"Marco, how are Rakuyo's injuries?"
Marco's expression was grim. Blue flames blazed from both hands as he pressed them against Rakuyo's wound.
The sight alone told Whitebeard that Rakuyo's condition was serious. Otherwise, Marco would not look like this.
"Pops, it's strange. It's clearly just a sword wound, but some unknown force is obstructing my Flames of Regeneration."
Whitebeard frowned slightly.
"An unknown power, huh?"
"Hard to say. There are too many bizarre abilities out there on the sea."
"It could be a Devil Fruit power, or it could be something else entirely."
Sweat was already forming on Marco's forehead.
Using his powers at this intensity was beginning to wear him down.
"Brats, where's Vista?"
Whitebeard swept his gaze across the deck.
Among the two groups that had gone ashore, only their commander, Vista, was missing.
At the mention of Vista's name, both groups fell silent.
Finally, one of the older crew members stepped forward and briefly explained what had happened.
"Pops, we were purchasing supplies on Ridgerichled Island when a crimson sword suddenly fell from the sky."
"Vista was controlled by that sword and injured Commander Rakuyo."
"If Commander Rakuyo hadn't held Captain Vista back, we probably would've..."
Whitebeard and the crew fell silent after hearing the story.
Whitebeard's frowned.
'Vista had been controlled by a sword?'
'And attacked his own brothers?'
The whole thing sounded absurd.
"Ridgerichled Island, huh..."
"Gurarararara!"
"My sons! Set sail for Ridgerichled Island!"
"I want to see what kind of sword managed to rob my son of his senses!"
Although Whitebeard was laughing, there was unmistakable concern hidden within it.
New World, Marine G-5 Base.
"So, Hammer, you're telling me you forged a blade even more demonic than a cursed sword?"
"And it led Whitebeard Pirate Division Commander Vista down the road of no return?"
Hammer sat before a Den Den Mushi with both hands wrapped in bandages.
"Old man Sengoku, weren't you listening?"
"Or are you so old now that you can't understand what people are saying?"
"That's the situation."
"Now tell me what we're supposed to do, because my head feels like it's splitting in two."
On the other end of the call, Sengoku also fell silent.
Powerlessly rubbing his forehead, he sighed.
"Hammer... Hammer..."
"You forge weapons, fine."
"But how did you end up creating a cursed blade... no, a demonic blade?"
"And it's a sword, of all things."
"How am I supposed to deal with that?"
"It's not like I can go fishing through the entire ocean looking for a sword."
Hearing Sengoku's helpless tone, Hammer felt equally miserable.
"Hey, this isn't entirely my fault."
"It was Sakazuki hauling back every weird thing he found."
"Ah, forget it."
"If necessary, I'll stay in the New World for the foreseeable future."
"I need to find that sword myself."
"It's far too dangerous."
"Ridgerichled Island is our only lead for now."
"Sakazuki and Vice Admiral Morris have already gone there."
"Sigh... hopefully they'll bring back some good news."
At the same time, on the sea not far from Ridgerichled Island.
"Sakazuki, do you really think that sword is that terrifying?"
"A swordsman gets controlled just like that?"
Vice Admiral Morris stood beside Sakazuki at the bow of the warship.
"Morris, you don't have to trust Hammer's character."
"You don't even have to trust his strength."
"But when it comes to forging, he's an authority."
"My Divine Axe Rhitta is proof enough."
"And you saw what happened at the armory."
"No ordinary weapon could produce something that horrifying."
Recalling the scene, even Sakazuki grew serious.
A weapon of that caliber could genuinely be classified as a disaster.
"Fine."
"We're almost at Ridgerichled Island."
"Everyone, stay alert!"
The warship docked.
Morris and Sakazuki each led a squad inland.
"The smell of blood is overwhelming."
"So it really has fallen into demonic corruption."
Sakazuki felt the blood-soaked air around him and unconsciously released a wave of heat that dispersed some of the stench.
The soldiers accompanying him heightened their vigilance.
The deeper they advanced toward the island's center, the stronger the smell of blood became.
Soon, a crimson figure appeared before the Marines.
"Whitebeard Pirate Division Commander Vista..."
"He's already become a murderous monster under the influence of the demonic blade."
Vice Admiral Morris coldly stared at the figure before him.
It was indeed Vista.
But his eyes were now blood-red.
His body was enveloped by swirling crimson light.
That was the blood energy devoured by the Demonic Blade.
Corpses littered the surrounding area.
What was disturbing was that every corpse was completely shriveled, as though all the blood in their bodies had been drained by the blade.
"Hehehehehe..."
Upon seeing living people again, Vista let out an eerie laugh.
Holding the blade in his right hand, he slowly approached the Marines.
Gulp.
One of the soldiers involuntarily swallowed.
There was no denying it.
Vista looked terrifying.
"He's completely lost his sanity, hasn't he?"
"Hmph. Then there's no need to hold back!"
"I'll go first!"
"Soru!"
Veteran Vice Admiral Morris was also a swordsman.
As an admiral of the hawkish faction, he always favored offense.
The sword in his hand, Tiger Fang, was an exceptionally sharp Grade Blade.
Sensing the attack coming toward him, Vista instantly entered a combat stance.
Crimson blood mist began flowing from the Demonic Blade Muramasa.
Slash!
Before Morris could even reach him, Vista launched the first attack.
A crimson flying slash shot directly toward his face.
"So fast!"
Morris was slightly startled but immediately shifted into a defensive posture.
Armament Haki instantly coated Tiger Fang.
Clang!
Sparks exploded.
To his shock, Morris was forced back dozens of meters by that single slash.
His feet carved two deep trenches into the ground.
"Get up for me!"
Furious, Morris gripped his sword with both hands and swung upward, forcibly deflecting the slash.
"You damned pirate!"
"Don't think you're the only one who can use flying slashes!"
"Tiger Fang!"
With a roar, a blue slash burst from Tiger Fang.
At first glance, the two attacks appeared similar in size.
But their power was another matter entirely.
Vista didn't move at all.
He merely raised Muramasa calmly and pointed its tip forward.
BOOM!
The instant Morris's slash reached the blade's tip, another crimson burst erupted.
The blue slash shattered instantly.
"What?!"
"How is that possible?!"
Watching his attack be neutralized so effortlessly, Vice Admiral Morris felt utterly stunned.