People in the future will never know that the reason Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, only uses normal attacks is because a lazy Marine back then couldn't be bothered to name his moves.
Of course, Daren was right about one thing: for a true master, techniques and skills are merely icing on the cake.
Momonga looked at Mihawk, this once arrogant brat, now showing Daren the respectful attitude of a disciple, and he could hardly control the twitching corners of his mouth.
However, the scene that followed made his expression freeze completely.
Mihawk, blood dripping from his hand, suddenly took a deep breath. His eyes sharpened, filled with a solemn, focused light.
His yellowish-brown hawk eyes burst with unyielding will and fiery brilliance. As he locked onto Daren, he made a seemingly simple movement.
The hand gripping Yoru shifted from one hand... to both hands.
The moment his left and right hands gripped the hilt simultaneously, his entire aura changed!
A long-dormant, razor-sharp presence burst forth from his seemingly frail body, like a peerless Meito unsheathed from its case!
His fierce aura surged upward, like a tranquil lake suddenly whipped into a storm, or a silent sky erupting with raging winds. A sharp and tangible sword aura whirled around the young swordsman, his shirt and hair whipping wildly in the gust.
"What is this..."
Momonga's eyes widened in shock, disbelief written all over his face.
This kid's aura... had gotten stronger?
No. He subconsciously shook his head, quickly rejecting that idea.
As someone who also practiced swordsmanship, Momonga could clearly sense it—Mihawk's aura hadn't grown stronger.
Instead, the sword aura he exuded... had become even purer than before!
It was as if he had condensed and fused all his lifelong sword techniques and skills into a singular, extraordinary change.
"He... found his own path in the way of the sword!"
An almost absurd thought suddenly burst into Momonga's mind, exploding like thunder.
Along with shock came disbelief!
Finding one's own path in the way of the sword... this was the highest aspiration of every swordsman on the seas!
The training of the way of the sword was extremely difficult, demanding both talent and sweat.
The mark of a master swordsman was the ability to cut through steel and unleash flying slashes—the true signs of mastering the sword.
This process, for those blessed with natural talent, wasn't too difficult. There were countless swordsmen across the vast seas, as numerous as fish in a river.
However, to go beyond the level of a master swordsman and step into the legendary realm of a Great Swordsman, there was an absolutely crucial prerequisite besides talent and hard work.
One had to find their own path in the way of the sword!
And this was incredibly difficult—requiring not just talent and perseverance, but also an almost miraculous flash of inspiration.
It was a power difficult to explain, more a unique state of mind, or perhaps pure will.
Once you crossed that threshold, the path of swordsmanship would open wide before you!
Momonga himself had been stuck at the level of a master swordsman for ages. No matter how hard he trained, he couldn't grasp his own path.
But now, Mihawk... after casually hearing a few of Daren's offhand words, had actually understood it?
It was clear—having taken this step, Mihawk had already placed one foot into the realm of a Great Swordsman!
From here, all he needed to do was continue honing his skills and strength, one step at a time, challenging stronger foes and accumulating combat experience... and in just two or three years, he would surely become one of the rare Great Swordsmen across the seas!
But how old was he?!
Even after two or three years, he would only be eighteen!
An eighteen-year-old Great Swordsman!
What kind of freak was this?!
Thinking about it, Momonga's eyes turned red with envy, and he clenched his molars so hard they crackled.
It wasn't like he hadn't heard Daren's ramblings before.
He had been listening to them for years in the North Blue... How could he have never gained anything from it?
It wasn't just him. Gecko Moria, standing nearby, was also staring blankly at the scene, his face filled with disbelief.
They had both challenged the "King of the North Blue."
Yet he had been beaten so badly he couldn't even care for himself and had even lost an arm, while this kid grew even stronger?
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't make sense of it.
...
Daren himself was completely dumbfounded.
He didn't understand anything about swordsmanship realms. In his mind, powerful sword techniques were just a matter of swinging harder.
But one thing was clear—the pressure Mihawk was giving off now was completely different from before!
If he had to compare it to something, Mihawk now felt like his entire aura had been highly concentrated—almost giving off the same feeling as Garp's "Serious Punch."
It was as if his entire being had turned into a legendary Meito, sharp beyond measure!
This... was actually possible?
He had just said that casually... and Mihawk actually understood?
Lowering his head, Daren looked at his own hands, a complicated feeling rising in his heart.
In his mind, the "benevolent" figure of Kaidou-sensei flashed by.
Daren's mouth twitched, his gaze growing a little dazed.
So...
Am I a famous teacher now?
"Come on, Daren!"
Mihawk, gripping "Yoru," shouted with a powerful voice.
He felt he had never been in such perfect condition before, as if inexhaustible strength was surging from every part of his body, pouring into the blade in his hands.
It was a sensation he had never experienced… as though all the sword techniques and moves he had trained in over the years had been completely forgotten, yet each slash seemed to carry the shadow of those techniques.
He had no idea what was happening.
But his wildly beating heart and the blood boiling through his veins kept reminding him... he needed to fight!!
The fierce wind howled around him, and the young swordsman, who would soon shake the seas, stood tall and proud:
"Please, show me your strongest sword... In return, I will unleash my strongest strike!"
Daren paused for a moment.
The look in this kid's eyes had changed.
If before, when facing his first and second swords, Mihawk had been defensive...
Then this time, he would face Daren's full brilliance head-on!
Turning defense into offense!
He would unleash the strongest blow of his life and clash directly with his opponent!
Even if it cost him his life, he would bloom in his own moment of brilliance!
"Good."
At that moment, Daren knew there was no need for more words.
He raised his hand, his expression growing solemn.
He had always given the utmost respect to young people willing to risk their lives to chase their dreams.
Behind him, three swords floated midair, and one of them suddenly shot forward half a meter, stopping in front of the Vice Admiral.
A pitch-black, eerie blade, its surface marked with flickering purple flame-like patterns, the tip pointing directly at Mihawk.
"A three-petaled tsuba, a cursed sword from Wano Country, the demonic flame that burns through hell... Enma."
Daren exhaled a heavy breath and placed his right hand firmly on Enma's hilt.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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