"I only wish to fight swordsmen."
Mihawk's lips were dry as he looked at Eden and the others, a trace of helplessness in his sharp eyes.
To be honest, he had always hated unnecessary battles.
Just like in the original timeline—after he crossed swords with Zoro and found the thrill he was looking for, he didn't even spare Krieg a glance when provoked. He simply turned around and left.
Now, all Mihawk wanted was a clean, focused duel with the swordswoman Erza. As for the rest? He had absolutely no interest.
But Eden wasn't going to let Mihawk act all high and mighty and just leave like that.
Anyone who dared to show off in front of Fairy Tail mages had to leave something behind.
"What a coincidence. I happen to be a swordsman too."
Eden raised his hand, and with water magic, formed a high-speed, flowing blade of seawater in the shape of a sword.
"Me too."
Gajeel morphed his arm into an Iron Dragon Blade to prove his claim.
"Same here!" Natsu chimed in with a grin. "Though I'm a swordsman of the no-sword school."
"You call yourself a swordsman without even carrying a sword?" Mihawk narrowed his eyes. For some reason, these people were getting under his skin. He couldn't maintain his usual composure.
Yes, Fairy Tail's true magic was never just flashy spells—it was their ability to mentally wear people down.
That was their real secret technique.
"Anyway, dear Mihawk, as the world's greatest swordsman, your Haki must be at the pinnacle of this world, right?"
Eden finally revealed his true motive.
"Ah... so that's what this is about."
"You're after my Haki."
"Well, with your strength, neither the Four Blues nor Paradise in the first half of the Grand Line can contain you."
"It's only the New World that might offer you a real challenge."
Mihawk paused for a moment, then exhaled lightly.
"Fine. Since I've met some interesting talents today, I'll grant your wish."
"But how much you can learn from me... that depends on your own skill."
"Much appreciated, Sir Mihawk."
Before Eden even finished his words, the first to leap into action was naturally Erza Scarlet.
She lunged forward, her blade flashing like lightning, aiming straight for Mihawk's vitals.
"Your sword is fierce."
"I can tell it's been tested countless times."
"You're only a step away from creating your own sword style."
Mihawk clashed blades with her, his black sword Yoru colliding with Erza's demonic red-tasseled blade in a furious exchange.
Wind blasted out in all directions from their clash, a storm of slashes so intense that Zoro—who had been rescued from the sea by Eden—couldn't tear his eyes away.
"So this is what it looks like when top-tier swordmasters clash..."
Zoro's lips moved silently as his heart raced.
"Haki is a power that resides within all humans!"
"It's not some vapor from nature—it's the embodiment of spirit, will, and presence!"
Mihawk narrated calmly, fending off Erza's fierce onslaught with one hand.
Unlike Fairy Tail's magic, Haki had nothing to do with the world's ambient energy.
It was the purest expression of human spirit.
Magic in the Fairy Tail world was fueled by particles in the air—called Etherano. Demons used their dark counterpart: Curse Particles.
Humans used Etherano. Demons used Curse. Two forces in balance.
"There are three types of Haki!"
"The most common are Observation and Armament."
"Observation Haki heightens your senses. You separate your awareness from your physical five senses and truly perceive the world."
"Armament Haki transforms willpower and bloodlust into a weapon—hardened, unbreakable."
"And finally... the rarest of all—the one in millions—proof of a king who stands above all things."
"Conqueror's Haki."
At that moment, Mihawk's tone dropped.
He gripped Yoru tighter, his hawk-like eyes boring into Erza's own.
His presence alone pressed down like a mountain.
"So tell me, girl... what kind of Haki will you awaken?"
"It doesn't matter what type I awaken."
"What I need... is the power to protect my comrades."
"Power to stand against any threat—and never retreat again."
"Because I am Titania—Erza Scarlet of Fairy Tail!"
Her gaze held firm, unflinching under Mihawk's overwhelming will.
Her arms bulged, legs splitting the wood beneath her feet—but she refused to retreat.
Behind her stood every mage of Fairy Tail.
She was an S-Class mage.
The Queen of the Fairies.
She would never allow another Tenrou Island tragedy.
She was Titania!
BOOM!!
As Mihawk's Haki pressed down, Erza felt something awaken deep within her soul...
A shockwave erupted from her eyes—uncontrolled, unintentional—and exploded outward in all directions.
"What the—my head... feels like it's spinning!"
"Did I not get enough sleep yesterday?"
"Same here..."
Thump. Thump. Thump...
All across Baratie, diners who had been watching the battle in awe suddenly trembled.
Something inside their minds cracked like shattered glass.
And one by one, they collapsed—eyes rolling back, unconscious.
"Conqueror's Haki!"
Mihawk and Eden said in unison.
But where Mihawk looked stunned, Eden was calm.
If anyone in Fairy Tail was going to awaken Conqueror's Haki, it was Erza.
She didn't earn the title of Titania for nothing.
And if anyone else was guaranteed to have it, it was Gildarts.
Eden smiled faintly.
"So... we can learn Haki too."
That was what he had wanted to confirm.
By having Erza—the most gifted of them all—duel Mihawk, he was testing whether outsiders like them could truly grasp this world's power.
And now, he had his answer.
As for how or why they could learn it—whether their bodies had been altered by this world, or something else...
It didn't matter.
Not anymore.
~# Every 20 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter