"Am I seeing this right?"
"The Black Blade Yoru, one of the Twelve Supreme Grade Swords... shattered?"
Atravis rubbed his eyes and cried out in disbelief.
Everyone else on Volcano Island wore the same expression, as if they had seen a ghost. A Supreme Grade sword—and a Black Blade at that—had simply been smashed to pieces. It was beyond absurd.
On the battlefield, Hawkeye finally touched down on the ground. Pressing his right hand against his wound, he stared at the hilt remaining in his left hand, completely stunned.
At that moment, Sean stepped forward to face him.
"You lose, Hawkeye Mihawk!"
As soon as those words were spoken, Volcano Island erupted. Over a hundred sword masters had personally witnessed Hawkeye's defeat and the changing of the guard for the title of the World's Strongest Great Swordsman. This was a moment they could brag about for the rest of their lives.
Similarly, aboard the Marine warships, Akainu and the other high-ranking officers from Headquarters were equally shocked.
"Vice Admiral Sean... he actually defeated Hawkeye and claimed the title of the World's Strongest Great Swordsman?"
"This is fantastic! Let's see who dares to say a Great Swordsman can never be born from the Marines again!"
"Speaking of which, it seems Vice Admiral Sean already possesses Admiral-level combat power, doesn't he?"
Suddenly, someone spoke up, and the scene fell silent. Everyone turned their gaze toward Akainu. Since Akainu was an Admiral himself, he was clearly the most qualified to judge whether Sean had reached that level.
"Based on the strength Sean has displayed so far, I believe he has indeed reached Admiral-level power," Akainu answered after a moment of contemplation.
The crowd immediately became ecstatic. Does this mean the Marines were about to have four Admirals?
However, they didn't realize that Akainu had only said half of what he was thinking. The part he kept to himself was: 'I'm referring to the strength he has shown thus far. As for whether he has other, even stronger trump cards, that's a different story entirely.'
'''
Back on Volcano Island.
Sean was slightly surprised. He had expected Akainu—or rather, Hawkeye—to be depressed or desolate. But after a brief moment of disorientation, Hawkeye's gaze sharpened once more.
"Sean Campbell, the title of the World's Strongest Swordsman is yours starting today!"
"But one day, I will take it back with my own hands!"
As he spoke, Sean could feel a fierce fighting spirit radiating from Hawkeye. 'Is this really Mihawk?' Sean wondered.
Most people would fall into despair after plummeting from heaven to hell, but Hawkeye was different. He wouldn't despair; instead, he would push himself to the limit, tempering his skills until he could claw his way out of hell and return to the peak.
"Fine. I'll be waiting for you. But don't forget, for the next three years, you are my subordinate!"
"Rest assured. Since this was a wager agreed upon by both sides, I will naturally abide by it!"
"Good man. As expected of Hawkeye; you're far more trustworthy than those people in the Whitebeard Pirates!" Sean clapped his hands, praising him generously while taking a side-swipe at the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Oh, by the way, sorry for destroying your Black Blade Yoru!"
"It's fine. To me, a sword is merely a complement to my strength. Long ago, I moved past the stage of needing a famous blade to augment my power."
"I see. And here I was planning to use the fragments of Yoru to forge an even stronger blade for you. Since you don't need one, never mind!"
"Forge... you can forge swords?" Hawkeye's eyes widened.
Typically, the roles of swordsman and swordsmith did not overlap. Both professions required an immense investment of time to master. If one tried to master both the way of the sword and the art of smithing, the result was usually mediocrity in both.
That was why Hawkeye was so stunned. This man was only seventeen years old, yet he had already reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship in this sea—at least on the surface. And now he claimed he could forge swords? Specifically, to a level where he could recast a Supreme Grade Black Blade?
In the current era, no one dared claim they could recast a Supreme Grade sword, yet Sean could?
'This guy is definitely not human. He needs to be sliced open and studied,' Hawkeye complained internally.
"Of course I can. In fact, the Hekireki in my hand, as well as the Konpira held by Gion, were both forged by me."
"Then, that strange ability..."
"No comment!" Sean shook his head.
He wasn't about to discuss the details of his abilities with so many people watching. Although Sean didn't provide an answer, Hawkeye didn't look disappointed. Instead, while holding his wound, he began scanning the ground, picking up small objects from time to time.
"Mihawk, what are you doing?"
"Collecting the fragments of Yoru. Didn't you say you could help me recast it?"
"Wait, weren't you just acting all cool, saying that a sword is merely a complement and that you've long since moved past needing a famous blade?"
Hawkeye stiffened, a flash of embarrassment crossing his face. However, he quickly went back to picking up the "trash," ignoring Sean entirely.
'''
A few days later.
Vista was successfully escorted to Marine Headquarters. Sengoku announced to the world that in three months, there would be a public execution of the Whitebeard Pirates' 5th Division Captain, Flower Sword Vista.
The location... was Marine Headquarters!
Simultaneously, Sengoku issued a mandatory summons to the Warlords. Although, at this point, only two Warlords remained: Tyrant Kuma and the Knight of the Sea, Jimbei.
Jimbei flatly refused the summons. This infuriated Sengoku, who immediately ordered Akainu to go and seize Jimbei, throwing him into Impel Down. He would only be released once he had "seen reason."
Just as the news of Vista's public execution set the world ablaze, another shocking report emerged.
The 4th Division Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates had been sneak-attacked and murdered a few nights ago by a pirate from the 2nd Division named Marshall D. Teach.
It was unbelievable. One moment, everyone was discussing whether Whitebeard would mobilize his entire crew to storm Marine Headquarters to save Vista. The next, before they could even set sail, they had lost another top commander.
Truly chaotic.
However, Sean, who was currently sailing back, wasn't surprised by the news at all.
After all, he was the one who had orchestrated everything.
The Convergence of Fate
"Just as I thought..."
"The convergence of this timeline is truly powerful."
"In that case, the upcoming Impel Down incident will likely play out as well, right?"
"If so, I only need to make some arrangements at Impel Down, capture Blackbeard, and seize the Dark-Dark Fruit..."
"Then I can finally begin my Hollowification, can't I?"
'''
On a certain island in the New World.
Shanks, who usually carried himself with a carefree and nonchalant air, now wore an expression of utmost seriousness.
"Beckman, do you think Whitebeard can rescue Vista?"
"Ten percent chance, at most," Beckman replied instantly, without a moment's hesitation.
"True... as long as the Marine's deployment is flawless, Whitebeard stands almost no chance. But would a man like Sengoku make a critical error in his deployment?"
As he spoke, Shanks shook his head.
Sengoku, the strategic genius...
He would undoubtedly cast an inescapable net, layered with countless traps and conspiracies. Hoping for a serious blunder from him was like expecting a pig to climb a tree.
Most importantly, there was 'that man' in the Marine. Compared to Sengoku, Garp, or even the Admirals, he might be the most difficult opponent of all.
Sean Campbell!
A man whose Conqueror's Haki surpassed even his own, and whose swordsmanship and raw power rivaled that of Hawkeye!
More importantly, you never knew exactly how many more trump cards he had hidden up his sleeve.
"Beckman, find someone to send a letter for me."
"To whom?"
"Whitebeard."
"Got it."
'''
Three days later.
The World Government released an official announcement: Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach, had formally become a Warlord.
This news undoubtedly poured gasoline on the fire already raging within the Whitebeard Pirates.
Interestingly, things did not unfold as they had in the original timeline. In the original story, Blackbeard became a Warlord only after capturing Ace as a tribute to the government. This time, the World Government had proactively sought out Blackbeard.
The reason was simple: they feared that Vista alone wouldn't be enough of a lure, so they brought Blackbeard into the spotlight to further provoke Whitebeard.
'Look at this!'
'Your 5th Division Captain is in our custody and will be publicly executed in three months.'
'And now, the traitor of the Whitebeard Pirates, Blackbeard, has become a Warlord and will also be present at Marine Headquarters in three months.'
'Tell us, can you still hold back your rage?'
As for Blackbeard, he had indeed been planning to capture a high-profile pirate to use as a stepping stone for his connection with the Marine—just as he had in the original story—to facilitate his own ulterior motives.
However, before he could even lock onto a target, the World Government came knocking at his door.
Naturally, the two parties hit it off immediately. It was a perfect arrangement where everyone got what they wanted.
As for who would actually come out on top in the end...
Heaven only knows.