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Whoosh!
White Ghost and Mihawk separated.
Both men were panting, but their faces were filled with excitement.
White Ghost burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! It's been a long time since I've had this much fun. The last time was when I fought that guy."
"Haa... haa..."
Mihawk was equally excited, a smile on his lips.
"It's been a long time since I fought this freely as well."
Their gazes met.
At the same time, they swung their weapons.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two thousand-meter-long sword auras collided once more.
After the sword auras dispersed, their weapons clashed again.
Clang!
Mihawk looked at White Ghost.
"Why aren't you using your ability? And your Conqueror's Haki?"
White Ghost grinned ferociously.
"If I were fighting someone else, I would. But against you, I can't."
Clang!
The two separated again.
The next instant, both weapons, coated in top-tier Haki, struck toward each other.
Clang!
"Why? I don't mind if you use your ability."
Crack.
The surrounding terrain was already a wreck. Pits and holes were everywhere, along with dense sword scars and the traces left by slashes.
White Ghost increased his strength, constantly pouring out Haki while pushing his Observation Haki to its peak.
Clang, clang, clang!
As he fought, White Ghost replied, "Because you are the swordsman I respect most on this sea. No one else even comes close.
"Using anything else would be looking down on you."
Whoosh!
Mihawk slashed toward White Ghost's chest and said nothing more.
Both men attacked each other with full force.
"These two really have monstrous physiques. This is already the fourth day, right?"
Zango stood at the side, watching the fight with envy.
Señor Pink held a cigarette between his lips.
"Aren't you an Ancient Zoan? Your physique has also reached a high level. Can't you fight for days and nights like this?"
Zango rubbed his chin.
"I can, sure. It depends who I'm fighting. If it's those two… well, I wouldn't last long."
The moment Zango finished speaking, a thousand-meter slash flew toward their side.
Zango covered his face.
"These two throw sword auras around like they're free."
No one else moved.
There was no need.
After watching for so many days, Ain had already understood the path she needed to take.
She had said before that she had put aside her impatience.
Thinking back on it now, the corner of Ain's lips curved upward.
She gripped Oto at her waist.
"One-Sword Style…"
Ain opened her eyes and suddenly drew Oto, slashing forward.
"…Narrow Line of Heaven."
Whoosh!
A thousand-meter sword aura was also released from Ain's blade.
Boom!
The two sword auras collided, then dispersed.
One of Morgans's cameras happened to be pointed at Ain.
"Wahahaha! Dear viewers, did you see it? Did you see it? A young Great Swordsman has been born before our very eyes!"
Morgans roared with excitement, as if he himself had reached the realm of Great Swordsman.
He seemed even happier than Ain.
On the reef island—
No, half of the reef island. This barren island had already been cut in half by White Ghost and Mihawk.
The two men stopped fighting and looked toward the sea.
They had both sensed that aura just now.
Mihawk narrowed his eyes.
"It seems not letting her fight this time was the right decision."
White Ghost smiled as he looked at Ain on his ship and nodded.
"That girl kept saying she wasn't impatient anymore. As if I couldn't feel whether she was rushing or not.
"That's why I didn't let her step forward this time.
"Breaking through in battle is good, but letting things happen naturally is best."
Mihawk glanced at White Ghost's proud expression.
"I still think breaking through in battle is better. At least the foundation will be steadier."
White Ghost sent out a sword aura.
"Foundation is built by one's own effort. Breaking through in battle is fine, but can you stabilize instantly afterward?"
Mihawk cut apart the sword aura.
"Our paths are different. So let our blades speak."
White Ghost chuckled.
The great sword in his hand hummed, as if it had been too long since it last fought a grand battle, and it was thrilled.
"You're right. Since our paths are different, let our blades speak."
With that, White Ghost slashed toward Mihawk again.
At this point, what they were comparing was endurance, Haki, and Observation Haki.
Blades flashed.
Their speed had become impossible to follow clearly.
All anyone could see were sword auras flying out from one place one moment, then another the next.
Or a reef being sliced apart.
Or another sword scar appearing on the ground.
"Big Sister Ain is amazing!"
Little Nami bounced around beside Ain.
Ain sheathed her sword and took a deep breath. A smile rested on her beautiful face as she picked Nami up.
"Thank you for the blessing, little Nami."
Standing in the lookout room, Kuro watched the battle with a smile.
"Now the ship's combat power has grown stronger again. I'm really looking forward to seeing the expressions of those people when we enter the New World."
"Congratulations, Big Sister Ain!"
Uta and the others hurried over to congratulate her as well.
The three girls all carried envy in their eyes.
A Great Swordsman.
So many people remained stuck at the peak of Swordsman for their entire lives and could only watch others break through.
But they weren't anxious.
With White Ghost, a Great Swordsman himself, by their side, they felt their chances of breaking through were high.
Wasn't Ain the perfect example?
After smiling and laughing with everyone for a while, Ain continued watching the battle.
All she needed now was to stabilize herself.
At Marine HQ, Zephyr watched Ain's slash on the broadcast, a smile never leaving his old face.
"It seems Ain didn't choose wrong by following that brat White Ghost.
"How many years has it been? And she's already broken through.
"Her strength should be at the level of an elite Vice Admiral now.
"That's much better than continuing to follow this old wreck of a teacher."
There were a few idle people around Zephyr.
Kuzan lay lazily nearby, watching the broadcast.
When he saw Ain unleash that slash, he nodded.
"Ah la la… Looks like little White Ghost's teaching ability is pretty good.
"In such a short time, she stepped into the realm that others fail to reach their whole lives."
Thinking of that, Kuzan raised his fingers and started counting names.
"Pedro the Mad Leopard. Wanda the cook.
"Soul Diva Uta. Soul King Brook. Mythical Zoan Kuina. Mythical Zoan Bai Hezi. And that blond little girl who's also a Mythical Zoan.
"Tsk, tsk. Little White Ghost's teaching ability really isn't ordinary."
Gion nodded.
"The people on that man's ship all have solid foundations as swordsmen. It's just that stepping into that realm is too difficult.
"You can't rush it. You can't panic.
"I remember little White Ghost once said swordsmanship is best left to flow naturally."
A man nearby ate the rice crackers he had stolen from Sengoku and shook his head.
"That guy only knows those two lines. Other than that, he can't say anything else."
Anger appeared on Gion's beautiful face. She turned around and kicked him flying.
"Get lost, you half-baked swordsman."
Sengoku and the other higher-ups were all busy. They couldn't possibly stay here and watch until the battle ended.
They had only summoned some Marine swordsmen to watch.
After all, there was no harm in seeing more.
Whoosh!
White Ghost's sword aura was dodged by Mihawk and flew straight toward his own ship.
Señor Pink spat out the cigarette in his mouth and used Geppo, flying toward the incoming sword aura.
Armament Haki covered his arm.
"Cat-Cat Strong Strike!"
Bang!
Señor Pink punched apart the sword aura, which had already lost most of its power, and landed back on the ship.
Lucianne hurried forward to check whether her husband was hurt. Only after seeing that nothing was wrong did her expression ease.
"I'm fine. I'm very strong now," Señor Pink quickly comforted his wife.
"Mm."
Lucianne smiled sweetly and leaned her head against her husband's chest.
Everyone silently turned away, refusing to watch the married couple show off their affection.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇◇ Ain has finally taken the next step and broken through as a Great Swordsman!◇ New chapters have already been updated on P@treon!◇ Read ahead now to see how White Ghost and Mihawk's duel reaches its peak, and how Ain's breakthrough changes the crew's future.◇ Support the novel with Power Stones, comments, and reviews to help push it toward Rank 1 on Webnovel's Power Ranking!◇ Unlock early access chapters here: patreon.com/StrawHatStudios