Mihawk's brows furrowed slightly as he faced the icy slash heading his way. Raising the black blade Yoru, he held it horizontally in front of his chest to block the oncoming attack. The ground beneath him froze solid, and frost spread to the surrounding vegetation.
The immense power of the slash transferred through the black blade into Mihawk's body, causing the earth beneath his feet to sink slightly. Yet, he stood firm, successfully halting the attack without retreating.
When the clash ended, Mihawk glanced at his blade, now covered in a thin layer of frost. Fortunately, Yoru was sturdy enough to withstand the attack without suffering any damage.
"Ice-based slashes, huh? That's rare," Mihawk murmured, a hint of regret in his tone. "A Devil Fruit ability, perhaps?"
The previous slash—ferocious and storm-like hadn't surprised Mihawk. Many swordsmen favored techniques associated with wind, and unleashing a storm through swordsmanship wasn't unheard of. It was powerful, yes, but not shocking.
However, an ice-imbued slash was different. For a swordsman to produce such a technique required either a unique blade or a Devil Fruit ability.
While special blades did exist, like the flame-emitting sword of Foxfire Kin'emon, Mihawk couldn't recall any weapon capable of producing frost. This led him to conclude that the mysterious swordsman wielding this power was likely a Devil Fruit user.
That realization brought him a pang of disappointment. While there were skilled Devil Fruit users who were also swordsmen, Golden Lion Shiki and Marine Vice Admiral Gion came to mind—none of them specialized in pure swordsmanship. And Mihawk, being a purist, sought rivals who focused solely on the art of the blade.
Lowering Yoru, Mihawk ceased his clash with Koshiro. The swordsman from Shimotsuki Village, who had only been fighting out of necessity, was visibly relieved. Koshiro, after all, preferred to treat swordsmanship as a philosophy and culture rather than a tool of conflict.
Both men stayed in the forest, sensing that the source of the icy slash was approaching.
Not long after, a figure emerged from the frost-ravaged path. The man was taller than either Mihawk or Koshiro, but his appearance failed to alarm them. As swordsmen who had traveled the world, neither was easily surprised.
Mihawk's sharp golden eyes studied the newcomer. He was unfamiliar, and Mihawk couldn't recall having seen or heard of him before. Judging by the noble air and expensive attire, the man seemed aristocratic—oddly similar to Mihawk himself. What stood out the most were the two swords hanging at his waist, which Mihawk surmised meant he was a dual-wielding swordsman.
"Interesting," Mihawk murmured. "First, Mr. Koshiro, and now another hidden talent in this so-called weakest sea, East Blue. Forgive me for my ignorance, Mr. Koshiro, do you know this gentleman?"
Koshiro, ever calm and humble, chuckled softly and shook his head. "Unfortunately, I do not. This is our first meeting."
It was no surprise that neither Mihawk nor Koshiro recognized Claudius. Claudius had maintained an air of mystery for years, keeping himself out of public view except when necessary.
Claudius, however, immediately recognized both men. His gaze lingered on Mihawk with particular interest.
"Dracule Mihawk," Claudius muttered, his tone carrying a hint of surprise.
Initially, Claudius had assumed Koshiro's opponent might be some wandering swordsman from Wano. He hadn't expected to stumble upon Mihawk, the man currently making waves across the seas as a swordsman of unparalleled skill.
Mihawk, noticing the recognition in Claudius's eyes, wasn't surprised. He had grown accustomed to being recognized thanks to his rising fame and his bounty poster.
"And you are?" Mihawk asked politely, his respect for Claudius already earned by the strength of the slashes he had sent earlier.
Claudius smiled faintly. "Claudius. Donquixote Claudius."
Mihawk's expression shifted as he connected the name to its reputation. His eyes widened slightly. "The Claudius who captured Golden Lion Shiki?"
"That's me," Claudius replied casually.
Mihawk smiled slightly. "So, you're a swordsman after all. Interesting."
Ignoring Claudius's other identities, Mihawk focused solely on the fact that Claudius wielded a sword. Without wasting time, Mihawk raised Yoru and unleashed another slash.
Claudius reacted instantly, drawing the Demon Blade Shindō from its sheath. Without even bothering to counter with a slash, he wrapped his hand in Armament Haki and batted Mihawk's attack aside with raw force.
"Do you always attack without warning? My ship almost got wrecked by you earlier," Claudius said, his tone equal parts irritation and amusement. "Do you have any idea how much that ship is worth? Can you even afford to compensate me?"
Koshiro, standing quietly to the side, nodded in agreement, silently endorsing Claudius's complaint.
Mihawk, however, remained unmoved, his expression stoic. "It's just a ship. I'm sure I can afford it."
Claudius scoffed. "My ship is filled with treasures worth more than most people's lives. Even if I sold you and that sword of yours, it wouldn't cover the cost!"
Mihawk's sharp gaze locked onto Claudius. "There's no use in arguing. Swordsmen speak through their blades."
"You shouldn't assume I'm a pure swordsman," Claudius shot back, sighing in frustration.
Still, Mihawk charged forward, his black blade swinging with precision. Claudius had no choice but to respond, drawing Shindō fully from its sheath. Armament Haki surged around the blade as Claudius deflected Mihawk's strike, the clash of their weapons creating a powerful shockwave that tore through the forest.
The force of the collision sent debris flying, their combined auras pressing against each other. Mihawk's hat was blown off, and Claudius's golden hair was whipped into a frenzy by the wind.
"For swordsmen, actions speak louder than words," Mihawk said in a low, commanding tone.
Claudius let out a tired sigh. "I already told you, I'm not just a swordsman."
Activating his Devil Fruit powers, Claudius released a burst of pressurized air from his elbows, amplifying his strength. The sudden surge of force pushed Mihawk back, breaking the stalemate.
Mihawk landed gracefully, adjusting his grip on Yoru. His piercing gaze locked onto Claudius. "So, you really are a Devil Fruit user," he remarked, his tone neutral.
"That shouldn't be a secret," Claudius said with a smirk.
"I rarely bother with things unrelated to the sword," Mihawk replied.
Despite his calm demeanor, Mihawk's mind was racing. The airflow ability didn't seem to match the icy slash from earlier. Could the sword itself be imbued with a unique power? Mihawk couldn't help but feel curious.
Before he could dwell further, Mihawk charged again, his blade slicing through the air.
Claudius, however, was growing annoyed. "This guy just doesn't know when to stop," he thought. Channeling his strength, Claudius formed an invisible barrier of compressed air, intercepting Mihawk's strike.
The barrier only lasted a second before Mihawk's blade shattered it, but that brief pause was all Claudius needed. He sidestepped Mihawk's attack, swinging Shindō in return.
Mihawk's reflexes were sharp. He immediately withdrew his blade, deflecting Claudius's counterattack with ease. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed, neither swordsman giving an inch.
Just as Mihawk prepared for his next move, a sudden sense of danger prickled at the back of his mind. Before he could react, a burst of compressed air slammed into his chest, sending him flying backward.
Claudius exhaled sharply, his stance relaxed but his gaze unwavering.
"In swordsmanship, you may have the edge," Claudius thought to himself. "But in overall strength, I'm confident I stand above you."