Chapter 44

"Clang!"

The resounding clash of a long sword echoed through the air as Dracule Mihawk drew his black blade, Yoru behind him.

He stood tall, his calm expression unwavering as he faced the incoming ship. With deliberate movements, he slowly raised his longsword.

There was no room for hesitation or words.

With a confident step forward, his blade swiftly descended an attack, aimed directly at the Eternal Gale.

"Swish!"

The attack was accompanied by a burst of air, as a fearsome emerald-green sword aura erupted, illuminating the surroundings.

Its terrifying energy spread, threatening to engulf the entire ship!

Bonney, her Bonney Pirates, the Noruko Pirates, and the Vibbs Pirates—all present on the ship—felt a shiver run down their spines, gasping in cold anticipation.

In the blink of an eye, the crescent-shaped emerald-green sword aura shot towards the Eternal Gale!

The sound of the air being torn apart resonated through the deck.

Wherever the sword aura passed, even the sea surface split open, creating a massive chasm!

"Swish!"

On the deck of the Eternal Gale, Bonney could feel the horrifying aura emanating from the tremendous sword attack.

Her eyes widened as the sword aura grew closer, expanding in her vision. It was as if she had descended into an icy abyss.

An overwhelming coldness surged through her.

"It's over... We're going to die... We can't withstand an attack of this magnitude."

Surprisingly, Bonney's first thought wasn't to flee, but rather despair consumed her.

"Quick, run!"

"Run, Captain Bonney!"

"Captain Bonney!"

The crew members of the Bonney Pirates shouted loudly, urging their captain to escape as the emerald-green sword aura bore down upon the Eternal Gale.

But Bonney couldn't hear anything anymore.

In this moment, her eyes remained fixed on the expanding sword aura, and the only sound she could perceive was the slicing of the air by the deadly aura!

"Ah~ Those cursed bastards! If they had listened to me earlier... this wouldn't have happened, right?"

Feeling helpless, thoughts of surrender crept into Bonney's mind as she stood there motionless, awaiting her impending doom.

However, just as the sword aura was about to descend upon the Eternal Gale, Bonney's eyes caught sight of a man in a white robe, landing on the ship's bow. He carried a silver-white longsword.

In the face of the menacing sword aura, Ulquiorra Cifer's expression remained unchanged.

He slowly raised his right hand, directly confronting the emerald-green sword aura!

"Boom!"

The clash between his palm and the sword aura erupted, creating an enormous roar that defied expectations!

"Thud!"

The residual impact was immense, causing visible waves of air to ripple in all directions, sweeping through with a gust of wind.

Even the sea surface beneath the ship churned violently, crashing against the hull!

"Boom rumble!!!"

Yet, despite the chaos, Ulquiorra Cifer, who caught Mihawk's slash barehanded on the ship's bow, stood resolute, unaffected by the force.

He remained firmly planted, not budging an inch!

His arm, having deflected the sword aura, slightly bent. Ulquiorra Cifer swung his arm, forcibly altering the trajectory of the sword aura, causing it to crash into the sea surface!

"Boom!"

"Thud!"

The sea exploded, and towering waves surged several meters high!

Then, the splashing waves created by the sword aura fell like a torrential downpour.

"Splash, splash~"

Under the pouring rain, Bonney snapped back to her senses!

She bore witness to the entire spectacle, and her face displayed an unprecedented look of astonishment!

"Wha...? Is this a trick?!"

"This guy actually caught Mihawk's sword aura barehanded?! And he really stopped it?!"

"This... How is this possible?!"

"Does he have an iron hand?! That's an attack from the world's strongest swordsman!"

Bonney exclaimed in astonishment; her tone filled with incredulous shock.

Even the crew members on the Bonney Pirates' ship widened their eyes, gazing at Ulquiorra Cifer on the bow of the Eternal Gale with bewildered expressions.

"Am... Am I hallucinating?"

In Carnes' cabin aboard the Eternal Gale.

Upon hearing the commotion coming from the ship, Carnes slowly raised his head, turning towards the source of the sound.

"It seems this time... we have some interesting individuals among us today."

Carnes spoke and picked up a nearby sword, heading towards the origin of the noise.

At the bow of the ship.

Ulquiorra Cifer stood with his hands in his pockets, calmly observing Mihawk below.

Likewise, Mihawk closely watched Ulquiorra Cifer standing on the bow of the Eternal Gale.

After a moment, a smile suddenly crept across Mihawk's face.

"I didn't expect that even in these waters, there would be 'powerful individuals'."

Behind Ulquiorra Cifer, amidst Bonney's astonishment, Demiurge, who stood behind her, pushed his glasses lightly and spoke.

"Catching an attack of this caliber is only natural for us! Do you have any idea who we are?"

Bonney turned her head in surprise, incredulously seeking confirmation from Demiurge.

"This caliber? Are you telling me that an attack from the world's greatest swordsman is merely of this caliber?! Are you kidding me?"

Demiurge neither confirmed nor denied, calmly replying.

"Just watch! Launching an attack against us will be the biggest mistake he has ever made in his life!"

"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!"

As soon as Demiurge finished speaking, three black figures shot out with incredible speed, leaping from the bow and landing on the sea surface!

To everyone's surprise, the three individuals didn't sink into the sea as expected.

Instead, they miraculously stood upon the water's surface.

As if it were solid ground!

In the middle, Human Path Pain wore a black cloak, with long orange hair flowing in the wind.

On the left side, Preta Path Pain, slightly chubby, possessed a face adorned with six identical black rods.

On the right side, Asura Path Pain, also clad in a black cloak, had several black spikes protruding from his bald head.

"Standing on the sea surface?!" Mihawk's expression reflected a tinge of astonishment as he observed the three individuals defying nature's laws.

No words were exchanged between the two parties.

Preta Path Pain on the left side swayed gracefully, and in the next instant, he swiftly stepped onto the sea surface, hurtling toward Mihawk.

"Swoosh!"

"Bang!"

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