The following days unfolded in a relentless sequence of battles, forming a grand spectacle that no swordsman in the world could ignore. Each clash between Great Swordsmen carried its own brilliance, and to the spectators, no two fights ever felt the same. Sword intents collided, styles clashed, and philosophies of the blade were laid bare with every exchange.
A full month passed in this manner. At the summit of the Battle Pyramid on Parage Island, the sound of steel meeting steel rarely ceased, echoing day and night as the finals of the Swordsmanship Tournament advanced through ten grueling rounds. At last, the competition reached its final stage.
Two names stood above all others.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni had carved his way through every opponent, securing victory in all nine of his matches. His dominance was absolute. Matching him was the younger Himura Kenshin, who had likewise achieved a flawless nine-win record. Through these battles, the long-forgotten name of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū once again resounded across the seas. In Kenshin's hands, this ancient school seemed poised to reclaim its former glory, as if fulfilling the ambitions of its founder.
Everyone understood the truth. The title of World's Greatest Swordsman would belong to one of these two.
Their duel was deliberately arranged as the final match of the tournament.
Elsewhere, the rankings were still being decided. The victor between the "Black Swordsman" Kirigaya Suguha and Ama Tsuki Takeji, both holding seven wins, would claim third place. Redyat secured fifth with six wins, having already faced every opponent and suffered defeat only at the hands of the top four. There was no need for him to fight again.
Further down the standings, Issho and Shimotsuki Ushimaru, each with four wins, prepared for their own clash. Rhinos and Borsalino followed with two wins apiece, representing both the Marines and powerful pirate forces. At the very bottom stood "Hawk-Eye" Mihawk, who had lost every match, alongside the mysterious Slaughter Swordsman.
Gentleman's condition had never fully recovered after his earlier battle with Issho. Though he had regained enough strength to continue fighting, his peak state remained out of reach. Had he been uninjured, his ranking would undoubtedly have been far higher. This reality filled him with resentment. His hatred toward Issho had only deepened, yet he restrained himself. This was the Battle Pyramid, the territory of the Nightfall Pirates. Acting recklessly here would be suicide.
Issho, for his part, clearly sensed the malice directed at him. Still, he remained unmoved. He did not fear conflict. Without restrictions, his combat strength would be even more overwhelming.
Mihawk's situation stood in stark contrast. Though he suffered defeat after defeat, his growth was undeniable. Each battle refined him further. At only twenty-two, his rapid improvement astonished even seasoned observers. For him, this tournament was both a trial and an opportunity.
Many envied him. Shanks, watching from the stands, could only sigh with regret. Having been eliminated earlier, he could not experience such battles firsthand and was left to spectate, occasionally seeking out other swordsmen for sparring.
The first match of the final round began with Mihawk facing Gentleman.
The moment the signal was given, Gentleman vanished from sight, reappearing in an instant as he launched forward. His blade flashed with a blood-red light, aimed directly at Mihawk's neck.
Mihawk reacted immediately, raising the Black Blade Yoru to block. Steel clashed. Gentleman shifted angles mid-attack, pressing relentlessly, but Mihawk pivoted and countered, his movements precise and controlled.
Their battle lacked the overwhelming spectacle of earlier matches, yet no one dared underestimate it. Every strike carried lethal intent.
Gentleman's cracked mask revealed a fragment of his cold gaze, tinged with jealousy. Mihawk's talent stirred something ugly within him. He wanted to crush it, to extinguish it before it could fully bloom.
Mihawk, however, remained calm. He focused entirely on the flow of battle, searching for the one decisive opening.
The duel stretched on for an entire day and night. By the end, both fighters were exhausted. Mihawk's breathing grew ragged, his body marked with wounds. Gentleman was no better. His relentless offense had drained his stamina even more severely.
Then Mihawk steadied himself.
He gripped Yoru with both hands and gathered every ounce of strength he had left. This would be his final strike.
As he swung, an invisible force surged outward.
Conqueror's Haki.
For a single instant, Gentleman froze.
That instant was enough.
Mihawk's slash engulfed him completely.
When the dust settled, Gentleman had fallen.
The result stunned many. Gentleman had held the advantage throughout the battle, yet Mihawk overturned the outcome at the final moment, defeating a stronger opponent through sheer will and precision.
Leaning on his blade for support, Mihawk slowly left the arena, his body on the verge of collapse.
The battle between Rhinos and Borsalino followed, bringing a far greater spectacle.
Golden light condensed in Borsalino's hands, forming the radiant sword Ama no Murakumo. Its brilliance was blinding, its cutting power immense.
Rhinos answered with overwhelming force. His Air-Air Fruit allowed him to manipulate air currents on a massive scale. Each swing of his blade summoned violent winds that tore through the arena, forming a cage of tornadoes around Borsalino.
Despite Borsalino's strength, his foundation in swordsmanship could not match Rhinos's. In the end, he was worn down and defeated.
Issho's battle against Shimotsuki Ushimaru was equally intense. Every clash carried the weight of gravity itself. Ushimaru fought cautiously, aware that even a single misstep could be fatal.
Issho's movements were steady, unshakable. His Observation Haki compensated entirely for his blindness, allowing him to respond with flawless precision.
In the end, Ushimaru fell in a narrow defeat.
Kirigaya Suguha and Ama Tsuki Takeji delivered another dazzling duel. Suguha's dual-wielding style pushed offense to its absolute limit, chaining attacks in rapid succession. However, this relentless aggression came at a cost.
Takeji, more experienced, seized a momentary lapse and turned the tide. After a grueling day-long battle, Suguha was defeated.
At last, the final battle arrived.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni versus Himura Kenshin.
The arena fell silent.
They moved at the same time.
"Ryūshōsen!"
"Enbu!"
Their opening clash tore through the sky, their sword intents colliding with such force that clouds themselves split apart. Golden light and violent winds erupted from the impact.
Without hesitation, they closed the distance and clashed again.
Three days and nights passed in relentless combat.
Neither yielded.
Neither faltered.
Finally, as the battle reached its peak, Yoriichi Tsugikuni's aura changed.
Golden Lion Shiki narrowed his eyes. "Now he's serious."
Until this moment, Yoriichi Tsugikuni had not used his full power.
"Transparent World."
"Sun Wheel: Demon Slayer."
Time seemed to slow.
No, it was Yoriichi Tsugikuni who had become faster.
In an instant, he appeared before Kenshin. The strike that followed was impossible to evade.
It landed.
Kenshin was sent crashing down, his body unable to continue.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni had held back. Otherwise, that strike would have taken his life.
Silence hung in the air for a heartbeat.
Then the world erupted.
The victor had been decided.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni stood as the undisputed World's Greatest Swordsman.
Cheers thundered across the arena, across Parage Island, and across the seas themselves. Countless people celebrated as they witnessed history unfold before their eyes.