The Sky Arena buzzed with activity. Forty thousand competitors had registered there.
Drawn by its prize money, pirates and lone wanderers continued to arrive and register at the Sky Arena.
The Sky Arena's prize money appealed to almost everyone.
Before the Swordsmanship Tournament began, some swordsmen used the Sky Arena to spar and build momentum for the competition ahead.
Others hoped to make a name for themselves and prove their strength.
But these were all weaker swordsmen.
The truly powerful ones had yet to make a move.
Based on the information available, the media outlets had named their candidates for the World's Greatest Swordsman.
Golden Lion Shiki: former core officer and Squadron Captain of the Rocks Pirates, now captain of the Flying Pirates.
Devil Roger: captain of the Roger Pirates, a man who had refused the Rocks Pirates' invitation and lived to tell the tale.
Captain John: a veteran core officer of the Rocks Pirates and captain of the John Pirates. Besides his well-known love of money, he was one of the finest swordsmen on the seas.
Ochoku: the Great Pirate and captain of the Five Peaks Pirates. Perhaps because he had seized Hachinosu, the former stronghold of the Rocks Pirates, his reputation on the seas remained formidable.
Red the Aloof, Patrick Redfield: a powerful lone wanderer about whom little was reported. The seas took him seriously, however. After all, Pluton Hades had personally invited him.
According to reports, the Heaven Card Group would also release a new batch of cards based on the performances of powerful swordsmen during the Swordsmanship Tournament. People could hardly wait.
These five were everyone's top picks. Apart from Patrick Redfield, all were Great Pirates whose names shook the seas.
Hades had personally invited them as well, placing them at the front of the pack.