk.
While the idea of showcasing Mihawk's own slashes to him was tempting, Arton knew this wasn't the right moment.
What he needed now was to summon a power potent enough to engage Mihawk in a thrilling, all-out battle.
With that resolve, Arton ignited his magical circuits.
A formidable and solitary aura surged from him, spreading like a tidal wave.
"Projection, Begin!"
"Projection, Loading!"
"Full Process Complete!"
"Echo grasping into godhood."
"May this shot, product of a martial art refined to its completion, burn down your hollow interior."
"Nine Lives!!"
As Arton recited his incantation, an immense wave of magical energy condensed in his hands.
With a resonating hum, a massive axe-sword suddenly appeared in his previously empty grasp.
"This axe-sword... I see, so you're planning to use the power that defeated the Shiki against me?"
"Very well, let me witness the slashes that brought down the Golden Lion," Mihawk said, his sharp eyes like a hawk's, fixed firmly on Arton.
"As you wish!" Arton replied.
The moment his words fell, Arton surged forward, appearing right in front of Mihawk in an instant.
As Arton raised the massive axe-sword high into the air, Mihawk's Observation Haki sent a strong premonition of danger.
At that moment, Mihawk instinctively raised his black blade to meet Arton's strike.
BOOM!
With a thunderous explosion, the force of their clash shattered the deck beneath their feet, sending seawater spraying into the air between them.
All eyes in the Baratie were fixed on the battlefield where Arton and Mihawk clashed.
This was especially true for Zoro and Arton's crewmates.
After all, Mihawk was the world's greatest swordsman. Even though Nami, Carina, and the others knew of Arton's formidable power, they couldn't help but worry about his safety.
Meanwhile, Zoro was focused on trying to observe the techniques of both combatants.
Unfortunately, their movements were so fast that he couldn't glean any useful information.
Similarly, even the diary copies holders who could view the battle from a broader overhead perspective struggled to keep up with their speed.
Even Gion, with her extensive experience in swordsmanship, was left in awe.
"Nine Lives: Shooting the Hundred Heads..."
"Can Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, truly withstand this attack?" Gion mused, her eyes narrowed as she watched the diary intently.
Suddenly, the seawater that surrounded Arton and Mihawk began to fall, revealing the scene of their clash.
The image of Arton and Mihawk mid-swing came into view for all to see.
Whitey Bay: "Wait, is that... Arton's body pierced by Mihawk's sword?"
Charlotte Cinnamon: "No way, this has to be fake! That's Arton we're talking about!"
Charlotte Custard: "Even if it's Arton, his opponent is still Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman."
Ulti: "This can't be happening. We haven't even met this guy yet, and he's already going to die?"
Black Maria: "Don't panic. Arton can use Tsunade's healing powers, so he won't die from a wound like this. Besides, his Shirou Emiya template can evolve, and once it does, his injuries should heal, right?"
Tashigi: " Nine Lives: Shooting the Hundred Heads – has the world's greatest swordsman seen through it? No, wait! Mihawk is injured as well!"
Boa Hancock: "Mihawk's clothes are torn? Arton, that man, actually left nine wounds on him?"
Gion: "Though eight of those wounds are shallow, one is a deep cut on Mihawk's chest near his heart. Mihawk must have deflected Arton's final strike aimed at his heart at the last moment, piercing Arton's chest in return.
"Both Arton's Nine Lives and Mihawk's ability to handle such an attack are amazing!"
"Captain Arton!" Kaya cried out in alarm, rushing forward to assist Arton.
At this moment, Arton stood before everyone with Mihawk's black blade pierced through his chest. Blood was pouring from his wound, staining the ground beneath him.
At the same time, Mihawk himself appeared somewhat disheveled. His iconic round-topped hat was split in two, his coat and clothing were damaged, and blood seeped from the nine wounds on his body, mixing with Arton's blood on the ground.
Still, by all appearances, Arton was the one far worse off, his injuries more severe.
This naturally made Kaya extremely worried.
Just as she was about to act, Arton stopped her.
"Hold it, Kaya."
"I can handle this myself," Arton said loudly.
Hearing his words, Kaya froze mid-step. Uta quickly grabbed her hand, shaking her head.
"Let's trust Arton here," Uta reassured her.
Kaya bit her lip, considering Arton's abilities, and ultimately stepped back.
While Arton's crewmates were able to accept this, Zoro and the others watching were visibly confused.
"What happened just now? What techniques did those two use?" Zoro asked, his voice heavy with doubt.
"Are you seriously not going to treat Arton? That looks like a fatal wound!"
Zoro turned toward Kaya, raising his voice. He had witnessed Kaya's healing abilities before and believed she might be able to help with Arton's current condition.
Before Kaya could reply, Arton spoke up, cutting in.
"A mere fatal wound? Don't think something like this is enough to kill me, Zoro!"
"Besides, this is a duel between Mihawk and me."
"Stand back and count yourself lucky to witness such a battle from the sidelines."
"As for my injuries, save yourself the concern," Arton said firmly.
Zoro: "..."