Chapter 421: Men Still Need to Communicate with Blades (Bonus Chapter for Kevin93)
Generally speaking, as a swordsman, one has an indescribable love for blades, and Hawk-Eye was no exception. Although he possessed one of the twelve Supreme Grade swords, the Black Blade Yoru, that didn't stop him from wanting to admire other famous swords.
Ever since he saw Ian's Thousand Cherry Blossoms release its initial form into countless cherry blossom petals during the great battle on Salamis Island, Hawk-Eye Mihawk had been fixated on it.
It was the first time he had seen such a miraculous sword, so he had always wanted to see it in person.
This was also the reason why, when he received Sengoku's inquiry letter about Ian becoming a Warlord, he agreed without a second thought. In Mihawk's view, if Ian became one of the Warlords, he might have the chance to meet Ian and see his sword.
This reason was so simple, yet it left Fleet Admiral Sengoku quite embarrassed at the time. All the Warlord members unanimously agreed to Ian's appointment, which made him wonder if he had written a fake letter...
However, after Ian became a Warlord, he initially didn't bother reporting to Marine Headquarters or anything. And Marine Headquarters didn't notify the Warlord members to hold a meeting, have a gathering, or sing karaoke, so Hawk-Eye never had the opportunity to meet Ian, this new Warlord member. His wish remained unfulfilled.
Mihawk could have taken the initiative to find Ian, but due to his personality—rarely taking the initiative to do anything—it kept getting delayed.
Fortunately, the causal relationships of the world are wonderfully strange. Because Ian had killed Krieg over two years ago, it led to him encountering Hawk-Eye Mihawk on the Grand Line now. When Hawk-Eye Mihawk spotted the Dragon Hunter Pirates' flag flying on this ship while sailing on his small boat, he immediately came over.
However, what Mihawk didn't expect was that Ian's Thousand Cherry Blossoms wasn't any famous sword he recognized. He couldn't tell which master craftsman had forged it. Although it was a good sword, it didn't seem to fall within the world's known famous swords. After hearing Ian's explanation, he realized that this sword was likely custom-made by Ian himself for his own abilities!
Yes, he interpreted Ian's word "born" as Ian having forged it himself...
Thus, Hawk-Eye's disappointment naturally followed.
After downing the beer Ian had poured for him in one gulp, Hawk-Eye originally planned to get up and leave. However, just as he turned around, he suddenly said, "I've changed my mind!"
Ian was a bit confused and asked, "Changed your mind about what?"
"If I just leave like this, it would be too boring!" Hawk-Eye said, his sharp eyes fixed on Ian. "I came to find you to pass the time. Since I can't admire a famous sword, then duel with me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Hawk-Eye's entire aura shifted. A daunting pressure emanated from him, bearing down on Ian.
At that moment, Ian felt that Hawk-Eye was a man of strong character. Hadn't he just said he wasn't interested in fighting? Why was he suddenly interested now?
Watching Hawk-Eye's whole body become as sharp as an unsheathed blade, Ian's expression turned serious. He asked, "Are you serious?"
"Absolutely!" Mihawk reached behind him, grasping the hilt of the Black Blade Yoru, and slowly drew this massive sword. The curved greatsword was held in his hand, its blade pointing down at the deck floor. Mihawk said, "I've thought it over. Perhaps with your strength, you're worthy of me using the Black Blade Yoru!"
Indeed, for Hawk-Eye, there were very few people nowadays worthy of him drawing his famous sword. He had been wandering the Grand Line for a long time, but the only person he had encountered who made him draw the Black Blade was Ian.
Reiju, Robin, Ace, Matthew, and Dorry were all dumbfounded watching this scene. They had just seen Ian and Mihawk chatting amiably, even sitting together drinking, and now in the blink of an eye, they were about to fight?
"Alright!" Facing Mihawk's challenge, Ian naturally couldn't refuse. He had his own pride. As a fellow Warlord, he wouldn't back down.
Due to the system's leveling mechanics, Ian was destined to challenge powerful enemies to gain more experience points to improve himself. Previously in Dressrosa, Ian had defeated Jack the Drought once. The experience gained from that was enough to level Ian up by one and a half levels. Even though he had only defeated Jack without killing him, the experience points from Jack had still given Ian, who was already at level 40, a massive boost.
And clearly, Hawk-Eye Mihawk was at least on the same level as Jack the Drought, possibly even stronger! If he could defeat him, he would also gain considerable experience points.
Even if he couldn't defeat him, a draw would still bring Ian significant gains.
So, Ian gladly accepted Mihawk's proposal. However, he looked around and realized they couldn't fight here. If the shockwaves from their battle were too great, the ship might sink. The ship was full of Devil Fruit users, and Ian alone couldn't save them all.
"Over there! There's an uninhabited island where we can fight!" Ian surveyed the nearby sea and pointed to the right front.
That place was called an uninhabited island, but it was more like a large reef. Mihawk saw it too and had no objection, so they settled it.
After arriving at this small island, the ship found a spot by the shore to anchor. Ian and Mihawk disembarked together, while Ace, Robin, and the others went to the ship's railing to watch, eager to see how the battle would unfold.
"Let me make this clear, Sir Mihawk!" Ian said, his right hand resting on the hilt of Thousand Cherry Blossoms, standing face to face with Mihawk at a considerable distance. "I won't just use swordsmanship against you. I'll also use other abilities!"
"Whatever you like!" Mihawk nodded.
Ian said no more. Drawing Thousand Cherry Blossoms, he held the blade upright in front of him and softly chanted the incantation for its initial release.
"Scatter, Thousand Cherry Blossoms!"
As the release incantation began, the blade of Thousand Cherry Blossoms dissolved into countless drifting petals. Mihawk watched this scene with satisfaction, realizing he had made the right choice. Although Ian's Thousand Cherry Blossoms wasn't among the famous swords, being able to witness this moment was enough to satisfy Mihawk.
He was now immensely glad he hadn't left in disappointment and boredom earlier, or he would have missed this initial release scene.
When Thousand Cherry Blossoms turned into petals, flowing and forming a protective circle around him, Ian extended his right hand downward. Intense electric sparks began to flash between his fingers. As these sparks struck the ground, the iron sand contained in the island's rock formations floated up one by one, slowly rising and gathering into Ian's right hand.
Hum! A low, rumbling sound began to stir. The iron sand sword started vibrating at high frequency, forming a sharp vibrating blade edge around its outer circumference.
Witnessing this entire process, seeing Ian create a new pitch-black sword from nothing, Mihawk no longer had any doubt about Ian's earlier explanation.
After all, wasn't Ian "forging" a sword right on the spot?
Just as Mihawk was thinking this, he heard Ian say, "Here I come!"
With that, Ian's figure vanished from his spot in an instant.
Mihawk calmly swung the Black Blade horizontally, then suddenly slashed to his left!
Clang! Ian appeared there, his iron sand sword colliding with Mihawk's Black Blade.
Ian had struck down with both hands. Although his strength wasn't on par with monsters like the Giant Tribe, it was still considerable. However, when this strike met Mihawk's blade, Ian realized that Mihawk's horizontal slash had, upon contact, used rapid wrist vibrations to dissipate the force. Ian's downward strike was completely neutralized through dozens of tiny tremors.
To Reiju, Robin, and the others, it looked as if Mihawk had effortlessly blocked Ian's strike.
"Again! My turn!" After testing Ian's strike, Mihawk began to grow excited. He shouted at Ian, then gripped the Black Blade with both hands and slashed down fiercely at Ian!