Among the Seven Warlords of the Sea, only two hold the title of "World's Greatest."
One is Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress, who bears the title of "World's Most Beautiful Woman."
The other is Dracule Mihawk, the man hailed as the "World's Greatest Swordsman."
Unlike Hancock's title, which is more about appearance than substance, Mihawk's title as the "World's Greatest Swordsman" was earned entirely through his unparalleled skill in battle.
As mentioned before, even among the Seven Warlords of the Sea, there is a wide disparity in strength. Wood could confidently state that Mihawk was undoubtedly the strongest among them. In fact, Mihawk had long since surpassed the framework of the Warlords entirely.
While other Warlords relied on their subordinates and forces to hold their position, Mihawk was an exception. He stood as a Warlord entirely on his own, with no crew or faction to back him. His strength alone was enough to earn him the title.
It was no exaggeration to say that while all Seven Warlords held the same title, Mihawk's standing was leagues above the rest.
Moreover, Mihawk frequently dueled with one of the Four Emperors, "Red-Haired" Shanks. Though the results of their battles remain unknown, the very fact that Mihawk could hold his own against a Yonko was a testament to his incredible strength.
As the "World's Greatest Swordsman," Mihawk's greatest passion lay in crossing blades with other powerful swordsmen. It was widely known that one of the strongest swordsmen on the seas was none other than Wood, the "Ancient Weapon."
Mihawk's target was clear. He wasn't here for Doflamingo or Crocodile. His sole interest lay in Wood.
The presence of Mihawk drastically changed the balance of power. Though it was still three Warlords against one, Mihawk's involvement was on a completely different level compared to Moria, who had already been dispatched.
Doflamingo, who had previously doubted their chances against Wood, now felt a flicker of hope.
Mihawk's title as the world's best swordsman wasn't for show. While he might not dominate Wood outright, he was certainly capable of matching him in skill and keeping him occupied.
Doflamingo himself was a master of all three types of Haki and wielded a fully awakened Devil Fruit, making him one of the strongest figures on the seas.
Though Crocodile's strength was relatively weaker, his status as a Logia-type Devil Fruit user still made him a significant force. Together, the three of them formed a lineup capable of challenging even one of the Four Emperors. Defeating Wood seemed within the realm of possibility.
Earlier, Mihawk had been engaged in combat on the battlefield against Whitebeard Pirates' Fifth Division Commander, Vista the "Flower Sword."
As one of Whitebeard's senior commanders, Vista was widely regarded as one of the top swordsmen on the seas. While he might not rival Mihawk in strength, he could hold his own in a duel.
Mihawk, who rarely encountered a worthy swordsman, had taken the opportunity to spar with Vista, deliberately holding back to enjoy their duel.
Compared to other so-called swordsmen on the battlefield, Vista stood out as a rare talent. Earlier, Mihawk had crossed paths with Mr. 1, a bounty hunter from the West Blue who was known for his swordsmanship.
However, Mihawk had quickly lost interest. Mr. 1's ability came entirely from his Devil Fruit, and his so-called swordsmanship was mediocre at best. Disappointed, Mihawk had dispatched him with a single blow.
But Vista was different. As a swordsman who relied purely on skill rather than powers, he was exactly the type of opponent Mihawk appreciated.
Their duel had been a dance of blades, a contest of pure skill. Mihawk had found himself genuinely enjoying the fight—until an enormous slash tore through the battlefield, splitting the frozen tsunami in two. Both Mihawk and Vista had paused their battle, their attention drawn to the source of the devastating attack.
As seasoned swordsmen, they both understood the sheer power behind that slash. It wasn't just impressive—it was overwhelming.
Vista, surprised, looked at Mihawk. He knew that Mihawk had been holding back during their fight, but the idea that another swordsman on the battlefield could rival Mihawk's strength was hard to believe.
"Our duel will have to wait for another time," Mihawk said calmly, sheathing his blade. "I must take my leave."
Vista nodded, understanding Mihawk's intent. While his pride as a swordsman urged him to continue their duel, he also recognized the importance of the situation. The Whitebeard Pirates weren't here for personal grudges; their mission was to rescue Ace.
Vista watched as Mihawk strode away, heading toward the source of the powerful slash.
"Ah, so it's you," Mihawk said, his voice carrying across the battlefield. His piercing eyes locked onto Wood. "The traitor of the Navy… No, the 'Ancient Weapon.' I see now. You're one of the sea's renowned swordsmen, capable of such an impressive slash. I've wanted to test your skill for quite some time. I didn't expect to meet you here."
Wood's fame had long since spread across the seas. His face was instantly recognizable, and Mihawk had no trouble identifying him.
However, Mihawk noticed something unusual. According to the information he had, Wood was a dual-wielding swordsman. Yet now, Wood carried three swords.
While three-sword users were rare, Mihawk could only recall one other swordsman known for the style—and that person was not standing before him.
In the vast seas, there were few swordsmen capable of facing the world's greatest. One of them was a young man with a commanding presence, Roronoa Zoro, whom Mihawk had once encountered at the Baratie in East Blue.
"Dracule Mihawk, the World's Greatest Swordsman. What a troublesome opponent to appear here…"
Wood smiled faintly, his tone calm yet playful. "But we don't seem to have any reason to fight, do we? Can't you see this navy uniform I'm wearing? Just between us, I'm here as an external reinforcement invited by the Marines.
And you, as a Warlord of the Sea under the World Government, are technically on the same side. So, really, there's no justification for a fight here."
Wood spread his hands with an expression of exaggerated sincerity. However, neither Mihawk nor Doflamingo believed a single word.
It wasn't surprising. Everyone present was well aware of Wood's vast influence and power. Doflamingo, who operated in the shadows of the underworld, was especially familiar with Wood's status—essentially an emperor in the underworld. Even the World Government and Celestial Dragons had to tread carefully around him.
The idea that such a figure would heed the orders of the Marine headquarters? That was beyond absurd. It was easier to believe Wood was a secret Marine operative than to accept that he was merely here as "reinforcement."
Mihawk's piercing gaze remained unwavering. Whether or not Wood was truly allied with the Marines was irrelevant. As the World's Greatest Swordsman, Mihawk had one goal: to test his blade against a worthy opponent.
In an instant, Mihawk disappeared from his original position. When he reappeared, he was already standing before Wood, black blade Yoru in hand, mid-swing in a devastating downward slash.
"Clang—!"
The clash of metal rang out, followed by a powerful shockwave rippling through the air.
Mihawk's black blade Yoru was met with Wood's 『Winter Knight』, effortlessly blocking the strike. Wood held the blade with one hand, his stance relaxed and composed, as if the attack posed no threat.
Both men remained expressionless, their calm demeanors in stark contrast to the overwhelming power evident in their clash. The sheer force of their exchange sent sharp winds cutting through the air, carving the ground beneath them into perfectly aligned blocks as if it were tofu. The shockwave cleared the surrounding area within hundreds of meters, leaving an empty battlefield around them.
"As expected, my intuition was correct. Your strength is extraordinary," Mihawk remarked, his lips curving slightly into a faint smile.
That single exchange had already confirmed what Mihawk suspected: Wood's skill far surpassed Vista's. Unlike his previous battles, Mihawk had not held back this time. He knew that against someone of Wood's reputation, half-measures were meaningless.
In the blink of an eye, both swordsmen vanished from sight, only to reappear several meters away in mid-air. Their blades clashed with blinding speed, engaging in a breathtaking display of swordsmanship.
Wood's accumulation of skills across worlds, combined with abilities like the 『Blessing of the Sword Saint』, had made him confident that there were only a handful of people who could match him in swordsmanship.
But now, before him stood Mihawk, the "World's Greatest Swordsman," possibly the strongest in this world when it came to pure swordsmanship.
Even for Wood, who was used to overwhelming his opponents with superior skill, Mihawk proved to be a rare challenge.
Both swordsmen moved at an extraordinary pace, their strikes, counters, and defenses reaching the pinnacle of human ability. In just one to two minutes, they had exchanged thousands of blows. Despite the intensity of the duel, neither had managed to land a single hit on the other.
It wasn't that they were holding back—far from it. Their swordsmanship was simply too precise, too refined. Every attack was met with a flawless defense, leaving no openings or weaknesses to exploit.
After another clash, the two separated momentarily, hovering mid-air. Mihawk's golden eyes shone with unyielding determination, his battle spirit burning brighter than ever.
"Your swordsmanship is truly remarkable. Both your offense and defense are executed with unparalleled precision.
Moreover, I sense multiple influences in your techniques—a blend of styles, honed to perfection.
Now that the warm-up is over, may I see your true swordsmanship?"
Mihawk's words brought a flicker of surprise to Wood's face. As expected of the World's Greatest Swordsman—he had already discerned the nature of Wood's earlier techniques.
Wood hadn't used his original 『Hyakki Yagyō Sword Style』. Instead, he had employed techniques from other styles he had mastered in different worlds, such as the Sword God and Water God styles from Mushoku Tensei.
He had treated the fight as a friendly exchange, a test of techniques rather than a battle to the death. But it seemed Mihawk was unimpressed by his restraint.
"What? That was just a warm-up?"
"Is this the pinnacle of swordsmanship? If Wood defeats Mihawk, does that mean he'll take the title of the World's Greatest Swordsman?"
The nearby onlookers—both Marines and pirates—were utterly dumbfounded. To them, the earlier duel had already seemed like a clash between gods.
Apart from the battles involving the Admirals and Whitebeard, nothing else on the battlefield came close in terms of intensity and spectacle.
The ground had been reduced to rubble, sliced apart like paper by the two swordsmen's strikes. Those caught in the aftermath of their attacks had been either killed or maimed instantly.
Yet now, the two warriors claimed that what they had just done was merely a warm-up?
This was the epitome of awe-inspiring power. As the Marines and pirates watched in stunned silence, it became clear that Mihawk and Wood were operating on a level far beyond their comprehension—almost as if they were about to transcend the very battlefield itself.
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