The Moby Dick sailed farther and farther away, while Tsugikuni Yoriichi and Whitebeard's battle truly began to reach its climax.
Cool, sharp flashes of blade light flickered beneath the blazing sun. The Conqueror's Haki that had blanketed the entire beach also gradually dissipated as their battle dragged on.
"Clang!!!"
"Clang!!!"
Murakumogiri and Dawn collided, and Tsugikuni Yoriichi and Whitebeard became two streaks of light that met in an instant.
There was no surging Haki, nor did either of them recklessly unleash their terrifying Devil Fruit powers.
At that moment, Tsugikuni Yoriichi and Whitebeard seemed to have reached some silent understanding. Both held back, carefully wielding their respective strengths.
Although the commotion of the battle was nowhere near as great as during their previous two clashes, and its aftershocks were contained to this beach, the peril contained within this close-quarters fight was even greater than before.
The clang of steel rang across the beach as Tsugikuni Yoriichi slashed horizontally, only for Whitebeard to raise his weapon and block it.
A long-handled naginata like Murakumogiri was as natural as an extension of Whitebeard's body in his hands. Whether attacking or withdrawing it for defense, his movements were exceptionally fluid. There was not the slightest hitch between one technique and the next, vastly different from the stereotypical image Yoriichi had held of fighters who only knew how to overpower their opponents.
Even with the aid of the Transparent World, Tsugikuni Yoriichi could only suppress Whitebeard. He had no way to kill him and end the battle in a short time.
On the beach, Tsugikuni Yoriichi swiftly changed his move after his attack was blocked. Turning his blade sideways, he scraped it down along Murakumogiri's shaft, slashing at Whitebeard's hand gripping the weapon.
Seeing Yoriichi's sword slash toward his fingers, Whitebeard's pupils narrowed slightly.