"Vice Admiral Garp…?" Jango squinted at the figures in the distance. "Boss—that's the Navy's top-tier monster you mentioned."
Ain's gaze was fixed on the man beside Garp. "And the one next to him—Bogard. A great swordsman."
"Relax," White Ghost said with a crooked grin. "They're not getting away today."
A long sword appeared in his hand. Cold intent rolled off the blade like mist.
He pointed the tip at the sea.
Frost poured out, racing across the water.
Crack—crack—WHOOM!
In an instant, the ocean within a thousand meters froze solid.
White Ghost didn't stop there—he kept reinforcing the ice, layer after layer, so it wouldn't shatter the moment real pressure hit.
Kuina walked up in a simple training outfit. "Ain… let me go first."
Ain nodded. "Be careful. Every great swordsman is dangerous."
"I know." Kuina drew Holy Sword—Judgment and leapt down to the ice.
On shore, Luffy and Ace stared so hard their mouths hung open.
"H-huge… the sea… it froze!" Luffy sputtered.
"So cool…" Ace whispered, stunned.
Makino covered her mouth, equally shocked.
Far out on the ice, they saw a young woman in white step forward with a beautiful long sword in hand, facing their side without fear.
Garp's grin widened. "Looks like we're getting a fight today."
Bogard adjusted his cap and stepped out ahead, because he could feel it—
That girl's intent was locked on him.
Kuina couldn't use Observation Haki yet, but she could still feel how strong he was.
She swung once.
A flying slash tore across the ice toward Bogard.
"A swordmaster?" Garp blinked. "That kid's young—already at that level. That's rare."
Bogard drew his blade.
Clink—!
He cut Kuina's slash apart cleanly.
The people on shore gasped.
Kuina didn't hesitate. Her wings and light erupted as she activated her Devil Fruit.
White-platinum wings unfurled.
She shot forward.
"A Mythical Zoan…" Garp's eyes sharpened immediately. "That brat has this kind of resource too, huh."
Bogard met her head-on.
CLANG!
He blocked Judgment and looked straight into the angelic figure before him. "Mythical Zoan… impressive."
Kuina didn't waste breath. She pressed in, two hands firm on the hilt, blade-work crisp and fast.
Clang-clang-clang—!
Ace stared, captivated. "That big sister… she transformed—she looks like an angel."
Garp folded his arms and used the moment to teach. "Listen up, Ace, Luffy. Devil Fruits fall into major types."
"Paramecia—like Luffy. Logia—the power of nature."
"And that one is Zoan… and among Zoans, Mythical Zoans are the rarest."
"Rare…" Ace repeated, watching Kuina's speed climb.
Kuina's blade flashed.
"Holy Light Slash!"
A golden flame-traced sword wave launched toward Bogard.
Bogard shifted and cut it away. "Not bad."
Kuina rose into the air, wings beating once. "As expected of a great swordsman!"
Then she rained down more slashes—her stamina clearly higher than before, her output steadier.
Bogard kept cutting them apart.
Then he stepped in and drew a single clean line.
"Iaijutsu—Draw Cut."
A massive sword wave surged up toward Kuina.
Kuina tightened her grip and answered with her own draw technique.
"One-Sword Style—Iaijutsu!"
CLANG—!
She split his wave and drove through the pressure.
"Angel Feather Sever!"
Luminous feather-like blades formed midair and shot down in a storm.
Bogard cut them apart, expression calm. "Your fundamentals are solid. But you're still not strong enough."
Kuina stopped relying on range and dropped into close combat, wings propelling her into striking distance.
Steel met steel in rapid bursts.
On White Ghost's ship, Ain watched closely. "Kuina's improving fast."
Nami cupped her hands and shouted, "Kuina! You can do it!"
White Ghost nodded as he observed. "Her base is strong. What she lacks is Observation and Armament Haki."
"And Bogard isn't even using much power yet."
Ain agreed. "Once she gets both forms of Haki, her ceiling jumps."
White Ghost waved the crew to sit. "Let her get her experience. No rush. Anyone who wants a turn later—take it."
Nami climbed up beside him to watch, and he kept her safely close while the fight continued.
Pedro exhaled smoke. "Rotating challengers against a swordsman like that… feels a little unfair."
Wanda rested a hand on her weapon. "He won't die from it."
Senior Pink stared at Garp instead. "I'm more interested in the old man."
Urouge's eyes were steady. "I want to see what it means to be called the Navy's strongest."
White Ghost produced a pile of food and fine liquor and, with a casual burst of wind, sent it sliding across the ice toward the shore.
"Eat while you watch," he called. "Same rule—if you want to step in later, step in."
Ace and Luffy flinched as a dark blur flew toward them.
Garp reached out and caught it one-handed.
Thud.
Not a drop spilled—though the ground beneath his feet cracked.
"It's meat!!" Luffy's eyes lit up instantly.
Makino quickly spread a cloth on the ground, and Garp set the food and drink down.
Luffy began eating like a storm, attention completely stolen.
Ace kept eating too, but his eyes flicked to the cracked earth.
Garp noticed and snorted. "That was just him tossing it. Not an attack."
Ace stared toward White Ghost's ship. "Even throwing something does that… how strong is that man?"
Back on the ice—
CLANG!
Kuina was finally forced back, sliding a long distance before stabilizing.
Bogard spoke evenly. "Good foundation. With your Mythical Zoan, you'll reach great swordsman territory."
"If you become a great swordsman, most won't be able to stop you."
"But for now—this level is still too early for you."
He raised his blade.
"One-Sword Style—Iaijutsu."
A sword wave several hundred meters long surged toward Kuina.
Kuina closed her eyes.
White-platinum flame wrapped along Judgment.
She opened her eyes and swung with everything she had.
CLANG—!
The pressure drove her backward, carving twin lines into the ice under her feet.
With a shout, she forced the wave upward—
BOOM!
It exploded in the air.
Kuina leaned on her sword, breathing hard. "As expected… I've learned a lot."
Bogard gave a small nod. "You did well."
But he didn't relax.
Because he could feel it—
Another swordsman's intent had already locked onto him from the ship.
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