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Chapter 1028: World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman!
Chapter 1028: World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman!
Clang!!
The metallic clang rang out again as Kuro executed a 'Drunken Gourd Lift' upward strike, which Dracule Mihawk blocked. As the blow deflected, Kuro let his blade drop without flipping it, directly thrusting the Yokai Blade toward Dracule Mihawk's chest.
Clang!
Dracule Mihawk's blade pressed downward, the massive Black Blade easily forcing the Yokai Blade down.
Hiss!
In the moment of pressure, Dracule Mihawk's Black Blade scraped violently along the Yokai Blade's back, sending sparks flying as it slashed straight toward Kuro's head.
Kuro twisted his arm, yanking the Yokai Blade free from beneath the Black Blade. Using the momentum, he raised his blade to parry the incoming strike. After blocking, Kuro applied tremendous force to bring his blade downward, momentarily forcing Dracule Mihawk's Black Blade off course. At that instant, he suddenly relaxed his grip with five fingers and pressed his free hand directly onto the Black Blade's surface, pushing down hard. Simultaneously, his other hand released the Yokai Blade's hilt, reversing his grip to circumvent the Black Blade's entanglement. He swung sideways in a single decisive strike at Dracule Mihawk.
Dracule Mihawk's pupils flickered. He pivoted the Black Blade 'Yoru' to deflect, but Kuro suddenly pressed downward, using the force to propel his body airborne.
Clang!
The Black Blade's rapid upward cut struck the Yokai Blade mid-swing, jolting it upward. Kuro's body coiled and spun. Rotating rapidly in midair, he swung his blade in a crimson arc, slashing downward with blinding speed.
Dracule Mihawk narrowed his eyes and raised his blade to strike.
"Hundred Shadows Slash!"
The descending crimson blade scattered into hundreds of bloody afterimages, blocking Dracule Mihawk's vision at such close range.
"Killing intent materialization? So it's real?"
Dracule Mihawk's gaze revealed admiration and surprise. At this proximity, when both fighters typically held back, executing such precision was truly impressive.
As the World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman, he'd witnessed countless sword techniques, easily recognizing this move's intricacy. Normally, such techniques created illusions where only one shadow was real. But with killing intent materialization, every afterimage was a tangible threat—each concealing a deadly physical entity. Even Dracule Mihawk couldn't distinguish the true blade beneath the overwhelming killing intent.
"But all you need is one!"
Blinded by blood shadows didn't matter. Not seeing the real blade didn't matter. Whether real or not—none of it mattered.
Dracule Mihawk gripped the Black Blade 'Yoru' and swung with tremendous force. The blade unleashed an emerald-green aura, dispersing the bloody afterimages like morning mist before a rising sun. With one sweeping slash, the hundreds of crimson shadows vanished into nothingness.
Power defeating skill!
He knew how to do it too!
Yet as the shadows cleared, Dracule Mihawk's expression shifted. He'd expected to locate the real blade through his strike, but now—he realized none of them were illusions. They were all killing intent blades? Not a single real one?
With the blood shadows dispelled, Kuro hovered midair—not from any ability, just sheer speed. At the exact moment Hundred Shadows Slash activated, Dracule Mihawk's counterstrike had already extinguished it, leaving Kuro suspended mid-fall.
Beyond mere abilities, he possessed formidable aerial mastery.
Kuro crouched midair, Yokai Blade retracted to his left waist. His left hand hovered near the sword guard, mimicking a scabbard. Raising his head, he flashed Dracule Mihawk a wicked grin before suddenly unsheathing his blade!
"Crescent Moon Slash!"
Zeng!
The air itself seemed to split apart, exploding into a crescent-shaped crimson arc across Dracule Mihawk's chest.
Clang!
Before the blood crescent fully formed, the Black Blade blocked it directly, firmly locking the Yokai Blade in place.
"Brilliant thinking!" Dracule Mihawk remarked. "A shame though—it fell just short!"
"Did it?" Kuro replied softly, his grin unwavering. "Actually, you're the one who fell short, Dracule Mihawk."
Hiss!
Suddenly, two fresh wounds appeared—one on Kuro's right waist ribs, another beneath the left ribs of his heart. Blood erupted from both.
The wounds forced Dracule Mihawk to stagger slightly. Kuro seized the moment, thrusting the Yokai Blade forward against the Black Blade 'Yoru'. The impact forced Dracule Mihawk backward as Kuro landed gracefully on the ground, smirking.
"Crescent Moon Slash·Swallow Return: Three Moons."
Dracule Mihawk's eyes widened. His Black Blade 'Yoru' flared with emerald-green energy, ready to strike—but instead, Kuro suddenly released the Yokai Blade. The blade hovered beside him as he stood relaxed, facing Dracule Mihawk.
"I win, Dracule Mihawk. You stepped out of bounds."
Dracule Mihawk froze, glancing down at his feet. Half his stance had indeed crossed the agreed-upon five-step boundary they'd silently acknowledged.
That meant...
"Ahh."
Dracule Mihawk lowered his Black Blade, locking eyes with Kuro. His battle intent burned fiercer than ever.
The intensity unsettled Kuro slightly. Had this guy actually gotten excited after being pushed this far?
"Come on, come on", Kuro mocked, his tone dripping with feigned sympathy. "The mighty World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman wouldn't refuse to admit defeat, would he? Surely you wouldn't lack such basic sportsmanship. We never explicitly agreed to fight within five steps, but swordsmen understand unspoken rules, right? You wouldn't break that brotherhood, would you?"
Kuro had no intention of prolonging this fight. They'd reached a reasonable stalemate. Continuing might escalate beyond control.
Of course, he'd already won.
If he'd been the one forced out? What "rules"? What "documents"? Even with written agreements, tearing them up would settle nothing.
"Hahahaha!"
Dracule Mihawk stared at Kuro for a long moment before suddenly erupting into hearty laughter.
His arm relaxed, the Black Blade 'Yoru's' emerald glow fading. His laughter carried both exhilaration and boundless satisfaction.
After his laughter subsided, Dracule Mihawk declared, "Regardless, this time—you win. I acknowledge your superior skill. In this duel of techniques, I concede defeat."
And indeed, that was the truth.
In a battle of pure strength, determining victory risked earth-shattering consequences. Going too far might repeat the devastation from Sakazuki and Kuzan's legendary clash, leaving injuries difficult to recover from. If they'd continued recklessly, Kuro might've ended up using Sakujū and Kigō as replacement legs.
What use would victory be then? Such a "World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman" couldn't maintain their position long before being challenged and overthrown.
This world recognized no true "invincibility." Whitebeard claimed the title of 'World's Strongest Man,' yet Kaido proclaimed himself 'World's Strongest Lifeform.' Even the 'undisputed strongest' titles crumbled under reality—when Kaido faced admirals, his 'invincibility' shattered, leaving him severely injured and vulnerable to opportunists.
Sometimes, victory required knowing when to stop.
While holding back their full strength, Kuro had proven himself the superior swordsman.
Therefore...
"The title of World's Greatestgreatest Swordsman—is yours, Lucius Kro!" Dracule Mihawk proclaimed. "You are the strongest among swordsmen!"
(End of Chapter)
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