Chapter 167 – Aestus Domus Aurea

Mihawk reacted swiftly, tilting his black blade upward to deflect Arton's strike. At the same time, he used the wind generated by his swing to redirect the flames away from himself.

Though the explanation sounded simple, the execution was anything but. The massive crater left where the flames and blade wind landed was a stark testament to the effort required.

Seeing this, Sanji, Zoro, Luffy, and the Diary Replica Holders watching through Arton's diary all widened their eyes in astonishment. Especially the swordsmen among them.

Charlotte Cinnamon: "Another unique sword!"

Charlotte Smoothie: "A flaming longsword? This may counter my abilities."

Whitey Bay: "A flaming sword... it reminds me of Ace's Flame-Flame Fruit."

Perona: "How many of these kinds of weapons does Arton even have? That zombie Ryuma's blade doesn't even compare to Arton's arsenal."

Kozuki Hiyori: "A sword forged by an emperor? This Nero must have been a remarkable craftsman."

Gion: "Though its design is peculiar, to wield a flame capable of drawing Mihawk's attention, this blade must be extraordinary."

Kujaku: "Honestly, the more I watch, the more I want to become a swordsman myself."

Tashigi: "An auto-tracking sword, a blade that triggers massive explosions, a flaming longsword! Just how many unique blades does Arton have? I wish I could examine them all... Maybe I should start a dedicated document to catalog all of Arton's swords!"

"No surprise coming from Mihawk. Even after battling for this long, you can still so effortlessly block my attack."

Arton smiled lightly, pressing Aestus Estus against Mihawk's blade.

"A sword that burns with flames fueled by emotions—truly fascinating. Each weapon you bring out seems more intriguing than the last," Mihawk remarked, his tone laced with genuine admiration. "If you cannot show me the Sword of Promised Victory, then let me see what this Aestus Estus is truly capable of."

"Not just that," he continued, his piercing gaze locked onto Arton. "Surely you have other swords imbued with unique powers in your arsenal. You should be able to wield their full potential now, correct? Show them to me, Arton. Let me witness them all."

Mihawk's calm yet eager expression spoke volumes. It was clear that this battle was no longer just a test of strength—it had become a genuine joy for the world's greatest swordsman.

It was understandable. For any swordsman deeply passionate about the art of the blade, Arton's collection of extraordinary weapons was utterly captivating. To Mihawk, these swords were like treasures that no true swordsman could ignore.

Arton wasn't surprised by Mihawk's request. He had anticipated this reaction. The allure of his arsenal for a swordmaster like Mihawk was akin to a world filled with Devil Fruits for those seeking power.

"Naturally," Arton replied with a shrug and a grin. "Beyond the sword in my hand, I have other weapons I can wield as well. But how many you'll see depends on both your ability and how long my stamina holds out."

Arton's tone was light, but there was a calculated confidence behind his words.

Upon acquiring his current Heroic Spirit EMIYA template, Arton realized an important truth: his template wasn't limited to the version of EMIYA who participated in the Fifth Holy Grail War. It also included elements of the Nameless Archer, who fought in the Moon Cell Holy Grail War of the Fate/Extra universe.

While he couldn't yet replicate weapons as legendary as Excalibur, he could still summon swords and weapons of considerable power, such as Nero's Aestus Estus, Gawain's Excalibur Galatine, and Cu Chulainn's magic spear, Gáe Bolg, among others.

"Interesting," Mihawk replied, raising his black blade. "If that's the case, then spare me the words. Let me witness the full might of this sword."

Mihawk's excitement was palpable as he spoke.

The moment his words fell, his Black Blade flashed with speed, leaving behind afterimages as it slashed toward Arton.

Arton's gaze sharpened, and without hesitation, he raised his flaming sword to clash against Mihawk's assault.

As the battle progressed, Arton's emotions surged higher and higher, fueling the flames on his sword. The flames burned even more fiercely, as though responding to his growing intensity. From a distance, the clash between the two appeared like a hellish inferno.

Among the spectators, others were in awe, but Whitey Bay furrowed her brow.

"Why does it feel like the heat from Arton's sword surpasses even Ace's Flame-Flame Fruit?" she murmured to herself.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

In just a few short minutes, Arton and Mihawk had already exchanged hundreds of blows.

The surrounding landscape bore the scars of their battle—scorched earth and deep cuts marred the once-pristine ground.

Unlike earlier, Arton refrained from summoning an onslaught of swords to attack Mihawk, opting instead to fight him directly with the Meteor Iron Smelter.

This gave Mihawk a clearer sense of the sword's power.

"This is an exceptional blade," Mihawk said, his eyes fixed on the sword that blazed with flames in Arton's hand.

"A sword that burns with fire as if it were the sun itself. Compared to this, even the finest Supreme Grade Blades pale in comparison."

As the two clashed once more, both retreated after a powerful exchange. Mihawk studied Arton's sword, the flames on it still roaring with intensity.

"It's a pity that I am not Emperor Nero," Arton replied with a faint smile.

"While I can wield this sword's power, I cannot summon the Golden Theater that she once commanded."

"If I could, I would show you the full extent of this blade's potential—a technique known as Aestus Domus Aurea."

Arton shook his head, his tone tinged with regret.

That said, Arton wasn't too disappointed about it. After all, Nero's Golden Theater was essentially a Reality Marble itself.

Combining its power with Unlimited Blade Works was inherently impossible.