"Swish!"
A green slash of sword energy shot out, meeting the crescent-shaped sword slash head-on.
"Boom!"
The two slashes collided, creating an earth-shattering explosion. The terrifying force of the clashing sword energy spread wildly, causing the sea to boil in their wake. Several small pirate ships belonging to Krieg were instantly cut in half by the unleashed energy. The power of the slashes was fierce, and in this moment, it was impossible to tell who had the upper hand.
"Who is that?! He blocked Mihawk's strike— the world's strongest slash!"
Zeff's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe what he had just witnessed.
"It's him! The swordsman from the group of that kid who wrecked our ship!" Sanji's sharp gaze locked onto Moonlight, and he couldn't hide his astonishment.
"That's the guy? He actually attacked Mihawk and blocked his strike!"
"Incredible! This guy is really something!"
"He's stronger than the pirate hunter Zoro!"
Following Sanji's gaze, the chefs of Baratie also looked at Moonlight, and their faces were filled with disbelief.
"Amazing! So this is Moonlight?" Usopp stared, eyes wide and mouth agape.
"Moonlight!" Luffy exclaimed in excitement. The sheer strength of Mihawk had shocked him; even Zoro was defeated in an instant. Against such a formidable opponent, Moonlight seemed to hold his own, appearing evenly matched. It was astonishing!
"This guy… he's with them?" Krieg's expression turned sour. Watching the two swordsmen clash, he realized just how vast the gap in power was.
"So strong!" Gin's face changed drastically as he looked at Moonlight. Until now, he hadn't thought much of Moonlight, but this fight had changed everything.
"What a powerful slash. To think there's a swordsman like you in the East Blue!" Mihawk looked at Moonlight, nodding in acknowledgment of his skill.
"I am Moonlight of the Straw Hat Pirates. Zoro is my comrade. Since you defeated him, as his crewmate, it's my duty to reclaim his honor," Moonlight said calmly, locking eyes with Mihawk. Haki surged around him, instantly enveloping his Kusanagi Sword. Facing such a powerful opponent, there was no room for holding back.
Although their earlier exchange seemed evenly matched, Moonlight knew he had lost. He had used his full strength with a three-strike combo, but Mihawk had easily parried it, breaking through his attacks effortlessly. The difference in their levels was clear.
Deciding not to hold back anymore, Moonlight activated his Armament Haki, turning his Kusanagi Sword black.
"Armament Haki, huh? I didn't expect to find someone in the East Blue who could wield it. It seems I can't take this lightly," Mihawk said, his expression growing serious as he gripped his Black Sword, Yoru, preparing for a true battle.
"Draw Slash!"
Moonlight attacked again, swinging a crescent-shaped slash of sword energy with blinding speed. Combining his Haki and swordsmanship, he unleashed the strike in an instant.
"What incredible speed!" Mihawk was impressed by the sheer quickness of the attack but reacted immediately. His Black Sword, Yoru, met the slash, and his green sword energy clashed with Moonlight's Draw Slash.
The two forces collided once more, neutralizing each other. The sea around them roared like a tsunami, waves crashing furiously.
"Blocked again, huh? The world's greatest swordsman truly lives up to his name. But I have more up my sleeve!" Moonlight's expression turned serious. Mihawk's power seemed to be at level 5 or 6, and the gap between them was significant. Even if Moonlight fought with all his strength, he could only hold his ground momentarily. In a prolonged battle, he would surely be overwhelmed. Mihawk was simply too strong.
But facing the world's greatest swordsman, Moonlight couldn't back down. He had to try.
"Dragon Severing Slash!"
Moonlight entered a state of oneness with his sword, his body enveloped in sword energy. He charged forward, leaving multiple afterimages across the sea as his roar filled the air. Moving at blinding speed, it was impossible for anyone to track his true position.
"Good, good! This trip to the East Blue was not in vain. But for now, let's end it here. Moonlight, I acknowledge your strength." Mihawk's eyes narrowed as he spoke.
He didn't attack again, however. Instead, he swung his Black Sword, Yoru, to deflect a bullet that had been fired toward him. Glancing at Moonlight one last time, Mihawk leapt away from the battlefield.
It turned out that Krieg had taken a cheap shot during Moonlight and Mihawk's intense duel, trying to kill Mihawk with a sneak attack. Krieg, known for his treachery, had taken the opportunity to shoot from the shadows.
"Hmph!" Mihawk's departure confirmed his understanding of what had just happened. Glaring at Krieg, Moonlight seethed with anger.
Meanwhile, Luffy turned to Zeff and the other chefs. "If I drive him away, will that cover the damages we caused?" Luffy asked coldly, glaring at Krieg.
"Of course," Zeff nodded, agreeing without hesitation.
"Great!" Luffy clenched his fists, his gaze locked onto Krieg.
"You dare interfere in my duel," Moonlight growled, glaring at Krieg with cold fury. After finally getting a chance to battle, only to have it interrupted, it was infuriating. For Moonlight, this fight was something he had been eagerly anticipating since coming to this world of pirates. And now it had ended prematurely.
"Moonlight, leave this one to me!" Luffy suddenly shouted, stepping forward to face Krieg.
"Alright," Moonlight nodded. This despicable man wasn't worth his time. He was too weak to be a worthy opponent.
"Hmph, looking down on me, are you?" Krieg sneered. Whether it was Mihawk, Moonlight, or Luffy, he didn't take any of them seriously. To Krieg, as long as he won, the means didn't matter. The outcome was all that counted.
"Luffy, be careful. This guy may be underhanded, but he's not to be underestimated," Usopp warned.
"No worries. Whether it's for freedom or for Moonlight, I'm sending this guy flying!" Luffy declared, his eyes turning cold as he stared down Krieg.
"Hahaha! You've got some nerve, kid. I've killed countless brats like you over the years. You think you can challenge me?" Krieg laughed, sneering at Luffy.
"Haha! This kid's challenging our captain? He's got a death wish!"
"We may have failed on the Grand Line, but you're not the one who can take us down. You're asking for it!"
"Captain, show this brat what the Krieg Pirates are made of!"