"Alright, let's test our swordsmanship by measuring raw power."
Ethan Sugawa agreed instantly. With the power of his Level 7 [Great Kingdom] strike, splitting a boulder would be child's play.
There was no way he could lose this contest.
The two quickly finalized their agreement and walked out of the cabin onto the deck.
"What's going on?"
The surrounding crew noticed both of them carrying swords and quickly realized what was about to happen.
"They're about to duel?"
"Looks like it. Ethan's challenging Shanks in swordsmanship? He's doomed. Shanks already learned Captain Roger's signature technique, [Divine Departure]. What can Ethan possibly do to match that?"
"Look at Ethan's sword, it's made of white bone! How can that even compare to a well-forged steel blade?"
"With a bone sword? He's definitely going to lose."
Their chatter soon caught the attention of the top fighters on the ship Roger, Rayleigh, and Gaban.
Standing on the upper deck, they silently watched the scene unfold.
Roger turned to the others and asked, "What do you think, Rayleigh, Gaban? Who's going to win?"
Gaban spoke first. "Shanks is incredibly gifted in swordsmanship. Even at such a young age, he's already learned [Divine Departure]. If we're just talking about sword skills, this newcomer doesn't stand a chance."
"I actually think Ethan has a better shot."
Rayleigh had a different opinion. "You might not understand Ethan. I've been studying him closely."
"Before Big Mom captured him, he had never learned any martial arts or swordsmanship he was just like an ordinary person."
"But in just a few short years, his strength has already reached the level of a Vice Admiral. He's practically a Rear Admiral now. Even on the Grand Line, he's earned his place."
Roger's expression changed slightly. "Didn't think you rated him that highly, Rayleigh."
"You'll see soon enough," Rayleigh replied, his gaze locked onto Ethan. "I have a feeling this kid's going to shake the foundation of the World Government someday."
"The future, huh? Who can really predict that?" Roger laughed it off. "Doesn't matter. Let's just enjoy the duel."
All eyes turned back to Ethan and Shanks.
…
The two stood facing each other, ready.
"Who's going first?" Ethan asked casually. "Why don't I..."
Before he could finish, Shanks interrupted, "I'll go first. Let me show you what top-tier swordsmanship looks like."
With that, Shanks gripped his sword. A powerful aura surged around him, black arcs of electricity crackling faintly along the blade.
He took a deep breath and unleashed a slash in the blink of an eye.
The terrifying sword aura seemed to tear the sky apart as it crashed down on the boulder, leaving deep cracks across its surface. He was just a hair's breadth away from splitting it completely.
Shanks looked a little disappointed that his strike wasn't enough to cleave the rock in two.
But the surrounding crew erupted in praise.
"Incredible! Shanks's swordsmanship is almost catching up to the captain's!"
"I knew it! Shanks is a prodigy with the sword. He's only four years old and already this strong. When he grows up, he'll definitely become a great swordsman."
"Ethan must be terrified after seeing that display!"
Ethan was indeed shocked but not by Shanks's sword power.
He was floored by his own monstrous talent.
Thanks to his [Innate Sword Bone], his comprehension ability was off the charts. Just by watching Shanks's strike once, Ethan had already grasped most of the technique.
If he visualized it a few more times in his mind, he could master it completely.
Sure enough, moments later, a system prompt appeared in front of him.
[Divine Departure: The signature technique of Gol D. Roger, later mastered by Shanks. This powerful sword technique once defeated the Kid Pirates in a single strike. When combined with Conqueror's Haki, it can even tear open the heavens.]
"So… I've already learned it this easily?"
Ethan's expression stayed calm, but inside, he was thrilled.
The [Innate Sword Bone] was truly overpowered. It took him just one minute to learn [Divine Departure], one of the most formidable sword techniques.
With his [Great Kingdom] skill now at Level 7, his swordsmanship had already reached exceptional heights.
Not only had he instantly learned [Divine Departure], but he had also immediately leveled it up to Level 2 several times stronger than Shanks's beginner version.
And he could feel his mastery of the technique rapidly improving. It wouldn't be long before he reached Level 3.
"Didn't think coming aboard the Roger Pirates would give me such a massive windfall."
Ethan originally just wanted to lay low for a while and quietly develop his abilities.
He never expected he'd end up learning Roger's ultimate technique not from Roger, but from Shanks.
As Ethan finished internalizing his comprehension of the technique, the crew started getting impatient.
"Is this guy even ready? It's been ages! Maybe he got scared after seeing Shanks's swordsmanship?"
"If that's the case, he should just surrender now."
"Yeah, maybe that way he can save a little face."
…
On the other side.
Roger was still beaming with pride. "Hahaha! I only taught Shanks seriously for half a year, and he's already mastered [Divine Departure]."
"Looks like this match is pretty much settled. No way Ethan can split that rock."
Even Rayleigh, who'd been silently observing, agreed that Ethan's chances didn't look good.
On the deck.
Ethan finally made his move. He gripped his white bone sword tightly, a powerful aura erupting from his body.
The surrounding pirates gasped in shock.
"Conqueror's Haki!"
"This guy's been hiding his strength all along! He has Conqueror's Haki too!"
"But this is a swordsmanship contest not a test of Haki! It's not like he knows how to use advanced Conqueror's Haki, right?"
Although Ethan hadn't yet mastered Conqueror's Haki infusion, his raw strength alone was enough to split the rock.
Clearing all distractions from his mind, he poured his full concentration into his bone sword. Scenes of [Divine Departure] continuously flashed through his mind.
"Divine Departure!"
After a brief pause, his mind and body became one as he slashed.
The sky itself seemed to split open. Sword energy tore across the sea for miles. The void trembled and the surrounding space seemed to collapse into silence.
A single sword aura, brimming with unstoppable force, sliced through the boulder and vanished into the horizon.
A deafening boom echoed out.
The boulder cracked from within and exploded outward, stone fragments flying in all directions, leaving behind only a deep crater.
"No way… how is this possible?!"
The surrounding pirates were stunned, frozen in disbelief.
Someone muttered in shock, "I… I didn't see it wrong, right? Was that [Divine Departure] just now?!"