Chapter 114: 114. Losing The Apex Of The Challenge Is No Worse Than Dying

Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari ---------- Clang! Clang! Clang! The relentless clash of blades filled the air, each strike ringing out like thunder. The shadows of swords blurred together, their movements too quick for the untrained eye to follow. On one side, Mihawk moved with agility and precision, yet his defense was strained to its limits. Despite his full focus on parrying, Mihawk's face was marked with intensity and determination. His nickname, "Hawk Eyes," was not just for show—it represented his unparalleled insight, a talent that allowed him to perceive the essence of his opponent's moves. This ability, the cornerstone of his swordsmanship, had enabled him to hold his own against even the strongest foes. When facing Gion, Mihawk had been able to discern her weaknesses, but her speed had overwhelmed him before he could use her flaws. Against Koshiro, he had glimpsed fleeting flaws in the older swordsman's form, but Mihawk had been beaten in the fundamentals of swordsmanship. Even so, Mihawk had taken solace in those battles. The ability to perceive his opponent's flaws meant that, with time and growth, he could one day surpass them. But Alex was different. Even with his sharp eyes, Mihawk could see only the trajectory of Alex's moves—but not a single opening in his technique. Alex's form was flawless. Clang! The next collision of their weapons produced an ear-splitting sound, like a thunderclap that reverberated across the battlefield. The force of the impact tore through the earth, sending cracks spidering out and scattering rubble in every direction. Mihawk was driven into the ground, his feet sinking into a deep pit. When Alex ceased his assault, Mihawk leapt out of the crater, his appearance disheveled. His burgundy shirt, though still clinging to his frame, was torn in multiple places. Beneath it, fresh scars marred his skin, and blood seeped steadily from his wounds. These injuries weren't from direct strikes—Mihawk had successfully parried every visible attack from Akizakura. Instead, the cuts were the result of Alex's invisible sword force, which seemed to pierce through the air itself, leaving Mihawk unable to escape unscathed. What unsettled Mihawk the most, however, was the undeniable truth: Alex hadn't been fighting at full strength. And yet, Mihawk's response was not despair—it was laughter. Throwing his head back, he let out a resounding laugh that echoed across the battlefield. "Ha! Wonderful!" Though this wasn't the satisfying duel he craved, the sheer pressure of facing such an overwhelming opponent thrilled him. It was exactly this kind of challenge that would push him to climb even higher on the path of the sword. Mihawk shrugged off his tattered coat, letting it fall to the ground. With both hands, he gripped Yoru's hilt tightly, his focus sharpening to a razor's edge. If he couldn't find a weakness in Alex's moves, then he would abandon defense entirely. A powerful aura erupted from Mihawk's body, surging outward like a raging tide. It was as though he and his sword had become one, radiating a sharpness that seemed to cut through the very air. The pressure he exuded was terrifying, enough to make any lesser swordsman tremble in fear. "Let me see how far I am from the peak of swordsmanship!" Without hesitation, he raised Yoru high, its heavy blade gleaming with raw power, and brought it crashing down toward Alex with everything he had. "As you wish." Akizakura, now coated in black and red energy, surged with the terrifying presence of Conqueror's Haki infused into the blade. As Mihawk's attack descended, Alex met it head-on with a single, devastating slash. Boom! The clash of their swords created a storm-like shockwave, sending ripples of compressed air cascading outward. The sheer force was like the eye of a hurricane, uprooting the earth and shaking the heavens. Mihawk's technique, the culmination of his unity with Yoru, was shattered in an instant by Alex's strike. In that fleeting moment, Mihawk's "Hawk Eyes" gleaned something extraordinary. But it wasn't the flaws or weaknesses he had sought—it was something far more primal. Every cell in his body reacted as if death itself loomed before him, sending sharp, instinctive signals coursing through his being. It was as if his insight had expanded, not to predict Alex's moves, but to brace for the inevitability of annihilation. Boom! The sound was like the roar of a death god passing by, a chilling and resonant hum that echoed in Mihawk's ears. Behind him, the land was no longer intact. Without even turning, Mihawk could sense the ground had been reduced to dust and ash, obliterated by the force of Alex's attack. —Hum! Even after narrowly escaping the clutches of death, Mihawk's ears still rang with the terrifying hum of the aftermath. The sound echoed as if death itself lingered nearby, leaving him momentarily dazed. "...I lost," Mihawk admitted, his voice low and steady despite the strain on his body. Kneeling on one knee, Yoru propped up before him, he struggled to steady himself. His face was pale, drained of color, and his entire frame trembled from the overwhelming force of the battle. He knew full well that Alex had held back. If the Shogun had used his full strength, Mihawk's fate would have mirrored the devastation left behind him—the ground reduced to ash and rubble. "Isn't this the result you expected?" Indeed, Mihawk had anticipated this outcome. Yet, compared to his battles with Gion and Koshiro, this defeat was far more complete. Against Alex, Mihawk hadn't even been given the chance to resist.x "As expected of the world's strongest swordsman," Mihawk said, forcing himself upright despite the ache in his body. His grip on Yoru tightened, and his eyes burned with resolve. "I lost utterly. But I will continue to hone my strength and return as a stronger swordsman to challenge you again." In his short time in Wanokuni, he has crossed the threshold from a top swordsman to one nearing the level of a great swordsman. "You're destined to become even stronger. Have you considered joining Wanokuni?" Mihawk's expression turned contemplative as silence settled between them. It wasn't an unexpected offer. After all, Mihawk had traveled through Wanokuni, challenging its finest swordsmen, growing stronger with every encounter. Even Alex stepping in to personally face him showed that the Shogun valued his strength. Mihawk couldn't deny the clear implication: Alex saw potential in him. Still, Mihawk hesitated. He was a loner by nature, accustomed to the solitary life of a swordsman. Even his travels were made on a one-man boat, free of obligations and ties. The thought of being tied to a group didn't sit well with him. Reading Mihawk's hesitation, Alex addressed his concerns directly. "Joining my camp doesn't mean sacrificing your freedom," Alex said evenly. "You can remain a loner. Come and go as you please, follow your own path, and continue your voyage across the seas. I won't require you to remain in Wanokuni full-time." Mihawk's sharp gaze lingered on Alex, listening intently. "There's only one condition," Alex continued. "When Wanokuni needs you, you'll be expected to lend your strength as part of its combat force." Even so, Mihawk hesitated, weighing his options. Alex noticed and delivered one final push. "Of course," Alex said with a faint smile, "if you refuse, I won't force you." Mihawk raised his head, surprised by the grace in Alex's tone. But then came the follow-up. "However," Alex continued, his voice hardening slightly, "you know that Wanokuni does not remain open to outsiders. As its Shogun, I must uphold this rule." Alex's expression was calm but firm. "If you choose not to join, I'll arrange for you to rest and recover here. Then, I'll have someone escort you safely back to the outskirts of the sea." Mihawk's face fell. Though the words were polite, the implications struck a nerve. Mihawk realized that rejecting the offer would mean leaving Wanokuni behind—along with its swordsmen, its challenges, and, most importantly, the chance to cross blades with Alex and the others again. Losing access to such a rich and competitive environment would be worse than death for a man like Mihawk. "Fine," Mihawk said. "Under the terms you've laid out, I'll join your ranks." Alex's faint smile widened slightly as Mihawk made his decision. Mihawk adjusted his stance, preparing to stay in Wanokuni for the foreseeable future.