While Issho and Katakuri were locked in fierce battle within the Mirror World, an equally intense fight was taking place outside it:
A historic duel of swordsmanship between Mihawk, the "World's Greatest Swordsman," and Garen, the "Ichi Style Grand Swordsman."
Compared to this battle, even the chaotic melee of Zephyr and Reiju leading their forces to intercept Weevil and the others was nothing more than a trivial sideshow.
The ordinary spectators, who had been anxious over the sudden anti-crime crackdown in Deban and feared being caught in the fighting, had completely calmed down as well.
They all obediently returned to their seats and watched with rapt attention as the world's greatest swordsmen clashed.
The appearance of Mihawk and Garen had turned this World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament into a truly world-class contest.
The audience felt they had gotten their money's worth, while the swordsmen, reporters, and other interested parties present were so excited that tears filled their eyes.
Their battle had been going on for a long time, yet the flashes of sword light never ceased for even a moment.
The vast arena had been completely engulfed by sword energy and blade auras, and the once-level ground was now scarred with deep ravines and craters.
Several enormous raised platforms around them had been blasted into heaps of brick and rubble, then swept high into the air by the unending high-pressure sword winds, vanishing without a trace.
At last, just as this artificial floating island was about to be wrecked into sinking, the battle abruptly came to a halt.
Neither man had fallen. Mihawk had merely withdrawn his sword light and taken the initiative to end the fight.
"Why?"
Garen asked in confusion, "The winner hasn't been decided. Why did you suddenly stop?"
"No."
Mihawk let out a long breath, steadying