As soon as he finished speaking, Borsalino's lewd expression subsided slightly, which was unusual.
Holding the Ama no Murakumo Sword, he lightly twirled it, then transformed into light and instantly rushed towards Rowan.
Rowan didn't find it too difficult to withstand Kizaru's attack. He had participated in far too many major battles. Although his raw strength was no match for Borsalino, he knew all too well how to engage in prolonged combat.
Rowan blocked Kizaru's attack with his sword in one hand, grinning as his beard fluttered with his movement.
"Haha, you're right, Kizaru- kun."
Order and freedom have always been opposing forces!
However, I really disagree with the latter part of what you said.
Because neither order nor freedom will be something everyone necessarily needs!
Order certainly sounds appealing, but those who control order, especially the World Government that decides it, are...
You haven't managed to maintain absolute order in every place.
Even under the shroud of your so-called order, the world is still filled with countless suffering people!
As for the freedom that I uphold...
Haha, that kind of freedom has truly hurt many people, but it has also inspired many others!
Just as there are scoundrels in your navy, the reason I went to sea back then was because I was framed by your navy on my hometown island.
At that time, I often went hunting in the forest. After I killed a rare white tiger, the naval lieutenant colonel in charge of managing my hometown came to my door.
He first wanted to buy the tiger skin, but I refused to sell it to him.
Later, he started demanding the tiger skin from me, but I refused to give it to him.
That was a particularly beautiful piece of leather. I was going to save it for my mother, who was still alive back then, to use as a mattress to treat her chronic rheumatism.
So after that, the lieutenant colonel stopped buying from me and stopped asking for more.
He arrested me on the spot, claiming that I had killed his prized tiger!
Look at this, Borsalino! Is there any deal in the world where the more you negotiate, the lower the price becomes, until you're even offered up your fortune and your life?
So I killed that lieutenant colonel and took on my first bounty.
This is the source of my free spirit; it is because the order manipulated in your hands has not only failed to protect my safety.
He even became your tool, forcing someone like me, who was originally willing to be sheltered under the order, to go out to sea to pursue a free life, and to constantly seek the path to true order within that freedom!
As soon as he finished speaking, Rowan gripped his sword with both hands, his blade pressing firmly against Borsalino's, desperately closing in on Kizaru's face.
At this moment, however, Kizaru did not exert much effort, allowing Rowan to approach him with the Ama no Murakumo Sword pressing down on him.
Just as they were getting closer, he smiled and said to Rowan.
"Then do you know how I decided to become a naval officer?"
My story Koby yours; it's just that my village was plundered by pirates.
Of course, my parents and my sister all died in front of me.
I should have died anyway, but the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, who was a colonel back then, happened to pass by. His timely arrival at the shore allowed me to escape with only eleven stab wounds, which is how I survived.
My constitution is still quite good. My sister was only stabbed three times before she died right in front of me, wailing and roaring.
Of course, my sister, who died with her eyes wide open, was not only stabbed but also stabbed with sticks by more than a dozen pirates. They really deserved to die!
Freedom—I don't deny the allure of this word to anyone!
But you also have to admit it!
Under order, even the villains in the navy, before committing evil deeds, at least do something symbolic.
Just like how he at least hypocritically suggested to you that he wanted to buy a tiger skin.
Admittedly, most ordinary people cannot accept such a symbolic thing, but it at least proves that no matter how evil the villains in the navy do, they still have a basic sense of fear!
But you free pirates...
Once you free-spirited pirates embark on the wrong path, then... you truly will have no fear left!
Do you think I haven't thought about all of this? Do you think I obtained the ambiguous justice that I'm determined to uphold?
There are bad guys in the Navy and good guys in the pirates, so I'm willing to occasionally make an exception within the bounds of the rules.
As for slacking off, that's what I love to do most. Even if the other party is a pirate, as long as they're worth it, I'll still slack off a bit.
Even with young people who have already made mistakes, I'm willing to give them a couple of reluctant chances, just to let them off the hook.
I even think they have the right to improve; at the very least, they should seize any opportunity to do so.
And even now, Rowan, what do you say about that?
Are there really more bad marines in the Navy?
There are still more good pirates in One Piece!
In other words, what are the chances that someone who climbs the ranks in the Navy is likely to turn bad?
But what are the chances that a pirate who rises step by step to become the Emperors of the Sea will turn for the better?
The higher-ups set an example for the lower-downs; this is why, even though I've seen through the ways of the world, I'm still willing to serve the Navy and the World Government.
Even if a bad person rises to the top in the Navy, he will have to suppress his true nature and, under the influence of the overall environment of the Navy, package himself and even truly become a good person!
Because being a good person is the politically correct thing to do for the entire Navy!
Justice is also the politically correct principle that all the top figures in the Navy bear on their shoulders, and they must strive to move closer to justice, even if it means putting on a show!
And pirates are like a pool of filth, aren't they?
Even if good people go further and further down this path, the chances of them turning bad are extremely high, because the highest echelons of you pirates have never had any moral constraints!
For you bunch of free-spirited bastards, being a good person or a bad person is not your need, but simply your choice!
As for this old man...
I have more faith in the constraints imposed by the environment!
Without such constraints, would everyone be able to make the right choice?
No!
That's why the words "right" and "wrong" exist in the world.
It's because so many people have made mistakes, and keep making the same mistakes!!!
At this point, Borsalino's momentum surged, and he suddenly raised the Ama no Murakumo Sword, sending Rowan flying back dozens of meters.
Before Rowan could even adjust his stance, Kizaru had already raised his left hand, which was not holding a sword.
"You have your beliefs, and I have mine. We don't need to continue this conversation."
Right and wrong, good and evil—these things, when merely discussed, are ultimately too superficial and one-sided.
Because no one, whether it's you or me, or those fighting amongst ourselves, can truly understand another person's life.
All I know is that I must defeat you guys.
Only then can true order possibly arrive!
Just like Roger back then, Shanks now, the territory controlled by these pirates is always more peaceful and prosperous than the territory controlled by other pirates.
It's like those irresponsible, trashy officers in my navy who are stationed all over the Four Blues and end up exploiting the islands. The civilians living in their territories live even worse lives than the civilians under the command of pirates like Shanks.
What determines the quality of people's lives may be the system, the times, the law, or technology.
Ultimately, however well or poorly people around the world live is determined by the person sitting in the highest position!
Those who have the power to determine the fate of the entire world, once they are willing to guarantee the livelihoods of all people in the world...
He really can do it!
As for me now, I'm just an old man.
I have decided to bet everything I have in this life on the person I have my eye on!
Even if it's an ambiguous old man, I will definitely push him to the highest position!
No one is allowed to stand in this way!
Especially your pirates' obstruction!!!
At this point, Kizaru fiercely raised the Ame no Kumo sword.
Standing nearly seventy meters away from Rowan, Kizaru raised his longsword high and then brought it down fiercely!
In an instant, the lightsaber in Kizaru's hand swelled with the wind.
A moment later, the lightsaber actually transformed into a greatsword over seventy meters long!!!
In the distance, Rowan, who was blocking the attack, looked completely bewildered.
You... you're not playing by the rules here!
I was getting really into it, and then you suddenly pull this stunt on me?
Everyone else unleashes sword energy, but why does yours turn into an eighty-meter-long giant sword?
You're not a proper swordsman!!!
To be honest, Kizaru is not a swordsman at all.
On one hand, Kizaru's physical skills were relatively poor to begin with, Zephyr had looked down on Kizaru's physical training more than once.
Of course, that doesn't mean Kizaru is really bad. Even if he is bad, he has still mastered the Rokushiki to the fullest extent, and his physique far surpasses that of ordinary Shichibukai and monsters.
However, because his Devil Fruit ability is so convenient, Kizaru rarely encounters life-or-death crises, and he has never even faced a crisis that he could take seriously, one that would prevent him from escaping.
Even if Kizaru is exceptionally talented, this would still be a problem.
Because he himself disliked practicing physical techniques and lacked experience in life-and-death trials.
Kizaru's Seimei Kikan level is truly the weakest among the Three Admirals.
As for swordsmanship...
He doesn't even take physical training seriously, do you think he'd ever learn swordsmanship???
The reason this guy created something like the Ama no Murakumo Sword was simply to match his Yasakani no Magatama, thus achieving harmony in naming.
And since it's about harmony, the most important thing is...
Meanwhile, Rowan, while making sarcastic remarks, swiftly drew his sword after parrying.
Compared to Kizaru's ambiguous sword aura.
Rowan's sword aura truly matches the strength of a great swordsman!
Facing Rowan's sword aura as it slashed towards him, Kizaru gently raised his left hand.
"Yata no Kagami" (Yata Mirror).
The instant he finished speaking, countless photons condensed near his palm, forming a round mirror so dazzling that it was impossible to look directly at it.
A moment later, countless light particles suddenly burst out from the round mirror, then quickly split into countless streams and spread across the entire battlefield.
From that moment on, the area within a radius of nearly thirty kilometers around Kizaru was filled with dazzling lines of light particles!
Near every object that could reflect light, fresh light particles appeared.
Whether it's the side of a sword, a metal, ceramic, or plastic button, overly clean teeth, or even his pupils, everything becomes a medium for Kizaru to reflect light!
And the next moment.
Kizaru's body has completely disappeared!
Immediately afterwards...
Shanks, far away, suddenly frowned!
"Damn it, Borsalino! How dare he, a monster and Admiral, shamelessly attack low-level minions!"
Unfortunately, even I found it difficult to stop his Yata Mirror).
But we can't let him attack our men so easily."
Just as Shanks was pondering to himself, a muffled sound suddenly came from the air.
Boom!
With just a muffled thud, the air within a radius of thirty kilometers vibrated violently.
Time seemed to stand still at that moment.
At the same time, everyone within the area looked at that spot with disbelief.
In their eyes, nearly 800,000 scattered pirates within a 30-kilometer radius were all instantly thrown into a flying position.
Immediately afterwards...
Amidst countless screams, those people were indeed all sent flying backward!!!
Just then, Borsalino gave a lewd smile and then said to Rowan.
Rowan, you don't really think you're a match for me, do you?
Do you think you chose me, or did I actually choose you as my opponent?
This is war, not the childish game we've been playing in the past.
Compared to an old man like you, what troubles me more are your numerous and, on average, stronger pirate ants!
As soon as he finished speaking, Kizaru raised the mirror in his left hand again.
The next instant, the brilliance reappeared, and the lines of light once again followed countless reflected paths, striking each and every pirate nearby.
Wow!
If the Admiral's punch wasn't enough to incapacitate each of them, then...
Those two punches caused nearly a tenth of the pirates in the vicinity to cough up blood.
Despite the sounds of blood being coughed up repeatedly, Kizaru still stood before Rowan.
He held the mirror in his hand and then smiled at Rowan.
"I am but a humble old man, and I am none other than Guang."
Therefore, my methods are precisely the kind that work on many people at the same time.
Although it doesn't have the same scale as Gawain's, my ability to walk in the light is even more formidable than his Gawain methods!
Because every ray of light that shot out at that moment was a punch delivered by this old man!
Hehe.
Although my fists are not as heavy as those of senior Garp or Gawain.
But I'm not bragging.
Even though I'm always criticized by Teacher Zephyr as having terrible hand-to-hand combat skills, my fists, even though they're considered trash in terms of hand-to-hand combat...
"This is not something you damned pirates can handle!!!"