Chapter 67: Invincibility Is a Kind of Solitude

A Grand Swordsman? Could it be... him?

Tiger’s mastery of Observation Haki was truly exceptional. While perhaps not quite at the level of legends like Rayleigh or Garp, Shuyi was certain that, by the standards of the pirate world, Tiger’s command of Haki placed him firmly among the very best. So, when Tiger used his Haki to sense the mysterious man in the black cloak and declared him to be one of the top swordsmen in all the seas, Shuyi couldn’t help but wonder—could they really have encountered the young “Hawkeye”?

“In this desolate wilderness, if we really did run into ‘Hawkeye’, wouldn’t that be unbelievably lucky?”

The thought had barely formed in Shuyi’s mind as he studied the cloaked swordsman before him. Not seeing the famed blade “Black Sword: Night” at the man’s side, Shuyi’s lips curled in a self-mocking smile. He addressed the mysterious swordsman plainly, “Friend, approaching us unannounced is quite dangerous. Of course, if you mean us no harm, then perhaps we can sit and talk. But if you do harbor ill intent...”

He let out a cold laugh, his voice calm. “Then don’t blame us for not showing mercy!”

No sooner had his words fallen than both Shuyi and Tiger braced themselves, ready to act at a moment’s notice. After all, this mysterious swordsman ranked among the very few true grandmasters of the blade in these seas—this was no time for carelessness.

It was at this moment—

Perhaps attracted by the scent of food, or perhaps simply exhausted from harsh training, Smoker’s weary figure, supported by Lucci, slowly entered the black-cloaked swordsman’s line of sight. Shuyi immediately noticed the subtle tightening of muscles beneath the cloak—a clear sign the man was about to strike!

“Tiger, protect Smoker and Lucci. They’re in no condition to fight right now. As for me...”

“Let me see for myself just how powerful one of these legendary swordsmen truly is!”

Sensing the swordsman’s murderous intent, Shuyi gave Tiger a quick warning. In the same instant, he opened his Asura Eye and summoned the Blade of Asura into his palm.

But unexpectedly, the swordsman’s speed surpassed even Shuyi’s reaction! Before Shuyi could even finish his warning to Tiger, before he could properly form the Blade of Asura, a sharp, cutting wind split the air with a hiss—an astonishing sword aura shot forth from the cloaked man’s position, aimed straight for Smoker’s chest!

In that instant, though Smoker was a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, even Tiger and Shuyi, both adept in Observation Haki, failed to react in time to the swordsman’s attack. Smoker, who could have evaded with his “elementalization,” had no chance to activate his powers against such a swift, thunderous strike!

For Smoker, unable to avoid the attack by transforming his body, it was pure misfortune.

But in that misfortune, there was a stroke of luck—someone was there to save him.

That someone was Tiger!

Just as the sword aura was about to cleave Smoker in two—

Bang!

Karate: Tang Caowa Right Fist!

With a mighty swing, the force of Tiger’s punch—though not enough to fully dispel the sword aura—managed to slow it just enough. Smoker seized the moment, turning to smoke and narrowly escaping the fatal blow. Thus was the mysterious swordsman’s attack finally neutralized.

And now, the stage was set for Shuyi to take action.

The black-cloaked swordsman’s sudden appearance at their camp had already been a grave discourtesy. Now, attacking Smoker outright—no matter that Smoker was merely Shuyi’s captive—if Shuyi didn’t at least seek some measure of justice for him, wouldn’t that betray the eight hundred million bounty the Navy had placed on his head?

So, right as Smoker’s crisis was resolved thanks to Tiger’s help—

Shave!

Shuyi’s foot tapped the ground. With the physical prowess of his prime, the speed at which he performed “Shave” defied description. Even Tiger, with his extraordinary Observation Haki, sensed Shuyi’s presence vanish in an instant. For the likes of Smoker or Lucci, Shuyi’s movement was simply beyond mortal perception.

In the blink of an eye, Shuyi appeared behind the black-cloaked swordsman, Blade of Asura in one hand, breath steady, every muscle poised. With perfect timing, he brought his sword down in a thunderous strike.

“Gale Style!”

“Wave-Sunder!”

The technique “Wave-Sunder” was aptly named; it was a swordsman’s step forward, a cut that could part the very sea. This was the strongest sword technique Shuyi had mastered so far! Especially after his recent shadow clone training, having fully absorbed all the experience he’d gained, Shuyi’s “Wave-Sunder,” when unleashed with his peak physical strength, produced a surge of sword aura twice as powerful as when he’d first learned it.

“Combining ‘Shave’ for surprise with ‘Wave-Sunder’—forget being a grand swordsman, even if you truly are ‘Hawkeye’ himself...”

“I doubt you could withstand this!”

Brimming with confidence, Shuyi unleashed his strike. With the blinding speed of “Shave” and the amplified force of “Wave-Sunder,” he believed even the most renowned swordsmen of the seas would falter.

But just as he reveled in his triumph, the black-cloaked swordsman before him let out a soft, surprised hum.

And then—

Bang!

With a casual flick of his wrist, the swordsman reversed his grip and slashed. A new, even fiercer blade of wind surged forth, effortlessly neutralizing Shuyi’s own attack. The man had neither dodged nor shown the slightest strain—he had deflected Shuyi’s confident assault as if it were nothing.

What shocked Shuyi even more was the sight of the blade the swordsman wielded.

The sword in the mysterious man’s hand—

Was it even a sword? It looked more like a child’s toy!

It was nothing but a wooden sword, the sort children used in play. Shuyi could scarcely believe that, in the hands of this swordsman, a mere wooden blade could become so formidable!

And though the man’s retort had done nothing more than cancel out Shuyi’s “Wave-Sunder,” inflicting no harm, the fact that he had done so with a wooden sword forced Shuyi to acknowledge the truth: this man’s mastery of swordsmanship was on a whole different level.

In fact, even the technique Shuyi was so proud of—“Wave-Sunder”—was insignificant before the swordsmanship of this mysterious man.

So—

“If I can’t match him in swordsmanship, then...”

“I’ll claim victory with my Devil Fruit power!”

Counter shortcoming with strength, attack his weakness with your advantage—that was the way to win.

Having a clear sense of both his own strengths and his opponent’s, Shuyi resolved to use his Devil Fruit abilities. He clenched his left fist, ready to unleash the “Gravity Domain” from his triple-awakened power upon the black-cloaked swordsman.

But at that moment, Shuyi met the man’s eyes beneath the robe.

What kind of eyes were those?

They were as sharp and piercing as an eagle’s!

To possess such commanding eyes—there could be no doubt. In an instant, Shuyi realized the swordsman’s identity: the world’s greatest swordsman, “Hawkeye” from the original tale.

Yet—

What was the emotion, so long suppressed, flickering in those captivating eyes?

Was it loneliness?

The loneliness of invincibility...