What Is a Sword?

When Mihawk's attacks poured down like a raging storm, yet still failed to force Rock back even a step—

A calm voice suddenly fell amid the flashes of blades and thunder.

"Mihawk."

"What do you think—what is a sword?"

The question came far too abruptly, utterly out of place in this life-and-death clash.

Mihawk's pupils contracted sharply, and turmoil instantly rose within him.

Under such an assault... he still had the spare attention to speak?!

Yet in the next moment, the instinct belonging to a swordsman overwhelmed every stray thought.

A sword.

It was the obsession of his entire life.

Even in battle, he would never yield.

"A sword—"

He spoke softly, his voice cold, pure, and resolute.

"Is ultimate power."

"Proof of the victor."

As his words fell—

The black blade Yoru gave a faint tremble in his hand, as though answering its master's will, and the force of his sword surged once more!

"To cut, to win, to stand above all things—"

"That is all there is to a sword!"

The air was torn apart as blade light poured forth like a flood!

"To wield the sword as a weapon—"

"To use the body as its foundation—"

"To break the enemy with strength!"

His words and slash fell at the same time.

His speed grew faster.

His power grew stronger.

Every strike carried unshakable conviction. It was—

A way of the sword that took "victory" as its sole standard.

However—

Rock remained standing there, calm-faced, Yubashiri flowing lightly in his hand.

Clang—clang—clang—!

Every blow was still steadily blocked.

Rock's voice rang out again.

"You have spent your entire life pursuing stronger slashes."

"More absolute power, higher summits."

"You compete with the sword—"

"You crush others with strength and define the way of the sword through victory and defeat."