"What? The World's Greatest Swordsman actually challenged that black-haired man?"
From afar, Lola's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the unfolding scene.
She was the twenty-third daughter of Big Mom and once served as the Chocolate Minister of Cacao Island. She was no ignorant rookie pirate unfamiliar with the world. She had personally witnessed Dracule Mihawk's presence before, and even Big Mom herself had praised the terror contained within his sword.
Lola still remembered how she once tried to arrange for women of the Charlotte Family to "coincidentally" encounter Mihawk, only for every single attempt to be coldly ignored.
As a swordsman herself, Lola understood better than most what the title of World's Greatest Swordsman truly represented.
That casual slash earlier was more than enough to end the lives of most pirates on the sea, herself included.
Yet the man standing opposite Mihawk had blocked it.
Not only that, Mihawk had taken the initiative to challenge him.
In Mihawk's eyes, this man stood on the same level.
Unfortunately, Lola had been stranded on this island for far too long. While she survived by scavenging usable items from junk piles, her knowledge of recent events in the outside world was extremely limited.
She had no idea who this short-haired, black-haired man was.
"Huh?"
Beside her, the capable subordinates of the Rolling Pirates, the Ricky brothers, spoke with blank expressions.
"Who did you say that man was? The one carrying the black cross sword is the World's Greatest Swordsman?"
"You mean… one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Dracule Mihawk?"
Nearby, other members of the Rolling Pirates could not suppress their excitement and shock.
The World's Greatest Swordsman had taken the initiative to issue a duel.
Everyone knew the rumors. Mihawk wandered the seas alone, occasionally challenged by rising pirates. Every challenger either died or barely survived, crushed without mercy.
Those stories were often used as idle gossip to pass the time.
"Quiet," someone whispered urgently. "We're about to witness something incredible."
The Rolling Pirates held their breath as they watched the battlefield from afar, afraid to miss even a single moment.
…
"Mihawk."
Shirogai met the sharp gaze of the World's Greatest Swordsman and smiled faintly.
"One of my partners once crossed paths with you and spoke highly of your character. Still, I didn't expect you to personally challenge someone who's only been at sea for a few months. That's not your usual style."
Mihawk's golden eyes locked onto Shirogai without wavering.
"Fifth Emperor, Shirogai Yamikuro," Mihawk said calmly. "No one would mistake a man like you for a rookie."
Fifth Emperor?
The pirates of the Rolling Pirates froze.
There were only Four Emperors ruling the seas. Since when did a Fifth Emperor exist?
"Mihawk, there's no need to be so eager," Shirogai said with an easy smile. "The World Government didn't send you here to fight me, did they?"
His gaze swept across the island.
"Or do you intend to destroy this place?"
Mihawk did not hesitate.
"Then it will be destroyed."
"What?"
Gecko Moria's eyes bulged as he roared furiously.
"Hey! This is my territory! Mihawk, whose land do you think you're destroying?"
Mihawk ignored him completely.
Instead, his eyes burned brighter as he studied Shirogai.
"So the rumors were true. You defeated Kaido and Big Mom."
The Supreme Grade Sword Yoru began to emit a deep, dark green radiance as Mihawk's aura sharpened to a terrifying degree.
"Come," Mihawk said, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Show me your strength."
"What?!"
Lola clamped a hand over her mouth, her pupils trembling.
This man defeated Mama?
…
Shirogai chuckled softly, lowering his head for a moment.
"You really are fitting for your blade, Mihawk. Sharp enough to pierce everything."
Then his gaze lifted, calm and resolute.
"If you strike again, I won't hold back. Life and death will be your own responsibility."
"As it should be," Mihawk replied.
With a simple motion, Mihawk swung Yoru.
In an instant, a terrifying slash tore through the air, dark green light splitting the sky itself.
The ground shattered as countless deep sword marks raced forward, converging on Shirogai.
Even from a distance, the Rolling Pirates screamed in pain.
"My eyes! Just looking at it hurts!"
They instinctively lowered their heads, unable to endure the pressure radiating from the slash.
Only Lola forced herself to keep watching.
She could not understand it.
Big Mom had ruled the seas for decades, her body famed as an iron fortress. And yet she had supposedly been defeated by this man.
"He's done for," Lola whispered.
The slash struck Shirogai head-on.
A deafening explosion erupted as sword energy consumed the area, dust and debris filling the air.
Lola shut her eyes.
"So it ends in one strike…"
Perhaps it really had all been a lie. Pirates often fabricated stories to raise their own reputation.
Maybe this so-called Fifth Emperor was no different.
As the dust slowly settled, Lola opened her eyes.
Then she froze.
Within the shattered battlefield stood a figure unlike anything she had imagined.
Shirogai's body had transformed into a humanoid mass of blades, countless sharp edges forming a living weapon. His grin was feral, his killing intent overwhelming.
"Mihawk," Shirogai said, his voice carrying a chilling edge. "Try this."
"Myriad Blade Style."
He launched forward in a flash.
"What terrifying killing intent," Mihawk muttered, his eyes shining.
Clang.
Yoru intercepted Shirogai's blade-covered form with perfect precision.
Shirogai laughed.
"Myriad Blades, Slash."
In the next instant, countless black slashes erupted from his body, tearing outward in all directions, turning the battlefield into a storm of steel.
____
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