One Piece: One Punch Man

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Even someone as composed as Dracule Mihawk couldn't help but question himself under Byakuya's relentless storm of attacks.

"Am I truly a match for Byakuya?" This was the first time Mihawk doubted himself since becoming the World's Strongest Swordsman. 

Not even his clashes with his long-time rival, Shanks, had ever shaken his confidence like this. 

The sheer pressure from Byakuya wasn't something a swordsman of equal caliber could exert—it was the kind of overwhelming dominance that came from an opponent league above him.

Despite this crushing pressure, Mihawk wasn't one to surrender just because of adversity. 

Even if he realized he couldn't win, he would fight with every ounce of his strength until the end. 

Though he was forced into a defensive position, retreating step by step, he found an opening after blocking one of Byakuya's strikes. 

Suppressing the pain in his arm, Mihawk gripped his black blade, Yoru, with both hands and slashed toward Byakuya's chest.

Breaking Byakuya's relentless offensive rhythm was Mihawk's only chance to catch his breath and counterattack. 

Byakuya, fully capable of ignoring the strike, chose to retreat instead, leaping back to the mountaintop he had initially stood upon. 

In doing so, the dynamic between the two swordsmen became clear. 

While both had started on peaks of equal height, Mihawk's mountain was now reduced to half its original size, a stark visual representation of the gap in their strength.

Though Mihawk appeared slightly battered, his expression remained calm. 

After catching his breath, he unleashed a barrage of ghostly, fire-like slashes, which surged toward Byakuya like a tidal wave. 

However, Byakuya simply smiled faintly, and with a casual motion, he threw his blade toward Mihawk.

"What is he doing? A swordsman throwing his sword?" The crowd was puzzled by Byakuya's actions. Even Mihawk couldn't understand his intent.

The airborne Kazemune transformed into a massive black crescent moon, erasing Mihawk's ghostly slashes as if absorbing them. 

The crescent sped toward Mihawk with breathtaking speed, forcing him to dodge rather than attempt a direct block. 

As the crescent struck the remnants of Mihawk's mountain, it made no sound. 

The mountain disappeared, leaving behind a crescent-shaped crater stretching across a third of the island. 

At its center, Kazemune stood embedded in the ground.

Seeing the massive peak vanishing into thin air stunned the crowd. 

The female onlookers felt an inexplicable pang in their chests as if empathizing with the island's pain. 

The display of power shook Mihawk, but they didn't forget the duel. 

Gathering himself, he looked toward Byakuya's position, only to find that Byakuya was no longer there. 

A deep sense of danger welled up within him. His gaze darted to the crater, but Wind Howl had also vanished, leaving only a shallow scratch in the earth.

A chilling thought crossed Mihawk's mind, but a blade was already pressed against his neck before he could react. 

Its cold, razor-sharp edge sent shivers down his spine as Byakuya's calm voice echoed behind him: "You've lost."

For the first time, Mihawk's composed facade cracked, revealing a wry smile. He sheathed Yoru, raised his hands in surrender, and turned to face Byakuya. 

Seeing Mihawk's gesture, Byakuya was reminded of a similar scene from long ago—when Mihawk defeated Zoro in the East Blue. 

Sure enough, Mihawk echoed the same words from that moment:

"I've lost. To take a wound to the back is the greatest shame for a swordsman. Please, deliver the final blow to me from the front."

Byakuya paused for a moment before smiling. "Impressive. Very well, I'll grant you this request."

"Thank you," Mihawk said, taking a deep breath to brace himself. 

Byakuya vanished in a blur, reappearing behind Mihawk as Kazemune slid smoothly into its sheath. 

A deep wound ran diagonally across Mihawk's chest, from his left hip to his right shoulder, staining his clothes crimson. 

Though Byakuya held back, Mihawk's injuries were severe, as he hadn't defended against the strike.

Staggering and dropping to one knee, Mihawk's unyielding spirit kept him conscious. 

This defeat wasn't entirely a loss for him—it showed him that stronger opponents existed, giving him a new goal to chase. Breathing heavily, Mihawk spoke:

"As promised, I'll renounce my title as a Warlord of the Sea and remain on this island for the next two years."

Byakuya looked at Mihawk, sensing his melancholy. 

"You know, you could use these two years to train a disciple. Perhaps through teaching, you might discover insights you never expected."

Mihawk raised an eyebrow. "Is that how you improved your swordsmanship? By teaching those two Marine swordswomen?"

Byakuya shamelessly nodded, though the "insights" he had gained from teaching Ain and Tashigi were far removed from swordsmanship. 

He decided to nudge Mihawk toward a familiar path. 

"During my time in the East Blue, I encountered a young swordsman with incredible potential." 

"Unfortunately, I was occupied and couldn't take him under my wing. He should have just set out to sea." 

"You might want to meet him. If he meets your standards, take him as your disciple. It'll make your time on the island more fulfilling."

Intrigued, Mihawk asked, "What's this swordsman's name?"

"Roronoa Zoro, Swordsman of the Three-Sword Style," Byakuya replied with a faint smile.

Mihawk repeated the name to himself. "Three-Sword Style… Roronoa Zoro." 

Though the name sounded peculiar, Mihawk didn't question it. 

Instead, he resolved to find this swordsman and take him as his student if he lived up to Byakuya's description.

Before Mihawk could express his gratitude, Byakuya had already returned to his ship. Ain and Tashigi rushed to greet him, their excitement bubbling over.

"Byakuya-senpai, you're amazing! You defeated Mihawk! You're the World's Strongest Swordsman now!"

"That means we were trained by the strongest swordsman in the world! This is incredible!"

Their enthusiasm was infectious, especially given the weight of the title they now attributed to their mentor. 

While they celebrated, Byakuya simply smiled, indulging in their praise as the ship set sail again.

Byakuya felt the softness of the sensation on his arm, enjoying it immensely. 

He raised his eyes to look at Mihawk as if to say, This is the unexpected reward of teaching swordsmanship. 

Mihawk, noticing Byakuya's gaze, became even more resolute in his decision to take the three-sword-style Zoro as his disciple. 

After all, since embarking on the sword's path, Mihawk had walked it alone. 

Byakuya and his disciples, sharing a harmonious bond, deeply moved Mihawk in a way he hadn't expected.

Someone in the crowd shouted, "The World's Strongest Swordsman, Byakuya!" 

One shout led to another, and soon the air was filled with cheers of "The World's Strongest Swordsman, Byakuya!"

Despite the praise, Byakuya remained calm and composed. He raised his voice, silencing the crowd. 

"Do not call me the World's Strongest Swordsman," he declared firmly. 

His words stunned everyone, including the undercover G-5 Marines planted among the crowd by Colonel Ferguson.

Ferguson had instructed his soldiers to chant "The World's Strongest Swordsman" after Byakuya's victory, expecting to rally public enthusiasm. 

Yet Byakuya's unexpected objection left them dumbfounded, and their enthusiasm was abruptly cut short. 

Even Mihawk stood silently to the side and was surprised by Byakuya's stance.

For Mihawk, the World's Strongest Swordsman title was a source of pride and a burden. 

Hearing the crowd cheer for Byakuya stirred complex emotions within him. It was both a motivation and a strange discomfort. 

Yet when Byakuya suggested that Mihawk take Zoro as his disciple and even personally introduced Zoro, Mihawk felt that Byakuya was worth befriending.

However, before Mihawk could dwell too long on his thoughts, Byakuya's powerful voice broke through the murmurs. 

"From this moment forward, I shall be known as the Sword God, Byakuya!"

His Marine coat of justice fluttered dramatically in the windless air, his declaration dripping with arrogance. The crowd was left speechless.

So it's not that you don't want a title. You just don't want the title of the World's Strongest Swordsman!

Colonel Ferguson sighed, massaging his temples in frustration. 

He waved at the planted soldiers, who quickly caught on and began chanting anew, "Sword God Byakuya!" 

The crowd echoed the chant enthusiastically, their fervor rekindled.

Byakuya glanced around, visibly pleased. "It seems my reputation among the people is quite favorable. Look how cooperative they are!" he remarked smugly.

A knowing silence fell over Issho, Kuzan, and the others who understood the true origin of the cheers. 

Fergus, trained under Byakuya at the Marine elite training camp, knew him well enough to play his part perfectly, earning his unofficial title as Byakuya's "top aide."

Meanwhile, Mihawk, watching from the side, felt as if he'd been betrayed. 

His once upright posture slumped slightly as he re-evaluated his earlier judgment.

This man... is not worth befriending!

The next day, news of Byakuya's victory over Mihawk at the Forbidden Peak spread across the seas. Few could believe the outcome. 

Mihawk, who had long held the World's Strongest Swordsman title, had been dethroned by a mere twenty-year-old Marine vice admiral.

Rumors circulated that Mihawk, grievously injured, was ambushed by old enemies during his retreat and vanished without a trace, his fate unknown.

In the East Blue, a lone ship drifted on the sea. A green-haired swordsman with three swords at his waist read the latest newspaper. 

The bold headline proclaimed: The Sword God Byakuya! 

The article detailed Byakuya's triumph over Mihawk and his proclamation as the Sword God.

"Mihawk lost?" the green-haired man muttered. "So to become the World's Strongest Swordsman, I'll have to defeat Vice Admiral Byakuya."

In the New World, Byakuya received a system notification:

[Congratulations, Host! You have successfully altered the storyline. Events such as 'Mihawk's Withdrawal from the Seven Warlords of the Sea' and 'Zoro's New Target' has been triggered. You have earned 10,000 World Energy Points.]

The gains were significant. Byakuya's reputation across the seas soared after defeating Mihawk, inching him closer to achieving his ultimate goals.

However, the Red-Haired Pirates reacted quite differently. 

Onboard their ship, Lucky Roux, munching on a massive chunk of meat, held up a greasy hand to read the paper aloud. 

"The Sword God Byakuya"

Yasopp raised an eyebrow. "Mihawk actually lost to Byakuya? That's surprising."

The crew buzzed with discussion. 

"Mihawk could spar with our captain, but Byakuya couldn't even withstand Shanks' Conqueror's Haki before. How could he defeat Mihawk?"

Shanks and Benn Beckman exchanged glances, both deep in thought. 

Shanks murmured, "They're not wrong. We've met Byakuya before and know his strength. How could Mihawk lose to him?"

Simultaneously, both Shanks and Benn arrived at a possible conclusion. 

In unison, they said, "Byakuya must have been hiding his true strength when he faced us."

The realization made sense the more they considered it. Shanks turned to Beckman. 

"Are you sure Vice Admiral Byakuya is the same person we encountered two years ago in Windmill Village—the one called Harry from the Night Organization?"

Beckman nodded. "I'm certain. Though Byakuya's appearance differs slightly from Harry's, the resemblance is unmistakable upon closer inspection."

"So Byakuya is a member of the Night Organization..." Shanks concluded.

Beckman added, "It's likely. The Night Organization must have a grand scheme." 

"Otherwise, they wouldn't place someone with admiral-level strength in the Marines, climbing step by step to become Vice Admiral Byakuya." 

"The effort involved must be tremendous."

"What's their goal, then?" Shanks wondered aloud. 

"The Night Organization's actions seem aimed at eliminating the Seven Warlords of the Sea, which aligns with Byakuya's push to abolish the system."

Beckman shook his head. "That alone doesn't prove a connection." 

"The Night Organization only targets corrupt Warlords, not all of them indiscriminately." 

"And from what I know, Byakuya isn't the only one advocating for the abolition of the system." 

"Issho, the blind swordsman by his side, is equally passionate about it."

Shanks nodded thoughtfully. "Regardless, there's no denying a connection between Byakuya and the Night Organization."

Beckman agreed. "In that case, we should focus on the Night Organization and uncover their true intentions."

Among the Four Emperors, the Red-Haired Pirates often played the role of balancing the world's powers. 

With its disruptive influence, the rise of the Night Organization posed a threat to that balance. Shanks felt compelled to act.

"It seems I need to meet with them face-to-face," Shanks said, his tone resolute.

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