"Is this the strength of the World's Greatest Swordsman?"
Aokiji wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression finally becoming completely serious.
"It seems I might really die here today if I don't show my true skills."
He took a deep breath and slammed his hands down on the ice beneath his feet.
Ice Age: Absolute Zero!
Centered on the Aokiji, a visible white ring of cold air spread out in all directions.
Wherever the cold air passed, everything froze—the air, the seawater, the corpses, the weapons—all were covered with a thick layer of frost.
The ice surface was thickened by several meters, turning an area within a radius of several hundred meters into a pure white world of ice and snow.
In this icy world, Aokiji's speed and strength have been greatly enhanced.
His opponents, on the other hand, had to endure the biting cold and the ever-forming frost.
Hawk Eyes's breath condensed into white mist in front of him.
He glanced down at his left hand; a thin layer of frost had formed on his fingers.
He clenched his fist, shattering the frost, then looked up at Aokiji again.
"That's more like it."
He gripped the hilt of the Black Blade Yoru with both hands and slowly raised the Supreme Great Grade Sword above his head.
An extremely terrifying sword intent erupted from his body, forcing the surrounding chill to stay within three meters of him.
Aokiji's expression was more solemn than ever before.
The surrounding cold air gathered towards him at a visible speed, condensing into a huge Ice Ball with a diameter of more than five meters in front of him.
The Ice Ball puck was so cold that the air around it began to liquefy.
Ice Age, Absolute Zero, Giant Ice Ball!
Aokiji thrust out with both hands, and the enormous Ice Ball, carrying a chilling aura capable of freezing everything, hurtled towards Hawk Eyes.
When the Ice Ball passes by, the space itself seems to freeze.
A glint flashed in Hawk Eyes's eyes, and Black Blade Yoru slashed down fiercely.
" One Sword Style: Severing the Sea"
A slash more terrifying than any before flew from the blade of Black Blade Yoru.
The slash was so massive it seemed to cleave the entire Marineford in two.
Wherever it passed, the air was torn apart, the ice was cut open, and even the clouds in the sky were cleaved in a straight crack.
The giant Ice Ball collided with the slash in mid-air.
There was no explosion, no roar; the slash sliced the massive Ice Ball cleanly through the middle, as if cutting tofu.
The slicing Ice Ball lost control, flying to both sides and crashing into the ice, shattering into two large shards.
But the slash continued unabated.
After slicing through the Ice Ball with tremendous force, it continued its unstoppable flight towards Aokiji.
Aokiji's pupils shrank to pinpoints. At the last moment, he transformed into his elemental form, his body turning into a blast of cold air as he shot out to the side.
The slash grazed his body, slicing off a whole section of his right-side frost armor.
Aokiji reformed dozens of meters away, a gash cut into the clothes on his right shoulder, and a thin line of blood appeared on his skin.
If he hadn't dodged quickly, his entire right arm would have been severed.
"The world's number one slash."
Aokiji touched the wound on his shoulder; his fingers were stained with blood.
He looked at Hawk Eyes, a hint of apprehension creeping into his eyes.
"It truly lives up to its reputation."
Hawk Eyes did not pursue. He sheathed the Black Blade Yoru at his side, the tip pointing diagonally at the ground, his golden eyes calmly watching Aokiji.
"Your Ice-Ice Fruit is also troublesome."
Hawk Eyes, unusually, replied.
A thin layer of ice had formed on his left forearm, a result of the cold air he had caught when he cut the Ice Ball.
Although it didn't affect his grip on the knife, the corrosive power of the cold air was stronger than he had expected.
The two faced off on the ice, neither making a move.
The surrounding chill and sword intent clashed continuously, creating a bizarre scene in mid-air.
Fine ice crystals floated in one half of the sky, while the other half was shattered into pieces by an invisible sword intent.
Meanwhile, on another battlefield not far from the two, the swordsman duel between Kuina and Momousagi had also reached a fever pitch.
Kuina gripped the Ame no Habakiri with both hands, assuming a high stance, her chest heaving violently.
She already had seven or eight wounds on her body, the deepest one on her left shoulder, inflicted by Momousagi's Konpira.
Blood streamed down her arm, staining the hilt of Ame no Habakiri.
Momousagi wasn't in much better shape. She had a deep gash on her left side, left by Kuina's incredibly fast thrust.
The beautiful pink dress had been ripped open, and the lining inside was soaked with blood.
Your swordsmanship is indeed excellent.
Momousagi twirled her Konpira in her hand, the blade reflecting a cold light in the sunlight.
"Of all the female swordsmen I've ever seen, you are the strongest."
"But that's not enough," Kuina said through gritted teeth.
Her eyes never left the tip of Momousagi's knife.
"I will become the World's Strongest swordsman—regardless of whether my opponent is a man or a woman."
Momousagi paused for a moment, then smiled.
That smile contained both admiration and fighting spirit.
"Then let me see your resolve."
The two pushed off the ground simultaneously, and the blades clashed again.
Sparks from the collision between Konpira and Ame no Habakiri exploded in the air, revealing two faces that were slightly contorted from the force of their struggle.
Kuina's combat experience was inferior to Momousagi's; the moment the blades clashed, she was forced back half a step.
But using the momentum of her retreat, she spun around, her Ame no Habakiri drawing an arc in the air before slashing at Momousagi's waist with a backhand strike.
Momousagi sheathed her sword to parry, but Kuina's strike was more powerful than she had anticipated.
Konpira was so shocked that his hands went numb, Momousagi had to take a step back to dissipate the force.
That's exactly what Kuina wanted.
She lunged forward, Ame no Habakiri Blades upon Momousagi like a storm.
Every strike was made with all one's might, leaving no room for compromise.
Her swordsmanship already showed glimpses of Hawk Eyes's style—concise, efficient, and every strike aimed directly at the vital points.
Although it is far from reaching Hawk Eyes's level of cleaving the sea with a single strike, that fierce aura is already taking shape.
Momousagi was forced to retreat repeatedly under Kuina's relentless attacks.
It wasn't that she couldn't stop her, but rather that she was stunned by Kuina's reckless fighting style.
This young girl's every strike was as if she were going to take the enemy down with her, leaving herself no way out.
"How long can you last with this kind of play?"
Momousagi parried Kuina's downward slash, the blades rubbing together with a piercing sound.
"I'll hold out until I cut you down."
Kuina spat out those words through gritted teeth, then slammed her head into Momousagi's face.
This collision was completely unexpected by Momousagi.
Her forehead was slammed hard by Kuina, her vision went black for a moment, and the Konpira in her hand was also knocked off course.
Kuina seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Ame no Habakiri pressed down with the momentum.
The blade slid down the side of Konpira's sword, aiming straight for Momousagi's wrist.
By the time Momousagi realized what was happening, it was too late to draw her sword.
She could only release Konpira and retreat hastily.
The Konpira flew out of his hand, bounced twice on the ice surface, and then embedded itself in the ice layer some distance away.
Kuina didn't pursue, and a smile crept onto her lips.
"A swordsman without his sword has already lost half the battle."
Kuina said, panting heavily,
"Your swordsmanship is superior to mine, but my will is stronger."
Momousagi looked at the little girl in front of her, who was covered in wounds but still grinning, and remained silent for a few seconds.
Then she laughed and reached up to wipe the bruise on her forehead from the impact.
"You're right."
Momousagi walked to Konpira's side and pulled the sword out of the ice.
"If a swordsman's sword is taken away, it means he is less skilled than his opponent."
She sheathed the Konpira and bowed slightly to Kuina.
That's a swordsman's respect for another swordsman.
"I lost."
Kuina paused for a moment, then sheathed her Ame no Habakiri and bowed to Momousagi.
Thank you for your guidance.
The two female swordsmen stood on the smoke-filled battlefield, exchanging a standard swordsman's salute.
The shouts of battle and explosions around them seemed to have no effect on them.