Luffy's Call: My Journey with the Straw Hats

The End of an Era

"What kind of power is this?!" Shiryu of the Rain's pupils shrank.

"He's different from before," Blackbeard's face was grim. He could clearly feel it. Though Moonlight's sword energy had always been fierce, it had never been this tangible, this alive. But now, with two Devil Fruit abilities at his command, what did he have to fear? "Moonlight," he said coldly, holding his palm out, the void beginning to crack, "then let me show you..."

But the next moment, he found his body floating uncontrollably in the air. "What is this?! Hey, hey, hey!" Blackbeard was shocked, but he had no control over his body. Moonlight waved the Pheasant Sword, and the fan-shaped aura of countless swords behind him shot forward, appearing around Blackbeard's body, lifting him high into the air. A thousand swords pierced his heart, and he fell to the ground, dripping with blood. If the "Surgeon of Death," Doc Q, hadn't immediately rushed to his side, he would have been killed. Even with two Devil Fruit abilities, he was powerless against this terrifying sword skill.

Not only that, but as Blackbeard fell, a terrifying wave of sword energy swept out, devastating everything and everyone for a hundred miles around. Even the three Admirals were caught in the blast, their expressions changing drastically.

Was this Moonlight's true strength? What had he been holding back before?

"Extreme Ghost Swordsmanship: Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin," Moonlight said faintly, looking at the shocked faces around him. This was a new sword skill he had comprehended after his Meteor Fall had reached level two. It combined the terrifying attack power of Meteor Fall with the inescapable blockade of his sword domain, condensing the sword energy and integrating the speed of his Sword Draw and Raptor's Air Rend into a single, inescapable attack. Even Blackbeard, with his two fused Devil Fruits, couldn't escape it. In fact, no one in this world, not even a god, could escape from the Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin.

With a single blow, the Blackbeard Pirates were wiped out. Of course, they weren't dead. Doc Q, true to his name, was a skilled doctor and managed to save them. And Blackbeard's unique physique, which allowed him to consume two Devil Fruits, also made him incredibly durable. It would take more than that to kill him.

"Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin? What a terrifying sword skill," everyone—from those watching the live broadcast to the pirates and Marines on the battlefield—was shocked. Though Moonlight stood alone, he was more powerful than an entire pirate crew. Especially with his Conqueror's Haki, who could possibly be his opponent?

The Warlords were silent. Sengoku was silent. The Blackbeard Pirates retreated under the protection of Shiryu of the Rain. The former warden's own sword skills were terrifying, and he managed to break through the Navy's lines.

Seeing Marco and the others getting farther and farther away, Sengoku's face grew even uglier. Their purpose had been achieved, and the rest was no longer important. But Marineford had been devastated by Whitebeard, and then by Blackbeard. If he allowed them to leave now, what would become of the Navy's authority?

At that moment, Mihawk suddenly stood up. He held his black blade, Yoru, and looked at Moonlight, his fighting spirit boiling. "Though you are not at your peak, and I shouldn't be taking action against you," he said, his voice calm, without a hint of pyrotechnics, "my black blade can't help it." But as he spoke, his sword intent soared to the heavens.

"Mihawk!" Everyone was surprised. This solitary man who walked his own path was actually going to challenge Moonlight at a time like this? The crowd quickly parted, creating a channel between them. Who would dare to stop Mihawk? Even an Admiral would have to show him respect.

"Alright," Moonlight nodded, his gaze fixed on Mihawk. The last time they had met, in the East Blue, he had been a fledgling, his swordsmanship and Haki still immature. Though Mihawk had been impressed, he had had no intention of fighting him then. Now, half a year later, he was confident that he was no weaker than the world's greatest swordsman. Of course, Mihawk hadn't been idle either.

Without another word, Mihawk slashed his sword. There was no flashy technique, just an ordinary slash. But a blue-green wave of energy surged forward, crossing the hundreds of meters between them in an instant.

At the same time, Moonlight also attacked. His slash was just as simple, just as ordinary. A crescent of sword energy shot out, colliding with Mihawk's.

"BOOM!" The ground between them erupted, a terrifying gap opening up across the battlefield. Marineford, already in ruins, was further devastated by the clash of their sword energy. This was a duel between the two greatest swordsmen in the world.

Before anyone could even exclaim, the two of them clashed again, their blades a blur of motion. Pheasant Sword versus Yoru. Haki versus Haki. It was a pure contest of sword and power. An invisible wave of energy burst out from them, creating a hundred-meter vacuum zone around them.

"Look at the sky!"

"The clouds are splitting!"

At that moment, someone shouted in horror. Everyone looked up and saw the gray sea of clouds above them rolling and parting, split down the middle by the force of their duel.

At this point, the fighting spirit in both their eyes was boiling. They were about to go all out and decide the victor. Who was the true number one swordsman in the world?

Suddenly, a red, western-style longsword appeared between them, forcibly separating them. A man with red hair, a missing arm, and three scars over his left eye stood there.

"Red-Hair!" everyone gasped in shock. It was Red-Haired Shanks, one of the Four Emperors of the New World, and the youngest of them all. How could he be here?

"Isn't he fighting Kaido?" Even Akainu had a bead of cold sweat on his brow. A single Whitebeard had been enough to throw the Navy into chaos. If Red-Hair, another Emperor, were to join the fray, the consequences would be disastrous.

"Red-Hair," Sengoku said, his face grim. The battle had completely spiraled out of his control.

"Red-Hair!" all the Marines muttered, their faces filled with a mixture of awe and fear.

Even the Warlords' expressions had become extremely solemn.

"Red-Hair," Mihawk said, sheathing his sword. Shanks was his friend. His appearance meant their duel was over. Besides, he had already gotten his answer. For a swordsman like him, a single clash was enough.

"Shanks," Moonlight also sheathed his sword.

"Zehahaha! You're looking more and more manly," Blackbeard laughed, seeing the red-haired man, especially the scar over his left eye.

"Blackbeard... no, Teach," Shanks's pupils shrank. "Seeing your face makes the scar ache." If anyone in the sea truly appreciated Blackbeard's power, it was him.

"Red-Hair, what are you doing here?" Sengoku asked, his face solemn. The three Admirals were on high alert. The Red Hair Pirates—Benn Beckman, Yasopp, Lucky Roux, and the others—were all here. If they joined the fight, the situation would completely collapse.

"I'm here..." Shanks said, looking at Sengoku, "to end this war." He then drew his sword and looked at everyone present. "Everyone, please, give me face and stop this. If anyone still wants to fight, then come. We will be your opponents." The Red Hair Pirates gathered behind him, their expressions cold and resolute.

The entire battlefield fell silent. No one spoke. Not even Sengoku or the three Admirals. If the Red Hair Pirates got involved, the Navy would undoubtedly lose. Besides, enough blood had been shed today. It was time to end it.

Even the Blackbeard Pirates, though fierce and lawless, had nothing to say in the face of a man like Shanks. They all looked to their captain.

Blackbeard looked at Shanks and his crew, then laughed again. "Zehahaha! Forget it. We're still no match for them." He then looked at Moonlight. "Moonlight, I'll remember you." With that, he and his crew left without another word.

As Blackbeard departed, a collective sigh of relief went through the crowd. He was like a nightmare, a man with two god-level Devil Fruits.

Sengoku also sighed in relief. With Shanks's declaration, the war was truly over.

"It's over!" he announced, tears welling in his eyes. "The war is over!" Though the Navy had won, it was a pyrrhic victory. The war with Whitebeard had been devastating for both sides. But in the end, the Navy was slightly better off. Whitebeard was dead.

"It's over! It's finally over!"

"Great!"

The Marines all cheered.

"Hmph," Akainu thought, a dissatisfied look on his face. Though Whitebeard was dead, Ace was not. And then there was Straw Hat Luffy, a boy with the color of the Supreme King. If he was allowed to escape today, he would be a great disaster in the future.

"Hmph," Moonlight also sighed in relief. It was finally over. From Impel Down to Marineford, he had fought against Magellan, Shiryu, Blackbeard, the three Admirals, and finally, Mihawk. No matter how strong he was, he was exhausted.

His ultimate goal, however, had been achieved. Ace had been successfully rescued, and Luffy and the others had escaped safely. Though Luffy had pushed his body to its limit, with Trafalgar Law there, he would be fine.

"Young swordsman, you did well," Shanks said, looking at Moonlight and nodding in approval. "With someone like you by Luffy's side, I'm relieved." Benn Beckman and the others also nodded. A man who could match Mihawk was truly powerful.

"We have gone through setbacks and tribulations, and we are now heading in different directions," Moonlight said, looking out at the sea. "But I believe we will reunite again. In this sea... there is definitely a place for us."