With the birth of the World's Greatest Swordsman, the Battle Pyramid and the entire world were swept into a storm of celebration that showed no signs of fading.
News spread like wildfire across the seas, and under Morgans' tireless direction, the highlight moments of Yoriichi Tsugikuni's battles were edited at astonishing speed and broadcast across the giant screens of the Battle Pyramid. Each decisive strike, each overwhelming display of sword intent, was replayed again and again, imprinting his name into the minds of countless spectators.
Although the Swordsmanship Tournament had officially concluded, in the eyes of the world, the most important moment had already passed. The throne had changed hands, and a new legend had been born.
Yet the excitement had not ended.
The following day brought another highly anticipated event, as rewards worth tens of billions of Berries were distributed all at once.
Naturally, such vast sums could not be handed out in physical currency. Smaller rewards were given directly, but for amounts reaching hundreds of millions or even billions, the Nightfall Pirates issued black cards engraved with a three-headed dragon emblem. These cards functioned as credit within their territory, recording each transaction until the balance was exhausted.
Beyond Berries, the rewards themselves stirred even greater desire.
Rare ores, swordsmanship manuals, Devil Fruits, and even famous blades were displayed upon a specially constructed platform. The structure rose in tiered steps, with each level representing greater value, drawing the eyes of every swordsman present.
At the very top, placed upon a circular platform and separated by several meters, rested the two most coveted prizes: the Supreme Grade blade Kikoku and the Cursed Seven Star Sword.
Even in stillness, the two blades seemed alive.
Famous swords possessed their own will, and the faint aura they emitted was enough to make one's skin prickle.
These rewards were reserved for the 124 swordsmen who had reached the third round, all of whom were present within a sealed chamber on the sixteenth floor of the Battle Pyramid. Aside from them and a handful of Nightfall Pirates, no one else was permitted entry. The outside world could only watch through the projection of Den Den Mushi.
As expected, Yoriichi Tsugikuni stepped forward first.
He ascended the platform without hesitation, his gaze briefly sweeping over the rewards on each tier before continuing upward. His goal had long been decided.
Reaching the summit, he paused only for a moment before the Cursed Seven Star Sword. From within the blade, he could sense something sinister, a faint whisper that seemed to tempt and lure him. It truly lived up to its name.
Yet he turned away without interest.
Instead, he walked directly toward Kikoku.
The crimson-gold scabbard gleamed under the light, and as he approached, a faint resonance stirred between swordsman and blade. It was subtle, yet undeniable.
A sword chose its master just as much as a master chose their sword.
Without hesitation, Yoriichi Tsugikuni grasped the scabbard with his left hand and the hilt with his right. With a sharp sound, the blade was drawn.
In an instant, the sword trembled violently.
A clear cry rang out, filled with resistance.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni's expression remained calm, but his sword intent erupted like a blazing sun, pressing directly against the will of the blade. The air itself seemed to grow heavy under the clash of unseen forces.
For three breaths, neither yielded.
Then, gradually, the resistance faded.
The trembling ceased.
Kikoku fell silent.
It had acknowledged him.
At that moment, the world gained another wielder of a Supreme Grade blade. Alongside Hawkeye Mihawk's black blade Yoru and Whitebeard Edward Newgate's Murakumogiri, Kikoku now had its master.
With the top prize claimed, all eyes shifted to the remaining blade.
The Cursed Seven Star Sword.
Only the top three were eligible to take it, and many wondered whether Himura Kenshin or Ama Tsuki Takeji would claim it. In truth, numerous powerful figures had already attempted to purchase the blade through private channels, offering staggering prices in exchange for claiming it on their behalf.
Yet such offers meant nothing.
To swordsmen of this level, wealth had long lost its meaning.
Himura Kenshin stepped forward next.
Without hesitation, he bypassed the Cursed Sword and selected an incomplete swordsmanship manual left behind by a Great Swordsman. With the Sakabato already in his possession, forging another blade held no appeal. What he sought was understanding, not steel.
Ama Tsuki Takeji followed.
After a moment of consideration between manuals and materials, he ultimately chose a piece of Deep Sea Sinking Iron. In his eyes, strengthening the next generation of Wano's blades held greater value than personal gain.
Irigaya Suguha selected two pieces of rare ore, intending to reforge his dual swords.
Redyat casually picked a Devil Fruit, treating it more as a convenience than a prize.
Issho chose forging material for his cane sword, which, while ordinary, had accompanied him through countless battles.
Shimotsuki Ushimaru made a similar choice, and one by one, the swordsmen selected their rewards according to their own paths.
Among the notable prizes just below the top tier was the cursed blade Nidai Kitetsu, a Great Grade sword brought by Wano Country itself. In the end, it fell into the hands of Rhinos, not for personal use, but as a strategic asset for the Flying Pirates.
Borsalino, who had also set his sights on it, could only shrug and settle for a swordsmanship manual.
Mihawk selected rare ore, intending to forge a new blade, while the Gentleman could only watch in frustration as yet another desired prize slipped from his grasp.
His hatred toward Issho deepened, yet he did not dare act within the territory of the Nightfall Pirates.
Soon, the remaining swordsmen advanced in batches.
Shanks, wearing an expression of exaggerated grief, selected a Devil Fruit under Beckman's guidance. For him, it was less about power and more about survival, as the Red Hair Pirates were currently drowning in debt.
The memory of Beckman calmly informing him that all their earnings would go toward repayment still lingered like a nightmare.
Buggy, of course, had laughed at him the entire night.
As the final rewards were distributed, the atmosphere gradually settled, though one last spectacle remained.
The top three were granted the opportunity to challenge the three witnesses.
These final battles, though ceremonial, were no less spectacular. Each clash was recorded, preserving the image of these warriors for future generations.
At last, after nearly half a year of continuous battles, the Swordsmanship Tournament came to an end.
The curtain fell.
Yet what it left behind was not silence, but a world forever changed, where new legends had risen and the path forward burned brighter than ever.