While marveling at that Sword of Damocles, Cullocham forgot he was still in the middle of a fight. From behind his back he pulled out another hammer. That was right—Cullocham's weapons were a pair of hammers.
Shirakawa, who had already reached the rank of Great Swordsman, no longer used flashy, howling sword techniques. No matter what kind of attack his opponent launched, Shirakawa could neutralize it or defend with the most fundamental sword forms, and his own strikes were all simple, ordinary cuts.
Shirakawa finally understood why Mihawk always preferred basic attacks. It was the same principle as "the greatest truths are the simplest." No matter what it was, in the end it all came down to the most elementary form.
Even though Shirakawa was stronger than Cullocham, he had to admit, the guy's raw strength was genuinely monstrous. Every clash sent numbness through Shirakawa's arms.
"What's happening in the back mountain?"
Over in the sword-forging village, everyone was staring toward the back mountain with terror on their faces. They had never witnessed a scene like this before—the colossal silver-white sword in the sky, the unending rumbling echoing from the mountain. It plucked relentlessly at their fragile heartstrings.
"Everybody stay calm." The village chief stepped forward to reassure them. The racket those two were kicking up had already disturbed his work crafting a scabbard.
He didn't know exactly what was going on either, but as the former guardian of the Holy Sword, his strength was naturally not weak. Age might have caused it to decline considerably, but he still possessed the power he'd had in his youth, including Observation Haki.
Although his Observation Haki couldn't cover the entire island, he could tell from the auras leaking out that one side was his son, and the other was naturally Shirakawa.
The chief comforted his villagers. Deep down, he knew nothing bad would happen.
Hearing his words eased the villagers' hearts a little, but they still watched the back mountain situation with worry on their faces.
By now, the battle between Shirakawa and Cullocham had reached its white-hot stage.
Since Cullocham's weapons were blunt, the injuries they inflicted were bruises and welts, and when the force was great enough, occasionally fractures and shattered bones.
But thanks to his own recovery ability, no injuries were visible on him now at all.
Cullocham was a different story. Shirakawa's weapon was a blade, and the flying sword slashes he casually released were devastatingly powerful. The moment Cullocham's attention slipped, bloody wounds would appear across his body.
"You really are strong." Gazing at Shirakawa, who still looked to be in excellent condition, Cullocham felt sincere admiration rise from his heart.
"Of course. If I weren't strong, how could I become your captain?"
By now, Cullocham understood with perfect clarity that he had already lost this fight.
That being said, Cullocham was undeniably a man with immense combat talent. He had spent over thirty years living on this island, training solely under his father.
And the only person who could spar with him was his father. With only his father as a training partner, Cullocham had reached his current level. It was true that his father's teaching ability was formidable, but the greater reason was Cullocham's own sky-high talent.
Had Cullocham gone out to sea early, seen the outside world, and witnessed the strength of outside experts, his power would probably be far greater than it was now. Maybe even Shirakawa would not be his match.
But there were no "ifs" in this world. In this battle, Cullocham was already destined for defeat.
The fight ended. Without any surprise, Cullocham lay sprawled on the earth, utterly exhausted, while Shirakawa looked down at him from above.
"So? Is my strength enough to qualify as your captain?"
"It's enough."
Saral and Yuristin had finally witnessed the captain's power for themselves. Knowing about it and seeing it with your own eyes were two entirely different things. Only by seeing it firsthand could you grasp just how vast the gap truly was.
In the end, it was Riddle who carried Cullocham back, since his body was simply too large. In his full lizard form, several people could ride on him with room to spare.
When they returned to the village, there was no pestering from the villagers with questions. The chief must have said something to them beforehand.
"What did you all go off to do?" The villagers might not ask, but that didn't mean Moll wouldn't.
They'd all ditched him earlier. If not for the ship still being there, he probably would've thought this bunch had abandoned him and left on their own.
And that commotion just now had scared him half to death. He'd asked the villagers, and they told him tremors like that had never happened before. That answer only frightened him more. He thought he was going to meet his end right here.
Thankfully, Shirakawa and the others did come back.
"We just witnessed a spectacular battle, the kind you can't even imagine," Jora declared proudly to Moll, as if showing off.
"Then why didn't you take me along?"
"Because that kind of battle is still too early for you. Wait a few years."
"Tch."
Moll let out a small, scornful click of his tongue. Even if it was true, you didn't have to say it so blatantly. I know I'm weak, but do you think you're so strong? Your bounty is worlds apart from the captain's.
"So, that shaking just now was caused by that battle?"
"That's right."
Hearing those two words, Moll got angry all over again. The reason he'd been on edge and terrified the entire time was his own captain.
"Kam didn't cause you any trouble, did he?"
Shirakawa had taken Cullocham to the chief's home. The chief asked with concern, directing his worry at Shirakawa. Fortunately, Cullocham was already asleep by then, or he would surely have scolded his father for being so blatantly biased.
"Not at all," Shirakawa said with a smile. "We just got a little exercise, nothing to worry about. It also gave me a much clearer sense of Cullocham's strength. Now I have a solid understanding."
"So what do you think of Kam's strength?"
"Hm." Shirakawa thought for a moment, then said, "In this sea, his strength definitely places him among the top ranks. As long as he doesn't go wandering around the territories of those overlords, he'll be perfectly fine."
"That's good."
Hearing Shirakawa's words, the chief felt completely at ease.
Kam would be leaving in a few days. Whether he would ever come back was another question entirely. So even though Cullocham's strength was formidable, as a father, he still cared deeply about his child.
Shirakawa's words had clearly injected a tranquilizer straight into his heart.
Then the chief shifted his gaze to Cullocham, a tender expression surfacing on his face. Seeing that, Shirakawa quietly slipped out.
Perhaps it was better to leave this time for father and son to have to themselves.
The chief might have some words he wanted to say to Cullocham, words that might be hard to get out while Cullocham was awake. This was, perhaps, the kind of love known as a father's care.
/-\
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