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The ground beneath Uchiha Kitaro's feet exploded as his body, like a streak of lightning, surged into the ranks of the Marines with blinding speed.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Ahhhhhh!"
"Waaahhhhhh!"
Everywhere Kitaro passed, it was as though a thunderstorm tore through. The ground shattered, Marines were flung into the air, and severed limbs scattered everywhere.
Some didn't even realize what had happened until their heads had already parted ways with their bodies.
"Stop him!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's expression darkened as he watched Kitaro unleash a massacre. Without hesitation, he barked the order.
The Pacifistas raised their hands, launching laser beams at Kitaro. He evaded effortlessly, appearing in front of one in a flash.
Slash!
Kitaro's blade sliced through the Pacifista's head as if it were soft tofu.
"What?! The World Government's humanoid weapons were destroyed that easily?!"
The pirates watching the scene were dumbfounded. These were the same Pacifistas that had caused them so much pain. No matter how hard they had fought, those cold, relentless machines kept rising, seemingly unkillable.
Yet now, one after another, two, three…
In mere seconds, Kitaro had obliterated 20 Pacifistas.
"They're all down?!"
"Unbelievable!"
"How is he this fast?!"
Even Whitebeard's eyes widened in disbelief.
"That kid… he held back during our fight…"
Whitebeard knew his biggest flaw was his declining mobility due to his aging body and failing heart. If Kitaro had attacked him with this kind of speed from the start, he wouldn't have stood a chance.
At this moment, Mihawk drew his black blade, Yoru.
"What's this? Even you can't resist joining the fray?"
Doflamingo raised an eyebrow at Mihawk's action, surprised. He had assumed Mihawk was here merely as a spectator.
"I just want to test the gap between his swordsmanship and mine."
"What?!"
Doflamingo was stunned. Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, had just implied there was a gap between him and Kitaro. How could that be possible?
Mihawk focused, channeling his energy before unleashing a mighty slash with his blade.
Whoosh—!
A flying slash streaked through the air, tearing apart everything in its path as it shot toward Kitaro.
"It's Mihawk! Mihawk is attacking Uchiha Kitaro!"
As the world's greatest swordsman, Mihawk's actions drew immediate attention. He had remained silent throughout the war, but now he was finally making his move.
Kitaro, unfazed, casually swung his blade. A stronger, lightning-infused slash burst forth, colliding with Mihawk's attack.
Boom—!
The clash unleashed a terrifying shockwave, obliterating everything around them.
"Ahhhhh!"
Nearby Marines screamed as they were sent flying by the impact.
"Mihawk, huh?"
Boom!
Kitaro charged toward Mihawk.
Seeing this, Mihawk didn't hesitate and met him head-on.
Clang—!
Kitaro's Nichirin Blade clashed with Mihawk's Yoru. The ground beneath them shattered, and a powerful gust of wind rippled outward.
"Ugh!"
Mihawk's expression shifted slightly as he felt the immense force behind Kitaro's strikes.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Kitaro launched a relentless flurry of attacks. His movements seemed chaotic, as though he were an amateur flailing his sword wildly.
But this unrefined technique forced Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, into a desperate defensive stance. He poured all his focus into blocking with Yoru.
Why?
Too fast!
Kitaro's sword swings were so fast that even Mihawk struggled to follow their trajectories.
And every strike carried tremendous force, leaving Mihawk unable to counterattack. Despite the apparent randomness, every blow was executed with uncanny precision, leaving no openings for retaliation.
In less than ten seconds, Mihawk's body bore multiple shallow wounds. Though none were deep, the lightning coursing through Kitaro's blade left Mihawk slightly paralyzed.
For a top-tier swordsman, even the slightest stiffness could spell doom.
Kitaro followed up with a powerful kick aimed at Mihawk.
Mihawk hastily raised his blade, pressing his hand against it to brace himself.
Clang—!
The force behind Kitaro's kick was overwhelming, and Mihawk couldn't hold his ground.
"Ugh!"
Mihawk's body was sent hurtling backward.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
He crashed through rows of residential buildings in Marineford, demolishing them entirely.
"Mihawk… was sent flying!"
Everyone watching was in shock. The duel had barely begun, yet the world's greatest swordsman had already been defeated.
"That kid's strength… it's monstrous!"
Whitebeard muttered, recalling his own clash with Kitaro. He had thought himself strong, but against Kitaro, even his immense power was outmatched.
"That boy… he's no human. He's a beast in human form," Whitebeard concluded. Not even the mightiest giants could rival Kitaro's raw power.
"Kishishishi! A weakness! Your shadow and your corpse will belong to me!"
Suddenly, Gecko Moria appeared behind Kitaro, having secretly used his shadow powers to switch places and launch a sneak attack. His shadow morphed into a spear aimed at Kitaro's back.
Clang!
Without turning, Kitaro's Susanoo activated. Its glowing orange skeletal frame materialized, effortlessly deflecting Moria's attack.
"What?!"
Moria was stunned by his failed ambush.
Kitaro glanced at him coldly.
"Really now… even trash like you dares to come at me?"
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