The World's Strongest Swordsman

Roya's smile wasn't at all to Boa Hancock's liking.

It wasn't the usual kind of admiration or sycophantic deference she received from most men—instead, it was aloof, distant, and even slightly disdainful. That alone was enough to irk her.

But what Roya said… left her inwardly shaken.

She and Luffy's actions in Impel Down were a tightly held secret. No one outside should know about them.

Yet this man not only knew—it felt as if he had already seen through her entire plan.

Her sharp gaze flicked toward the bridge.

"Whitebeard couldn't possibly be unaware of my arrival. Then why hasn't he come out?"

"His aura feels steady and calm. It doesn't feel like he's being forced or manipulated."

"So... Whitebeard has willingly handed over leadership of his crew to this man—Roya?"

Realizing this, she looked at Roya's smile again, and her perception shifted entirely.

It wasn't arrogance—it was composure born from absolute confidence.

She'd misjudged him.

As she was still deliberating whether to speak of her plans, her Observation Haki flared—an overwhelming presence was rapidly approaching!

Her serpent companion Salome, sensing her unease, coiled and lifted her upward instinctively.

From that higher vantage, Hancock spotted a coffin-shaped boat cutting through the waves.

"Dracule Mihawk…"

Her eyes narrowed as she turned back toward Roya—only to find him already calmly smiling, as though he had anticipated this exact moment.

"He sensed Mihawk's arrival... over ten minutes before I did?"

"His Observation Haki is that refined?!"

Only now did the others on the ship begin to sense the incoming presence.

Shock, unease, and awe rippled across the deck.

Before the coffin-ship even arrived, Mihawk's voice carried across the waves, cutting through the air like one of his slashes:

"Roya, the so-called Fifth Emperor of the Sea… I, Dracule Mihawk, challenge you!"

Though most had guessed his purpose, the open declaration sent a fresh shock through everyone on board.

Mihawk's title as the World's Greatest Swordsman carried weight as sharp as the blade he wielded.

After the uproar, thoughts splintered in all directions.

X Drake couldn't help but laugh and mock:

"Hey hey hey! You want to challenge our Fifth Emperor? Then you'll have to first get through his 'Sword Slave/Dog'!"

His attempt to stir trouble drew a wave of killing intent from the Whitebeard Pirates—but Roya simply chuckled and said aloud:

"That's right. You'll need to get through Squard first."

"If every random dog and cat can just challenge me at will, when would I even have time to eat?"

His gaze swept over the five Supernovas, pausing briefly on each, before resting on Hancock again—smiling faintly.

By then, Mihawk had already leapt from his small ship onto the deck of the Moby Dick.

His gaze, razor-sharp as always, scanned the group.

"Which one of you is Squard?"

Squard wasted no words. His shoulders twitched, and the giant cleaver in his hands split into countless flickers of steel light—slicing toward Mihawk in a flurry.

Mihawk's eyes narrowed. He swiftly pulled the crucifix-shaped short blade from around his neck and met the attack head-on.

Three meters of cleaver clashed against barely ten centimeters of cold steel.

Within a single second, they clashed over a hundred times!

And yet—not a sound was heard.

The utter silence of such an intense clash created a strange sense of discomfort. It wasn't the kind of exhilarating duel spectators usually expected from master swordsmen.

Even Drake's smug expression froze in place.

"This… this is Squard's true strength?!"

"When he fought me and Killer, he didn't even go all out!"

"If this is just his 'Sword Slave/Dog'... then what level of swordsmanship has his master, Roya, reached?!"

Drake stole a glance at Roya, who was smiling faintly—watching the battle with amused detachment.

Suddenly, Roya turned and looked straight at Drake, flashing a mysterious smile.

Drake's heart jolted. Something felt off—but before he could sort it out, he was drawn back into the high-speed duel on the deck.

Squard's strikes were still raining down like a storm.

Mihawk, however, had lost his earlier seriousness and now simply observed with his usual stoic expression.

"In terms of speed," he said, "you're already at the level I was ten years ago."

"But if speed is all you've got... then I'm afraid this ends now."

Squard bared his teeth in a grin.

"Try stopping this next strike, then!"

He lifted his giant cleaver high overhead—and then brought it crashing down!

This slash was like a black lightning bolt—so fast it tore at the retinas, yet carried the weight of a mountain.

This was the result of Squard's days of brutal training: a perfect fusion of "heavy as light" and "light as heavy."

The sword descended—some heard thunder in their ears; others felt as if all sound had vanished.

And the only thing anyone clearly remembered… was that brief, flashing streak of black lightning.

No one could tell if the slash had hit its mark.

But what everyone saw next was clear:

Mihawk had drawn his true blade— Yoru, the Black Blade.

Squard's massive cleaver clattered softly onto the deck.

Who had won? Who had lost?

All eyes instinctively turned to Roya.

If anyone besides the combatants could understand what had just happened—it was him.

Even Hancock couldn't help but glance at him now, her eyes searching for answers.

Roya finally spoke, smiling:

"Not bad. You've earned the right to challenge me."

"In pure swordsmanship, you edge out Squard slightly."

"But if we consider overall combat strength, Squard still loses."

"You… should make a worthy opponent."

Silence.

The answer stunned everyone—not because it was outlandish, but because it made too much sense.

To be only slightly below Mihawk in swordsmanship?

This was Dracule Mihawk—the most revered swordsman in the world, idol to an entire generation of bladesmen!

Yet Squard, who had barely stood out just days ago, now rivaled him?

Marco's expression darkened just a little as he looked toward Roya.

Hancock's gaze flickered between Squard and Roya… but ultimately locked onto the one who had remained composed throughout.

That faint smile of Roya's now shimmered in her eyes, brighter and brighter.

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