Chapter 122 – Braking swords
"Copy material composition."
"Recreate accumulated years."
"Surpass all engineering."
"Here and now, forge the sword of fantasy—[Sword of Promised Victory]!"
Arton's eyes focused as he raised both hands high. Magical photons rapidly condensed in his hands. In mere moments, a magnificent double-edged sword, gleaming with golden light, materialized in Arton's grasp.
Whoosh—
Arton swung the sword around himself, sending out a burst of golden light that pierced the massive stone lion heads.
The next moment, an abundance of golden light erupted from within the stone lion heads, ultimately exploding in a dazzling display.
The once fierce and formidable stone lion heads shattered into fragments of stone under the brilliance of the golden light.
Kozuki Hiyori: "This is... such a beautiful golden sword!"
Charlotte Smoothie: "Could this be the sword Arton mentioned as a [Noble Phantasm]?"
Whitey Bay: "Such power from the golden light of a sword to shatter that attack of Shiki?"
Gion: "This sword... just from its appearance alone, it surpasses my own blade by leaps and bounds."
Vivi: "Why does this sword give me the feeling that only a king is worthy of wielding it?"
The holders of the diary replicas were all emotionally stirred upon seeing the splendid golden sword in Arton's hand, especially after watching him effortlessly shatter Shiki's attack with it. However, through the screen, they couldn't fully comprehend the extent of the Sword of Promised Victory's power.
On the other hand, Tashigi, who was observing the scene in person, was deeply impressed.
"The [Sword of Promised Victory]? Is that the name of this sword?"
"Amazing, neither my Shigure nor Shiki's Kogarashi andOto can compare to that golden sword."
"Even Mihawk's black blade, Yoru, might not compare to that golden sword."
Tashigi tightly gripped the edge of the hot air balloon platform, her excitement causing her body to tremble uncontrollably. At this moment, she could barely resist the urge to touch the sword in Arton's hand.
Meanwhile, Arton was already stepping on the longswords he had projected beneath his feet, using them as stepping stones to rush towards Shiki.
"Chosen sword, grant me the power to cut through evil."
"This is—[Excalibur]."
As Arton murmured these words, he had already closed in on Shiki. Shiki, who had been astonished by the sudden appearance of the golden sword that shattered his technique, quickly regained his composure as Arton approached with rapid speed.
Seeing the golden blade coming towards him, Shiki's eyes narrowed. He quickly channeled his Haki into the blades on his legs. Then, flipping his body, he aimed the conjoined blades at Arton.
Crack!
A jarring metallic snapping sound echoed. Shiki's eyes widened in disbelief as he saw his blades, snapped in two under Arton's thrust.
But that was not the end of Arton's attack.
Buzz!
A beam of golden light surged from the tip of Arton's sword, enveloping Shiki's body and sending him flying far into the distance.
Charlotte Smoothie: "Did I see that right? Shiki's two swords just broke like that?"
Gion: "Shiki used Haki earlier, right? And it still couldn't withstand Arton's thrust?"
Whitey Bay: "Shiki's swords broke in the duel, which probably means even Dad's Murakumogiri can't compare to the golden sword in Arton's hands."
Yamato: "If I had that sword, I could easily cut through my Seastone shackles. Also, if I fought my bastard of a father with that sword, would it shatter his weapon too?"
Domino: "Can such a blade be stopped by Seastone chains?"
Sadi: "Arton isn't a Devil Fruit user, so even if he's shackled with Seastone chains, he could still project that golden sword. Wouldn't he be able to easily cut through the Seastone chains and escape?"
The diary holders were already amazed that Arton's sword could easily shatter the stone lions created by Shiki's powers. But seeing Shiki's two famous blades snapped in half by Arton's sword left them even more astonished.
"Did he win? Did Arton win?"
"Captain Hina, let's get closer."
"I want to see the sword in Arton's hand."
Tashigi tugged at Hina's sleeve, speaking excitedly.
Hina looked down at Tashigi and felt as though she could see the light shining in Tashigi's eyes.
"Tashigi, Hina understands you want to see that sword."
"But it's still too early for us to approach."
"The fight isn't over yet."
Hina shook her head and looked at Shiki, who had been blasted back by the golden light.
Following Hina's gaze, Tashigi saw Shiki breaking free from the golden light and emerging. Although Shiki looked disheveled, with tattered clothes and disheveled hair, his condition was still quite good.
"He's... still alive?"
Tashigi muttered in disbelief.
"That's a legendary pirate for you."
"A figure who fought against Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp, even destroying half of Marineford."
"Even if he has weakened, as Arton's diary suggests."
"He's not someone who can be easily defeated."
"Or maybe, Arton doesn't want Shiki to fall too quickly."
Hina murmured.
She remembered that Arton's current use of the Emiya Shirou template challenge required intense battles to progress the template.
Although Hina didn't know the specifics of Emiya Shirou's powers, she felt that Arton might not have completed the first progression yet.
The power Arton was currently displaying might just be the strength of the first stage of the Emiya Shirou progression.
"Indeed, you wouldn't be defeated by just one move, Shiki."
Arton stood on the projected versions of Kogarashi and Oto, looking at Shiki with a face of admiration.
"Arton, I admit your power is extraordinary."
"The sword you created with your abilities also exceeded my expectations."
"Even the Supreme Grade swords held by Roger and Whitebeard couldn't compare to the blade in your hand."
"But if you think you can defeat me easily with just that sword, you're gravely mistaken."
"I, Shiki the Golden Lion, don't rely solely on swordsmanship to dominate the seas."
Shiki said coldly, his eyes fixed on Arton.
As if to prove his point, the surrounding floating islands and suspended water streams began to tremble.
"I know, if you were defeated that easily."
"It would be troubling for me as well."
Arton shook his head, looking at the [Excalibur] in his hand.
Because Arton had used the power of [Excalibur] earlier, the golden sword in his hand had become somewhat transparent, as if it might disappear at any moment.
This did not escape Shiki's notice.
"The sword in your hand is no longer usable."
"Do you have any other swords to use?"
"If not, then I'll send you on your way."
Shiki said with a cold smile.
***
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