"Fast reaction."
Ian smiled faintly.
Mihawk had been blasted several kilometers away, nearly falling straight into the ocean.
His arms trembled slightly.
At the last possible moment, he managed to bring his blade across his body, blocking Ian's fist.
But the price was clear—on the black blade's surface, a faint imprint of a fist had appeared.
"What terrifying strength… and such overwhelming Haki!"
Mihawk couldn't help but gasp in admiration.
After all, his sword had been forged into a Black Blade, without a doubt ranking among the Supreme Grade Blades of the world.
To leave even a shallow dent on such a weapon with a single punch… it was absurd.
If that attack had landed directly—he wouldn't be laughing right now.
So strong!
Even the power Ian was displaying at this very moment already surpassed the might of those once called the Pirate Emperors!
There was no time to dwell on it. Mihawk kicked off the air, racing back into battle.
"Ian!"
He roared, gripping his sword in both hands and bringing it down in a massive slash that seemed to tear the very sky apart.
But Ian only flicked his right arm—shattering the enormous slash into fragments with a single motion.
"Show me your true power, Ian!"
As the black blade descended again, it was as if the world itself was being split in two. "Let me witness the power that surpasses all limits!"
"Is that so?"
Ian nodded slightly. "Then you'd better be ready."
Golden flames engulfed his entire body in an instant, spiraling upward like a roaring tornado.
The blazing vortex of gold was torn apart by a streak of emerald-green blade light, and in the next moment, a black sword wrapped in that green aura came crashing down on the Golden Deity's right shoulder.
Clang!!
The deafening sound shook the sky. Mihawk felt a sharp pain shoot through his hands from the impact.
So hard!
It was as if he had struck pure seastone.
Instead of damaging his opponent, Mihawk himself was sent flying backward. He flipped once in midair before landing unsteadily on the ground.
He glanced toward Ian's right shoulder.
There wasn't even a scratch.
His body was already monstrously strong, and with Armament Haki layered on top, it had become completely indestructible.
Even if Ian just stood there and let Mihawk attack him freely, he probably wouldn't take a single point of damage.
"Are you ready, Mihawk?"
Ian smiled, extending his right hand. A sword of blazing fire appeared in his grasp. The dual colors of Haki spread across the blade like interwoven spiderwebs.
"Come then, Ian!"
A bright grin crossed Mihawk's face. "Show me your power!"
"Then be sure to take this properly."
Flames leapt wildly from Ian's sword, and as he swung it down, the fire gathered into a massive wave of slashing energy that surged forward.
"Fuzan…"
"Rend the sky!"
Mihawk roared as emerald light erupted from his black sword. He unleashed his strongest slash.
But in the very next instant, his body was swallowed whole by Ian's blazing strike and sent hurtling toward the distant sky.
"Law, bring him back."
The fiery sword in Ian's hand vanished as he released his power, returning to his human form.
"You sure like ordering people around."
Law rolled his eyes, flipping his right hand as a massive spherical space expanded around him. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared.
A moment later, the spatial field reappeared in the distant sky, unfolding once more.
After two consecutive strikes, the new space began to converge, and then Law returned with Mihawk.
The guy wasn't in a good state after that previous sword strike.
His whole body had turned pitch black, and a massive wound gaped across his chest. Yet, no blood flowed from it—the wound had turned to char, and his bones, organs, and muscles were nearly melted.
Compared to this wound, the burns covering the rest of his body were minor injuries.
"There's really no choice."
Ian sighed. "Take him to Princess Mansherry for treatment."
Injuries of this magnitude weren't something an ordinary doctor could handle.
But, well, it wasn't really my fault—he'd forced me to take this seriously.
Zoro stared blankly at Mihawk, who had collapsed to the ground like a charred corpse.
One strike?
After Ian used his ability, a single blow had sent this man to the ground?
The gap in strength was unbelievable!
As expected, Ian was truly a man who could embody the word "powerful."
Not long after.
"Ugh!"
Mihawk suddenly sat up.
He instinctively pressed his hand to his chest.
But he realized almost no injuries remained.
Confusion crept over him.
The last strike from Ian should have ripped open his chest, and the following wave of flames had made him feel as though he would be completely incinerated.
So how was this possible? How was he now completely unharmed?
"If you're awake, come out."
A voice suddenly called from nearby.
It wasn't until now that Mihawk realized he was back in the attic hall where Ian had received him earlier.
He stood up, leaving his beloved sword aside.
After taking a couple of steps, Mihawk confirmed even more firmly that every injury had vanished.
If he hadn't been dreaming just now, then Ian had definitely done something.
He slid open a paper door and stepped outside onto the terrace.
From here, he could overlook the entire interior of Onigashima.
"Sit. Have a drink."
Ian sat on a cushion with his back to him, a low table beside him and another cushion placed neatly.
Mihawk didn't hesitate and took the empty cushion, picking up a cup of sake that Ian had just poured.
He took a small sip, and the rich aroma of the sake pleased him greatly.
"How does it feel?"
Ian asked casually.
"Impossible to comprehend. There's actually someone like you in this world who doesn't make sense at all."
Mihawk clicked his tongue in disbelief.
"In that case, how about officially joining the Beasts Pirates, Mihawk?"
Ian extended the invitation.
His good friend was a bit stunned. "I don't quite understand… what's the causal connection between those two sentences?"
Why would he want me to join the Beasts Pirates?
"Consider it me returning the favor for all those personal matters before," Ian smiled. "Besides, if you join the Beasts Pirates, you'll get a chance to face someone whose strength probably isn't inferior to mine."
"What?"
Mihawk was so shocked that the cup in his hand fell onto the table.
"Are you joking, Ian?!"
Is there really a second person in the world as strong as this guy?
"Otherwise, why do you think I've remained inactive all these years, not interfering with the World Government?"
Ian's explanation left Mihawk with nothing to argue against.
Really?
Is there really someone in the world capable of matching Ian?
"Well," Mihawk's eyes lit up. "That's truly irresistible!"
"Then it's settled."
Ian said with a smile.
"Hmph."
Mihawk only let out a small hum.
Over the past six years, his resistance to the Beasts Pirates had long since vanished.