Boom!
With a heavy thud, Mihawk's razor-sharp slash collided once again with Jack's massive frame. And once again, Jack stopped the attack with his bare body. Mihawk's piercing eyes grew colder.
The reputation of Jack, the Drought, was no exaggeration.
Since setting out to sea, this was the first time Mihawk had encountered someone who could parry his sword with sheer physicality. His respect for the mammoth of a man grew slightly.
But respect meant nothing here. No matter how powerful Jack was, today would be his last.
If not, Mihawk—Hawk Eyes—would see his own name dragged through the mud.
Jack, licking the blood dripping down his forehead, grinned. The thrill of battle coursed through him.
As expected of the Marine Hunter, he thought, this is just the beginning, and he's already pushing me this hard. It's perfect.
Jack needed an opponent who could truly wound him, who could push his Immortal Body to evolve. Mihawk might just be that opponent—the ultimate catalyst for his growth. His excitement boiled over.
Taking a half-human, half-beast form, Jack roared at Mihawk:
"Oi, small fry! Slash me harder!"
"You insolent beast!"
Mihawk, usually calm and unshakable, found his blood boiling. Jack's taunts only fanned the flames. Gripping his black blade, Yoru, tightly in both hands, Mihawk took a breath, then unleashed a powerful slash.
Swish!
This time, the air itself seemed to quake. The slash roared toward Jack with ferocious force, far more devastating than the previous attacks. Jack, however, was ready.
In his awakened Zoan form, his elephantine hide was thicker and more elastic. He focused his Armament Haki on his chest, digging his heels into the ground. As the sword energy raced toward him, Jack braced himself.
Clang!
"Argh...!"
A thunderous collision echoed, and sparks flew as the slash struck Jack's body. His colossal frame leaned forward slightly before he forced the energy back with a roar. The deflected attack hurtled past Mihawk, cutting through the air behind him.
Mihawk's eyes narrowed in disbelief. Though sword slashes weren't renowned for their raw power, the sheer sharpness and technique behind them were unmatched. Yet Jack had repelled it with brute force and endurance alone.
Jack threw his head back and laughed.
"Hahaha! Hawk Eyes Mihawk? That's it? I've been hit harder by that red-haired idiot, Shanks!"
Mihawk's gaze turned to ice as he launched himself forward, Yoru slicing through the air with blinding speed.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
An intricate barrage of strikes rained down on Jack, leaving golden strands of hair and droplets of blood in their wake. Jack's body swayed slightly, the pain finally registering.
He touched his chest and groaned.
"What's with this weak sauce? You're supposed to be the world's greatest swordsman, right? Aren't you the man without an equal? But all you've done is give me a bad haircut! Are you a barber, Mihawk? You gonna charge me for this trim?"
Mihawk's strikes had managed to pierce Jack's skin, but the dense muscles beneath stopped the blade from causing significant harm. Jack smirked, clearly unimpressed.
"Pathetic. You're nothing compared to Shanks."
Mihawk adjusted his hat, meeting Jack's gaze with a rare intensity.
"Your defense is formidable, Jack. Few can match your raw power, even among Zoan users. But don't mistake me for someone who can't overcome it."
Jack's grin widened. His excitement was barely contained.
"Big words, Hawk Eyes. Let's see if you can back them up!"
Mihawk stepped back, closing his eyes briefly. Jack tensed, readying his Haki-laden body for the next exchange.
Swish! Swish!
Mihawk dashed forward, his movements almost imperceptible. In the blink of an eye, he unleashed a trio of slashes. When he reappeared behind Jack, his blade gleamed ominously.
Jack staggered as a deep gash appeared across his chest. Blood poured from the wound before his muscles quivered and the injury began to close. He turned to Mihawk, a curious glint in his eye.
"Flowing Armament Haki, huh? That's how you broke through my defense?"
Mihawk said nothing, his intense stare revealing a hunger for battle.
Jack chuckled.
"Not bad. Still not as strong as Shanks, though. I'm disappointed."
Mihawk smirked.
"And I'm impressed. For a so-called 'monster,' your mastery of your Devil Fruit is remarkable. No wonder the World Government wants you dead."
"Let's see if you can kill me, then, Hawk Eyes!" Jack roared, his blackened skin radiating power.
Mihawk walked away, gaining distance before stopping. His aura surged, the weight of his killing intent filling the battlefield.
"Prepare yourself, Jack," Mihawk said, lifting Yoru.
Jack grinned, his body quaking with anticipation.
"Bring it on!"
In a blinding flash, Mihawk unleashed a devastating slash that illuminated the entire battlefield. Even Jack's crewmates aboard the Mammoth shielded their eyes from the brilliance.
Jack planted his feet firmly, bracing for the strike. With a roar, he activated his ultimate defense.
"Tekkai!"
BOOM!
The impact shook the earth. As the dust settled, Jack wavered before collapsing to the ground. His voice rasped weakly:
"Damn... Tekkai betrayed me..."
"Jack-sama!" cried Rim and Yamato, rushing to his side.
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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg