Chapter 44 – Baratie 07.

Chapter 44 – Baratie 07.

[Chapter Size: 3206 Words.]

Third Person POV

Baratie, East Blue.

...

...

"Old man, you don't seem to be joking, I feel my instincts screaming not to get closer to them more than that swordsman!" Reiju exclaimed by the side.

"Don't be fooled, brat, they are powerful, no doubt about it, but unlike the wild aura they emit, Mihawk is much more controlled, that's why you have the impression that the two of them are stronger. But don't forget they are in front of the world's strongest swordsman... Even that kid who stole you knows he can't win this fight, he himself said that before starting his transformation..." Zeff said calmly.

"Who said he stole me!?" Reiju shouted angrily as Zeff still insisted on something she didn't agree with.

"They're going to start!" Kuina shouted, and all eyes turned back to the fight, which was about to begin.

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Luffy felt a profound metamorphosis sweep through his existence. His senses, sharpened in an unusual way, perceived the world around him in an intensified manner. Each beat of his heart seemed to resonate like a distant boom, and the air had a sharper texture. It was as if he had acquired a more intimate connection with the environment around him.

Although he couldn't witness his own transformation, the perception of the change was imprinted in every fiber of his being. The astonished expressions on the faces of the spectators indicated that something extraordinary was happening. His body seemed to pulsate with an unknown energy, making him feel several times stronger than he had ever imagined.

The heartbeats, now amplified in his perception, kept pace with the rhythm of his new form. The feeling of power emanated from the flames like waves of heat, and Luffy felt intimately connected to this fiery force that enveloped him. Phase two of his transformation had not only altered his appearance; it had amplified his sensations and instincts, preparing him for the imminent challenge.

This sensory intensification created a visceral symphony in his mind, fueling his passion for violent battle. Every muscle, every fiber of his being was charged with formidable energy, and he yearned for the opportunity to test this new power against the opponent before him, it was Ifrit's own influence over him. Flames began to dance violently on parts of his body.

"Come on, Yamato," Luffy uttered in a calm tone, yet his voice carried a gravity and wisdom that transcended his age.

Without hesitation, he took the first step, and as if disappearing in the blink of an eye, materialized in front of Mihawk. His figure raised the sword, ready to strike the first blow. After avoiding the transformation, his first decision was to boost his speed, an acceleration that defied comprehension. Moving as if he had mastered the art of teleportation, he increased his speed by 30 times, recognizing that this ability would be crucial to face a swordsman of Mihawk's caliber. The air trembled as his swift movements cut through the space between him and the feared swordsman.

Swinging his sword with an almost careless simplicity, Luffy seemed to rely purely on his strength, without the slightest concern for posture or technique. The gesture carried a tone of mockery in the sharp eyes of Mihawk, as the young man in front of him gave the impression of wielding a sword for the first time in his life.

*Metallic noise*

Feeling his sword effortlessly repelled by Yoru, Luffy showed no surprise, even with the impressive speed he maintained at the moment.

"You're fast... so fast that it even startles me a bit, and I can't quite grasp how you did that. However, you're still just a child inexperienced in the sea," Mihawk said indifferently. The swords remained entwined for a brief moment, but in an almost imperceptible movement, Mihawk disarmed Luffy, separating the swords and exploiting an opening in the young pirate's guard.

However, Mihawk, who was ready to attack Luffy, had to step back as a shadow appeared above them, revealing a fierce white furball holding a Kanabo over its head, causing the greatest swordsman to retreat before the weapon hit him.

*BOOM*

Yamato's weapon hit empty space, exploding into the wood just below.Fôll0w current novÊls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m)

Jumping a few meters away to another wreckage of the floating ship, Luffy and Yamato saw Mihawk gripping his sword, as he seemed to be underestimating both of them until now, but the fight appeared to be more challenging than he imagined with just these movements.

*BOOM!*

The ground shattered beneath the feet of the two Straw Hat crew members, propelled by the force of their feet toward Mihawk. While Luffy explored his enhanced speed, Yamato relied on Observation Haki and her supernatural body, both rushing towards the adversary. They skillfully leaped between the wreckage at sea, preparing for the next attack.

*Armament Haki*

Yamato wrapped her hand with the Kanabo as she advanced, darkening it with the manifestation of her Haki.

*Metallic noise*

*Metallic noise*

*BOOM*

*Metallic noise*

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

*Metallic noise*

*Metallic noise*

The battle turned the space within a radius of 50 meters into chaos immediately. While the restaurant remained at a safe distance, the pirates who had not yet fled entered into despair, running frantically in search of an escape route.

"Run! We're in the middle of the battle!"

"Stop, please!"

"Where's Captain Krieg, where is he?"

"Captain, help us!"

*Metallic noise*

*Metallic noise*

*BOOM*

*Metallic noise*

*BOOM*

*Metallic noise*

In the heat of the battle, Luffy and Yamato demonstrated remarkable resistance against Mihawk's intensity. Whenever Mihawk advanced against one of them, the other entered the collision to provide support, blending their distinct elements with the attacks to force the swordsman to step back a few meters. This pattern persisted, giving Luffy the opportunity to absorb more about the art of swordsmanship while trying to adapt to Mihawk's style.

"What kind of confrontation are we witnessing?!" As the battle unfolded before Reiju's eyes, they were shocked. The scene was a chaotic storm of swift shadows, accompanied by supersonic metallic roars. Explosions of flames and ice tore through the air, creating a scene of destruction that lifted water and debris from Krieg's ship. The environment was charged with an intensity that made everyone present tremble at the magnitude of the fight.

With each collision, the shadows moved in a frenetic dance, almost as if space itself were distorting with the speed of the combatants. Reiju struggled to visually keep up with the rapid movements and explosions of contrasting elements. Amidst the chaos, she could barely discern who was attacking or defending, as the elements blended in a symphony of destruction.

The restaurant, at a safe distance, served as an impotent witness to the unleashed fury. The few remaining pirates on-site were desperate, trying to distance themselves from the combat zone, aware that they were witnessing a battle of epic proportions.

*Metallic noise*

*BOOM*

*Metallic noise*

*BOOM*

"This battle is on a completely different level than the one Zoro faced," Kuina commented. Her astonishment was evident, as she had never imagined that humans could engage in such an impressive combat.

'Luffy wasn't exaggerating when he said we're like frogs in a well...' she thought, trying to assimilate the shock of witnessing powerful opponents facing off.

"This surpasses all the fights I've ever witnessed in this sea..." Zeff, with widened eyes, couldn't contain his amazement. Even in his days in the Grand Line, he had not witnessed something so grand.

"Will they be okay?" Nami asked, her expression a mix of surprise and concern. For her, who carried traumas from the past, such as the confrontation with Arlong, seeing a fight of this caliber was a shock, but she knew that the fish-man would be helpless in the face of such a battle.

"I hope so..." Zeff replied, observing the intensity of the confrontation with a mix of fascination and concern.

"I don't want to get near that for anything!" Usopp shouted, asking the restaurant ship to move further away.

As the intense battle unfolded, Luffy assessed the situation.

"Will the Baratie survive this?"

"Is the restaurant... in danger?"

"Let's hope not. The Baratie is our home!"

"I don't even know if we can make it back there."

"The shockwave was so strong it threw me away."

"If the Baratie is hit, I don't know what we'll do."

"Did anyone survive that?"

The explosion unleashed such intense devastation that everything within a radius of 50 meters was consumed by the impact, reduced to dust on the spot. Debris and wreckage were thrown even further, reaching an extent of 200 meters. Even the more distant ships did not escape entirely, feeling a subdued version of the devastating impact.

After the explosion, it took long and tense minutes for the dust to settle and the chaos to calm. Krieg's pirates, now more than 500 meters away, were ruthlessly dragged by the impact. Some perished under the debris, victims of the unleashed destruction.

Mihawk remained serene on his raft, as if the violence around him had not affected even the calmness of his improvised transportation. Yamato emerged in the midst of the frozen sea, her hair somewhat disheveled, but, aside from that detail, she appeared perfectly intact.

"You are truly formidable, but there is much to learn," Mihawk proclaimed after a brief silence. Without showing hesitation, he turned his gaze to Yamato and, in the blink of an eye, disappeared from the location. Not even Yamato's speed and keen instincts, combined with her Observation Haki, were enough to react when Mihawk appeared in front of her, raising his sword.

The strike delivered by Mihawk was swift and precise, cutting through the air with deadly grace. An instant later, blood painted the surroundings, a cruel display of the lethal efficiency of the master swordsman.

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Author's Note:

* I added this attack on Mihawk; I wasn't sure how to place it here, so I combined the name of his most powerful attack with the style of a sword. If anyone has a better idea, please suggest it so I can consider and replace it. (Note: This most powerful attack by Mihawk is much stronger and more devastating compared to what he can do here; I just added this name because I couldn't find any other attack he does, as he usually strikes and cuts silently.)

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