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The slash tore through the air, glowing green and carrying the kind of power that could destroy worlds. It was so fast there was no time to react.
"Crap—it's too late!"
The strike slammed straight into Luffy. Blood sprayed.
"Damn it, I can't give up! Second Gear!!"
He forced every ounce of strength into his body and leapt upward, but the blow still caught him, sending him flying.
BOOM!
He crashed into the wall of Marineford's high platform, leaving behind a gaping crater that made everyone's breath catch.
"He actually got cut!"
Jinbe darted forward at full speed. "As expected of Ace's little brother—you avoided a fatal wound." His voice hardened. "I won't let you lay another finger on Luffy. Even if it costs me my life!"
Hawkeye Mihawk's sharp eyes widened slightly. "Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea… Why go this far?"
Jinbe's gaze was steady. "Because I want to save Ace. Because I want to protect the sea itself. The war can't be stopped anymore, but there's still hope—and that hope is Luffy!"
Mihawk raised Yoru, his black blade gleaming like night itself. "I see… but fate hasn't revealed itself to me yet. Step aside."
Jinbe dropped into stance. "Fishman Karate!!"
A terrible aura exploded from him, white rings of energy spiraling around his massive frame.
"Karasumagawara Seiken!!"
His fist, wreathed in blinding white energy, shattered the very air as it roared toward Mihawk.
Mihawk swung.
A storm of killing intent burst from Yoru's edge, the pressure alone cutting the skin of those nearby.
Their attacks collided midair—but Jinbe couldn't even push forward an inch. Mihawk's emerald slash ripped straight through his defense and blew him away.
He smashed into the ice with a thunderous crash, cracking it apart before plunging into the freezing sea.
Luffy forced his eyes open, wincing. "That guy's no joke…"
Mihawk strode forward, blade raised high, his aura pressing down like a mountain.
CRASH!
The sword stabbed into the wall where Luffy had just been, missing by a hair. Panting heavily, Luffy sprang aside in Second Gear.
"Damn bastard… Fine, I'll take you head on! Gum-Gum Rocket Launcher!!!"
But halfway through the move he froze, teeth clenched. "No… if I rush in like this, I'll be cut clean in half!"
Mihawk gave a rare nod. "You've got a cool head after all."
The black blade swept toward him again, forcing Luffy to roll and dodge for his life.
Every swing shook the world. The air itself seemed to split; the ice walls shattered layer by layer under the waves of sword energy.
Marines around them gasped in horror.
"He only swung once… and that mountain of ice is collapsing to pieces!"
"This… this is the power of the world's greatest swordsman!?"
Chunks of ice rained down across Marineford, the ground trembling beneath the devastation.
Elsewhere, Doflamingo kept pressing Crocodile.
"C'mon, even if you lost your title, you're still one of the Seven Warlords. We're the same."
Crocodile's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You're not qualified to stand on the same level as me. If you begged to be my underling, maybe then."
Doflamingo laughed darkly. "I thought you'd done some reflecting back in Impel Down."
"If I had, I wouldn't be here. Sables!!!"
A monstrous sandstorm roared to life, swallowing everything in its path.
"Disappear, Doflamingo!"
Doflamingo leapt high into the air, barely dodging the attack. "Tch… I thought you were smarter than this!"
The scene shifted again.
"Out of my way, Hancock!" Smoker growled, white smoke billowing.
"Of course not!" Hancock snapped. "I won't let anyone harm the man I love—my husband!"
Smoker blinked, stunned. "...Husband!?" He shook his head. "Forget it, I'm not wasting time with you."
His gaze locked on Luffy, still struggling against Mihawk. "Straw Hat's mine to take down!"
He charged, but Hancock blocked him like a furious lioness. "I said no one passes here, insolent man!"
"Perfume Femur!!"
Her devastating kick lashed out toward Smoker.
"Hancock, you damn witch!"
Back with Mihawk, his strikes kept coming—huge, merciless arcs of steel that filled the battlefield with killing intent.
Luffy pushed his body to the limit, dodging desperately, but Mihawk's voice cut through the chaos.
"Weren't you here to save your brother? You're only moving farther away with every step."
Another slash. Another narrow escape.
"Damn it… then I'll gamble everything!!!"
He charged straight at Mihawk, lungs burning.
Mihawk's gaze was calm. "Is that all you've got? At this range, you'll never avoid my blade."
But then Luffy saw it—Crocodile's sandstorm, sucking in countless figures. And inside, a familiar silhouette.
His arm stretched out, snatching the figure free just as Mihawk's sword came crashing down.
"Gum-Gum… Scapegoat!!!"
"Wha—Straw Hat, what the hell are you doing!?" Buggy screamed as Mihawk's blade hacked him into dozens of pieces. "He's the one trying to cut you, not me!!"
Luffy hurled Buggy toward Mihawk and bolted for Ace.
Buggy, of course, was unfazed—his Chop-Chop Fruit made him immune to blades. The pieces reformed instantly.
"You bastard! You're Mihawk, huh!? You'll pay for this!!!"
Luffy didn't even look back. "I owe you one, Buggy!!"
Mihawk ignored Buggy entirely, sending another emerald slash after Luffy.
But a new figure leapt in, steel clashing against Yoru in a shower of petals.
"The Fifth Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates—Flower Sword Vista!"
He smiled at Mihawk. "First time we meet, Hawkeye Mihawk."
Meanwhile, in other worlds…
Saint Seiya
"Seiya, that swordsman's aura is terrifying. Could the Nebula Chain hold against a blade like that?"
Seiya's face was pale, eyes wide. "He's definitely a monster… His fighting spirit charges straight ahead without hesitation. Only Ikki might match him."
But Shiryu clenched his fists, battle spirit burning. "My fists will break through his sword aura, no matter what!"
Bleach
Kenpachi roared with laughter. "Hawkeye Mihawk, huh? Now that's someone worth cutting down! And that sword… I'd love to cross blades with him!"
From his throne, Aizen rose, a calculating smile on his face. "An otherworldly warrior, wielding a zanpakutō with such power… I'd like to test my blade against his. My Espada's name would echo across worlds."
Naruto
Orochimaru licked his lips. "What a presence… yet another perfect vessel for me."
From the Hidden Cloud, Raikage A glared with crackling lightning dancing across his body. "That sword is terrifying… but could it pierce my Lightning Armor? If I get the chance, I'll show these outsiders the power of Kumo's strongest technique."
Killer Bee just grinned, spitting rhymes no one could follow. "Yo, nice sword work—gotta give props!"
"..."
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