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"What was that just now?"
"What kind of monster is he?!"
"Hawkeye Mihawk? One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, on par with Gecko Moria and Crocodile, known as the world's greatest swordsman?!"
The pirates finally snapped out of their daze, their attention forcibly drawn by the awe-inspiring attack to the figure standing on the distant ghost ship – Dracule Mihawk.
It wasn't just the sheer power of the attack; even his piercing gaze, sharp and perceptive like a hawk's, sent shivers down their spines. Those eyes were a testament to his immense strength and unparalleled mastery of swordsmanship.
"This is insane! Three Warlords, the strongest Vice Admiral candidate, Gion, and that freakishly strong rookie, all converging on this place in just a few days!"
The Florian Triangle was one of the final stretches of islands in the first half of the Grand Line. The next stop was Sabaody Archipelago, located near Marine Headquarters and the gateway to the New World.
Above lay Mary Geoise, the Holy Land of the World Nobles, and below, the deep-sea paradise of Fish-Man Island. It was the starting point for both the old and new worlds.
Unlike those in the Four Blues, the pirates here were well aware of the power dynamics among the Yonko and the Warlords.
"Mihawk, have you come to rescue Captain?" Several pirates rushed towards Mihawk, careful not to provoke him. His casual, single-handed strike was a clear sign of restraint. If they lingered any longer, who knew what fate awaited them?
All hardships paled in comparison to the preciousness of life. On the sea, Mihawk was known for his selective engagement – sparing those he deemed worthy and swiftly eliminating those he didn't.
A single, casual swing of his sword had cleaved the island in half. A few days ago, it had taken a full-blown battle between that terrifying rookie and Moria to destroy a portion of the island.
This was the power of the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk. Truly terrifying. All they felt was an insurmountable chasm between them, a chasm that included the massive black abyss he had carved into the earth.
Perhaps, even if they dedicated their entire lives to training, they could never reach his level.
"No, I'm simply here to confirm his death." Mihawk's amber eyes flickered towards Perona, momentarily freezing her in place.
She felt like prey caught in the gaze of a hawk, about to be devoured or dissected by his blade. His words were devoid of emotion, as sharp and precise as his swordsmanship.
"Bastard… You and Moria-sama are both Warlords. Don't you have any sense of camaraderie?" Perona cried out. Mihawk offered no explanation, simply tossing a newspaper at her.
Camaraderie? In this world of pirates, such sentiments were a liability. Even blood relatives would betray each other for survival or personal gain. What loyalty could be expected between pirates who had joined the Warlords for their own selfish reasons?
Solitude was Mihawk's creed. While companionship might increase one's chances of survival, choosing the wrong companions could lead to betrayal. He had no grand ambitions of world domination, and unnecessary emotional attachments would only hinder him… slow down his draw.
*Shocking! Two Warlords and the strongest Vice Admiral candidate, Gion, converge on the Florian Triangle! Gecko Moria defeated by a demonic rookie! His fate remains unknown!*
*The Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit user's identity revealed – Marine or pirate? What implications will this have for the world?*
The article was penned by Morgans, the president of the World Economy News Paper, a bird-human who had eaten the Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Albatross (Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Albatross). It was filled with sensationalized headlines, designed to attract attention.
After all, that was the nature of his business. Even if the content lacked substance, people would pay for the spectacle.
"I don't believe it! That freak Morgans is spreading false rumors!" Perona shouted, preferring to believe that Moria had been defeated by Gion after accidentally stumbling onto Thriller Bark.
While that scenario painted Moria as foolish and incompetent, it was still less humiliating than being defeated by a rookie.
"Hmph." Mihawk ignored her outburst. It was understandable for someone to be distraught over the sudden defeat of their leader, especially by a newcomer.
Having confirmed the news, he saw no point in arguing with a sheltered young girl. He turned to board his small ghost ship, and Perona, wiping away her tears, quickly followed.
"Since Moria-sama is gone, I suppose I'll have to grace you with my presence…" She mumbled, recalling rumors of Mihawk being a lone wolf, without a crew. This meant she wouldn't have to compete with others for his attention, unlike on Thriller Bark.
Simply maintaining a good relationship with him would be enough. What a brilliant idea! She was a genius!
"I don't need a companion. They're troublesome, especially a whiny little girl."
"… I can do laundry, cook, clean, and help with chores. I'll be very obedient…"
"..." Mihawk paused, considering the proposition. He did need someone to tend to his fields while he was away.
The offer of household help was tempting. Otherwise, his home and fields would be neglected during his travels, forcing him to deal with the mess upon his return, which was far more troublesome.
And she was just a young girl. How much trouble could she possibly be? Little did he know that he might regret this decision in the future, finding himself cooking and cleaning for two, enduring constant chatter and demands, effectively adopting a demanding child.
"A Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit user with impressive swordsmanship. Until next time, rookie."
Mihawk was more intrigued by the individual who had defeated Moria. To cause such a commotion right after setting sail… this newcomer's future was undoubtedly bright.
He had boarded a Marine ship, indicating either capture or recruitment. Regardless, Mihawk, as a Warlord, could easily challenge him.
...
Meanwhile, in the New World, the territory of Whitebeard, the strongest man in the world…
On the Moby Dick, Marco the Phoenix, the first division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, leaned against the railing, a newspaper in his hand, a look of amusement on his face.
"A Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit user, huh? He took on Moria right after setting sail and managed to defeat him. Haven't seen a rookie this impressive in a while. Hey, Vista, take a look. His swordsmanship isn't bad either. He's a swordsman too!"
Vista, the fifth division commander and a skilled swordsman, accepted the newspaper and glanced at the article. A hint of surprise flickered across his face.
Vista was eager to challenge strong swordsmen, especially Mihawk, the world's greatest. Now, a new contender had emerged, a young man clad in white.
Marco shrugged and turned towards Whitebeard, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Pops, what do you think?"
"Gurararara! If you're itching for a fight, go ahead! I'll have your back!" Whitebeard chuckled, taking a swig of sake, his body riddled with medical tubes.
Marco grinned. "That's right! It doesn't matter if he's been captured or recruited by the Marines. No one can stand against Pops!"
"Yeah, Pops is the strongest man in the world!" The other division commanders cheered in agreement.
Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit users were rare. The only ones he knew of were Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral; Kaido, with his Azure Dragon form; and himself, the Phoenix. They were all incredibly powerful individuals.
Vista was also excited. A Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit user with impressive swordsmanship… the potential was unimaginable. He would undoubtedly become a force to be reckoned with.
...
Another Yonko, Shanks, read the newspaper with amusement. "This rookie… he reminds me of Mihawk."
Shanks, who interacted with Mihawk more frequently than the other Yonko, considered him a rival and a friend. They often shared drinks and stories.
"Idiot captain! This is serious! That guy boarded a Marine ship! He's likely going to join them! He'll become a powerful enemy!" His crewmates scolded him. How could he be so carefree?
With that level of strength, he wouldn't be foolish enough to surrender without a fight. But he was undeniably a formidable opponent.
...
Meanwhile, on Onigashima in Wano Country, Kaido sat in his cave, guzzling sake as his subordinates reported the news.
"Tch, that Gecko Moria… he hasn't grown at all. To think he once challenged me and escaped… what a disgrace…" Kaido roared, smashing his gourd in frustration.
If it had been the Moria of twenty years ago, this newcomer wouldn't be worth mentioning. He would barely be strong enough to survive in the New World.
However, this rookie possessed a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, the same category as his own. He was far stronger than his own Gifters, possessing a power worthy of joining his crew. Unfortunately, he had become a lapdog for the Marines.
Kaido would have to eliminate him and then retrieve his Devil Fruit…
...
In Dressrosa, Doflamingo, another Warlord of the Sea, lounged in his palace, reading the newspaper with a wicked grin.
"Interesting. This guy seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Let's see how he fares against the others. We'll know soon enough if he's truly as strong as they say."
"Crocodile has reappeared as well. It seems he's planning to join forces with Moria to steal Pluton from Alabasta. That's quite an ambitious plan."
Doflamingo chuckled. As someone who had orchestrated a coup d'état himself, he knew how difficult such a feat was. He had even hinted at his plans to Crocodile, a former World Noble, and invited him to join.
However, both men were suspicious by nature, and Crocodile, even more so, had declined, leading Doflamingo to proceed with his own plans.
"Fufufufufu, you'll regret not trusting me soon enough, Crocodile. This era is becoming increasingly chaotic…"
He was also keeping an eye on Moria. Not only was he a fellow Warlord, but he had also challenged Kaido. Doflamingo had his own connections to Kaido, but it seemed his efforts had been in vain.
On the seas near Alabasta, Crocodile, reading the same newspaper while puffing on a cigar, scoffed.
"The one who defeated Moria wasn't Gion or Chaton? Tch, how disappointing…"
It was an embarrassment to the Warlords. He had overestimated the strength of the pirate who had once challenged Kaido. Crocodile himself had challenged Whitebeard but had been defeated. Now, Moria had fallen to a rookie, and it left him feeling irritated.
"To think a kid is making such waves… It's a good thing he's gone. He would have interfered with my plans…" Crocodile grumbled, tossing the newspaper into the sea, letting the wind carry it away.
He didn't regret refusing Doflamingo's offer. He knew the dangers of collaborating with someone who shared his ambitions. Even if he had gained valuable experience, he might have ended up with nothing, his efforts benefiting only Doflamingo. As for Moria…
He was interested in his zombie army, which would save him the trouble of recruiting and training soldiers. The Marines were already aware of his plans, so he had to move quickly before they reacted.
On a remote island in the South Blue, Kid, who had just recruited a new crew member, a fire-breathing, zombie-like individual named Heat with stitches across his mouth and thorny, blue-purple patterns on his body, felt a surge of frustration.
"Damn it…" Kid vented his anger by hurling massive boulders into the sea, creating ripples and explosions.
He activated his Magnet-Magnet Fruit powers, transforming his arms into massive fists and pummeling the water relentlessly, oblivious to the fact that seawater weakened Devil Fruit users. He continued his assault until exhaustion forced him to stop.
"He couldn't have gotten that strong so quickly…" He roared in disbelief. The last time they had met, their powers had been comparable. Now, this rookie had defeated a Warlord.
Even the weakest Warlord was still stronger than him.
Were Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits really that powerful? His Magnet-Magnet Fruit was no slouch either. And then he remembered… the rookie was also a skilled swordsman.
The thought struck him like a bolt of lightning. Zoan Devil Fruits granted incredible physical abilities, making swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat training far easier.
His Magnet-Magnet Fruit relied on manipulating weapons. He would need to focus on physical training and maximizing his Devil Fruit abilities to counter the rookie's swordsmanship. Little did he know that by their next encounter, the gap between them would be insurmountable.
And Ian, with his ability to create Zanpakuto, was already far ahead. But at least Kid's efforts weren't entirely in vain. He had pushed his Devil Fruit powers to new heights.
"First Mate Killer, what's wrong with Captain Kid?" Heat, the zombie-like newcomer, observed his new captain with concern, addressing his brother.
He was relieved to see Kid regain his composure. Otherwise, he might have to find a new captain.
"It's nothing. The sea is vast, and Kid is just the strongest rookie in the South Blue. Other seas have their own rising stars, like Portgas D. Ace… And beyond us… lies the Grand Line and the New World, the Warlords, the Admirals, and the Yonko…"
Meanwhile, Ian, the individual responsible for the world's current upheaval, had arrived at Marine Headquarters with Gion, bypassing Sabaody Archipelago.
Moria had been transported to Impel Down, a development that filled Ian with regret. That was a prime location for soul absorption, a place he had intended to visit. It seemed Gion had prioritized dealing with the fallout of his actions.
Crocodile's coup attempt, the Pluton incident, and Moria's defeat… these were major events that could destabilize the world.
He hadn't anticipated the far-reaching consequences of his actions in such a short time.
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Word Count [2348]
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To Be Continued..
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