"Since a thousand blades aren't enough… then let's try ten thousand."
Mihawk's calm voice sent a shockwave through the tens of thousands of swordsmen watching the broadcast.
What did he mean?
Was he planning to control ten thousand blades at once with Ryuo?
Impossible. Unbelievable.
Zoro lowered his head, eyes complicated, subconsciously recalling her, the girl he could never surpass in childhood.
Because he could never defeat her, he chose the path of Three-Sword Style.
One isn't enough, use two.
Two aren't enough, use three.
That was his creed.
Yet the first time he met Mihawk, he was utterly humiliated by a dagger no larger than a fruit knife.
Compared to him, Zoro knew better than anyone how absurdly difficult it was to use multiple swords at once.
It wasn't just one plus one equals two.
Each blade had to sync perfectly.
His mind had to split into three streams to control all three swords.
And Mihawk had never shown this sort of technique, but Zoro understood:
If Mihawk wanted to use Three-Sword Style,
he would definitely be stronger than Zoro.
The Demon Blade Thousand Edge had already terrified him,
Mihawk controlled one thousand blades simultaneously.
That level of mental control was incomprehensible.
And now Mihawk mentioned ten thousand…
Zoro couldn't believe it.
Controlling three swords already pushed him to his limit.
Controlling one thousand blades was something he couldn't even dream of.
But ten thousand?
That shouldn't be possible.
"Seriously? My precious Demon Blade Thousand Edge isn't enough for you?
What a big ego you've got~"
On his boat, Seven (Scissor Seven) felt a little offended.
Thousand Edge was his treasured weapon, how come in another universe it was suddenly not impressive enough?
"But now I wanna see how he's gonna pull off ten thousand blades… If he controls ten Thousand Edges at once… that really is ten thousand.
Eh?"
Seven's scalp tingled.
Was his alternate-self really that strong?
Being a barber was definitely the happier life…
"Hahaha! A weapon that can transform into a thousand blades already blew my mind,
and now there's such a thing as ten thousand blades?
This is getting fun."
In the Hero Association, Atomic Samurai lounged back with one leg up, mocking loudly.
"How come I've never heard of someone like him? Could he be hiding somewhere in the world, never discovered?"
"Mm. If he fought you, who'd win?"
Superalloy Darkshine asked indifferently.
Atomic Samurai froze, then exploded with rage.
"You brat, are you looking down on me?!
The pinnacle of swordsmanship is mastering one sword to its limit!
I despise people who disrespect the way of the blade!"
"Still… that dragon monster would make a good punching bag."
Silver Fang rested his chin on his fists.
He wondered whether Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist could harm such a beast.
"Everyone, regarding the Azure Dragon creature shown in the broadcast,
the Hero Association has conducted a preliminary assessment.
Based on its current display, its threat level is at least Above-Dragon Class."
A formally dressed staff member addressed the S-Class heroes.
"But don't panic. We cannot detect the island they are fighting on, nor any energy readings.
Our initial conclusion is, they are not from our world."
"Not our world? If they were, could we even fight something of that level?"
An S-Class hero asked.
Tatsumaki floated up with arms akimbo.
"You bunch of idiots, just one of me is enough.
So what if it's Above-Dragon Class?"
"Sorry to interrupt, Miss Tatsumaki," the staff member said, "
but we said at least Above-Dragon.
Our system maxed out trying to measure it.
If such a creature truly entered our world, it would be an unprecedented catastrophe."
Tatsumaki glared upward.
"Let it come then. Above-Dragon?
I'll make sure it never goes back!"
"Controlling ten thousand blades at once?
How exaggerated.
This brat acts more arrogant than even I do!"
Madara stood atop a high cliff as waves of Allied Shinobi advanced toward him.
Seeing Mihawk, he grew irritated.
Madara believed Mihawk wasn't stronger than him,
yet Mihawk showed off even more.
Unforgivable.
If he ever got the chance, he'd definitely teach the Warlord a lesson.
"Come! Taste the wrath of God!"
A massive meteor descended from the clouds.
Shinobi panicked and scattered.
Madara sighed in disappointment.
Still no worthy opponents.
If only Hashirama were here…
"Ten thousand blades? Are you serious?"
Even Shanks couldn't stay quiet anymore.
What was wrong with Mihawk today?
He had never seen Mihawk use more than a single sword.
Yet today he casually controlled a thousand blades,
and now within minutes he wanted ten thousand.
Impossible.
Even setting weapons aside,
how could one mind split into ten thousand precise control channels?
Even for the world's greatest swordsman, this was absurd.
Could his body withstand it?
As Shanks questioned him,
a masked man ran over from the distance.
It was the world-renowned swordsmith, Tenguyama Hitetsu!
Hands on hips, he shouted:
"Let the world witness it,
the blade I forged with my own hands,
Ryuō Ten-Thousand-Cuts! Hahahaha!"
This was his proudest creation.
A weapon completely different from a Supreme Grade sword.
If Mihawk hadn't brought the Demon Blade Thousand Edge,
Hitetsu would never have attempted such a forging method.
Just days earlier he had coincidentally found naturally magnetic, perfect forging material.
Everything was coincidence, yet not coincidence.
To a swordsmith, a divine weapon's essence lies in timing and fortune, its destined spirit.
Ryuō Ten-Thousand-Cuts was a divine weapon born from fate,
surpassing even the Supreme Grade Twelve.
It fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams.
"Kaido! Try this on for size!"
Mihawk drew the divine blade Ryuō Ten-Thousand-Cuts from behind his back.
Its dramatic design shocked the world.
Tenguyama Hitetsu's identity was instantly recognized,
his reputation exploding across the broadcast.
~~----------------------
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