Time passed quickly, and with half a month remaining before the official start of the Swordplay Tournament, Parage Island had already become a hub of relentless activity. Most of the swordsmen who came to register had long since completed the process, and only a handful of wanderers from distant seas were still arriving one after another.
Swordsmen from across the world, as well as the first half of the Grand Line, had already gathered. At the same time, many were well aware that the Marine and the samurai of Wano Country would soon make their appearance, which only heightened anticipation.
Some samurai from Wano had already arrived. These were warriors who had left their homeland years ago to temper themselves on the seas, and upon hearing news of the tournament, they rushed over without hesitation. However, the majority had yet to come, as they would travel together under the leadership of the Shogun, Kozuki Oden.
As news spread of major factions setting sail, the entire world seemed to stir in response.
Wano Country, Hakumai, Blade Harbor.
"Don't worry, we'll be back soon! Just watch closely and witness the might of Wano's samurai!" Kozuki Oden laughed heartily, waving his arms toward the gathered residents and officials on the shore.
Massive ships lined the harbor, their sails ready. One by one, samurai boarded in an orderly yet spirited fashion, their expressions filled with excitement and pride.
"Go without worry, Oden. We will safeguard Wano in your absence," Shimotsuki Yasuie said earnestly, standing alongside several daimyo.
Among those accompanying Oden were many elite samurai, including the daimyo of Ringo, Shimotsuki Ushimaru. Under the watchful eyes of the people, the fleet finally set sail, leaving Wano behind as it cut through the waves toward the wider world.
Standing at the bow, Oden spread his arms wide, breathing in the salty sea air. His gaze stretched across the endless horizon, his entire being radiating exhilaration at the freedom before him.
High above the seas, the Sky Kingdom stirred.
A colossal pirate ship, shaped like an entire floating island, drifted forward through the clouds. Upon it stood Golden Lion Shiki, his figure exuding overwhelming dominance.
"Let's take a look at this new era… and meet a few old friends along the way," Shiki muttered with a faint smile, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Barbarossa Kingdom.
Kaido of the Beasts strode toward his ship with heavy steps, a sake gourd hanging at his waist. The horned flag of his crew fluttered violently in the wind.
Behind him followed his core subordinates, including Lemor, "War Hammer" Omen, and Kreeler, as well as his daughter, Yamato. [T/N: cant remember who is this Omen guy. I will keep the name used by author if i find out who is it I wil change.]
Queen and Gates remained behind to guard their territory. Although it was unlikely that anyone would dare provoke an Emperor's domain at such a time, caution was still necessary. Even in an age of monsters, carelessness could invite disaster.
Whole Cake Island.
Laughter and singing filled the air as the Queen Mama Chanter had already set sail. The Big Mom Pirates had mobilized nearly their entire force, bringing along almost all capable children, leaving only a few behind to maintain order within their territory.
Their confidence was not without reason. With the power of the Mirror-Mirror Fruit, they could return to any island within their domain at any time.
If not for the formality of this occasion, they could have simply sent a single mirror ahead and traveled instantly. However, appearances mattered, especially in an event of this scale.
At sea, the Moby Dick adjusted its course.
The Whitebeard Pirates temporarily halted their expansion efforts and began sailing toward the territory of the Nightfall Pirates.
Meanwhile, figures from the underworld, kings of the dark world who had missed the World Expo, were now moving swiftly toward Parage Island. With the Four Emperors gathering in one place, alongside countless top-tier powerhouses, this was a historic convergence that no one wanted to miss.
Even those unable to attend personally were restless with anticipation. Many sent urgent messages to Morgans, urging him to depart immediately and bring back news, or better yet, live broadcasts from the island.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
A massive warship set sail under the watchful eyes of countless Marines.
Onboard were a thousand personnel, including a large number of swordsmen participating in the tournament, alongside elite soldiers. Among them were individuals already qualified for ranks such as Lieutenant Commander or Commander.
Half of Marine Headquarters' high-level combat power had gathered on this single vessel. Alongside Vice Admirals like Garp, Tsuru, Gion, and Tokikake, Admirals Aokiji and Kizaru were also present, accompanied by several other Vice Admirals.
Such a force would not fear even an Emperor-level crew. Despite this, the atmosphere aboard the ship remained serious.
Their purpose might be participation and observation, but they were still the Marine. This time, they would be facing four Emperors and countless notorious pirates.
Even those who appeared relaxed carried a layer of vigilance beneath the surface. Only Garp seemed completely at ease, while Aokiji and Kizaru maintained their usual casual demeanor, though neither let their guard down.
Everyone understood that even if this Swordplay Tournament did not erupt into full-scale war, it would not remain entirely peaceful.
With the departure of these great forces, the seas themselves seemed to awaken.
Parage Island had become the eye of the storm.
Media organizations arrived early within the territory of the Nightfall Pirates, spreading reports that described the region in vivid detail. The island's arenas, thirty-six in total, became focal points of attention as swordsmen engaged in constant sparring and battles.
Even before the tournament began, many participants had already built reputations through these clashes.
Gradually, discussions arose regarding the strongest contenders for the title of the World's Greatest Swordsman. Among them, three names stood out.
The first was Dracule Mihawk, known as "Hawk Eyes." Since entering the Grand Line, he had challenged countless renowned swordsmen and never suffered defeat. As one of the Seven Warlords and the wielder of the Supreme Grade Black Blade Yoru, his reputation stood unmatched among rising figures.
The second was Yoriichi Tsugikuni, a legendary swordsman from the previous era. His "Transparent World" allowed him to perceive the minute details of an opponent's body, from blood flow to muscle movement, as if time itself had slowed. Combined with his annihilating sword intent, he stood as one of the most terrifying figures present.
The third was the mysterious Slaughter Swordsman.
Unlike the others, his reputation was built on brutality. Every opponent he faced was slaughtered without exception, leaving behind only fear. Even seasoned swordsmen hesitated to challenge him.
Beyond them, many other notable figures had yet to reveal their full strength.
Vista of the Whitebeard Pirates, the "Flower Sword," was widely recognized as a top-tier swordsman. A blind wanderer had also gained attention after effortlessly defeating a pirate with a bounty in the hundreds of millions.
Then there was Demon Sword Apep, a user of the Teleport-Teleport Fruit, whose spatial abilities made him one of the most dangerous assassins on the seas.
Within the Nightfall Pirates themselves, swordsmen such as "Shadow Dragon" Redyat, Shiryu of the Rain, Mostima, and Pouf were all formidable in their own right.
Even the Marine, though not highly regarded in this field, had sent numerous participants.
And finally, there were the samurai of Wano Country, a force shrouded in mystery yet widely acknowledged for producing an astonishing number of powerful swordsmen.
At the center of it all stood Marshall D. Teach.
From within his territory, Teach maintained complete control over the situation. Even he had not expected the Swordplay Tournament to attract such a vast gathering of power.
Mihawk's presence was no surprise, nor was the arrival of Issho, whose Observation Haki had already reached an astonishing level. Their brief clash of perception had confirmed as much.
The true surprise was the identity of the Slaughter Swordsman.
Teach already knew who he was.
An ace agent of CP0, codename "Gentleman."
Despite the refined title, this man was anything but. He was a madman obsessed with slaughter, unstable even by CP0 standards. His past included massacring an entire town for unknown reasons, forcing the World Government to cover up the aftermath at great cost.
Even high-ranking CP0 officers struggled to control him.
His arrival here had not been authorized. And Teach had already guessed his objective.
To elevate the tournament, Teach had introduced two ultimate prizes.
The first was Kikoku, a Supreme Grade blade of Wano origin, reforged and elevated to the highest tier after being lost to the seas.
The second was the cursed Seven Star Sword, a weapon tainted by endless slaughter, capable of corrupting its wielder while granting terrifying power.
For a man like "Gentleman," there was little doubt which prize would draw his attention.
And that realization only made the coming storm all the more inevitable.