Kuina immediately understood the intent behind this sword strike.
"Hey, you scoundrel!"
Her expression turned cold instantly, Sakura Yuki was swiftly drawn, ready to intercept.
Endgame, which had accompanied them since the East Sea, was undoubtedly a partner. Even when the railings broke or the sail canvas tore a bit, they would feel heartache.
Mihawk, how dare you!
However, Shano was faster than her.
"I've had enough of you, Mihawk!"
Shano's body leapt from behind the railings, his right fist clenched tightly, black and red Inazuma instantly entwined, and he punched the incoming Sword Qi!
He was clearly very annoyed, even his voice carried a fiery tone.
Wow!
Amidst the mist, Black Blade Yoru's slash was forcibly scattered!
Mihawk was also blown by the violent wind pressure, his face contorting wildly, and he almost fell into the sea.
"Finally willing to battle me, are you?"
Hawkeye, instead of being frightened, was pleased, gripping Black Blade Yoru tightly and shouting fiercely, "Then draw your sword, Mr. Shano, let me..."
"Draw your head, huh?!"
Accompanied by a thoroughly impatient roar, Shano's body suddenly swelled, muscles rising like mountains, with bones cracking like thunder.
As the mist gradually dissipated.
His stature had soared from less than two meters to around eight meters, a single finger thicker than an average person's waist, with tangled muscles bursting his shirt and terrifyingly large veins protruding on his skin like enraged dragons.
His weight directly broke through ten tons!
"See this, this is my true form, huh! Do you still think..."
Shano's face twisted fiercely as he pounded his chest, then slightly squatted with his massive body, causing the deck beneath him to groan under pressure, the next instant—
Boom!!!
The whole Endgame ship suddenly sank downward, Shano's figure had vanished from its place.
Mihawk's pupils shrank, but before he could react, a giant palm was already sweeping down from the sky!
"Do you still believe that I would need something like a sword, huh?!"
Clang!
Mihawk hastily swung his sword horizontally, Black Blade Yoru collided with that giant palm, sparking blindingly.
The next moment!
He only felt an unimaginable force, sending him flying like a cannonball into the sea, creating a splash tens of meters high.
"Cough, cough..."
Mihawk leapt from the sea, bruised and blood trickling from his mouth, staring dazedly at the giant standing before him.
Did he hear wrong just now?
This, this is his true form?
Height over eight meters, weight over ten tons!
Larger than Whitebeard and Kaido, only Charlotte Lingling could match him!
The strength of his body was incredibly terrifying, not only withstanding the slash using only his body but even responding by slapping Mihawk away!
"I thought being frank hurts, but you forced me to say it, insisting I draw my sword? Hmph! A sword is not so inconvenient!"
Shano sneered, opening his palm.
Even without using Haki for defense, Hawkeye's slash left only a faint white mark on his palm.
It was already showing signs of fading.
"Haven't you seen, the true strongest when the Sword Dao reaches its peak should be like me!"
Shano looked down at Mihawk, his voice booming like thunder:
"Look at your ridiculous form, clutching that Black Blade like a treasure, wanting to cuddle it even while sleeping, like a child who hasn't been weaned! A real swordsman should be like me—using the body as sword, fists as blade!"
He grinned, spreading his arms wide, and the burly, rugged muscles reflected a dazzling sheen like diamond under the sunlight:
"This body is my strongest sword! Every muscle is a blade, every bone a spine! Hey, Mihawk! Tell me, when you can cut through anything with just a finger, what use is any scrap metal?"
"..."
Mihawk stood in dumbfounded silence on his coffin boat, never having considered this possibility—had he pursued the wrong path of Sword Dao from the beginning?
"But I always thought..."
Mihawk spoke haltingly, "A swordsman should have a sword to carve out their Sword Intent..."
"Foolishness!"
Shano scoffed, suddenly turning his right fist into a hand knife gesture, casually slashing toward the distant sea.
Flowing Water Rock-Breaking Fist!
Boom!
The sea split open, forming a vacuum trench thousands of meters long, leading into the horizon.
Water on both sides stood like cliffs for a good dozen seconds before crashing together.
"See that? Once you've cultivated to the utmost, with Sword Intent in your heart, a casual wave can unleash a strike bringing Sword Intent to its peak!"
Shano withdrew his fist, disdainfully:
"You're too obsessed with external objects, limiting your potential, like using your Haki to nurture that Black Blade you've had for decades—"
He reached out and grabbed, and before Mihawk could react, Black Blade Yoru was snatched away.
Crack!
With seemingly effortless force, the entire Black Blade was twisted into a spiral by Shano.
"Ultimately, it's just a toy, not even fit to scratch me! With such a thing, you dare challenge me?"
Boom!
Mihawk was struck as if by lightning, slowly half-kneeling on the deck, looking dazedly at the Black Blade that had accompanied him for decades.
Is it really so fragile?
True sword intent should reside in the heart, and the true blade should be one's own body?
Have I really... taken the wrong path?
"You should understand by now, shouldn't you?"
Shano casually threw the Black Blade Yoru back, speaking calmly:
"The gap between you and me is too great; we're not in the same world. If you want to pursue the true pinnacle of the Sword Dao, first learn to let go of your misguided path. Once you can slash out such powerful Sword Qi with just one finger, come find me to discuss swordsmanship."
Saying this.
He turned and leapt back to the Endgame, his figure returning to the 185 cm Kami-e Martial Body form as he landed.
Leaving only the distraught Mihawk, staring dumbly at the Black Blade Yoru twisted into a screw shape, bobbing up and down on the sea.
A sword can be reshaped, it's possible to find a blacksmith and forge it back to its original state.
But what about his heart that shattered along with it?
...
"Let's go! Full speed ahead, we still have to catch the banquet the day after tomorrow!"
"Yes, big brother!"
The Endgame gradually moved away, putting distance between them and Hawkeye.
On the deck.
Kuina's face was also a bit lost, staring blankly at the Sakura Yuki in her hand, then looking bewildered at Shano, who had returned to lie under the sun umbrella:
"M-Master, those things you just told Hawkeye..."
"Hey, don't take it seriously, just follow your original path diligently."
Shano took the new soda Nami handed him and drank it contentedly:
"I just made those things up, because that guy kept pestering me. He wouldn't believe a kind explanation, so I had to trick him in another way. Tch, now at least I can have peace for a few years."
Kuina: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Just then, from afar, Mihawk's deep voice suddenly rang out:
"I truly understand now! Lord Shano, thank you for your guidance! For today's kindness, if I ever achieve something, I will certainly repay you generously!!!"
Everyone turned to look back.
Only to see Mihawk bow deeply toward them in the style of a dojo disciple.
Then, he took a deep breath and, like an apprentice just starting out, began practicing hand strikes against the ocean, over and over again...
"After all, he used to be the World's No.1 Sword Master. Isn't this too much, big brother?"
Nami laughed until tears came out, couldn't help but pinch Shano's shoulder.
Is it too much?
Shano shrugged.
The reason he successfully tricked Hawkeye was because, in fact, there was a little bit of truth in what he said.
Others might not say, but with Hawkeye's unparalleled swordsmanship talent, if he continues to comprehend it this way, he might actually forge a new bright path.
If he really breaks through to a new realm by then, he would indeed have to thank him.
After Nami returned to her position.
Shano looked around, seeing no one paying attention, casually reached back and offered up the wide-brimmed black hat he had hidden earlier, looking at the system panel that appeared in front of him.
[You have offered Hawkeye Mihawk's wide-brimmed hat as sacrifice, gaining 4000 points]
The income isn't bad, worth more than Hawkeye's bed last year; seems Hawkeye really loves this hat.
However.
It's barely excessive. If he were truly excessive, he would have taken that Black Blade Yoru just now...
Hmm?
Shano suddenly noticed something.
With the administrative business being so busy recently, he nearly forgot that August had already ended and September had begun the day before yesterday.
So, the trading market has refreshed again.
Let's first check the points situation.
Initially, after using the teleportation function to assist Whitebeard, 14495 points remained.
But after that war ended, he met some of Whitebeard's captains he hadn't encountered before, and a few well-known Navy Vice Admirals captured during the war that he hadn't dealt with previously.
From these marginal characters, scattered here and there, he gathered over 4000 points altogether, bringing his total to 18600 points now.
Not a lot.
But it should barely suffice for a purchase.
He turned his gaze to the trading market button and opened it.
This time, luck seemed a bit better than last time, as the first item he saw deeply attracted his attention.
However, as for this price...
[Random Simulated World Cultivation Card]
[Type: Special Item]
[Price: 50000 points]
[Description: After use, you will randomly draw three highly realistic simulated worlds from across all realms, you can choose one world to enter, with a time limit of one year]
[This item is particularly suitable for strong individuals in this world who have reached their limits and wish to further progress]
[Seller's Note: None, System Direct Sale]
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PS: To avoid any misunderstandings, I would like to once again inform all readers here that this book will not expand into a crossover multi-world genre just because it's doing well, and it will end in about a hundred thousand words.