Zhang Da Ye asked Artoria cautiously, "Are you going to fight?"
"If it's a spar, I really don't want to refuse," Artoria replied. She had heard of Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, and wanted to test just how strong this top-tier fighter was.
When she previously encountered the Red-Haired Shanks, it had only been a brief move, and she worried about Da Ye's safety and accidental damage.
Now, with Mihawk explicitly here to spar, and Da Ye much stronger, Artoria had no concern about him being hurt by the residual effects of battle.
"In that case, I'll take you somewhere else. You can't fight nearby," Zhang Da Ye said, worried the tavern might be destroyed after a few exchanges.
"Really? So 'Mihawk' is challenging Artoria-chan!"
"And she agreed!"
"Does this mean we get to see the world's greatest swordsman fight?"
"Is it safe? Maybe we should stay back a bit."
Mihawk finished his wine. The location didn't matter to him, but a worthy opponent was in front of him, yet he had to wait. "Wait for what?"
Zhang Da Ye glanced at the onlookers: "At least wait until the customers finish their drinks and leave, so I can close the tavern."
"Bill, please!"
"Miss Rui Meng Meng, the bill!"
"Tom~ the bill~"
"Pah! You expect Tom to handle the bill?"
Before Zhang Da Ye could finish, the thirty-odd patrons quickly settled their bills within three minutes and left. No short-changing—everything exact.
Excitement is great, but life is more valuable. Some excitement is better ignored; they already had enough bragging rights today—like, "I drank with 'Mihawk'!"
"You're ruining my business…" Zhang Da Ye sighed. "Alright, let's go."
Rui Meng Meng glanced between Zhang Da Ye and the tables, conflicted.
Zhang Da Ye patted her shoulder: "We'll clean up later. First, let's watch the spar."
At an empty plot in GR No.4, with only an old house nearby and no one else around, Zhang Da Ye positioned Tom away: "Here's fine. It's an unsafe area—go at it."
Mihawk glanced at Zhang Da Ye but didn't expose his intention, focusing instead on assessing his opponent's strength.
Artoria's magic-formed armor appeared, and she gripped Excalibur, this time without using the Wind King's Barrier.
Mihawk, surprised by the armor and sword, asked, "A Devil Fruit user?"
"No," Artoria shook her head. "It's not from a Devil Fruit, but my own power."
Mihawk drew his black sword, Yoru, and swung, sending a crescent-shaped slash flying. It was far longer than Artoria's height.
"What's that?" Rui Meng Meng exclaimed. She had only seen Artoria's Wind King Hammer act at range, which she couldn't replicate.
"A flying slash, I think. Good for punishing weaker foes or cutting ships and mountains. Not sure of the principle," Zhang Da Ye explained, though he also saw it for the first time.
Tom, propping his chin, found the technique odd—how could a sword hit distant targets like a gun?
Artoria slashed horizontally, deflecting Mihawk's attack toward the old house beside the clearing. The slash neatly cut the house in half. Its structure collapsed, leaving a pile of rubble.
"Impressive!" Rui Meng Meng exclaimed. "She can easily destroy a house. Hopefully no one's inside?"
"If there is, that's fine—better even," Zhang Da Ye chuckled. "Remember the criminal gang we investigated? They live here."
"Ah!" Rui Meng Meng realized. "Boss, are you using Mihawk intentionally? Would that anger him?"
"Maybe a little rude, huh? I just figured they'll break buildings anyway, so better nearby those scum. Not exactly exploiting him."
Zhang Da Ye reasoned Mihawk wouldn't care much—at most, he might dislike him. Until he learned how the 'Navy Hunter' title came about, Zhang Da Ye didn't plan to get close.
At that moment, Mihawk and Artoria ran toward each other. The world's greatest black sword and the otherworldly holy sword clashed.
Mihawk stood 1.98m; Artoria, 1.54m. Yet her presence and power matched his in the duel.
Clang! They paused momentarily, stepping back before resuming their exchanges.
Clashes rang incessantly; any ordinary observer could barely see the sword's shadow—just arms swinging.
After a brief pause:
"Impressive swordsmanship, fine blade. Not even a black sword or Haki, yet I cannot cut through," Mihawk smiled faintly. "I am Dracule Mihawk, this sword is Yoru, one of the Twelve Supreme Great Blades."
Zhang Da Ye thought Mihawk was a bit full of himself—no blade in this world could surpass Excalibur, not even Yoru.
"I am Artoria Pendragon. You may call this sword Excalibur," Artoria introduced herself.
Their exchange reminded Zhang Da Ye of Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng's fateful duel atop Purple Forbidden Peak.
"Excalibur, huh? Interesting, I'll remember that." Mihawk finally felt competitive.
Artoria raised her sword with determination: "Then, please instruct me."
She advanced; her blue-and-silver armor fluttered as she slanted her strike.
Mihawk remained calm, raised Yoru to block, and countered, each motion making his black coat flutter—exceedingly stylish.
Their swords clashed repeatedly. No energy waves or dramatic effects—just a pure, skillful duel, like a normal exchange of sword techniques.
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