Gai Nie unleashed a powerful sword strike, a silver slash hundreds of meters long, hurtling toward Mihawk with unparalleled sharpness. Even from a distance, Mihawk could feel the sting of its edge against his skin.
"Extreme Steel Slash!"
As Gai Nie's sword moved, Mihawk infused his own sword with concentrated sword intent. His strike released a massive green slash, embodying pure strength and an indomitable spirit.
While it's often said that excessive rigidity can lead to breaking, Mihawk believed that if one reached the pinnacle of strength, nothing could break them.
The silver and green slashes clashed, their sword intents colliding and grinding against each other. The force of their impact sent shockwaves in all directions, shattering rocks and sinking the ground several meters deep, enveloping the area in a cloud of dust.
Despite the obscured visibility, their Observation Haki allowed them to sense everything clearly. Both slashes exhausted their power, ultimately canceling each other out.
In the next moment, both swordsmen exploded forward with tremendous force, closing the distance for close combat. With slashes unable to determine the winner, it was time for a direct confrontation.
Gai Nie's Wind and Flowing Water sword was immediately coated with Armament Haki as he swung it in a diagonal slash. Mihawk mirrored his move, his sword equally clad in Haki, as they clashed.
"Clang!!!"
The sharp, grating sound of two Supreme Grade Blades meeting filled the air. Both swordsmen exerted all their strength, seeking to overpower the other. Finding their strengths evenly matched, they disengaged momentarily before charging at each other again.
Mihawk seized the initiative, launching a powerful horizontal strike. Gai Nie met it head-on, deflecting the attack with his own blade.
In the blink of an eye, Gai Nie's form became elusive, sidestepping Mihawk's blade and delivering a diagonal slash aimed at his head. Mihawk, quick on his feet, evaded and countered with a horizontal slash, forcing Gai Nie to retreat.
Their movements were lightning-fast, exchanging hundreds of blows in mere minutes. Their clash of blades was a dance of death, each mistake potentially fatal.
The intensity of their duel increased, both swordsmen growing more exhilarated. It was rare to find a peer of equal strength to test one's skills against.
Gai Nie's sword style bore traces of the Infinite Swordsmanship, yet he had forged his own path beyond it. Mihawk's style was characterized by bold, straightforward strikes, fueled by an unwavering belief in his sword's ability to cut through anything.
Their swordsmanship was evenly matched, neither gaining a clear advantage. Each observed and absorbed elements of the other's technique, seeking to enhance their own.
As their duel reached a fever pitch, the noise drew attention from Loguetown, where many pirates and spies from various factions had gathered. Sensing the commotion, they rushed to witness the spectacle.
"Who are these young swordsmen? To reach the level of Grandmaster Swordsman at such a young age is incredible!"
"One is the famed lone swordsman from the North Blue, the other a renowned swordsman from the West Blue. Who knew they'd clash? I wonder who's stronger."
"It's fascinating. Since the world's greatest swordsman, Li Yuan, held the global swordsmanship tournament and spread the Infinite Swordsmanship, the number of swordsmen has surged. Grandmaster Swordsmen were once rare, but now there are more, and these two are so young!"
"Hahaha, Li Yuan, the world's greatest swordsman, defeated Pirate King Roger and bested the strongest marine, Garp. Those two once defeated Rocks together, and now Li Yuan has surpassed them. It's no wonder so many aspire to wield swords like him!"
As Gai Nie and Mihawk dueled for half an hour, a crowd gathered outside the battlefield, watching eagerly.
However, as more spectators gathered, Gai Nie and Mihawk exchanged a glance, both seeing the same anger in each other's eyes. Their intense exchange was disrupted by the onlookers, interrupting their focus on refining their swordsmanship.
In unison, they unleashed massive slashes into the crowd, each hundreds of meters long.
"Vertical Sword Technique: Rending Blade Skyward!"
"Extreme Steel Slash!"
The slashes tore through the crowd like wild beasts. The sudden, devastating attack caught everyone off guard. They had come to watch a spectacle, only to provoke the ire of two Grandmaster Swordsmen.
The sweeping slashes decimated the gathered throng, leaving a bloody trail. The powerful sword intent sobered those still approaching, realizing the grave danger of witnessing such a duel.
"Run for your lives!"
"Damn it, if I find out who you are, I'll make sure you pay!"
"I know who they are—Mihawk and Gai Nie. Remember their names if you want revenge!"
"Damn it, we just wanted to watch! Why attack us? Let's get them for our fallen comrades!"
As Gai Nie and Mihawk unleashed their fury, those who had come to spectate met grim fates, either fleeing or perishing. The ones shouting for revenge were the first to escape the scene.
In an instant, those who had rushed to the scene now scrambled to leave even faster.
"What a pity, we can't continue our duel here," Gai Nie remarked, sheathing his Wind and Flowing Water sword.
"After the Pirate King's execution, let's find another place to resume," Mihawk suggested, his eyes still burning with the desire to duel.
"Hahaha, no need to wait. We can find an island now and continue our battle!" Gai Nie proposed. "My boat is fast. We'll reach another island in half a day, and with five days until the execution, we have plenty of time to fight!"
"Agreed, let's go!" Mihawk replied eagerly, ready for another clash.
The two boarded Gai Nie's boat. Although only ten meters long, it was made of special metal and custom-built at Thomas Shipyard to Gai Nie's specifications. It resembled a large speedboat more than a traditional vessel.
The boat was equipped with full living amenities, resembling a small mobile home.
"Hold on, here we go!" Gai Nie announced, revving the engine. The boat shot across the sea, its speed rivaling the largest naval ships, leaving them far behind.
"Where did you get this boat?" Mihawk inquired, impressed by its design and speed.
"It's custom-made at Thomas Shipyard in the New World. If you want one, head there and have one built," Gai Nie explained. "But bring plenty of Berries; this boat cost me six billion!"
Mihawk had heard of Thomas Shipyard, renowned as the world's largest and finest shipbuilding island. Despite the cost, he found it worth the investment.
"Your sword style feels familiar. Is it the Infinite Swordsmanship of Li Yuan, the world's greatest swordsman?" Mihawk asked, his gaze returning to Gai Nie.
During their duel, Mihawk had sensed a familiarity in Gai Nie's technique, reminiscent of the countless videos he'd studied featuring Li Yuan, from his battles with the Red Count to the swordsmanship tournament.
It wasn't until now that Mihawk realized the source of that familiarity.