Clang!
A circular saw blazing with orange sparks clashed against the black blade of Yoru.
Laurentina's face was icy, her grip trembling ever so slightly.
The man in front of her… was overwhelmingly strong.
"Of course not," Mihawk replied casually to Tina, as if they weren't mid-battle. "And the title isn't that important."
He strolled around Laurentina's attacks with an almost bored elegance, lips faintly curved.
"I'm simply… bored."
What kind of reason was that?
Tina struggled to keep her footing. Thankfully, Mihawk raind in his pressure a moment later.
"Flying Finger Gun: Death Lotus!"
Red-eyed, white-haired Laurentina soared upward, wings unfurling. Blood-threads gathered along her index fingers, accelerating wildly as she thrust at Mihawk.
"A finger-gun attack wrapped in ominous blood," Mihawk murmured, slipping aside with ease. "Interesting."
Too fast.
So fast—
Laurentina's breath slowed as she frowned. Her finger-gun combined with her fruit ability accelerated her blood flow, preventing coagulation and boosting the piercing force.
But to this man…
Her rapid-fire thrusts were like a child throwing balls.
She felt like she was in slow motion while he was a veteran player.
"Shame. Too weak."
Mihawk flicked his wrist, sending a dark-green slash arcing toward her.
"Well," Laurentina grunted, "should I say thank you for not using your smallest cross dagger?"
Pure black Armament Haki coated her arms. It looked almost like chocolate drizzle poured over pale cream—beautiful, elegant.
But in the face of the world's strongest swordsman—
Crack.
Her hardened wrist split open, the circular saw taking a shallow mark.
Laurentina gasped and fell backward onto the deck.
"Laurentina!" Tina shouted, rage flaring. "You damned pirate—!"
"I'm okay, sister…" Laurentina whispered, pale but steady. She staggered toward an unconscious female pirate on the deck.
Mihawk raised an eyebrow but did not interfere.
Laurentina extended her fingers—
And drove her nails gently into the woman's neck.
"Borrowing a little lifespan."
The pirate didn't even make a sound. Her body shuddered and shriveled as vitality draind away. Her skin dried, her hair dulled—years stolen in moments.
At the same time, Laurentina's wounds fully closed.
Her arm returned to flawless, porcelain smoothness.
"Even Marines do something that cruel?" Mihawk asked with mild curiosity.
Tina, however, was thrilled her sister was unhurt.
As for pirates—they deserved it anyway.
"I'm no old-fashioned idealist," Laurentina said coldly. She gripped her saw, shut her eyes, and swung—
"Deep Sea Concerto: Song of Rain."
Rain slashes poured like a storm.
The blue barrage engulfed Mihawk completely.
Mihawk… smiled.
He sheathed his blade, closed his eyes, and reached out a hand to feel the "rain," his posture artistic to the point of insanity.
Tina's skin crawled.
This man was absolutely unhinged—like a playwright addicted to cryptic monologues.
Laurentina's expression tightened.
"Hawkeye really does love pretending to be cool."
Mihawk let the slashes strike him.
In his mind's eye, open fields and dancing children appeared—
a glowing bonfire, laughter spiraling skyward.
Swordsmanship.
Music.
And Devil Fruit ability intertwined.
"…Genius-level creativity."
He opened his eyes.
The storm of slashes hadn't left so much as a mark.
"Your strength is weak," he said, "but your concepts are brilliant. What exactly are you?"
"I'm a Marine Elite Course recruit! Laurentina!"
"What justice do you seek, little one?"
Mihawk shifted his stance slightly—ready to continue.
"Justice that follows my heart."
Black mist rose around Laurentina. "Meat—"
"Enough."
Mihawk suddenly turned and leapt off the ship.
His voice echoed through the air:
"I have no interest in beasts who lose their reason."
"Grow stronger. I'll wait for you at the throne of the world's strongest!"
Lounging back into his coffin-boat, Mihawk grinned arrogantly.
"Until next time."
A final slash propelled him away at blinding speed.
Who wants to be the world's strongest swordsman?
Laurentina muttered with annoyance before turning back to help Tina inspect the Marines.
Thankfully, most were only bruised.
The warship changed direction, heading home.
Before long—
"Ara ara~ seems nothing serious happened."
A lazy voice drifted across the deck as the rainforcement Tina had called finally arrived.
Laurentina turned.
Of course—it was that idiot Kuzan.
With… a bicycle beside him.
"Admiral Kuzan, disaster always seems faster than you," Tina grumbled, sarcasm dripping.
The Marines bowed their heads, shoulders shaking as they tried not to laugh.
"This is hardly the time for you to worry about that crappy bicycle!"
Laurentina added, deadpan.
The deck buzzed with suppressed laughter.
Kuzan's expression shifted through several stages of confusion before he sighed dramatically and mumbled something about "believing in Laurentina's strength" and "trusting Tina's leadership."
The female Marines burst into open giggles.
Finally, Kuzan gave up and pulled out a folding beach chair from his bag, putting on sunglasses and pretending to be invisible.
The return voyage was calm.
Two days later, the warship reached Crescent Bay.
"Hey, Alice."
Laurentina finished port check-in and sprinted to the girls' dorm. "I brought you a gift."
She pushed open the door.
Alice was studying medical notes—her expression unusually calm.
She usually looked like a walking disaster.
"Laurentina!" Alice smiled and stood, reaching to make tea.
"Careful—"
Thump!
Alice tripped over the chair leg and fell straight into Laurentina's arms—
a soft impact, familiar and warm.
Laurentina froze.
Doctor memories flickered through her mind—
I have climbed great heights, fallen into deep valleys… and all of it shaped who I am.
And like that notorious idiot…
That one lunatic who crashed into the Twin Towers—
The air subtly warmed with an embarrassing, awkward tension.
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