Chapter 58: The Greatest Swordsman in the World Takes the Stage

The two armies clashed, and artillery fire led the charge. The Navy's firepower needed no further introduction. Once the fuses were lit, cannon fire instantly covered all the fleets on the Whitebeard Pirates' side.

"Boom!!" The sound of explosions continuously echoed.

"Fire back!!" After a round of naval volleys, the Whitebeard Pirates' cannons also followed suit. "Bang bang bang!" Dense cannonballs hurled toward the Navy's high ground. Both sides unleashed their firepower with no restraint, trying to inflict as many casualties as possible.

However, the Navy's equipment was exceptionally superior, and this was their main base. They had the advantage of time, place, and people. Before long, the firepower of the Whitebeard Pirates was suppressed. The aftermath of the explosions left several ships with huge holes. Fortunately, they were supported by the ice surface. Otherwise, with water seeping in, there would have been a risk of sinking.

Seeing their firepower suppressed, the pirates couldn't stay passive any longer. The captains of the allied pirate crews drew their weapons.

"Charge!!" Members of the allied pirate crews rushed towards the Navy.

"Afraid of you?" Many Vice Admirals personally led the charge, brandishing their weapons and leading their naval forces towards the Whitebeard Pirates. Close combat ensued. The artillery crews on both sides stopped their suppressive fire with remarkable coordination.

"Dare to challenge the Whitebeard Pirates? You have no idea how high the sky is!"

"Today, we'll show you the strength of the Whitebeard Pirates!" The Whitebeard Pirates surged forward.

"The Navy is not something you can provoke!"

"You bunch of clowns, today next year will be your death anniversary!"

"Take down these pirates!" The Navy also charged forward.

Both sides clashed, massive forces thrown into the fray. Like a swarm of locusts, the battlefield descended into chaos.

The squad captains of the Whitebeard Pirates also started to act. Vista drew his two floral swords from his waist, petals falling from the sky. Clad in a tailcoat, he plunged into the Navy's ranks like a sharp blade. Similarly, the other squad captains weren't far behind. Namur, Izou, and other captains began to exert their strength.

Seeing the squad captains in action, the giant Vice Admirals also joined in, lifting their battle axes and spiked clubs. They fiercely attacked the Whitebeard Pirates. The brutal slaughter had just begun, yet the battlefield was already awash with blood, dismembered limbs everywhere.

It had to be said that although the Navy's side was made up of elite, well-trained, and imposing soldiers, they were, after all, flowers grown in a greenhouse. Many of them had never experienced the bloody winds of the sea. But the Whitebeard Pirates were different. In the New World, only the strong survive. Anyone who could live there had more than a few tricks up their sleeve.

If previously the Navy's firepower had suppressed the Whitebeard Pirates, now in close combat, the Whitebeard Pirates' advantage became apparent. The war gradually turned unpredictable.

Just as the Navy and pirates were fiercely fighting, in the plaza of Marineford, a man carrying the black blade Yoru slowly raised his head, eyes revealing a sharp battle intent. His hawk-like gaze locked onto Whitebeard on the Moby Dick. He stepped forward, climbing onto the high platform. He was Dracule Mihawk, the current Warlord of the Sea, acknowledged as the world's greatest swordsman.

Mihawk, being one of the top swordsmen of his time, immediately caught the attention of many in Marineford.

"Fufufufufu! I didn't expect the first one to lose patience would be you!" Doflamingo glanced at Mihawk, his tone arrogant and wickedly laughing.

"Are you going to make a move too?" The sea breeze blew, her long hair dancing wildly, Pirate Empress Boa Hancock looked at him.

"Hehehehe, aiming to challenge Whitebeard? Let me see your skills!" Gekko Moriah awaited eagerly.

"Oh ho~~! One is the world's greatest swordsman, the other is the world's strongest man, how terrifying!" Kizaru's eyes lit up, seriously observing the scene.

"Hmph!" Akainu, though extremely arrogant, after a cold snort, he too couldn't help but glance at Mihawk.

Not just them, even Sengoku, Garp, and the always silent Bartholomew Kuma turned their attention. Sensing something, Whitebeard also gazed towards Marineford's plaza, locking eyes with Mihawk.

"Gurarararara, another kid who can't wait to make a move?" Whitebeard clearly saw the sharpness in Mihawk's eyes, he said steadily.

As everyone had thought, Whitebeard, bearing the title of the world's strongest man, stood like a towering mountain blocking their path. Anyone aspiring to climb to the top of the world would want to measure themselves against him.

Today, in this great war, this feast of dragons would fulfill everyone's wish to challenge Whitebeard!

"Let me see, to climb over this mountain, how much more effort I need to put in!" Mihawk raised his hand, grasping the black blade Yoru, and slowly drew it. As the black blade Yoru was unsheathed, a sword aura spread out from him. Many could feel it. Mihawk's power was escalating.

If there was a scouter from Dragon Ball, Mihawk's power level would undoubtedly be multiplying.

"What a terrifying sword aura!" Vista, the fifth division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, who was still charging, stopped his actions upon sensing Mihawk's movements.

He looked in Mihawk's direction. Seeing Mihawk's current mastery of swordsmanship, even he couldn't help but furrow his brows. Years of arduous training had made him believe that his swordsmanship had caught up to or even surpassed Mihawk's. To put it bluntly, Vista had been waiting for the day when he could challenge Mihawk. But now, seeing Mihawk's unrivaled sword aura, he couldn't help but sigh. He was still far behind Mihawk!

Mihawk grasped the black blade Yoru with both hands. To make the world's greatest swordsman wield his sword with full force, there was only one person in the entire sea currently in Marineford worthy of that honour. Violent power surged into Mihawk's arms. After reaching his peak strength, his hawk-like eyes opened, his gaze as bright as the stars. In an instant, he slashed at Whitebeard!

The black blade Yoru, one of the twelve Supreme Grade Swords, emitted a boundless divine light. A green sword aura slashed straight towards Whitebeard on the Moby Dick. The massive shockwave cracked the ice surface frozen by Aokiji. Cracks spread in all directions. Ice shards flew, ice chunks soared, blotting out the sky, sweeping across the sea, shaking the heavens, and rocking the sky!

Mihawk stared intently at Whitebeard. How... will you block this strike?