Pirate: I have a Hollow living inside me

As if teleporting, Xiangzhuan appeared in front of Hawkeye in the blink of an eye, raised his hand and slashed down with his sword: "Extreme Slash!"

Dark energy pulsed on the Seven Star Sword, unleashing a domineering bolt of lightning.

This sword strike is imbued with power and domineering aura, making it incredibly powerful and capable of splitting a mountain in two!

"Slay!"

Hawkeye is not a talkative person.

Like the eyes of an eagle, a red light flashed, capturing the strength and trajectory of Rocks' sword strike.

Raise the black blade and slash through the night!

Boom! Crack!

Two jet-black swords, one on the left and one on the right, collided in mid-air, and purple-black lightning shot out from the point of impact.

The ground could not withstand the pressure and collapsed, revealing fine cracks.

The collision created a violent hurricane, which cut through the surrounding area like a blade of wind.

Smooth cuts were added to the dense cracks.

As the two clashed with swords entangled in Conqueror's Haki, the clouds above suddenly split open, churning and swirling incessantly!

The clouds in the sky split open at that moment!

"If you had used that kind of slashing attack back then, I probably would have had no chance against it..."

"Defeating you before you've grown up won't give me any sense of accomplishment!"

In the stalemate, the two were locked in a struggle.

The clash of power and domineering aura made the cracks in the earth even more obvious, and intense fighting spirit was revealed in their eyes.

The soaring sword aura emanating from his body had reached its peak!

In terms of strength, Hawkeye, who is an "ordinary person," gradually became exhausted as the struggle began, and he felt suppressed.

However, he responded instantly.

'Clang!'

Hawkeye flicked his wrist, skillfully deflecting the Seven Star Sword for a moment, then drew his sword again to strike.

This sword strike was as swift and unpredictable as a gazelle's horns, cutting towards Rocks from an unexpected angle!

'Boom!'

Rocks' Observation Haki had already detected the attack's trajectory; the speed was too fast. Rocks parried with his sword, blocking the incoming Black Blade Night.

A peculiar force emanated from the Seven Star Sword, causing Rocks to be "bumped" back dozens of meters...

"Ok?"

Lockes was surprised.

Hawkeye's sword strike was unique; it didn't feel like a "slash," but rather like a "press," as if it were a heavy hammer falling down.

If Rocks hadn't blocked that sword strike, Hawkeye's sword wouldn't have carved a trench in the ground; instead, it would have caused the ground to collapse and crack!

This is the "Sword Press"!

There was no time for Locks to ponder this technique; the villain locked onto him with a lightning-fast strike.

The world's greatest swordsman, "Hawkeye," strikes!

Unlike the feeling that other swordsmen gave Rocks, even though it was just a casual sword strike, it was so sharp and powerful!

However, they still couldn't do anything to Rocks!

"Ji Zhan!"

The ultimate sword strike slashed at the incoming deep green slash, and with a 'boom,' easily shattered the attack.

'Hiss hiss hiss...'

The shattering, dense slashes frantically cut through the surroundings, leaving the earth in a state of utter devastation!

"Take my sword too! Elbaf Spear - Mighty Kingdom!"

Rocks used his unique Observation Haki to lock onto Hawkeye's location, gripping the sword hilt with both hands, his arm muscles bulging with exertion.

Grasping the Seven Star Sword like a baseball bat, he unleashed a massive and terrifying spiral shockwave forward.

This spiral shockwave, like a javelin piercing through everything, hurtled straight toward Hawkeye.

Wherever it passed, it plowed a path through the earth.

The two were only a few dozen meters apart, and the attack came almost in the blink of an eye!

'laugh!'

With hawk-like eyes, he swung his sword down with both hands.

The dual-wielding swordsmanship fully demonstrates the "destructive power" of swordsmanship.

Under this sword strike, the spiral shockwave split like water hitting a stubborn rock, flying off to the left and right.

'Boom boom boom...'

The split spiral shockwave caused massive damage to the areas to the left and right behind Hawkeye, plowing out two small rift valleys on the entire land...

'Boom!'

The fighting spirit emanating from the two intensified, and they charged towards each other with their feet, colliding like streaks of light!

'Clang clang clang...'

The sword blades, each radiating immense power and domineering aura, clashed against each other, producing a dense cacophony of metallic clangs, instantly escalating the battle into a white-hot phase!

The onlookers watched the two fight intently.

Even those with Observation Haki would find it difficult to detect the movements of these two; only those with exceptional strength could clearly see their actions...

The white-bearded man had started drinking at some point, and looking at the battle ahead, he said, "Gulp, the battle between swordsmen is indeed dangerous. One wrong move and you can lose everything."

"That was fantastic!"

"However, Rocks is at a disadvantage..."

The white-bearded man still has very good eyesight.

It's clear that Rocks is at a disadvantage; he's no match for Hawkeye in this close-quarters combat...

Vista, a powerful swordsman, had seen more and explained, "Hawkeye is far superior in terms of technique. Blackwing Archmage shouldn't be good at this kind of technical swordsmanship."

After a pause, Vista added, "No, it's not just a matter of not being good at it, it's a complete mess..."

A swordsman who swings his sword without any technique or skill will naturally be countered by Hawkeye's swordsmanship.

Hawkeyes have very special eyes that can always find a weakness in an instant and then launch an attack.

No one can currently rival Hawkeye in this regard!

If we're talking about who could possibly surpass Hawkeye in terms of swordsmanship skills, perhaps only "Quick Sword" Kuina could.

It's only a possibility.

The current "fast sword" Kuina is no match for Hawkeye!

The white-bearded man exclaimed in surprise, "Oh? So you mean Lox will lose?"

Vista shook his head: "No, that's not what I meant. The Blackwing Demon clearly wasn't using his own swordsmanship style; he was probably trying something..."

"Gulala, let's take a look!"

The white-bearded man smiled, his eyes intently fixed on the fierce battle unfolding over there.

'Boom!'

In the center of the stage, the battle between the two remained fierce.

Hawkeye remained unharmed, while Rocks was covered in blood...

"Ji Zhan!"

Rocks blocked Hawkeye's sword strike, but deflected it with even greater force.

Then, taking advantage of the situation, he slashed down with his sword.

With a sharp, deadly strike and dazzling light, it hurtled straight for Eagle Eye with lightning speed!

*Sizzle!*

The sword strike missed its mark, as Hawkeye dodged to the side, leaving a ravine stretching to the edge of the island...

"You really aren't good at technical swordsmanship. It's almost the same as before. The only thing that's changed is your own strength..."

Hawkeye spoke calmly, and with a swift and sharp strike, his sword came crashing down.

'Clang!'

Rocks parried with his sword, but was forced back by the force contained within it, his legs scraping together and leaving a trail over ten meters long before finally stopping...

Steadying himself, Rocks said helplessly, "I wanted to try and see if a crisis could help me master Observation Haki, which allows me to foresee the future, but I still couldn't..."

He possesses all three types of Haki, but he hasn't mastered Observation Haki to a high level.

Observation Haki, which allows one to foresee the future, is very useful in battle, but Rocks still hasn't mastered it...

There was no way to relearn the Isshin-ryu swordsmanship.

Even Lox was at a loss...

That's why he planned to feel threatened in the "kendo contest" with Hawkeye and try to see if he could break through in one fell swoop.

It still didn't work...

Lox didn't sense a major crisis.

This time it was just a friendly spar, not a life-or-death battle.

Hawkeye nodded knowingly and offered his opinion: "Being overly attached to something will only take you further away from it. Perhaps what you need is to calm down."

Locus: "..."

This sounds familiar...

I think I used to advise Kuina in the same way?

Fortune's wheel keeps turning...

However, upon reflection, he realized that as the enemies he encountered grew stronger, even the mastermind behind the World Government had appeared.

Rocks felt a certain degree of urgency.

It's even more urgent than when we were in the East China Sea...

Perhaps the presence of a powerful demon is partly to explain why he has been unable to successfully master the Observation Haki that allows him to "foresee the future"?

"Been taught a lesson……"

Rocks exhaled and said seriously, "Sorry, I felt a little uneasy about taking this battle too seriously, since I only saw you as a whetstone to hone my Observation Haki..."

"Perhaps my strength has improved too quickly, making me a bit arrogant. I need to calm down and reflect. My mental state is still not cultivated enough..."

Since setting sail, Rocks had never been defeated.

Undoubtedly, this will make Rocks' "momentum" stronger and stronger, but it will also make Rocks somewhat "arrogant".

It wasn't arrogance or looking down on anyone; Lockes was as cautious and decisive as ever.

His personality of going all out when he makes a move remains unchanged.

I just feel a little better about myself than before...

Hmm, it must be some effect of his previous "rampage"?

It's all the Great Demon's fault!

certainly.

Rocks definitely needs time to process his strength and state of mind.

Improving one's strength too quickly isn't always a good thing...

There's nothing to apologize for.