Lina looked at the young swordsman who had appeared before her, her face lighting up with surprise.
At that moment, Erik's arrival drew not only Lina's attention, but also the eyes of the Marines and everyone watching the battle.
"Sky Pirates, Third Fleet, Sword Wind Pirates, Sword Wind Master, Erik Kelmonger..."
"He's so young!"
"His bounty is only 200 million Belly? After this war, it's probably going to rise by a lot."
"I wonder how far you've come on the path of the sword."
The appearance of Sakazuki and Erik meant that the truly high-level combatants on both sides were finally stepping onto the battlefield.
It meant this war was finally about to begin in earnest.
Scalding magma flowed across the ground, but Erik paid it no attention. He looked at Lina with a serious expression and praised her.
"Nice work, Lina. You actually managed to block one of Sakazuki's attacks."
"No, no... it's because the Devil Fruit Yemu-sama gave me is too powerful!"
"You're impressive too. Now leave the rest to us. Take your mother to be treated."
"Okay!"
"Thank you very much!"
Seeing this, Lacroix supported Tessis as he thanked him gratefully.
Then Erik looked at the three giant Vice Admirals, whose position had become extremely awkward, and said politely, "For your own safety, please leave the battlefield as well. After all, the next fight may end up dragging you in."
The three giant Vice Admirals were startled. They were clearly enemies, yet Erik's bearing still earned their respect. Without lingering any longer, they turned to leave.
But just then, searing heat swept over them once more.
Sakazuki's cold voice sounded again.
"Don't make me laugh. Letting traitors walk away is something I will never allow!"
"Boom!"
In an instant, Sakazuki transformed into a surge of magma and shot into the sky, flying past Erik as he charged toward Lina and the others running ahead.
Erik saw it, but he did not move. He simply drew Tensetsugetsu and Sandai Kitetsu.
"Sorry, but you're the opponent I chose. I can't let you leave."
As he spoke, two different auras appeared on Tensetsugetsu and Sandai Kitetsu in Erik's hands.
"Whoosh..."
In that instant, Sakazuki, who was flying midway through the air, suddenly sensed an extreme danger. He had no choice but to stop, turn, and swing his fist to meet it.
"Boom..."
The dazzling slash collided with the fist of magma.
…
On the Grand Line, on Kraika Island, as dark and gloomy as the underworld.
In a massive ancient castle lived a swordsman named Dracule Mihawk, a man with eyes as sharp as an eagle's.
Mihawk, whose goal was to become the world's greatest swordsman, naturally would not ignore a war that was very likely to bring about a change in the world. Through various channels, he had also obtained something called a Television-B.
For anyone who wanted to become strong, this was a war they could not afford to miss.
Because this war might show the true limits of power in this world.
Mihawk was no exception. His goal was to challenge every strong opponent in the world, but he was not foolish enough to charge in blindly without first understanding the gap between himself and his opponents.
For a swordsman who wanted to become powerful, caution and reason were essential.
Mihawk had naturally heard of the Sky Pirates' Sword Wind Master, Erik.
Compared to Fire Dragon Yemu, Mihawk was far more interested in Erik, who was also a swordsman.
In fact, when Erik first made his name, Mihawk had already considered challenging him.
The problem was that the Sky Pirates' movements were far too elusive. Even the Marines and the World Government could not find them, let alone Mihawk.
And now, this was his chance to understand his opponent.
The moment Erik swung that slash, Mihawk's eagle-sharp eyes saw something unusual.
After all, the reason Mihawk possessed such extraordinary talent in swordsmanship came from those eyes and their incredible insight.
"What an evil aura..."
"That sword should be Sandai Kitetsu..."
"A Cursed Sword?"
"He actually fused the Cursed Sword's Oni Aura and Haki together perfectly..."
"And gave it the elegance and sharpness of the wind."
"He truly lives up to the name Sword Wind Master. Impressive..."
At that moment, Mihawk suddenly felt a little regret. Perhaps watching this battle in person would have been the most interesting choice.
…
On the battlefield.
Magma and slash collided.
A rain of magma fell from the sky, as if the end of the world had come.
"Boom..."
Sakazuki descended from the sky as well, his body leaving its elementalized magma state. He looked at Erik with a solemn gaze.
Among the Sky Pirates' three main forces, Erik had always been the easiest to overlook.
Compared to Vice Captain Thunder God Enel, who possessed the strongest Logia, the Goro Goro no Mi, and had become one of the Yonkō, and Navigator Fisher Tiger, the hero of Fish-Man District who possessed the world-destroying Moa Moa no Mi, Erik seemed to have nothing. He was quiet and little-known.
The only major thing he had done recently was save his own country, Flevance, but even then, he had not displayed any terrifying power.
Because of that, even the Marines had underestimated his strength.
His 200 million Belly bounty, completely on a different level from the other two, proved that.
But now, Sakazuki realized that the man before him was extremely dangerous.
That slash just now had undoubtedly been on the level of a great swordsman.
After all, Sakazuki himself had once been a swordsman when he was younger.
It was only later, after obtaining the Magu Magu no Mi, that he gave up his identity as a swordsman. Because of that, he could clearly sense the strange power contained in that slash.
Beyond the Haki, there had been an evil aura, like maggots clinging to bone, that directly affected his elementalized body and his Observation Haki through his thoughts and emotions.
If his will had not been firm enough, he might have been hit directly.
But because of that, Sakazuki's killing intent grew even stronger.
Right now, if the Marines and the World Government still had even the slightest control over the Sky Pirates, then if they lost this war, the Sky Pirates would truly be like birds returning to the mountains and fish entering the sea, completely beyond their control.
As for those two traitors...
A golden light streaked straight through the sky toward the two traitors.
***
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