Facing the surging shockwaves and sensing the fierce clash between the two fighters on the battlefield.
Nami leaned over the ship's railing and complained weakly, "It's already been almost a whole day. This battle isn't going to last much longer, right?"
She knew very well that when two evenly matched opponents fought, deciding a winner was extremely difficult. At the very least, it couldn't happen in a short time.
Hearing this, Nojiko smiled and gently shook her head as she explained, "It won't. They've already figured out each other's strengths. Kuina should be revealing her trump card soon."
"I see," Nami nodded, then turned to look at the others and casually asked, "Anyone else want to spar with the people over there?"
"Who would want to spar with those filthy men? I only want to stay by Lord Leno's side."
Hancock waved her hand in disgust as if she were brushing away something revolting.
The rest exchanged glances and all shook their heads as well, clearly uninterested in sparring.
Seeing everyone's resistance, Nami turned her gaze to Nojiko again and blinked curiously.
"What about you, Nojiko?"
"Me? I won't join either." Nojiko paused for a moment before waving her hand with a smile. "Besides, we didn't come here for sparring anyway."
"Hmm… that's true."
Nami nodded in realization. They had come here for the Poneglyphs.
As for why it had turned into a sparring exchange in the end, wasn't it because that guy Leno wanted to take Yamato's feelings into consideration?
Thinking of that, her gaze drifted toward Yamato. Even she felt a bit helpless toward that battle maniac.
After discussing the next arrangements, everyone once again turned their attention to the battlefield ahead.
Clang
After another collision, the two fighters separated once more, both breathing heavily and looking rather disheveled.
Kuina's clothes were torn in several places. Although the wounds had already healed, the blood still stained the front of her clothes red.
Vista looked no better. Even the brim of his top hat had been sliced off.
Panting heavily, he looked at Kuina with undisguised admiration in his eyes.
"What astonishing talent in swordsmanship. I really don't know how you trained."
"I just practiced casually."
Kuina adjusted her breathing, her face calm as she responded offhandedly.
Hearing her "serious" answer, Vista's mouth twitched, and the smile on his face nearly collapsed.
Like captain, like crew. Even their way of bragging was exactly the same.
If someone your age could become a Grandmaster Swordsman just by practicing casually, then what have old men like us been doing all these years? Practicing like dogs?
He glanced toward the Whitebeard crew before speaking to Kuina again.
"That should be about enough. Let's decide the winner with the next move."
"I was thinking the same."
Kuina nodded lightly. Air currents began to swirl around her body, causing her short golden hair to dance in the wind.
Black-and-red lightning arcs began jumping along the blade of Sakura Veil, and a vast, overwhelming force surged outward.
Feeling the familiar pressure, Vista's pupils suddenly shrank and his expression stiffened completely.
"Hey, hey… you've got to be kidding. Again?!"
With his experience, he naturally knew what that pressure meant.
What he hadn't expected was that among the adventurer crew, yet another person had mastered this power.
Wasn't it said that only one person in several million could awaken it? So how had he run into two of them so easily?
Had Conqueror's Haki become that common?
Despite his shock, he quickly regained his composure.
His twin swords were once again coated with Armament Haki as he began swinging them rapidly.
Layers upon layers of crimson petals appeared out of thin air, quickly forming into a massive rotating cone.
Vista launched forward, holding his two rapiers as he merged with the blood-red cone and spun straight toward Kuina.
"Rose Storm—Cone!"
Seeing the crimson attack rushing toward her, Kuina suddenly raised her head, her eyes bursting with dazzling golden light.
She stomped down with force, shattering the ice beneath her feet into a fan-shaped explosion. Her body transformed into a streak of golden light as she shot forward.
"Holy Sword—Radiant Sun!"
The red and golden streaks collided violently in midair.
But the expected explosion never came.
The sword light shattered the crimson cone the instant it made contact, and the black-and-red slash continued flying straight toward Vista.
"What?! Th-this is—"
Pfft
Vista was shocked by the terrifying power of the incoming slash. He only had time to raise his swords to block.
Before he could even finish his sentence, blood burst from his mouth and nose as his body was blasted backward.
Boom
The ice along his path was carved open into a deep trench as blood gushed out like a fountain, creating a horrifying scene.
Seeing this, the Whitebeard crew watching the battle instantly turned pale and shouted in alarm.
"Vista!"
"Captain Vista!!"
"Damn it!"
Marco immediately activated his ability, flapping his wings as he rushed toward the battlefield.
Leno stood frozen for half a second. The moment he sensed Whitebeard's aura erupting, he instantly transformed into lightning and vanished from where he stood.
Meanwhile, Kuina had barely caught her breath before Leno suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist and whisked her away. After several flashes, they returned to the ship.
Feeling the almost tangible killing intent surging from behind him, Leno didn't hesitate for a moment and swung his blade backward.
A massive black-and-red slash shot forward, colliding head-on with the air-shattering shockwaves.
Boom boom boom
The thunderous explosions shook the heavens and earth. The frozen sea shattered piece by piece, sending enormous waves crashing upward.
The circular shockwave produced by the collision spread outward like a devastating blast.
The Gale, floating in the air, shook violently as the shockwave pushed it far away.
Standing at the bow of the ship, Leno's face was dark with anger as he cursed toward Whitebeard in the distance.
"You old bastard, can't you afford to lose?"
"Enough nonsense. You injured my son, so you'll have to pay the price!"
Whitebeard stood at the bow of his ship, leaning on his naginata as he glared fiercely at Leno.
He didn't care about rules or fairness. His son had been injured. As a father, he had to respond.
Leno was so angry he almost laughed.
They had agreed on a fair spar, and now the old man pulled something like this?
"Fine, fine. If I don't show my power, you think I'm some sick kitten?!"
As soon as the words fell, Leno's body suddenly grew larger as his Dragon form appeared.
He stepped forward, black-purple lightning erupting violently around him. Pointing Huangquan at Whitebeard, he grinned savagely.
"I'd like to see what price you can make me pay today!"
Crackle
The moment he finished speaking, Leno suddenly appeared directly above Whitebeard, his long blade wrapped in black-purple lightning slashing down with overwhelming force.
Clang
Whitebeard gripped his naginata with both hands, its blade glowing with a white halo as it collided fiercely with Leno's sword.
Crack… crack…
The sound of shattering glass suddenly echoed.
Visible cracks appeared in the air itself.
As Leno's blade pressed down inch by inch, the cracking sounds continued to multiply.
Suddenly, Whitebeard's expression changed drastically. His towering body was forced backward uncontrollably.
A blinding white light burst before his eyes.
…
…