The Sea King's massive corpse, sliced into pieces, left countless Marines watching in stunned silence.
But for the two combatants, it didn't cause a ripple.
Amidst the falling rain of blood, the two exchanged glances from afar.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the next instant, two sonic booms ripped through the air—their figures vanished, reappearing in a blur as they closed in again.
CLANG! CLANG!
The echo of blades clashing rang out twice.
The massive Black Blade Yoru was simultaneously intercepted by Azakana and Wind Blade, sending sparks flying.
The blades pressed against each other—ten seconds of locked steel before Mihawk's stance began to falter.
Such overwhelming power!
His pupils contracted.
Without hesitation, Mihawk poured his full strength into both arms and let out a low roar as he pushed downward.
BOOM!
The ground beneath his feet immediately cracked into a fine, spiderweb-like pattern. Nao's body was also forced down a full ten centimeters.
This was an advantage Mihawk gained from his sudden, explosive attack, but it seemed to have little overall impact on the situation.
Because the very next second, Nao easily dissipated the aftershock of the force by leveraging the ground beneath him.
"Careful now."
Nao chuckled softly, parrying Yoru and taking the opportunity to close in. With a flick of his wrist, he delivered a cross-slash with both swords, aiming straight for Mihawk's chest!
So fast!
Mihawk's expression twisted in shock. Sword shadows filled his vision.
If their earlier exchanges had taught him anything, it was that Nao completely overpowered him in strength.
Now, he realized—Nao's speed was just as terrifying.
No time to block!
Years of combat experience kicked in. Mihawk twisted his body into an almost unnatural 90-degree arch, just barely dodging the crisscrossed blades.
At the same time, he swung his own blade backward in a tight arc toward Nao's waist.
SHHH!
The counterstrike was sharp and fast—but Nao had already stepped back, evading the blow with agile footwork. In a flash, he created a distance of over ten meters between himself and Mihawk.
As for Mihawk, although his two consecutive strikes missed, he gained a chance to catch his breath. He quickly took the opportunity to perform a back handspring, regaining his footing.
The next moment.
Both men simultaneously looked up, their gazes meeting across the distance, then again left their spots, their figures flashing as they lunged fiercely towards each other!
The entire island reef, in an instant, completely split from its center, rapidly spreading outwards.
And where their figures intertwined, sword glints and blade shadows crisscrossed, moving too fast for the eye to follow.
On the distant warship, the Marines watching couldn't tell if what they were seeing were the actual fighters—or simply the afterimages left behind.
CLANG!
The sparks flying from their clashing blades were continuous, like spring rain.
And the booming sounds of air breaking the sound barrier reverberated throughout, making the duel even more intense and thrilling.
"Damn, they're going at it hard…"
On the Marine warship, a young Marine who had just joined couldn't help but murmur, "At this rate… who's going to win?"
"What kind of dumb question is that, rookie?"
A few older Marines laughed and smacked him upside the head.
"Of course it'll be Vice Admiral Nao. Don't be fooled by how evenly matched they look—he's just holding back."
"Exactly," a nearby Marine lieutenant commander chimed in, patting the rookie's shoulder. "That swordsman might be strong, but don't forget who he's fighting."
"This battle, from the very beginning, was just a senior guiding a junior. There's no suspense about the outcome."
So that's how it was?
The young Marine blinked, still trying to understand, but then—something changed in the distant battle. His eyes widened as he squinted at the horizon…
BOOM!
A deafening explosion tore through the air. Both figures were flung apart, crashing onto opposite ends of the now-shattered reef.
"Cough… cough…"
Mihawk's clothes were tattered, and his body was covered in wounds. He gasped heavily, looking at Nao, who was almost completely unharmed, and mocked himself with a helpless laugh:
"Truly… I'm being thoroughly suppressed…"
Supporting himself with Yoru to stand up, and wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he shook his head, quickly regaining his sharp gaze.
He then looked up at Nao, saying in a low voice: "Please be careful next, Mr. Nao. I'm going to give it everything I have—for one last strike."
"Mmm."
Nao nodded slightly, indicating he understood.
Their brief conversation over, Mihawk gripped Yoru again. His sharp gaze locked on Nao as he slowly raised the blade—and with it, his entire aura shifted.
He now radiated the pressure of a predator unleashed in the dead of night—a beast freed from its cage, ready to tear its prey apart.
"Slash!"
With that low, powerful command, Mihawk's form shot backward like a bolt of black lightning.
And in the moment his foot touched ground, he launched forward again, unleashing a full-force overhead slash—one imbued with everything he had.
RUMBLE!!
As the sword energy surged through the sky, thunder cracked overhead. Whether by coincidence or the force of Mihawk's Haki igniting the storm, the clouds broke—and a torrential downpour began.
CRASHHH!
Nao, standing several hundred meters away, felt the force of the incoming strike.
His brow arched.
"That's more like it…" he murmured, a flicker of excitement lighting his eyes.
With a flash of intensity, he drew both blades downward, and the storm of wind energy he'd been gathering burst forth.
"Two-Sword Style: Jade Slash!"
At the moment his swords fell, space twisted.
The light dimmed around them.
Hundreds of meters of surrounding air were suddenly vacuumed away, collapsing into a dead silence. All of it surged toward Mihawk's incoming slash.
BOOM!
The two colossal sword energies collided above the sea, creating over a dozen water pillars, each more than a hundred meters high.
And in that instant, the rain reversed direction—shooting back toward the clouds.
The scene was so magnificent that it was terrifying.
...
After an unknown period of time.
The terrifying storm caused by the sword energy clash finally gradually dissipated.
Looking from afar, the sea area near the battlefield was ravaged as if by an apocalypse, with the corpses of fish that had been caught in the crossfire scattered everywhere.
Above the night sky, the thunder gradually died down. A massive chasm was faintly visible in the thick cloud layer, stretching far into the horizon, a sight that shook the soul.
Under the moonlight.
Nao sheathed Azakana, and with Geppo, gracefully landed on a wave crest.
Mihawk's face was pale, devoid of blood. He knelt on one knee on a piece of shattered rock, supporting himself with Yoru, his entire body still trembling slightly.
"This is far enough,"
Nao smiled faintly, sheathing both his swords, and extended his right hand to him. "It's over, Mihawk."
"…"
Mihawk stared at the hand for a moment, his expression unreadable.
Then, with a silent sigh, he took Nao's hand and stood.
"…It's over indeed."
The difference was overwhelming.
Mihawk had gone all out from the very start. And yet, he hadn't even forced Nao to reveal any hidden trump cards.
Their physical conditioning. Their sword mastery.
Not even close.
Had this been a real battle to the death, not a duel of swordsmen?
He might not have lasted half an hour before dying under Nao's blades.
"…I concede, Mr. Nao."
He sheathed Yoru and looked up, eyes gleaming.
"I'm grateful you made time for this sparring match. But as a swordsman, I won't let a single loss break my spirit. From this day forward, I'll train harder than ever. I swear I'll grow stronger."
"Next time we meet—I hope you won't need to hold back. I'll earn the right to cross swords with you as an equal."
His attitude had clearly shifted.
When they first met, although his tone was very polite and respectful, there was still a hint of subtle arrogance, and he addressed Nao as "you."
Now, it had changed to "you" (a more respectful form).
Clearly, this duel had thoroughly convinced Mihawk of Nao's swordsmanship.
"I look forward to that day," Nao replied with a relaxed smile.
He knew what Mihawk would become—future bearer of the title World's Greatest Swordsman, an equal to Red-Haired Shanks, and the strongest of the Seven Warlords.
His potential was limitless.
But Nao wasn't worried.
Mihawk might be young—but Nao was younger.
Even ten or twenty years from now, Mihawk would be lucky just to maintain the current gap.
As for that title—World's Greatest Swordsman?
It would always belong to Natsuya Nao.
Mihawk, Vista, and any others would merely be shadows cast by his light
....
The raging sea finally calmed.
Back aboard the warship, Nao watched as Mihawk returned to his small boat, tipped his hat in salute, and sat cross-legged once more—allowing the waves to carry him away.
He soon disappeared into a dot on the horizon.
Damn it, my legs are numb from standing, and I still didn't get to see Hawkeye paddle his boat with Yoru.
That guy was too concerned about appearances. He was clearly being blown off course by the sea breeze, yet he stubbornly suffered to maintain his composure.
No wonder he chased Krieg all the way to the East Blue.
Nao sighed regretfully, then walked towards the mess hall under the admiring gazes of the surrounding Marines
The West Blue had been far too dull. He hadn't had a proper fight in forever—and today's duel had left him invigorated.
He devoured six extra bowls of rice that night.
After eating his fill, he returned to the training room for more intense practice.
The voyage back to Headquarters was smooth from there—another ten days passed without incident.
Finally, the warship arrived at Marineford.
It was late at night. The fortress's lights were sparse—clearly not the best time for a debriefing.
Nao decided he'd report to Fleet Admiral Kong in the morning.
As for where to sleep?
He didn't live in Marineford's officer quarters.
He definitely wasn't going to crash at the Elite Camp with the cadets.
So naturally, he went to Gion's house—let himself in with the key she'd given him, washed up, and collapsed into her soft, familiar bed.
The gentle scent lingering on her pillows and sheets made all the fatigue from his journey melt away.
"Mmhh…"
Nao let out a satisfied groan, then habitually opened his system panel.
He skimmed over his stats—and suddenly noticed something new in the message feed:
[Bell-mère's romantic relationship confirmed for one year]
[You have received an additional year-end sign-in reward: Grade A Gift Box * 1]
"It's been a full year…"
Nao was slightly startled. He looked at the new Grade A Gift Box in his inventory, then glanced at the other two gift boxes above it, his eyes subtly glinting.
"Now all three gift boxes are in hand."
After a romantic relationship was established, a fixed reward of 20,000 points was given for every full month of sign-in. This had been one of his consistent and reliable sources of point growth in the past.
And upon reaching one full year, an additional Grade A Gift Box would be granted. hus, before today, Gion's and Shia's gift boxes had already been delivered successively.
However, Nao had been patiently holding back from opening them.
Partly because A-rank boxes weren't as exciting as S-rank ones.
Partly because… well, he was just being cheeky.
He wanted to open all three at once—triple unboxing, triple the fun. And of course, he was curious:
Which girlfriend's box had the best loot?
"Let's start with Shia's, then."
He clicked the box. A blue dice appeared, its faces labeled:
Attribute Points
Consumables
Weapons
Skill Scrolls
Armor
And… Eggs
Even if it was just A-rank, the opening ritual was essential.
Nao rubbed his hands, made a wish, and called out:
"Let's goooo!"
[A-Rank Gift Box opening… please wait]
The dice spun rapidly.
Nao stared without blinking.
[Roll Complete]
[Reward Type: Skill Scroll]
The glow faded, revealing an ancient-looking scroll.
A text box popped up:
[You've obtained a new skill: Mirror Flower, Water Moon (Kyoka Suigetsu)]