For a moment—
The entire Baratie seemed to fall into complete silence.
The wind brushed softly across the sea.
Cloth sails rustled.
Waves lapped gently against the floating restaurant.
Yet no one moved.
Every pair of eyes on the deck was locked onto the two figures standing across from each other.
On one side stood the world's greatest swordsman—
Dracule Mihawk.
On the other—
The rising storm of the East Blue.
Kael Sylvarion.
Mihawk rested Yoru loosely in one hand, the massive black blade gleaming faintly under the evening sun.
His golden eyes studied Kael carefully.
Curious.
Interested.
Across from him, Kael stood calmly.
His sword rested at his side.
His posture appeared relaxed—
Almost casual.
But the moment Mihawk's gaze sharpened—
Kael's entire presence shifted.
His breathing slowed.
His stance adjusted.
Subtle.
Efficient.
Perfectly balanced.
Mihawk noticed immediately.
A faint smile formed on his lips.
"…Good."
The pressure in the air thickened.
Even those watching from afar could feel it.
Usopp gulped nervously.
"Why does it suddenly feel so scary…?"
Nami folded her arms, eyes fixed on Kael.
"Because those two monsters are about to swing swords."
Nearby, Zoro stared intensely.
His mind raced.
Show me…
How big the gap really is.
Luffy crouched on the railing, eyes shining with excitement.
"Hehehe…"
"This is gonna be fun."
Then—
Mihawk moved first.
Without warning.
Without any visible preparation.
His sword descended.
A simple downward slash.
Yet the moment it moved—
The air itself seemed to split.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
Fast.
CLANG!
Steel collided.
Kael's blade met Yoru mid-strike.
The impact exploded outward.
A violent shockwave rippled across the deck.
Wood creaked.
Several nearby pirates stumbled backward.
Usopp nearly fell.
"WOAH—!!"
Kael slid back three steps.
His boots scraped against the wood.
But his stance never broke.
He raised his sword again calmly.
Mihawk's eyebrow lifted slightly.
"Oh?"
Kael rolled his shoulder.
"…That's heavy."
Mihawk smirked.
"That was merely a greeting."
Then he stepped forward.
This time, the attack came horizontally.
Kael pivoted.
CLANG!
Sparks flew.
Before the sound faded—
Mihawk struck again.
CLANG!
Then again.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Each strike grew faster.
Sharper.
More precise.
The massive black blade moved like a storm tearing through the air.
Yet—
Kael kept up.
Blocking.
Deflecting.
Redirecting.
Each movement clean.
Minimal.
Efficient.
His feet barely shifted.
His sword guided Mihawk's attacks away instead of meeting them head-on.
Zoro's eyes widened.
"…What?"
He leaned forward despite his injuries.
"He's not blocking…"
Sanji narrowed his eyes.
"…He's redirecting the force."
Zoro clenched his fists.
That's… insane control.
Mihawk suddenly stepped back.
The clash paused.
For the first time—
Genuine interest appeared in his eyes.
"…Impressive."
Kael exhaled quietly.
"Thanks."
His grip tightened slightly.
"But my arms are starting to feel it."
Mihawk chuckled.
"That is only natural."
He lifted Yoru again.
"Few men can withstand the weight of this blade."
His gaze sharpened.
"But let us see how long you can last."
The next moment—
He vanished.
Gasps spread across the deck.
Zoro's eyes widened.
He's faster than before!
Kael's Observation Haki flared.
His sword rose instantly—
CLANG!!
The impact thundered across the sea.
The dock beneath Kael's feet cracked.
But this time—
Kael didn't slide back.
Instead—
He pushed forward.
For the first time in the fight—
Kael attacked.
His blade flashed upward—
A precise diagonal strike.
Mihawk blocked easily.
Yet his eyes gleamed.
Interesting.
Kael's sword twisted mid-contact.
The angle shifted.
Another strike.
CLANG!
Then another.
CLANG! CLANG!
The pace flipped instantly.
Now Kael pressed forward.
His sword flowed—
Elegant.
Precise.
Like the wind changing direction without warning.
Even Mihawk adjusted his footing.
The surrounding pirates stared in disbelief.
"He's… pushing Mihawk back…?"
"That's impossible!"
Zoro's heart pounded.
No…
He's not overpowering him…
But he's actually fighting him head-on.
Luffy's grin widened.
"SHISHISHI!"
"He's awesome!"
Across the clash—
Mihawk suddenly laughed.
A deep, pleased laugh.
"Hahaha!"
He stepped back and swung Yoru in a wide arc.
The pressure forced Kael to retreat several meters.
Both swordsmen stopped.
Facing each other once more.
The sea wind howled between them.
Mihawk's eyes gleamed.
"Well done."
He rested the blade on his shoulder.
"For someone who calls himself a normal swordsman…"
His grin widened.
"You are quite entertaining."
Kael lowered his sword slightly.
"…You're enjoying this too much."
Mihawk's gaze sharpened again.
"Of course."
"After all…"
A powerful aura began to rise from him.
"It has been a long time since someone in East Blue could withstand more than a single strike."
The pressure spread like a storm.
Even breathing became difficult.
Usopp's knees trembled.
"…W-Why does it feel worse now…?"
Zoro's eyes burned.
Now it begins…
Across the dock—
Kael adjusted his stance again.
His eyes sharpened.
(System…)
(He's getting serious now, isn't he?)
[Correct.]
[Host, your survival probability has now dropped further.]
Kael sighed internally.
(Great.)
He raised his sword again.
Across from him—
Mihawk smiled.
Then spoke quietly.
"Let us see…"
"…how sharp the Gale truly is."
And the next clash began.
The wind swept across the Baratie deck.
For several seconds, neither swordsman moved.
Kael stood with his blade raised, breathing steady despite the strain in his arms.
Across from him, Mihawk watched quietly, golden eyes gleaming with faint amusement.
Then—
Mihawk rested Yoru on his shoulder.
A small smile formed.
"Since I promised you," he said calmly, "I will not drag this fight any longer."
The words immediately tensed the atmosphere.
Zoro's eyes sharpened.
He's ending it.
Mihawk tilted his head slightly.
"This will be my final attack."
The massive black blade shifted in his grip.
His smile deepened faintly.
"Just a little stronger than the previous ones."
The air grew heavy.
"Show me," Mihawk said quietly,
"…how you handle it."
The moment those words fell—
Kael's Observation Haki flared violently.
A sharp warning echoed through his senses.
Danger.
Real danger.
His relaxed stance vanished instantly.
His feet shifted.
His center lowered.
His blade rose diagonally before him.
(This one is different.)
Across from him—
Mihawk raised Yoru slowly.
The sea breeze lifted his coat.
For the first time—
A sharp pressure radiated from him.
Not overwhelming.
But unmistakably lethal.
Zoro's breath hitched.
"…A named attack…?"
Sanji's eyes narrowed.
"Something big is coming."
Mihawk's blade tilted forward.
Then—
"Hawk—"
The sword moved.
"Hawk Tempest Slash."
The swing looked simple.
Effortless.
But the moment the blade cut through the air—
A massive crescent of compressed force erupted forward.
The sea split beneath its path.
"NO WAY—!!"
Usopp screamed.
Even the cooks staggered back.
"That attack—!"
Nami's face paled.
"Kael…!"
Kaya gripped the railing tightly.
Across the battlefield—
Kael inhaled sharply.
His grip tightened.
(Alright, need to use my full strength!)
His breathing changed.
Deep.
Controlled.
Focused.
His body aligned with the wind itself.
Then—
He moved.
"Wind Breathing—"
His blade spun as his body turned.
"Third Form: Clean Storm!"
His body rotated with explosive speed.
His sword carved a circular storm.
A spiraling vortex of cutting wind formed.
The two attacks collided.
BOOOOM!!
The impact thundered across the sea.
The Baratie shook violently.
Wood creaked.
Pirates were knocked off their feet.
Water exploded upward as the forces tore through the air.
For a moment—
Everything vanished within a raging storm.
Then—
The gale faded.
The deck became visible again.
Silence fell.
Everyone stared.
Kael was still standing.
His sword remained raised.
A thin crack ran beneath his feet.
His chest rose slowly.
A faint line of blood trailed from his lips.
Another stained his hand.
But—
He had stopped it.
For several seconds, no one spoke.
Usopp's jaw hung open.
"…H-He… defended it…?"
Sanji stared.
"That was Mihawk's serious attack…"
Zoro trembled.
Not from fear—
But realization.
He blocked it.
He actually blocked it.
Even Luffy blinked—
Then grinned.
"Shishishi…!"
"He's Super Strong!"
Nami exhaled slowly.
Kaya covered her mouth.
"…He did it…"
Across the deck—
Mihawk stood still.
Then suddenly—
He laughed.
A deep, satisfied laugh.
"Magnificent!"
His golden eyes shone with admiration.
"What a beautiful and powerful sword technique."
He rested Yoru on his shoulder again.
"I have never seen something quite like it."
Kael lowered his blade slightly, wiping the blood from his mouth.
Mihawk's expression had changed.
The amusement was gone.
Only respect remained.
"You have passed my test, Kael Sylvarion."
The name echoed.
"That dream you spoke of…"
"…is not a dream."
His sharp gaze locked onto Kael.
"You possess the ability to make it reality."
A faint breeze passed between them.
"Provided…"
"…you are willing to give everything for it."
He turned slightly.
"Kael Sylvarion."
Mihawk glanced over his shoulder.
"I will be watching your actions from now on."
His eyes narrowed.
"Do not disappoint me."
The pressure vanished.
The duel was over.
Around them—
Silence.
They had witnessed the impossible.
A young swordsman—
Standing against the world's greatest.
And surviving.
Zoro clenched his fists.
His heart burned.
So that's the level…
A grin spread slowly.
Good.
Nearby, Luffy stretched happily.
"Hehehe…"
"I like him even more now."
Kael exhaled quietly as he sheathed his sword.
The wind brushed past him again—
Calm.
Gentle.
The storm had passed.
But deep down—
Everyone understood.
The Sovereign Gale of East Blue was no longer just a rumor.
A future monster—
Had taken his first step onto the world stage.