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"Haa… haa…"
White Ghost and Mihawk stood apart, both breathing heavily.
They had already fought for six days and six nights.
Whether in Haki or swordsmanship, neither had truly surpassed the other—of course, that was under the condition that White Ghost had not used his ability or Conqueror's Haki.
Mihawk's clothes were torn all over, and countless thin wounds covered his body. He looked up at White Ghost, who was in much the same state as himself.
"I can't beat you."
The moment Mihawk said that, both the people watching the broadcast and those at the scene froze.
What did that mean?
Did it prove White Ghost was stronger than Mihawk?
Was the title of world's strongest swordsman about to change hands?
White Ghost shook his head.
"In swordsmanship, we're evenly matched. Our Haki and Observation Haki are about the same too.
"I told you. When I fight you, Conqueror's Haki and abilities don't count. You're worthy of that respect."
The major figures watching the broadcast had already seen through it as well.
If White Ghost fought with his full strength, Mihawk definitely wouldn't last five days.
It wasn't as if they didn't know how terrifying White Ghost was when he went all out.
Forget Conqueror's coating—his Mythical Zoan ability alone was absurdly powerful.
No matter how hard Mihawk's head was, he couldn't withstand White Ghost's full-force bombardment forever.
Clang!
Their weapons collided once more.
Mihawk looked at White Ghost.
"Didn't you tell your crew before that abilities are also part of strength?"
White Ghost met Mihawk's gaze.
"I did say that. But it depends on who I'm fighting."
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
As they exchanged blows, White Ghost continued, "If it were someone else, I'd go all out.
"But against you, I can't."
Mihawk cut apart White Ghost's sword aura, then returned one of his own, unwilling to lose out.
"Why?"
White Ghost knocked Mihawk's sword aura into the sky.
Boom!
The sky exploded.
"Because other people practice the sword to become the world's strongest swordsman.
"But you practice the sword for the sake of swordsmanship itself."
Mihawk lowered his head and thought for a moment. Then he looked up at White Ghost.
"You're right. That is exactly how I am. I don't care about the title of world's strongest swordsman at all."
Many people hearing White Ghost's words unconsciously touched the swords or blades at their waists.
That's right.
What had their original reason for practicing the sword been?
Was it for the title of world's strongest?
Many people grew confused, asking themselves whether they had truly been chasing only that name.
Others felt their eyes brighten.
Wasn't it better for swordsmanship to remain pure?
Was there really a need to cling so desperately to a hollow title?
On White Ghost's ship, all the swordsmen lowered their heads in thought.
For a moment, Ain felt lost.
"Why do I practice the sword?"
Bai Hezi looked down at Ame-no-Habakiri and Enma at her waist and murmured to herself,
"Practicing the sword… Why did I practice the sword?
"At first, it was for Wano. For my brother."
Thinking of that, Bai Hezi's eyes dimmed.
No.
Grandfather said it already.
I'm no longer part of the Kozuki Clan.
I'm no longer Kozuki Hiyori.
Then Bai Hezi thought of all the years she had followed White Ghost.
How he had treated her.
How he had taught her swordsmanship and taught her everything without holding back.
Those people had once found her and told her that in the future, they could help her return to Wano, her homeland.
The condition was that she tell them certain things about that man.
At the time, she had hesitated.
Then she chose to hide it.
Later, in the East Blue, White Ghost had found out about it.
Back then, Bai Hezi had been deeply hurt and upset.
Hadn't she not betrayed him?
She hadn't revealed anything to anyone.
So why had he treated her that way?
Only later, after calming down, did Bai Hezi realize something.
At some point, she had started caring so much about that man's feelings.
He had already walked deep into her heart.
There was no separating them anymore.
"That's right… I'm no longer Kozuki Hiyori of the Kozuki Clan.
"I am Bai Hezi now.
"The name he gave me."
Bai Hezi smiled as she spoke, but tears fell from her eyes without her realizing it.
The others turned to look at her.
Something about this girl's aura wasn't right. It was rising and falling violently.
Bai Hezi gripped Ame-no-Habakiri tightly.
"I'm not Kozuki Hiyori anymore. That person no longer exists.
"There is only Bai Hezi now.
"In the past, I practiced the sword for Wano.
"But now… I practice it for him."
After she finished speaking, Bai Hezi looked firmly toward White Ghost in the field.
Her aura erupted.
A wave of Conqueror's Haki shot into the sky, and her sword intent surged wildly.
The ordinary people who were too close immediately rolled their eyes back.
Thud, thud, thud.
One after another, they collapsed unconscious.
Nirizabello, whose body had already been hollowed out, fared even worse. The moment the Conqueror's Haki brushed him, he slumped into his chair.
Lady Lilith turned to look in that direction.
"Incredible. Truly incredible. That boy's ship has this many Conqueror's Haki users?"
The shock in Arya and Leonardo's eyes could not be hidden.
Among people their age, they had always considered themselves outstanding.
But over the past few days, White Ghost's crew had been slapping their faces over and over again, leaving them almost ashamed of themselves.
Now, seeing this scene, the siblings could not calm down for a long time.
In the sky, Morgans excitedly pointed the camera at Bai Hezi.
But before long, he quickly moved it away.
He had already been warned.
That little lightning girl had gently zapped him once because one of his cameras kept focusing too much on them.
Morgans's bird face was full of excitement as he shouted, "Friends! Did you see that? Did you see it? That was the awakening of Conqueror's Haki!
"Wahahaha! Truly exciting! Not only did we witness the duel of two top Great Swordsmen, we also saw someone break through into the realm of Great Swordsman.
"And now we've even witnessed the awakening of Conqueror's Haki! This broadcast certainly hasn't disappointed anyone!"
As the camera shifted, viewers everywhere saw the people fainted on the ground.
Many big shots narrowed their eyes.
Some gazes slowly changed.
The strength of the people on that ship was starting to make them wary.
White Ghost and Mihawk stopped fighting and looked toward the sea.
White Ghost's expression was calm, but Mihawk still noticed the slight upward curve at the corner of his mouth.
"The people on your ship are more shocking one after another," Mihawk said.
White Ghost withdrew his gaze.
"That girl's father was originally a Conqueror's Haki user. I'm not surprised she awakened it."
At the same time, White Ghost silently added in his heart:
That pervert Momonosuke probably hasn't awakened it, right?
If he has, I'll cut him down in the future to avoid trouble.
Mihawk nodded.
"If that's the case, it's not quite as surprising."
The two looked at each other.
White Ghost said, "About time, isn't it? One move."
Mihawk nodded.
"Fine. This trip did not disappoint me."
White Ghost held his great sword at an angle.
"Careful. This is the strongest sword technique I currently understand."
Mihawk took the same stance. Hearing those words, his eyes narrowed and his face filled with excitement.
"This is also my strongest sword technique at present."
White Ghost swung.
"Path of Gale: Falling Wind."
Mihawk's technique had no name.
He simply swung his blade.
Boom!
The island began to shake.
Under the final strike of the two men, the island could no longer hold together and started collapsing.
Rumble!
Huge chunks of reef shattered and fell into the sea.
Before long, the barren island formed entirely from reef cracked apart completely and sank beneath the waves.
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◇ White Ghost and Mihawk's six-day duel has finally reached its end, and the sea has witnessed a battle worthy of legends.
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