Just then, Roy's voice rang out at the right moment: "Seems like there's still a while before the afternoon tea arrives. This waiting is truly unbearable."
Then, Roy's tone grew serious: "Before the tea comes, I do have a sword I'd like you to take a look at."
As he spoke, he shifted slightly to the side and waved his right hand. A longsword glinting with cold light instantly appeared in his grip—it was the Kusanagi, light flowing across its blade.
Seeing this, Mihawk raised a faint smile, as if Roy's invitation had piqued his interest.
He lifted his hand, and Yoru appeared in response. The pitch-black longsword reflected a chilling gleam under the sunlight, resonating with the Kusanagi from across the way.
"Oh? Are you testing my strength? Or verifying your own swordsmanship?"
Before the words faded, the sky was cleaved by invisible blades. Two fiercely sharp slashes tore through the clouds and air in an instant, shaking the entire world.
"Let me think… this time, I'll just act as a swordsman."
Roy spoke, a flicker of inscrutable light passing through his eyes.
"With this, my 'alibi' should be solid enough."
Roy thought to himself, then slowly drew the Kusanagi, its blade shimmering with a faint glow.
[Ding: Group member Roy has started a livestream.]
He also opened the livestream to earn some points.
A piercing hum instantly rang out across the skies, echoing across the entire sea. Even the Sea Kings in the distance scattered in panic at the deafening sound.
Countless people felt an inexplicable chill shoot up their spines. Luffy shivered violently, goosebumps spreading across his arms. "Why does it suddenly feel so cold?" he muttered.
Nearby, Zoro stood stunned, watching the swordplay with wide eyes full of awe and reverence.
This was true swordsmanship—the realm he had always dreamed of reaching.
Roy gripped the Kusanagi with both hands, facing Mihawk with all his strength. Their powers clashed at the tips of their swords, distorting space itself.
"Admiral Kizaru, your strength has indeed reached the level of a Great Swordsman."
Mihawk's eyes sharpened like a hawk's, filled with curiosity and fighting spirit toward the youngest admiral.
He had long yearned to cross blades with every top-tier Great Swordsman. If not for Roy's unique position, he would have challenged him already.
"What an extraordinary sword. I don't think I've ever seen such a resilient weapon."
Mihawk praised sincerely, sensing through Yoru the Kusanagi's incredible hardness.
"It's my trophy."
Roy replied, thoroughly satisfied with the blade he had taken from Orochimaru.
He even suspected its material might share the same origin as the Sage of Six Paths' tools—both born from ancient power.
"Boom!" Another deafening explosion rang out as terrifying slashes simultaneously discharged into the sea.
Two dazzling beams of sword light streaked across the water with blinding speed.
Wherever the sword light passed, the seawater instantly split, forming a bottomless chasm that divided the sea in two.
Then, enormous waves surged.
The sea, cleaved apart by the blades, remained unsettled for a long time. Water from both sides tried to fill the gulf carved by the sword light, but the chasm refused to close.
Those fortunate enough to witness this spectacle were deeply shaken, their eyes wide and mouths agape, speechless.
"Such terrifying swordsmanship… cleaving the sea?" Zoro muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with desire for the higher reaches of the sword.
"Who is that guy? How is he so strong?" Luffy asked, looking around blankly.
"That's Admiral Kizaru," Red-Leg Zeff's voice came at the right moment, answering Luffy's question.
"Huh, the Marines?" Luffy's face filled with shock, quickly turning to panic.
On the other side, Roy continued sparring with Mihawk, testing his swordsmanship while splitting his focus.
His reason for clashing with Mihawk in the East Blue, in full public view, was not just to show off in front of Zoro—it was to create an alibi.
"I'll take care of part of this world's filth."
Roy thought.
...
Meanwhile, atop the distant Red Line, at the Holy Land of Marie Geoise.
"Useless trash, pulling so slowly. You're insulting my patience!"
With a sharp, cruel curse, Charlos, one of the Celestial Dragons, unhesitatingly pulled the trigger.
A gunshot rang out. Ahead, a ragged, gaunt slave collapsed, his body twitching before falling silent—another stain on this sacred land.
Charlos frowned in disgust and lazily sat back on his lavish carriage.
Several slaves stood at the front, their faces blank and eyes hollow. Like the walking dead, they mechanically pulled the heavy vehicle.
"Worthless filth, an eyesore!" Charlos cursed, glancing around with contempt. Nearby, Cipher Pol agents silently dragged away the corpse—it was all part of their routine.
These were the Celestial Dragons, the hidden rulers of the World Government. They enjoyed unparalleled privilege, seeing others as ants, treating life like a game.
"How boring. What's the point of this life? Whatever. I'll go pick out some female slaves later for amusement."
Charlos mused, yawning lazily.
Just as the Celestial Dragon lost himself in his fantasies, a sudden change shattered the calm.
The ground ahead seemed to come alive. After a slight tremor, a figure miraculously appeared before everyone.
The man had long black hair and striking red armor, a faint luster flowing over it.
He stood tall, his piercing eyes carefully observing the surroundings.
"Huh?" Charlos froze, then his face darkened with rage.
He couldn't understand why a commoner would dare stand before a noble Celestial Dragon instead of kneeling submissively at his feet.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" In anger, Charlos fired several shots without hesitation.
"Die, you insolent fool!" he cursed viciously.
But shockingly, though struck multiple times, the man only twitched slightly. Then, the bullets seemed to be forced out by some invisible power.
"Attack! All of you, kill him! No—I'll tame him myself and make him my slave!"
Charlos roared, ordering the agents behind him to act.
Instantly, several highly trained agents lunged forward like wolves, surrounding the man. The tension became suffocating.
Charlos had already started laughing—a laugh full of arrogance and cruelty.
But then, an unexpected turn made all laughter die in the air.
At this moment, Roy had closed the livestream on this scene.
If Sasuke could see it, he would be stunned to find that the mysterious figure in the image was the legendary God of Shinobi—Hashirama Senju.
"This place is too filthy. It all needs to be cleared away."
As "Hashirama Senju's" low voice sounded, his expression turned unusually serious.
"You Celestial Dragon scum, prepare to return to the dust!"
"Hashirama Senju's" words boomed like thunder in the ears of those present, making the agents' expressions change drastically. Charlos flew into an unprecedented frenzy.
But the next moment, as Hashirama Senju slowly pressed his hands together, a vast power surged within him. The entire Holy Land of Marie Geoise began to shake violently.
Dense chakra coalesced into enormous trees, blotting out the sky.
— Nativity of the World Tree!