One Piece: Crimson Shadows

Chapter 202 201 - The Phoenix and the Swordsman

The frozen battlefield of Marineford glittered beneath the harsh sunlight.

The bay—once a raging sea—had become a massive field of solid ice thanks to Aokiji's power.

Whitebeard's fleet stood upon the frozen ocean like an invading army crossing the land of the dead.

The towering frozen tsunamis still loomed on both sides of the fortress like monuments to the beginning of war.

And in the center of it all—

Edward Newgate stood proudly aboard the Moby Dick.

Unshaken.

Untouched.

As if even the sea itself had no right to challenge him.

The Marines stared.

Some in fear. Some in disbelief. Some with burning determination.

But all of them understood one thing—

That man was the enemy.

And as long as Whitebeard stood—

Marineford would never be safe.

On the execution platform, Ace clenched his fists.

His chest tightened.

His father.

His crew.

All of them had come.

All of them were risking everything for him.

And yet—

He was powerless to stop it.

Below, among the three Admirals—

One man slowly adjusted his glasses.

Kizaru let out one of his usual lazy sighs.

"Ooh…"

He looked toward Whitebeard with that unreadable half-smile.

"How scary…"

His voice was light.

Almost playful.

But no one mistook that tone for weakness.

Because when Admiral Kizaru moved—

People died.

Without warning—

He vanished.

The chair where he had been sitting was empty.

Several Marines blinked.

"He disappeared?!"

"So fast!"

In the next instant—

A golden flash exploded high above the battlefield.

Kizaru reappeared in the air itself, floating above the frozen bay like a god of light descending for judgment.

Sunlight reflected around him until it was difficult to even look directly at him.

He lifted both hands.

Light gathered at his fingertips.

Countless glowing particles forming around him like stars being born.

Kizaru tilted his head slightly.

"Well then…"

His voice echoed lazily.

"Let's begin."

His hands spread.

And he spoke the name of death itself.

"Yasakani no Magatama."

The sky lit up.

Thousands of beams of concentrated light rained downward like divine punishment.

A storm of lasers—

Fast enough to erase thought.

Bright enough to blind the battlefield.

And every single one of them—

Aimed at Whitebeard.

Marines looked up in awe.

"It's Admiral Kizaru!"

"He's targeting Whitebeard directly!"

"Finish him!"

Even the Whitebeard Pirates tensed.

Because this wasn't an ordinary attack.

This was an Admiral striking to kill.

Whitebeard looked up calmly.

The countless beams reflected in his eyes.

He let out a low grunt.

"Hey…"

A faint smirk formed.

"That's too bright."

And then—

A blur of blue flames shot upward.

"Don't even think about it!"

A figure launched into the sky at impossible speed—

Straight into Kizaru's attack.

Marco.

First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.

Golden-blue flames exploded around him.

Not fire that burned—

But fire that healed.

Mystical. Ancient. Beautiful.

His body partially transformed—

Wings of a phoenix spreading wide.

Talons forming.

Blue flames wrapping around him like divine armor.

He intercepted the attack head-on.

Kizaru's lasers slammed into him—

But instead of piercing through—

They were blocked.

Deflected.

Absorbed in a burst of blue flames.

The Marines gasped.

"He blocked it?!"

"No way!"

"That was Admiral Kizaru's attack!"

Whitebeard watched from below.

Then smirked.

Proud. Satisfied.

Like a father watching his son do exactly what he expected.

Marco hovered in the sky, flames dancing around him as he looked directly at Kizaru.

A grin crossed his face.

"You can't reach the king so easily…"

His eyes sharpened.

"…yoi."

Then—

His transformation completed.

Massive wings spread across the sky.

His body fully became the legendary beast—

The Phoenix.

Blue flames illuminated the battlefield.

Even the Marines below stared in stunned silence.

Kizaru adjusted his glasses slightly.

For once—

There was genuine curiosity in his voice.

"Ooh…"

He looked Marco up and down.

"I've never seen a bird like that before."

A small pause.

"How troublesome."

Without warning—

He attacked again.

Golden light exploded from his fingertips.

Rapid. Precise. Deadly.

Beams of light shot toward Marco like bullets from heaven.

Marco moved instantly.

Flying through the sky with impossible grace.

Left.

Right.

Up.

Down.

Every attack narrowly missed him.

Blue flames trailed behind him like streaks across the sky.

Marines shouted from below.

"He's dodging them all!"

"How is he moving like that?!"

Kizaru frowned slightly.

"Fast…"

Then corrected himself.

"No… annoying."

Marco smirked.

"You're not the only one who can fly, yoi!"

In one sudden burst—

He accelerated.

Straight toward Kizaru.

Fast enough to shock even the Marines watching.

Before Kizaru could fully react—

Marco's leg came crashing down.

A devastating kick wrapped in blue flames.

Kizaru raised his arm just in time—

Blocking the strike.

BOOM.

The impact echoed across the battlefield.

The force sent Kizaru flying backward through the air like a cannonball.

Marines below stared in disbelief.

"He kicked Admiral Kizaru away?!"

"No way!"

Even Doflamingo let out a delighted laugh.

"Fufufufu! Wonderful!"

Marco hovered in the sky, wings spread wide, flames burning brighter.

Below him—

Whitebeard stood smiling.

Above him—

The war had truly begun.

And then—

In a flash of golden light—

Kizaru reappeared.

Standing calmly again.

Perfectly balanced.

As if being kicked away had merely been a minor inconvenience.

He dusted off his sleeve slightly.

Still smiling.

Still dangerous.

"Ooh…"

He looked at Marco with that same lazy expression.

"That hurt."

A pause.

Then—

His smile widened.

"Now I'm really interested."

——————————

The battlefield of Marineford had become absolute chaos.

The frozen bay groaned beneath the weight of war.

Cannons thundered.

Pirates shouted.

Marines roared.

Above the battlefield, Marco hovered in his blazing phoenix form, blue flames dancing through the sky as he clashed against Kizaru, whose golden light split the heavens.

Below them—

Edward Newgate stood like a mountain at the center of it all.

Untouched.

Unmoved.

The storm itself.

And then—

Another monster decided to move.

A quiet sound.

Just one footstep.

But somehow—

It drew attention louder than cannon fire.

Dracule Mihawk stepped forward.

Slowly. Calmly. Deliberately.

The battlefield itself seemed to notice.

Even among the chaos.

That movement mattered.

Nearby, Boa Hancock turned her head slightly.

Her eyes narrowed. "So he is finally moving."

Donquixote Doflamingo's grin widened.

"Now that is interesting."

Bartholomew Kuma remained motionless, but even he seemed to acknowledge it.

The Marines below noticed too.

One young Marine looked up, voice shaking.

"Is… is Dracule Mihawk going to make a move?"

Another swallowed hard.

"The Strongest Swordsman…"

"He's finally stepping in…"

Even veteran officers stiffened.

Because among the Warlords—

Mihawk was different.

He wasn't loud.

He wasn't reckless.

He didn't move unless he chose to.

And when he did—

Something ended.

From their seats, the Admirals watched.

Kizaru, still floating in the air in his light form, glanced downward with mild surprise.

"Ooh…"

He adjusted his glasses.

"Well, what do you know."

A faint smile.

"That's strange."

Akainu crossed his arms, his magma-like stare never leaving the battlefield.

"So…"

His voice was cold.

"Somethinf finally piqued your interest, huh."

A slight pause.

"Hawkeye."

His expression hardened.

"Even if you are pirate scum… at least you understand what must be done."

Doflamingo laughed softly.

"Fufufufufu…"

He tilted his head.

"You're really going to grace them with your sword for once?"

Mihawk didn't answer immediately.

His golden eyes were fixed—

Not on Marco.

Not on the commanders.

Not on the battlefield.

Only on Whitebeard.

That massive figure.

That overwhelming presence.

That legend.

Finally—

Mihawk spoke.

His voice was calm.

Almost quiet.

But everyone nearby heard it.

"I merely want to measure."

A pause.

"To see for myself…"

His gaze sharpened.

"How far the gap truly is between me…"

And then—

"…and that man."

Even Doflamingo's smile dimmed slightly.

Because Mihawk meant every word.

But Mihawk wasn't finished.

His voice lowered. More personal now. More honest.

"And to test myself…"

A slight pause.

"If he is stronger…"

His hand rested lightly on the hilt of Yoru.

"…than my captain."

That made even Hancock glance at him.

Doflamingo let out a low whistle.

"Well now…"

He leaned back, amused.

"Your captain, huh?"

His grin returned.

"Another Emperor of the Sea…"

He raised one finger.

"One man."

Then another.

"One woman."

He chuckled.

"Tell me, Mihawk…"

His sunglasses reflected the battlefield.

"Who do you personally think is stronger?"

Mihawk answered instantly.

Without hesitation. Without even blinking.

"Of course…"

A small pause.

"My captain."

Doflamingo burst into laughter.

"Fufufufufu!"

"Of course you'd say that."

He smirked.

"Loyal to the end."

Hancock remained silent.

But in her mind—

Her thoughts were sharp.

His icy gaze alone could leave even seasoned warriors frozen in place…

She watched him carefully.

Even with that massive black blade resting against his back—

He looked more dangerous standing still.

Who truly has the courage to stare him down?

Her eyes narrowed.

A man who stands second only to Lady Ada…

A man personally trained by her.

Vice captain of the Nyx Pirates.

Among all the Warlords…

Her thoughts darkened.

He is probably the strongest among us.

Far across the battlefield—

Among Whitebeard's commanders—

Vista looked up.

And smiled.

Hawkeye…

Every swordsman knew that name.

Every blade respected it.

Every challenger dreamed of it.

Every swordsman worth his sword wants to cross blades with him.

His fingers tightened around his hilts.

How else do we find our worth…

…if we do not duel?

His smile widened.

We climb the steps of glory…with death nipping at our heels.

Nearby, Kuma stood in silence.

Even his mechanical expression carried weight.

So he is finally moving…

His gaze remained still.

Just like Ada.

He only moves when necessary.

Then—

Mihawk reached for his blade.

A silence spread.

The kind before lightning strikes.

Slowly—

He unsheathed Yoru.

The black blade.

The greatest sword in the world.

Its dark edge reflected no light.

Its presence alone made lesser swords feel ashamed.

On the battlefield below, Smoker looked up sharply.

His cigar paused at his lips.

"…Hey."

His eyes narrowed.

"That black sword…"

Beside him, Tashigi froze.

Her voice almost reverent.

"To be precise…"

She stared upward.

"Its name is Yoru."

Her eyes locked onto the blade.

Like a scholar seeing sacred scripture.

"There are only twelve swords like it in the world."

She swallowed.

"The Supreme Grade Blades."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"The highest class."

She pointed upward.

"See the dark edge of the blade?"

"The tempered line…"

"The clover pattern…"

Her eyes widened.

"An ornate design…"

"…only suitable for the greatest swordsman in the world."

Then—

Mihawk swung.

A single downward slash.

Simple. Clean. Absolute.

The air screamed.

A massive green slash tore across the battlefield like judgment itself—

Cutting through the frozen bay—

Straight toward Whitebeard.

Everything in its path split.

Ice shattered.

Wind exploded.

Even Marines ducked instinctively.

The announcer screamed—

"Hawkeye has attacked!"

Whitebeard looked up.

Watched the slash coming toward him.

Felt its intent.

Its sharpness.

Its challenge.

And in his mind—

One thought surfaced.

So… Ada's right hand has finally decided to move.

A faint smirk touched his lips.

Interesting.

But before the slash could reach him—

Another figure moved.

BOOM.

A body stepped forward and blocked it head-on.

No sword. No dodge. Only raw defense.

Diamond.

The slash shattered against him.

Broken. Stopped.

The Marines stared in disbelief.

"He stopped it?!"

"The strongest slash in the world—!"

"He blocked it with his body?!"

The battlefield looked up.

Recognition struck instantly.

"That's—!"

"Third Division Commander!"

"Diamond Jozu!"

Jozu stood there, his body coated in shining diamond, unshaken.

Unmoved.

Like a fortress given human form.

Mihawk looked at him.

Silent.

Then calmly said—

"…Ho."

A brief pause.

"So he blocked it."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Then—

A quiet sigh.

"What a waste of energy."

Nearby, Gecko Moria burst into laughter.

"Kishishishishi!"

"Waste of energy?!"

His grin stretched.

"That's your reaction?!"

Doflamingo laughed too.

"Fufufufu…"

He spread his arms.

"Mihawk here was expecting Whitebeard himself to take it head-on…"

His grin widened.

"But Diamond Jozu went and ruined the moment."

Mihawk said nothing.

But inwardly—

His thoughts were elsewhere.

Far from the battlefield.

Far beyond Marineford.

Toward the sea.

Toward someone not yet here.

Where are you… Ada?

His eyes remained on Whitebeard.

But his thoughts drifted.

At this rate…

A faint narrowing of his gaze.

You might arrive late to the party.