The sword... is broken?
Seeing this, Momonga's pupils contracted sharply.
As a swordsman himself, he understood better than anyone how important a blade was to a swordsman.
Especially Mihawk's exaggeratedly shaped long sword, which, at a glance, was clearly no ordinary weapon and must have accompanied him through countless battles across the seas.
But now, his sword had been broken in half by Daren's strike.
The sword, once longer than Mihawk's own height, had been shortened by a third, leaving only a broken blade behind.
Looking at Mihawk's vacant expression and blank eyes, Momonga couldn't help but feel a surge of concern.
With his cherished sword broken, would he fall into despair?
The cold wind blew, and everyone instinctively fell silent.
However, just then...
Mihawk, who had been standing motionless, slowly regained focus in his eyes.
He looked at the broken sword in his hands, and suddenly, a faint smile curved the corner of his mouth.
"I see... I understand now."
Momonga: ???
You understand again?
What do you understand this time!?
Momonga stared blankly at Mihawk, whose eyes once again burned with fighting spirit, completely bewildered.
Why don't I understand anything!?
What the hell just happened?
Your sword was just broken by Daren...
Your blade is shattered—what could you possibly understand!?
This kid... could he really have grasped something even from this!?
Does he want everyone else to just give up already!?
Momonga's eye twitched violently, his heart filled with confusion and disbelief.
But Mihawk's bright, focused gaze unmistakably showed that he had truly realized something!
Unable to help himself, Momonga shot a questioning look at Daren.
Daren stood there just as dumbfounded, clearly also having no idea what Mihawk had supposedly understood.
Nearby, Gecko Moria was practically tearing his hair out, muttering furiously,
"He understood again!? Damn it! What the hell did he figure out this time!?"
After a brief pause, Daren finally couldn't hold back.
He cleared his throat lightly, putting on a deliberately profound and mysterious air as he asked,
"What... did you understand?"
Mihawk lifted his head to meet Daren's gaze, gripped the broken sword tightly in both hands, and said seriously,
"Now I understand that the true strength of swordsmanship isn't just about one's realm or sword techniques. What's even more crucial is Haki!"
"Only by possessing strong enough Haki can you fully unleash your swordsmanship and bring out your greatest strength!"
"If your Haki isn't powerful enough, forget about wielding your sword's true might—you can't even protect your own blade!"
Daren: ...
Is that so?
Why didn't I know that?
Momonga once again buried his face in his hands in pain, roaring internally in frustration:
'What a load of crap!! That bastard Daren just didn't know how to hold back, that's all!!'
Enma, carrying an immense amount of Haki, when driven by a raging magnetic field, had a speed and power so overwhelming that even Daren himself couldn't fully control it.
...
"So... this is what defeat tastes like?"
Ignoring Momonga and Moria's breakdowns, Mihawk slowly exhaled a breath.
His body suddenly wavered slightly, fresh blood dripping steadily from his mangled hands.
A complex, indescribable bitterness gradually filled his yellow hawk-like eyes.
Looking at the broken sword in his hand, he muttered softly,
"You are indeed strong, 'King of the North Blue.'"
Daren replied calmly,
"At your age, being able to block that sword of mine is something to be proud of."
"Proud?"
Mihawk gave a strained smile.
"That's not enough."
He raised his head again, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and gritted his teeth fiercely.
"My goal... is to become the strongest in the world!"
Daren narrowed his eyes slightly, a glint of admiration flashing in their depths.
"So?"
"So..."
Mihawk's eyes suddenly turned bloodshot, and he roared in anger,
"Why didn't you use your full strength just now!? You could have cut off my arm, couldn't you!?"
At those words, Gecko Moria froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
That earth-shattering strike earlier... hadn't even been at full power?
Momonga, however, only sighed, as if he had expected this all along.
Daren paused briefly, then said slowly,
"If you had lost your arm here, you wouldn't be able to become the world's greatest swordsman."
"This arm... I'll leave it with you for now. When you become strong enough to challenge me again, I'll take it back—no, not just your arm. I'll take your life as well."
Gecko Moria: ...
He glanced at his own missing arm with a face full of grievance.
Daren continued,
"And if you're willing, I hope you'll fight for a position among the Shichibukai."
Mihawk blinked, stunned.
Shichibukai?
"I see..."
He glanced at the broken blade in his hand, and a fierce resolve suddenly blazed in his eyes.
Then...
Gripping the broken sword in his left hand, he swung it fiercely at his right arm!
Slash!!
Blood spurted wildly!
A blood-soaked arm flew through the air and fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
Momonga was stunned.
Gecko Moria was stunned.
Every Marine present was stunned.
Even Daren widened his eyes in disbelief.
This kid... had actually severed his own arm!?
Mihawk's face went pale. He staggered but managed to stick the broken blade into the ground, then tore his shirt apart with his left hand and quickly tied off the bleeding.
Gasping under the pain of losing his arm, blood vessels burst around his hawk-like eyes.
"What the hell are you doing..."
Daren asked, visibly anxious.
He needed Mihawk to help secure a Shichibukai seat, but now he had lost an arm—his dominant right arm at that! Who knew how much his strength would drop?
Mihawk grinned, showing his blood-stained teeth.
"Breaking a promise is the greatest shame for a swordsman!"
Daren: ...
Wait, why does that line sound so familiar!?
"And besides..."
Mihawk panted heavily, but his eyes remained unwavering.
"Even if I lose an arm... I will still become the world's greatest swordsman!"
He gripped the broken blade tightly again, raising it to point directly at Daren.
"I will forge this blade into the world's greatest black sword..."
He bit down hard, tears welling up in his eyes, and with all his strength, roared out:
"And when that time comes, I will challenge you again!!"
"Do you have any objections, King of the North Blue!!"
The young, unyielding voice, filled with supreme courage, echoed across the heavens!
Everyone present was moved, their hearts shaken.
"Remarkable..."
Momonga gazed at the blood-drenched, armless youth and couldn't help but sigh.
The wind had stopped.
The waves lapped gently against the rocky shore.
The whole world seemed to ripple with the distant, mighty dream of a boy, lingering endlessly.
Daren laughed.
He laughed freely and joyfully.
"Good!!"
He stared at the defiant young swordsman and declared in a loud voice,
"In that case, grow stronger, Mihawk!"
"This sea is vast! All manner of powerful beings clash on this grand stage—wielding swords, fighting, shedding blood..."
"My name is Rogers Daren, and I swear to you—"
From behind him, a cluster of sharp Meito swords rose into the sky, spinning and soaring upward.
Daren spread his arms wide, unleashing his Conqueror's Haki, causing heaven and earth to change color.
"Oto, Kogarashi, Enma... I will carry these swords and wait for you at the summit."
"With your indomitable will, surpass these blades..."
"And even... surpass me!"
A fierce gust of wind howled.
Mihawk bore the impact of Daren's overwhelming Haki, his body nearly buckling.
He trembled violently.
But the left hand gripping the sword—
Did not waver in the slightest.
As steady as a mountain.
"I will do it."
He declared with unwavering resolve.
The moment his words fell—
Boom!!
A powerful, unyielding aura burst forth from his frail body, struggling against Daren's oppressive pressure and prying open a tiny gap.
Amid the crimson tempest of Haki, a brilliant dark green surge of energy bloomed, delicate yet dazzling.
A fleeting moment of brilliance.
This was... the awakening of Conqueror's Haki!
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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