On Krai Kanna Island:
Hawkeye Mihawk was drinking red wine and reading the newspaper in his castle when suddenly his gaze sharpened, looking towards the door.
"Hey, Mihawk, I knew you were home and didn't go out!"
Gai Nie casually walked in, then picked up an unopened bottle of red wine nearby, opened it, and took a sip.
"The situation at sea is quite tense right now. Weren't you recalled back? How come you have time to come here?"
Hawkeye Mihawk stared at Gai Nie.
"Well, it's not a big deal. I just wanted to come and advise you. If the World Government comes to summon you Shichibukai (Seven Warlords of the Sea) in a while, you'd better not agree and just give up the title of Shichibukai!"
"The Infinite Pirates want to weaken the World Government's power before the war, and the Shichibukai, as an external force of the World Government, is a prime target."
"Now, some of the other Shichibukai have already been dealt with. I only took on this task to find you after hearing the news. After all, we've been friends for so many years. I came personally, so just give me some face!"
Gai Nie leaned back on the sofa and took another sip of red wine.
"So, are you here to advise me or to pressure me?"
Hawkeye Mihawk asked seriously.
"Well, Mihawk, don't be so tense. We've known each other for so many years; I wouldn't harm you!"
"Besides, you know who you are. You're not one of the World Government's people, so why risk yourself for them?"
Gai Nie urged, genuinely hoping not to face off against Hawkeye, considering their long-standing friendship.
"If you want me to give up the title of Shichibukai, that's fine, as long as you can defeat me!"
"Over the years, we've fought, and you've never used your full strength, right? This time, let me see your true power!"
Hawkeye Mihawk said earnestly.
Without waiting for Gai Nie to respond, he directly walked towards the castle's entrance.
In the past, when the two fought, they always used their swords, engaging in battle in the purest swordsman way.
Thus, Hawkeye Mihawk had never truly understood Gai Nie's real strength. This time, he wanted to witness it!
"Well, here we go again; it looks like we have to fight after all!"
After finishing a bottle of red wine, Gai Nie followed Hawkeye out, feeling somewhat speechless.
The two arrived at the edge of the island's beach, standing three hundred meters apart, both holding their supreme blades, the atmosphere heavy with tension.
"Mihawk, we've fought many times. How about we settle this with one move?"
"As long as you can take my strike, you win!"
Gai Nie said confidently.
"Alright!"
Hawkeye Mihawk naturally wouldn't refuse! "Then you better be careful!"
As soon as the words fell, Gai Nie's boundless magnetic force erupted, instantly enveloping a radius of several thousand meters.
The entire island and even the surrounding sea's magnetic field were suddenly under Gai Nie's control. As he released his tightly clenched right hand holding the Blade of the Wind and Water, all the magnetic force surged towards him.
Magnetism generated electricity, and as the purple lightning formed, it expanded in an instant, then was compressed around the Blade of the Wind and Water by the magnetic force.
The originally formless magnetic force transformed into tangible power under Gai Nie's control, compressing and accumulating strength like an infinitely long spring.
At this moment, the Blade of the Wind and Water floated in the air, continuously gathering power, while the entire sky and sea dimmed, leaving only the Blade of the Wind and Water shining with brilliant light.
With just a gesture, Gai Nie made Hawkeye Mihawk feel a sense of impending danger.
"Then let me test your strongest move!"
Hawkeye Mihawk also gathered all his armed color and Conqueror's Haki onto the Black Blade: Night, while the nearby red lightning isolated the approaching purple electromagnetic force.
"Ten Thousand Steps Flying Sword, a single blade to cut the sea!"
At the moment when the power reached its peak, the Black Blade: Blade of the Wind and Water shot out like a purple meteor.
That ultimate speed broke the constraints of space, surpassing Hawkeye's line of sight, and carried an unmatched force as it struck fiercely.
Wherever it passed, the earth crumbled, space tore apart, and everything was headed towards destruction! Faced with such a terrifying flying sword, Hawkeye Mihawk showed no signs of retreat; instead, he was filled with fighting spirit and met it head-on with his strongest sword technique!
"Soft and Hard Slash!!"
With a single slash, it represented Hawkeye Mihawk's ultimate strength and his ultimate transformation, merging two completely opposite sword techniques into one. This was his strongest sword!
As the Black Blade: Night and the Black Blade: Blade of the Wind and Water collided in mid-air, the magnetic field erupted, the world dimmed, and the clouds above were instantly cleared.
The endless aftermath caused the nearby sea to rise in towering waves, shaking the entire island.
If it weren't for the two of them considering the castle at the center of the island, this island would likely have begun to crack.
"Break for me!!"
Hawkeye Mihawk exerted all his strength to try to cut through Gai Nie's strike! "Bang!!!"
But he didn't expect the power of Gai Nie's sword to be so terrifying; that fearsome magnetic force overwhelmed the Black Blade: Night, and the Blade of the Wind and Water flew past his neck like a meteor, disappearing from his sight.
However, as the Blade of the Wind and Water broke through the sky, it suddenly turned and flew back into Gai Nie's hand, while Hawkeye Mihawk remained in the posture of his previous slash.
It wasn't until the collar of Hawkeye Mihawk's clothing, severed, fell to the ground that he sheathed his Black Blade.
"I lost!"
After taking a deep breath, Hawkeye Mihawk put the Black Blade back behind him, looking at Gai Nie with a complex expression.
In the past, when they sparred, there was no clear winner or loser.
But he never expected that when Gai Nie truly exerted his full strength, he would be defeated in one move.
This contrast was hard for him to accept and even harder to let go.
However, this discomfort lasted only three seconds. After three seconds, he was still the confident Hawkeye Mihawk he had always been! "Hahaha, I only won because of the power of the Devil Fruit. Without it, we would be evenly matched."
Gai Nie laughed.
"Since I lost, I will naturally keep my promise. I will no longer seek the title of Shichibukai."
"Since I have nothing to do lately, I might as well take a trip to the New World to avoid those annoying guys from ruining my castle!"
Hawkeye had originally taken on the title of Shichibukai to have some peace and not be bothered by the Navy, which was why he became a Shichibukai.
Now that he was no longer a Shichibukai, the Navy and the World Government would definitely come looking for trouble to save face. He disliked trouble the most, so he could only go to the New World, where the World Government and Navy couldn't reach!
"Hahaha, just right, I also need to return to the New World. We're on the way; let me take you there faster!"
Gai Nie said, waving his hand, and a ten-meter-long steel airship flew in from the distance.
"Alright!"
Hawkeye Mihawk didn't hesitate; after all, they had traveled together like this before.
After boarding the ship, the steel airship soared into the sky under Gai Nie's control, disappearing into the clouds.
(End of Chapter)