Egghead Island, Central Research Layer.

Saturn, leaning on his walking stick, gazed up at the behemoth before him.

It was the giant robot from ancient times — “Emeth.”

And behind him, Vegapunk followed closely.

“So, you haven’t finished the research on the ‘Eternal Flame’?”

Saturn asked coldly.

“Vegapunk, you should know — this old man’s patience is limited.”

He turned his head slightly and looked at Vegapunk. “This old man hasn’t settled the score with you regarding Kuma’s matter, but that doesn’t mean it’s been forgotten… If you can’t speed up your research progress, even this old man won’t be able to protect you.”

“The price of angering ‘God’ — you cannot bear it.”

Even though he had already made up his mind to execute Vegapunk once the research was complete, Saturn clearly wouldn’t say that directly.

“I understand, Lord Saturn.”

Vegapunk appeared very respectful.

“Please discern clearly — the matter with Bartholomew Kuma truly had nothing to do with me. I wasn’t the one who helped him.”

“I also value my own life. Although the research on the ‘Eternal Flame’ isn’t completely finished yet, the manufacturing techniques have basically been mastered… To prove this, I’ve already prepared the research data.”

“Please understand, the research deadline was suddenly moved forward by so much — this is already the absolute limit of what I can do.”

He spoke earnestly, as if pleading for mercy.

“Oh?”

Hearing this, Saturn felt slightly satisfied.

“Research data?”

He asked, as if to confirm.

Vegapunk nodded repeatedly. “Yes, I’ve already organized everything. You can inspect it anytime.”

“Vegapunk.”

But Saturn sneered. “You should know — this old man is also a top scientist. Fake research data cannot fool me.”

His words carried a distinct arrogance.

“Of course, Lord Saturn.”

Vegapunk remained respectful. “Of course I know your attainments in ancient technology. The materials you provided have benefited me immensely. Naturally, I would never deceive you in such a matter.”

“Hmph.”

Saturn finally nodded in satisfaction.

“Very well…”

He was, after all, also a scientist.

So he believed he had already seen through Vegapunk — a foolish person with a little talent, cowardly and naive.

He didn’t think Vegapunk had the guts or ability to deceive him — after all, he would be checking the research data soon, and once a lie was discovered, the man would face certain death.

“After your research is complete, this old man will push for you to become a ‘Celestial Dragon.'”

He made such an empty promise, but his mind was already made up.

As long as Vegapunk created the “Eternal Flame,” the credit would immediately be swallowed by him. He would destroy all traces of research here and present the Eternal Flame to Lord Imu.

That would be a supreme achievement.

And when that time came, relying on this achievement, the Five Elders could naturally regain Lord Imu’s trust — and the day the sea submerged everything would arrive swiftly.

No — it wasn’t just as simple as “regaining trust.”

“There won’t be ‘Five Elders’ anymore… as long as the Eternal Flame is in my hands…”

“That brat from the Donquixote Family used crude methods, but his idea wasn’t wrong.”

Saturn muttered inwardly.

Yes.

This was what he truly desired — a position above his other four colleagues.

Just like Doflamingo’s idea.

He would become the new “King of the World.”

“For the highest authority in the world, this old man alone is enough.”

That was also the reason why Saturn had hidden it from Imu and the other Elders, secretly sending Emeth here many years ago.

“Let’s go.”

With that thought, Saturn turned to Vegapunk again. “Take this old man to see your research results.”

He was also very curious. After Kuma’s incident, he had already threatened and confined Vegapunk, forcing him to accelerate the research on the “Eternal Flame.”

And now, he didn’t know what level the research had actually reached.

“Of course, no problem.”

Vegapunk swallowed imperceptibly before slowly turning around.

“The research data is in Lab 45…”

“Lab 45?”

Saturn frowned. “Why put it in such a distant location?”

Lab 45 was currently the furthest lab, at the very edge of the island.

“Uh, that’s because… well, I was worried that research on the ‘Eternal Flame’ might stimulate Em— this robot if it was too close, causing it to reactivate. So I deliberately chose a lab further away.”

Vegapunk’s voice wavered slightly.

But Saturn didn’t doubt it much.

The robot was indeed very dangerous; Vegapunk’s reason seemed like necessary caution.

“Then let’s go to Lab 45—”

But exactly as Saturn spoke—

“Lord Saturn!”

Hurried footsteps came from nearby.

The captain of Saturn’s guards strode over and arrived before him.

Facing Saturn’s gloomy, questioning gaze, he knelt on one knee. “Lord Saturn — we just received news. There’s a situation on Instein Island!”

“Instein Island?”

Saturn gave a low hum and looked dangerously at the subordinate before him.

“I already said — the fights of bugs have nothing to do with us.”

He spoke coldly.

He came here solely to confirm Vegapunk’s research progress and had no intention of getting involved in the so-called battle for the “Strongest” among the bugs of the mortal realm.

But—

“No, it’s not just that, Lord Saturn!”

The captain spoke in a deep voice. “We also just received word — the outcome on Instein Island has been decided. And the crucial point is… the Sword God — he…”

He paused, as if digesting an unbelievable answer.

“That swordsman called the ‘Sword God’ just revealed his identity — he is from ‘The Zodiac,’ one of their top executives — Hebi!”

The instant those words left his mouth—

RUMBLE!

Intense coercion and pitch-black lightning manifested within the central layer.

The captain of the guards nearly stumbled where he stood.

And before him, Saturn’s figure seemed to swell, faintly showing a tendency to shift toward something monstrous.

The eyes of the Five Elder transformed into beast-like pupils, his gaze locked dead onto his subordinate.

“What… did you say!?”

That low, growling voice sounded like a cornered predator.

At the same time, Saturn did not notice Vegapunk behind him quietly breathe a sigh of relief.

Ten minutes earlier.

Instein Island.

Under the collective gaze of viewers worldwide, the rainstorm that had originally covered the entire sea area had completely dissipated near Instein Island.

Of course, the rain hadn’t truly stopped.

It was simply that in this stretch of sea, there was no longer any room for wind and rain to exist.

“Retreat quickly…”

“Don’t go near that island — you’ll die!”

Within the live broadcast footage, the news ship of the World Economic Journal had already retreated to a considerable distance from Instein Island.

But none of the viewers watching had any objections.

Because—

BOOM!

At the center of Instein Island, those two — perhaps the strongest swordsmen on the seas — were engaging in their final clash.

Due to the vast distance, their figures could no longer be seen clearly.

But it didn’t matter.

Everyone could see the aftermath of that battle — and that alone was enough to leave people astounded.

Centered around the collision point, the sky over the entire sea area seemed to be split in two.

Half was a pitch-black night sky.

That was the magnificent slash formed by Haki pushed to the extreme, blending with sword aura — a slash that swallowed everything.

Wind, rain, lightning, sunlight, and sound — all of it consumed.

That was the sword belonging to “Hawkeye” Mihawk.

That was the ultimate technique befitting the name of his Black Blade — “Eternal Night”!

And on the other half of the sky blazed an azure slash resembling a flying dragon.

The moment it soared upward, it instantly dispersed every remaining dark cloud across the sea. Sunlight poured down once more, forming a dazzling expanse of rippling light on the water’s surface — as if contrasting with Hawkeye’s Eternal Night.

BOOM!

Instein Island groaned under the strain.

Everyone could clearly see that the island’s base had long since crumbled apart. Even beneath it, a massive, bottomless chasm had opened, with surging seawater rushing in.

Yet strangely, Instein Island had not been completely severed.

The reason was that the two people at the island’s core… their blades were still clashing.

Those two apocalyptic slashes, even through a broadcast screen, made viewers all over the world tremble.

Until—

Clang!

Slash!

It was unclear whether it had been a second or an hour — in a single instant while everyone watched transfixed, they heard the sound of metal clashing, and then a blade slicing through flesh.

In that same instant, the surrounding body of Instein Island shattered completely, revealing jagged rock layers beneath.

The flying dragon cleaved into the eternal night.

Then—

VMMM!

The sky brightened dramatically.

On that island — sliced down to only a small central portion — the two figures reappeared.

Both were standing, but they had exchanged positions, now back-to-back.

Hawkeye’s short black hair was a mess. Across his chest, a massive horizontal wound tore through his coat and resilient body.

Thud!

He drove the Supreme Grade Sword “Yoru” — symbol of the world’s strongest — deep into the ground, propping up his tottering frame.

He glanced back at the figure behind him.

“…Truly remarkable.”

“I — have lost.”

Hawkeye murmured softly, his voice carrying something like inexplicable satisfaction.

It was exactly this feeling.

The “sense of defeat” after a desperate fight. The “sense of unwillingness” where sorrow and regret intertwined.

A sensation he and his sword had known before, but had long grown unfamiliar with.

It was exactly this kind of feeling that told him — his sword could still grow stronger. There was still someone he hadn’t surpassed.

And behind him, the “Sword God” also stood.

“…”

In his hand, he tightly gripped the equally pitch-black Shusui.

Behind his back, those dark double wings had been severed, and his left shoulder bore a wound slashing diagonally down to his right abdomen.

The golden blood unique to the Lunarian race flowed freely.

But in his eyes, flames of near satisfaction flickered.

In this instant, he wasn’t the “Sword God.”

Or rather — he was the true “Sword God.” He was Shimotsuki Ryuma.

He didn’t deny Hawkeye’s words.

He had won.

But—

“That kind of thing is not important anymore.”

Shimotsuki Ryuma turned his head and looked at Hawkeye.

Then he grinned.

“Many thanks.”

“That was a very satisfying slash.”

It was unknown who he was speaking to.

Was it Hawkeye?

Or the person within his body who had fulfilled his wish?

But just as he said — none of it mattered anymore.

“It’s truly wonderful to have another chance to swing my sword.”

He breathed the air. Gripped his sword. Felt that sensation.

“…”

Hawkeye seemed to perceive something as well.

He blinked, as if wanting to say something.

But ultimately, he didn’t speak.

Thump!

He collapsed limply and lay on the ground.

And at the same time—

“He w-won! It’s the Sword God! The Sword God is still standing!!”

On the distant news ship, the commentator pressed his mouth to the microphone and roared with everything he had.

His voice grew hoarse and distorted with shock and excitement. “Unbelievable! Two swordsmen who have surpassed the era destroyed the entire island!”

“The final result — ‘Hawkeye’ Mihawk is unable to fight!”

“A new legend is born! A new World’s Strongest Swordsman is born!”

His voice spread instantly to every corner of the world through the broadcast Den Den Mushi.

And so, every viewer fell into dead silence.

Then—

They erupted with exclamations like a tsunami.

“Hawkeye… lost?!”

“Are you kidding?! The world’s number one swordsman actually fell?!”

“The world’s strongest ‘Black Blade’ has been defeated!?”

“Sword God! He… he really did it!”

“Who exactly is he?!”

Although they had already witnessed the Sword God’s strength in previous battles, the moment Hawkeye fell, every swordsman couldn’t help but feel horror in their hearts.

In that moment, a unified consensus formed across the entire world:

The World’s Strongest Swordsman is the “Sword God.”

But exactly then—

“Wait… someone seems to be approaching?”

“It’s the cross-star flag — a World Government ship!”

“It’s people from CP!”

Just as the world was still immersed in the shock of a new strongest swordsman’s birth, several small boats charged toward the dilapidated Instein Island at astonishing speed.

They wore white suits and various masks — the World Government’s direct supreme intelligence agency, CP0.

“Intelligence received — Admiral ‘Aokiji’ is intercepted by ‘Red Hair’!”

“Execute the mission! Capture Hawkeye!”

“Now is the best opportunity!”

Without hesitation, they leaped toward Hawkeye.

Their goal was clear. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — the World’s Strongest Swordsman defeated and lying helpless on the ground.

But—

Clang!

There was no earth-shattering momentum.

A single slash cut open the ground and sliced the leading CP0 member clean in half at the waist.

Thump!

As the corpse crashed to the ground, the other CP members instantly froze in their tracks.

Their gazes all turned to the man still standing on that island.

“Sword God! What is the meaning of this?!”

The Sword God held Shusui in his hand.

Fresh blood burst continuously from his wounds. His aura was visibly diminished, his breathing ragged — even with the physique of both the Buccaneer and Lunarian races, he couldn’t rapidly recover from Hawkeye’s attack.

But even while clearly heavy injured, he regarded the CP0 agents before him with cold eyes.

“We are here to capture Hawkeye. This matter has nothing to do with you!”

“The World Government is not your enemy — as long as you cooperate with our mission, the matter of you attacking the Marines earlier can be written off. You better—”

The CP0 agent spoke in a deep voice.

“Hey.”

But a single word from that tottering figure cut him off.

The several CP0 members were forcefully stopped by the aura descending upon them, their feet rooted to the spot.

Because they could all sense that terrifying coercion.

“With those injuries, he’s clearly at death’s door, yet he still has this level of spirit…”

Astonishment filled their hearts.

But then they heard the Sword God’s words.

“Rashly interfering in a battle between swordsmen, spouting words you yourselves don’t even believe… you scoundrels. Do you really think this one’s sword cannot slay you?”

His words were weak, yet calm.

“As people of the World Government, your methods are truly cut from the same cloth.”

The CP0 members were speechless.

Mainly because they knew he was right.

They were indeed ordered to capture Hawkeye — that much was true. But after confirming the Sword God’s Lunarian heritage, he had naturally been added to their mission targets. What the CP0 agent said was merely a stalling tactic.

“You—”

But before they could muster a retort—

“Also — you said the World Government is not this one’s enemy?”

The Sword God raised his hand slightly.

“But coincidentally…”

He brushed his trembling hand lightly across his face.

The next moment—

VMMM!

Silently, a Sea Beast Mask began to emerge from the top of his head, slowly condensing into shape.

A Snake Head Mask.

“This one, ‘Hebi,’ feels that I am indeed the enemy of your World Government!”

☆☆☆

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