Chapter 165 – Do you need a break?

Charlotte Smoothie: "What a spectacular battle! As expected of the World's Greatest Swordsman. Facing that swarm of swords... if it were me, I don't know if I could handle it."

Black Maria: "Even now, this isn't the full extent of Emiya Shirou's power? What kind of strength would a fully realized Emiya Shirou possess?"

Violet: "Please, Arton, don't die here! I'm begging you!"

Whitey Bay: "Arton should still be able to advance his template to the next stage, right?"

Gion: "This battle needs to end here. Please don't advance further."

Doll: "The Unlimited Blade Works world is starting to dissipate. The Baratie is gradually coming back into view."

Ulti: "Can he still advance? Without advancing, those injuries might be hard to handle. Can Kaya even muster enough energy to heal Arton at this point?

Come to think of it, Arton recovers completely—or even becomes stronger—every time he advances."

Ulti: "If he keeps advancing, even Mihawk won't stand a chance... wait, is the world... it's stopped dissipating?!"

Tashigi: "Could it be... is Arton entering the next stage?!"

Hina: "As expected, after such an exhilarating battle, Arton can't simply stop where he is now."

Kujaku: "This is bad. I suddenly find myself hoping Mihawk isn't too strong. If he were weaker, Arton wouldn't feel the need to advance, right?"

Charlotte Galette: "Arton will only keep getting stronger. The chances of him joining the Big Mom Pirates are getting slimmer."

Charlotte Galette: "Does this mean I'll have to leave the Big Mom Pirates if I want to become Arton's wife? If Arton won't join, I wonder what Sister Smoothie will do."

Charlotte Pudding: "It's okay... it's okay, Arton. Keep getting stronger. Even if you don't join the Big Mom Pirates, I'll still be willing to meet you. Because you're the first man who doesn't despise my eyes."

At that moment, as signs of Arton's advancement appeared, the diary copies holders who wanted him to join the Marines or the pirate crews grew tense once more.

In contrast, women like Charlotte Pudding, Violet, and Nico Robin, who were already prepared to leave their respective organizations, or someone like Baccarat, who had already left hers, were not worried about Arton growing stronger.

On the contrary, the stronger Arton became, the happier they felt.

After all, the stronger Arton was, the more secure they would feel once they left their organizations and became his companions.

"Another advancement?"

Mihawk raised an eyebrow, watching with interest as Arton, enveloped in light, separated himself from his Black Blade Yoru.

Having experienced this once before, Mihawk simply stood still, observing as Arton's aura intensified.

It was as if he wasn't worried at all about the possibility of Arton's newfound strength putting his own life in danger.

The truth was, Mihawk had considered the risks.

But for someone as enamored with the art of the sword as he was, having witnessed so many of Arton's abilities related to swords, he couldn't suppress his desire to see more of what Arton's swordsmanship could do.

At that moment, the light surrounding Arton gradually faded.

Simultaneously, rhythmic chanting echoed through the now-ruined Unlimited Blade Works world.

"I am the bone of my sword!"

"Steel is my body, and fire is my blood!"

"I have created over a thousand blades!"

With each resonant line, sharp blades descended from the sky.

As the swords embedded themselves into the ground, intricate magical patterns began to form around them, radiating outward.

The patterns from one sword started to intertwine and merge with the patterns of others, constructing an even grander and more complex magical array.

Where the magical patterns touched, the previously damaged edges of the Unlimited Blade Works began to mend, as if being repaired.

"Unknown to Death, nor known to Life!"

"Have withstood pain to create many weapons!"

"Yet those hands will never hold anything!"

In the sky, green patterns emerged, forming enormous circular glyphs that resonated with the ground's magical array.

The intricate designs filled the world, reflecting each other in a majestic interplay.

At this moment, the light surrounding Arton completely dissipated, revealing his evolved form.

His darkened skin, short white hair, and red-and-black tight-fitting outfit and coat exuded an aura of dominance.

Standing at the center of the magical glyphs, Arton seemed like the true master of this world.

"So as I pray, Unlimited Blade Works!"

Arton opened his eyes, extended his right hand, and chanted the final incantation.

In the next instant, a blinding white light once again engulfed the entire world.

The light was intense but fleeting.

When the spectators could see again, they were shocked to find the previously damaged Unlimited Blade Works completely restored.

However, unlike before, this iteration of the domain lacked the snowy plains and full moon.

Instead, it was a fiery red wasteland with a horizon seemingly ablaze, a dim and ominous sky, and massive rotating gears scattered across the heavens and the earth.

Charlotte Smoothie: "This... Arton's appearance has changed into that red figure!"

Black Maria: "Arton has finally obtained the powers of that man~?"

Ulti: "Is this the pinnacle of Emiya Shirou?"

Kozuki Hiyori: "Is this the template of the man Arton mentioned, the one associated with the name Muramasa?"

Doll: "A battlefield that seems scorched and blood-stained, with colossal gears in the sky. If this represents the inner world of the man whose powers Arton is currently using... I see."

Doll: "This man must truly embody what Arton's incantation described: one who has survived countless battlefields without defeat."

Gion: "The massive gears feel as though they are binding this man! But regardless, it's clear that the current Arton is far more powerful than before."

"Another variation of Unlimited Blade Works, is it?"

"This one does resemble the version captured in the news photos. However, those images of Unlimited Blade Works lacked these enormous gears."

Mihawk raised his head, his eagle-like eyes carefully studying the colossal gears turning in the sky.

"Don't worry, those gears won't limit my ability to use my powers," Arton said with a smile.

"Mihawk, you still have some strength left, right? Need a moment to rest?"

Arton's words carried a teasing tone.

"Heh, there's no need."

"If anything, I'm eager to see the kind of power you possess now."

Mihawk's lips curled into a smirk, his eyes locking onto Arton.

"Arton, you should be able to summon the seventh petal of the that shield now, right?"

Hearing this, Arton paused for a moment, then laughed.

"You mean Rho Aias, don't you?"

"Indeed, I can now summon the seventh petal of the shield."

"Why, are you interested in testing just how tough it is?"

Mihawk gave a slight nod and said,

"Since you've brought it up, of course, I want to see the complete Rho Aias."

However, Arton shook his head and casually pulled out a blade resembling a massive drill from the ground beside him.

"Let's not, Mihawk."

"Rather than the shield, save your energy to witness more swords."

"In your current state, you're no longer at full strength."

As Arton leapt into the air, launching his Pseudo-Spiral Sword as an arrow from his bow, Mihawk's sharp intuition, bolstered by his Haki, immediately detected the immense threat emanating from the projectile.

Mihawk's expression hardened as he swiftly reacted, slicing the air with his black blade to release a flying slash aimed directly at the incoming arrow. However, as the two forces collided, Arton's arrow shattered Mihawk's slash with ease, continuing its relentless trajectory toward him.

Frowning, Mihawk unleashed an even stronger flying slash, its energy crackling with power. But by the time it met the Pseudo-Spiral Sword, the arrow was already within mere meters of him.

The collision triggered an enormous explosion, unleashing a violent storm of energy. The sheer force obliterated everything within several meters, sending shockwaves rippling outward. Mihawk was caught in the heart of the blast, momentarily engulfed by the chaotic storm of energy.

When the dust began to settle, Arton landed gracefully on the ground, his confident smirk never faltering.

"How was that, Mihawk? Did my Pseudo-Spiral Sword meet your expectations?" Arton asked, his tone a mixture of playfulness and provocation.

The battlefield fell silent as everyone held their breath, awaiting Mihawk's response from within the dissipating energy storm. Slowly, his figure emerged, standing tall and steady, though his clothing bore new signs of wear and his blade glimmered with faint scorch marks.

"That was quite the display," Mihawk admitted, his lips curving into a slight smile. "You've demonstrated the power of your bow, but I wonder… can your 'swords' surpass this level?"

Arton chuckled, raising his bow again and calling forth another sword-turned-arrow.

"Why don't we find out, Mihawk? Let's see just how many of your strikes it will take to overcome my next one."