My Sword

After exchanging blows once, Werther did not immediately use powerful moves like his secret sword technique or the Electromagnetic Cannon. Instead, he began competing with Onigumo in swordsmanship.

After fighting Onigumo for a while, Werther realized that the man before him could not truly be considered a swordsman, because his swordsmanship was merely average.

As for the six hands behind him, Werther could not tell whether they were a Devil Fruit ability or hair controlled through Life Return, since either was possible.

Onigumo was not especially strong in any single aspect. Werther, for example, left every enemy who had crossed blades with him with a deep impression of his swordsmanship.

Onigumo's specialty was versatility. Whether it was the Six Powers, hand-to-hand combat, swordsmanship, Haki, or even firearms, none of them were outstanding, but none were weak either. If one word had to describe Onigumo, it would be well-rounded.

After Werther cut one of Onigumo's swords in half, Onigumo clearly realized that if he did not risk his life today, he would die after fighting Werther for just a little longer.

Several deep wounds had already appeared on his body. Werther was simply far too fast.

That speed reminded him of someone: Kizaru. Kizaru was fast in a straight line, while the formidable enemy before him had astonishing reaction speed.

Whether it was that ghostlike figure, those despair-inducing slashes, or the Armament Haki-clad legs that occasionally struck him, all of it was unnaturally fast.

Just as Onigumo was about to collapse, Werther spoke from across from him.

"Hehehe, hehehe. Your fighting style really is far too well-rounded. It might work well against others, but my speed and cutting power counter you too perfectly. I'll give you a chance to risk your life—use your strongest ability and kill me. Don't disappoint me. You're a vice admiral of Marine Headquarters." After saying that, Werther looked at Onigumo expectantly. To be honest, he was somewhat disappointed by this vice admiral's strength.

"I never expected someone as strong as you to be so unknown, much less so young." Onigumo paused to catch his breath before continuing.

"You're young, you've killed countless people, and you're a battle maniac. Someone like you is simply the natural enemy of the Marines. Today, I'll use my justice to end you here, even if it costs me my life."

After saying that, Onigumo crossed all his swords before him and let out a roar.

"Hell Stab!"

Werther watched Onigumo charge toward him and sensed that a great amount of Haki was wrapped around his swords. He could not underestimate its power, so he charged forward to meet him.

Secret Sword, Tsubame Gaeshi.

Werther also wrapped a great amount of Haki around his own swords, using Tsubame Gaeshi with Haki for the first time.

Before the two moves even collided on the warship, the overflowing sword energy nearly sliced the vessel apart. The entire ship creaked and groaned, while the Marines aboard cried out in terror.

Just as Tsubame Gaeshi was about to collide with Onigumo's swords, Werther suddenly sensed something wrong. There were only six blades in front of Onigumo. Though one had been cut apart by Werther earlier, there should have been seven.

The moment Werther realized it, Onigumo gave a cold smile and revealed a sword that had been hidden behind him all along.

As the two moves collided, that sword shot toward Werther's face.

Werther barely raised his twin swords to block it. Fortunately, Tsubame Gaeshi was an unleashed sword technique, or he would not even have had the chance to defend himself.

But Werther had just used Tsubame Gaeshi at its absolute limit, slashing four times in an instant. Though he was not as unsteady as last time, he was still exhausted, and the Haki on his swords could no longer be maintained for the moment.

Onigumo was a veteran vice admiral. How could he have been as easy to defeat as Werther had imagined?

Thus, Werther paid the price for his carelessness—a terrible price. When Onigumo's blade clashed against Werther's twin swords, the blade coated in Armament Haki directly cut both of Werther's swords in half.

That was not even the worst part. Onigumo's blade did not slow down and continued toward Werther's throat. Werther was just about to spill his blood here.

Werther could only use a move he had always been unwilling to use, because among all his techniques, this one placed the greatest burden on him. And it was not a physical burden, but a mental one.

Just as Onigumo's blade was about to cut through Werther's neck—

Werther's eyes turned pale blue, and Lightning Mode was pushed directly to its maximum.

In Onigumo's eyes, the man before him had suddenly developed pale blue eyes, silver-blue lightning surging from his body. The blade that was about to kill his opponent was actually evaded at inhuman speed, only cutting off a few strands of the man's hair.

Onigumo would never forget that evasive speed. In his eyes, it was almost so fast that it left afterimages. Werther had practically dragged a blue afterimage behind him as he dodged the blade.

Werther, who had escaped death, was not feeling well either. A wave of dizziness struck him. The principle behind this move was simple: it applied Lightning Mode to his brain. In that instant, Werther's neural transmission speed nearly reached the limit he could endure. Such extreme reaction speed was enough for him to evade even attacks of light, let alone Onigumo's.

However, using this move would leave him with a headache for quite some time. Werther named it Frequency.

Werther did not care much about whether he lived or died in battle. After all, one side always had to lose in a fight; no one could win forever.

But now his heart ached terribly. Looking at the two broken swords in his hands, Werther felt as if someone had crushed his heart. He did not pay attention to Onigumo. Instead, he blamed himself for being so careless that the twin swords which had accompanied him throughout his growth had been cut apart because they lacked the protection of Armament Haki.

In truth, Werther had long sensed that his two swords were beginning to fall behind his strength. But he could not bear to replace them. They had witnessed his journey from weakness to strength and had slain one powerful enemy after another alongside him.

Werther raised his head to look at Onigumo. After using his ultimate move and launching a sneak attack at Werther, the vice admiral was now drenched in sweat and extremely exhausted.

With Lightning Mode active, Werther rushed before Onigumo. Just as his opponent tried to counterattack, Werther used another of his own ultimate moves: the Electromagnetic Cannon.

A leg wrapped in orange-yellow light struck Onigumo directly in the upper body. This exhausted vice admiral, who could no longer coat his upper body in Armament Haki, had his entire upper body kicked to pieces.

The shattered flesh and blood sent flying by the kick, driven by tremendous kinetic force, struck the group of Marines behind him like shotgun pellets, riddling them with holes.

The Electromagnetic Cannon bared its fangs in the world of pirates for the first time, and its user was a brutal man besides.

After killing Onigumo, Werther looked toward the other Marines.

By then, the Marines aboard the warship had all retreated far away. Some were so frightened that their legs trembled.

It was not that these Marines were not elite. Rather, the vice admiral they had once regarded as "invincible" had been kicked into minced flesh right before their eyes. Their faith had been shattered, so their reaction was hardly surprising. Besides, Onigumo was not particularly popular.

Ignoring the terrified Marines staring at him, Werther picked up the two broken sword tips from the deck and jumped back onto his own ship.

After returning to the ship, Rabbit saw that Werther seemed unhappy and did not try to speak to him. Instead, Rabbit brought him a bottle of wine.

Looking at the wine before him, Werther smiled at Rabbit. After taking a drink, he felt a little better.

Werther went to his cabin, found a Den Den Mushi, and picked up the receiver. A pururururu sound came from within.

Before long, it was answered with a click, followed by a man's voice.

"Moshiboshi, this is Ferdinand."