How can I become the Pirate King if you don’t work hard?.

Chapter 429 Asura in the Blade, Pinnacle of Swordsmanship!

"..."

Hawkeye's lips twitched, and his hand, which was reaching for Black Blade Night, suddenly stopped. Instead, he took the dagger from his chest.
"That's really a coincidence."

“I don’t have a shorter knife than this.”

call--!
The cold wind howled.

The audience, who had been so excited just moments before, suddenly fell silent.

They finally figured it out.

At this moment, everyone standing in the arena of the round table is no good!
But in the next instant, the two figures on the round table arena disappeared at the same time.

While everyone was stunned, a powerful wave of energy swept in from the center of the Round Table Arena!

It seemed to want to overturn everything it touched!
"What happened?!"

One audience member stood up against the blast wave, but was so strong that he couldn't open his eyes and could only feel his own will. He almost fainted at that moment!
That's the body's instinct to protect itself when it can't withstand an overwhelming impact from willpower.

"Hey, hey, is it true?!"

"This is... Conqueror's Haki?"

Discerning viewers have already sensed the overwhelming power of the overlord erupting from him!

"Is this... Hawkeye's?!"

"It must be!"

"The world's greatest swordsman, even if he was only the world's greatest in the past, is it only natural that he possesses Conqueror's Haki?!"

This judgment was immediately accepted by those around him.

just.

What they didn't notice was that both the players in the distance and the supernova of the Evil Generation sitting next to them were looking extremely surprised!
"That is……"

Hawkins glanced sideways at Drake:
"You should have felt it, right?!"

"That feeling that makes your very soul tremble, you can't be wrong!"

"It's Conqueror's Haki!"

"And the source of this Conqueror's Haki is not Hawkeye, but Roronoa!"

Drake did not answer, his eyes fixed on Zoro in the center of the arena!

Looking at the short knife in the latter's hand, it was pressed tightly against the tip of Hawkeye's short knife, neither giving an inch!

Watching the crimson and black sounds stirred in the void!
For a while.

Drake couldn't help but feel a little shaken.

Not only is there the invisible black figure from the comics, but even the members of the Knights of the Round Table are top-tier swordsmen with Conqueror's Haki, capable of going toe-to-toe with Hawkeye?!
Just how far has Britannias built up its military strength?!

navy……

Are we really capable of facing such a monster?!
Countless questions arose in Drake's mind, causing his hands to clench unconsciously.

For the first time, doubts arose about whether the navy could uphold its righteous will!

As Drake pondered.

A burst of cheers suddenly erupted from the audience!
The fact that the two sides had such a strong presence in their initial tentative exchange was enough to show that their combat power far surpassed that of ordinary people, almost reaching the pinnacle of the ocean!

And this is the battle they've been waiting for!

Accompanied by cheers.

The two players on the field clashed again without a moment's pause!

He swung his short sword, sparks flying as it clashed in the air, the sounds of metal clashing creating a continuous chorus!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Amidst the dense, rain-like collisions, streaks of sword energy dissipated.

The clouds tore through the sky, leaving deep slash marks on the arena beneath their feet!
"amazing!

"Roronoa, you are truly amazing!"

"In just three years, you've covered the distance that took me over thirty years to complete. I acknowledge you!"

Looking at Zoro, who was now a match for him, Hawkeye couldn't help but exclaim in amazement!
But beneath the stiffness lay an overwhelming, irrepressible excitement!

Three years ago, on a whim, he traveled from the New World to the East China Sea and found a piece of gold full of impurities and a piece of jade that was pure enough but still immature.

From that moment on, Hawkeye had been looking forward to the growth of the two of them, and to the day when they would finally stand before him.

Now, not only has Gawain surpassed Mihawk by a wide margin, but Zoro has also gradually realized his potential and gained enough fighting power to rival him!

The seeds planted three years ago have finally borne fruit!
The true flavor of it can only be described after you've tasted it!
"You are qualified to be my opponent!"

"Now let me see whether you can cross this mountain of mine first, or whether I can step on your body and face the monster standing at the peak!"

With a roar, Hawkeye shoved Zoro away with a sudden burst of power from his short sword, then drew his black sword Yoru from behind and slashed fiercely at Zoro!

After the initial probing, Hawkeye's fighting spirit burned fiercely, and he had no desire to continue playing this boring game.

I just want to give it my all and crush the opponent in front of me!

Yes!

opponent!

Now that Zoro has stepped into the realm of Emperors, he is regarded by Hawkeye as an opponent who can rival him!

"Impatient fellow!"

Zoro's lips curled into a ferocious grin, his fighting spirit soaring. The Muramasa he held at his waist was already humming loudly with excitement!

Smash the last obstacle that leads to that man...

Just today!

Zheng!
With three swords drawn, Muramasa led the charge, fiercely meeting the Black Blade Yoru's attack from Hawkeye!
when!
A visible sound wave exploded in the air.

The solid floor beneath their feet, made of special materials and strong enough to withstand attacks from a Shichibukai-level powerhouse, shattered instantly!
Spiderweb-like cracks spread outwards for dozens of meters!

What followed was an even more violent impact, which overturned everything around it!
Countless spectators who couldn't dodge in time fainted on the spot because they couldn't withstand the domineering aura of the two.

What truly shocked them was that Gawain's unknown newcomer, a monster with no record of fighting against any strong opponent, was qualified to contend with Hawkeye right from the start!
The obese nobleman who had just placed bets on Zoro stood up excitedly, gripping the railing with both hands, his eyes wide as he watched the clash in the arena, but he could only barely catch a glimpse of the afterimages of the two men's movements with his naked eye.

The only thing he could feel was the vibration in the air, synchronized with his heartbeat...

boom!
boom!
boom!
"Roronoa...you really can?!"

What he didn't say was.

He was also present at the first World Martial Arts Tournament in Raven Harbor three years ago.

That was also the time.

He was drawn to Zoro, who toyed with a short sword and effortlessly defeated everyone, and had been waiting for this monstrous newcomer to reappear.

Now that three years have passed, it is foreseeable that Zoro's combat strength will have significantly improved.

But even the most beautiful fantasies have never produced a scene like this!

"Three years... from an unknown nobody in the East China Sea to someone capable of challenging the former world number one?"

"What kind of monster are you?!"

"really!"

"My judgment is absolutely correct. Roronoa is the future world's greatest swordsman!"

As they spoke, the fat nobleman looked provocatively at the thin nobleman beside him, and seeing the latter's dazed expression, he felt inexplicably pleased.

In fact, the gaunt nobleman was not the only one who was lost in thought at that moment.

Almost everyone who was paying attention to this battle was rendered speechless by Zoro's sudden outburst.

Even those in the contestant's seat who had sensed Zoro's aura were speechless!

"This guy... is very strong!" Katakuri frowned, and his eyes showed more fear as he looked at Zoro.

At this moment, Zoro's fighting strength is no weaker than his!
"Looking out over the ocean, even in the new world teeming with monsters, the only ones truly capable of fighting against them are the leaders of various factions."

"He's either a Marine Admiral or a powerful pirate on par with one of the Four Emperors!"

"Just to defeat Hawkeye, at this level..."

"not enough!"

"Far from enough!"

Katakuri's gaze returned to Hawkeye.

If his gaze toward Zoro was one of apprehension, then his gaze toward Mihawk was one of awe!

He had fought Hawkeye countless times, but he had never seen even the slightest chance of winning.

Katakuri has fought against countless powerful opponents, including Kaido, Big Mom, and even the Golden Lion who once pressed down like the sky collapsing.

Of all these people, only Hawkeye truly seemed to have no flaws!
One thing Katakuri is clear about is...

Two years ago, after Hawkeye was placed in Gawain's hands in the Sabaody Archipelago, this monster, who had once lost his purpose, regained the motivation to move forward.

And the consequences...

It's like a real beast being unleashed!

boom--!
An explosion erupted in the arena, and as dust billowed, Zoro was sent flying backward, his twin swords embedded in the floor. He slid for nearly a hundred meters before finally coming to a stop!
pat!

pat!

pat!

Crimson blood trickled down Zoro's forehead. He looked up into the distance, his eyes filled with only...

Solemn! Solemn! And solemn!

For a brief moment, he even had the illusion that he was facing Gawain directly!

"What's wrong?!"

Hawkeye swung his knife, blowing away the smoke that filled the entire arena.

He then held the knife in one hand and pressed down on Zoro step by step.

Compared to the monsters in the New World who are often five or six meters, or even ten meters tall, Hawkeye, who is less than two meters tall, seems rather petite.

But the more this is the case, the stronger the sense of pressure Zoro feels as Hawkeye's footsteps approach!

Two years have passed, and not only has it made progress, but Hawkeye has also moved forward.

This former world's strongest swordsman, having found his target, may not be as fast as Zoro with his cheat-like speed as Nias of Britain, but compared to others, he is almost like riding a rocket!
At this moment, even Redfield, Kaido, and Barrett couldn't help but turn their heads.

The aura emanating from Hawkeye was so powerful that even they had to take it seriously!
boom!
Hawkeye stopped in his tracks, stood with his knife in hand, his expression calm:
"If you don't defeat me, you won't be able to get to that monster!"

"Roronoa!"

Click——!
Zoro bit the hilt of Muramasa's sword, assumed the Three-Sword Style stance, and his coat on his shoulder moved without wind!

"That's about right, it's time to serve the main course!"

He raised his eyes to look at Hawkeye in the distance, feeling the latter's increasingly sharp aura, and had already made up his mind!
The opponent's strength is superior to mine!

To win...

The only option is to gamble everything on the next move!
"Enduring endless suffering without weariness, slaying all demons without relent—this is the path of the Asura."

As he chanted, a murderous aura, almost solidified, emanated from Zoro's body.

The onlookers felt a chill run down their spines, because the Zoro they saw was no longer a normal human being, but a monster with three heads and six arms, wielding nine swords!

A chilling killing intent swept across the entire area in an instant!

"What the hell is this?!"

"That guy...that guy...is he really still human, or some kind of demon crawled out of hell!?"

"too frightening!"

"no!"

"No, I have to leave!"

In the audience, many people were terrified by this scene, almost to the point of mental collapse, and fled from the exit in tears.

Even those who remained at the scene felt a chill run down their spines, their hearts filled with fear and dread, yet they couldn't suppress their instinctive anticipation for battle and fighting.

He was glued to his seat as if possessed, his eyes fixed on Zoro on the battlefield, anticipating the fierce battle to come!

"Demon Aura - Nine-Sword Style - Asura..."

As he chanted, Zoro suddenly accelerated, reaching Mihawk in the blink of an eye, leaving the latter in awe...

Swing the knife!

Ding--!
Black Blade Yoru precisely deflected Zoro's incoming blade, and an unprecedented level of caution appeared in Hawkeye's eyes!
It was because he sensed an extremely dangerous aura emanating from Zoro for the first time!
If we're careless...

We really will lose!

But the more this is the case, the more the swordsman's instinctive fighting spirit is aroused!

"Seeing the difference in skill between them, are they going to gamble everything on this one move?!"

"Since that's the case, then I'll grant your wish. One move... to decide the outcome!"

Hawkeye raised his eyes, his hand lightly brushing against the blade of the black sword Yoru, and he stomped heavily on his feet, fiercely meeting the oncoming Zoro!
"Eagle Wave - Empty Break!"

"Draw the Sword - Play of the Dead!"

The two figures intersected in the air, and the nine resounding clangs from the clashing blades almost completely overlapped!
Ding--!
Everything in the world was overwhelmed by this sound!

A distinct line of blood burst open on Hawkeye's shoulder, running down to his lower chest. Just one more inch would have been enough to disembowel him on the spot.

Even so, Hawkeye felt a wave of dizziness. After barely managing to stand, he couldn't help but turn around and look at Zoro.

At this moment, Zoro's Wado Ichimonji and Yubashiri swords, which he held in both hands, were all broken, leaving only the hilts in his hands. The Muramasa sword he was biting was stained red with blood!

However, Zoro had a wound on his chest that was almost identical to Hawkeye's, but much deeper, with blood flowing freely and almost staining his entire body red!
Zoro stood there, his eyes wide with rage, but he had already lost consciousness!

"To have achieved this at such a young age is truly remarkable!"

Hawkeye couldn't help but exclaim in genuine admiration.

If he had reacted even a fraction of a second slower, he would be the one who has lost consciousness now.

To overcome superiors and defeat the strong with the weak—to be able to do this is already beyond human capability!

"The second match of the quarterfinals of the World Martial Arts Tournament".

"The winner!"

"Hawkeye Mihawk!"

The loudspeaker above announced the outcome of the battle.

Chopper and his medical team then entered the scene to treat Zoro and Mihawk's injuries.

The people around were still immersed in the battle they had just fought and had not come back to their senses for a long time.

On the player bench.

Katakuri subconsciously touched his neck. For a moment, he almost had the feeling that he was being beheaded!

"That move just now, even I probably couldn't have withstood it..."

"What kind of monster is that?!"

(End of this chapter)