Chapter 370: Becoming the World's Greatest Swordsman
"You'll regret this—when you're dead!"
Mihawk's voice rang out, low and brimming with suppressed fury.
He swung his enormous, gleaming black sword toward Charlotte.
Clang!
Charlotte calmly raised his hand and blocked the strike with a flick of his wrist—using nothing more than a nail clipper.
"Frog in a well. Let me show you how vast the world really is."
Charlotte didn't move an inch, holding off the blow with just the tiny clipper.
Mihawk's powerful swings crashed down again and again, yet Charlotte stood firm. Beads of sweat began forming on Mihawk's forehead.
"Damn it… Why is the gap so huge?!"
He couldn't understand it. Why did this man make it seem so effortless?
Charlotte smiled lightly.
He flicked his finger against the nail clipper.
Clang!
The recoil surged through Mihawk's sword. Even though he tried to dodge, the backlash sent him flying back several meters.
"Dad, what's going on out there?"
The noise on deck quickly drew the attention of those inside the cabin.
A group of children hurried over to see, including Esdeath and Caesar.
"Eh? Who's that? He's actually fighting Dad!"
Caesar pushed through the crowd and caught sight of the young man confronting his father.
"Young Master, he's just some cocky kid who challenged the Captain… and the Captain accepted."
A crewmember explained.
Caesar furrowed his brow, curious now. His father rarely accepted challenges. Usually, a challenger would need to defeat the crew first, and then earn the right to face the Captain.
But this time, his father had accepted without hesitation. Why?
Esdeath was also watching quietly, her gaze sharp.
"What kind of eyes are those…?" Caesar muttered in awe.
It was his first time seeing such hawk-like eyes.
Even Esdeath, a swordswoman at the Kenpachi level, felt a faint sense of danger radiating from the youth. He wasn't even a swordsman yet—just a sword novice.
On the deck, Mihawk continued swinging his blade furiously.
Each strike left him gasping for breath. Sweat poured down his face. His stamina was rapidly depleting.
"This gap shouldn't be so wide…!"
Clang!
Clang clang!
Clang clang clang!
Each strike was flawlessly parried by Charlotte's tiny nail clipper.
"Huh? Dad's using a nail clipper? Now I get it. He's just bored and messing around!"
Caesar finally noticed the "weapon" Charlotte was using.
Esdeath frowned slightly. She didn't like this mockery. A true swordsman should never belittle his opponent.
Clang!
Charlotte casually flicked his hand again. Mihawk flew backward once more.
"It shouldn't be this far… it shouldn't be…!"
Mihawk gritted his teeth and charged forward again, attacks growing fiercer with every blow.
But Charlotte blocked them all effortlessly.
"I'm not here to be toyed with just because of some tiny weapon!"
Clang!
Another block.
Clang!
And another.
Charlotte could feel Mihawk's attacks growing sharper with each strike. He turned to glance at Esdeath.
Perhaps… only she could match this talent.
"I will become the world's strongest swordsman!"
Mihawk roared, bringing his cross-shaped sword crashing down.
Clang!
"I will defeat this man!"
Clang!
"I will become the world's greatest swordsman!"
His repeated shouts, filled with unyielding determination, silenced the crowd.
This young man's sheer will and refusal to give up moved even the most hardened warriors on board.
He was bloodied and exhausted, yet continued charging again and again.
The crewmembers and swordfighters watching all found themselves silently rooting for him.
"He will become the world's greatest swordsman…"
The thought echoed across the minds of everyone on deck.
Respect blossomed in the hearts of even Charlotte's most loyal crew.
"Why do you want to become the strongest swordsman?"
"What's the point of strength?"
"You're still weak."
Clang!
This time, Charlotte applied some pressure.
"Urgh…!"
Mihawk collapsed to the deck, trembling, clutching his sword.
But he didn't yield.
He stood again—and attacked.
Charlotte watched him.
This time, he moved.
Matching Mihawk's speed, Charlotte lunged forward.
Mihawk's eyes widened—his hawk gaze locked onto Charlotte.
The nail clipper thrust forward—piercing Mihawk's shoulder.
Blood dripped onto the deck, but Mihawk stood tall.
Though his sword was raised, he couldn't bring it down.
"You're just going to let me stab you in the heart?"
"Why didn't you dodge?"
Charlotte asked.
"I… I don't know. I just feel like… if I retreat now, the dream of becoming the world's greatest swordsman will die. I'll lose the will to chase it forever."
Mihawk locked eyes with Charlotte as he spoke.
"Oh? So you fear failure more than death?"
Charlotte inquired.
"Exactly. I fear failure far more. Death would be easier."
Mihawk smiled grimly.
Charlotte studied him. He tried to find fear or panic in those eyes—but there was none.
Only unshakable resolve.
He retracted the nail clipper.
"Kid, tell me your name."
Despite the blood still flowing down his arm, Mihawk straightened.
"Dracule Mihawk."
Charlotte nodded slowly.
"I'll remember that. I'll give you a swordsman's death one day—with the strongest cursed blade in the world."
Charlotte stowed the nail clipper and summoned his weapon—Seven Star Sword.
"Failure means death. Either become number one… or die. If that's your resolve…"
Mihawk raised his sword again.
"Come, boy! Witness the power of the World's Strongest Swordsman!"
Charlotte swung the Seven Star Sword.
"Demonic Slash!"
A brilliant green slash tore through the air.
Mihawk met it head-on with his own blade.
Shlick!
The sound of steel piercing flesh.
"I lost… I wasn't strong enough…"
"So this is the power… of the world's greatest swordsman…"
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